The War On Christmas: [HOA]

[Newell Steamer]

Another front, in The War On Christmas!

http://www.kxly.com/news/north-idah...it-declared-war-on-christmas-display/36289796

“We were contacted by our homeowners association and they made it pretty clear to us that Christmas is offensive to a lot of non-Christians,” he said.

“We have freedom of association, we have freedom of religion, we have freedom of speech, and regardless whether or not an HOA thinks they can take that right away, well there is a federal court that's about to tell them, they're not going to take anything away,” he said.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

Isn't there some rule requiring the OP to be at least marginally intelligent provide reasonable and rational commentary to provoke discussion? All I see here is a troll post.

 

[master_shake_]

well there is an interesting question

are Christmas lights covered under the 1st amendment and if so, does the HOA agreement trump constitutional rights?

 

[Newell Steamer]

Isn't there some rule requiring the OP to be at least marginally intelligent provide reasonable and rational commentary to provoke discussion? All I see here is a troll post.

Will anyone step in and save these persecuted Christians, who want to celebrate the birth of our Lord & Savior, by putting up bright lights and attract on-lookers who will create congestion and traffic that is against the rules of the community he willingly chose to live in?

Oh, sure, he "knew" what he was getting into. But, this is Christmas!!shift+1!!! Exceptions and omissions (like a church paying taxes) should be made, otherwise, it's no different that dropping napalm on the Bible belt... on Christmas no less!!

Also, glad to see you have taken up enforcement of OPs providing commentary to provoke a discussion - it's weird though that you don't do that when Righties do something similar... oh, yeah!! Double standards - right! I totally forgot.

 

[Strk]

You kind of agree to quite a bit when joining an HOA, so I don't see any violation since these ban things like parking in your driveway when you have a garage.

Then again, I think HOAs are stupid.

 

[TheGardener]

Isn't there some rule requiring the OP to be at least marginally intelligent provide reasonable and rational commentary to provoke discussion? All I see here is a troll post.

I see lots of troll posts on this forum. Why hold this OP to a higher standard?

I was expecting the article to say something different. The HOA I think is in a weak position of trying to stop the homeowner from displaying lights, based on local laws and people being "offended". Depending on these local laws, I would expect the homeowner to victorious. I cannot fathom getting permission from the city or town to raise Christmas lights, unless they enforce this in a fair and non-discriminatory way.

What I expected was that the HOA would cite the condominium by-laws which prohibit homeowners from altering the exterior of the home without permission. We have such rules, and they are not limited to only exterior Christmas lights and decorations. Hence the prohibition is not discriminatory. And we do enforce these rules. If the homeowner decides to display lights and decorations inside their windows, they are welcome to do so. We have no war against Christmas.

Actually before opening the thread, I thought the title of the topic referred to the Starbucks controversy. Didn't know the context of HOA, until I opened the topic.

Merry Christmas to my Christian friends.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

I see lots of troll posts on this forum. Why hold this OP to a higher standard?

This is about as low as the bar goes in my opinion.

Merry Christmas to my Christian friends.

Happy Holidays!

 

[Humpy]

"Hey neighbor, your outdoor lighting doesn't fit within the HOA guidelines. Can you change it?" :\

"Fuck you!! I'm a Christian!"

"Oh Jesus."



I don't believe that anyone is actually offended by Christmas to the extent that there is an issue, maybe some of the stuff that people do during the season is offensive to the senses and over the top. Such horseshit.

 

[Sonikku]

This is about as low as the bar goes in my opinion.

I've seen far more repugnant and hatefully misinformed posts on this board than this. A post like this seems about average for what passes around here.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

I've seen far more repugnant and hatefully misinformed posts on this board than this. A post like this seems about average for what passes around here.

Effectively no commentary...I thought it was required. Oh well.

 

[Cozarkian]

well there is an interesting question

are Christmas lights covered under the 1st amendment and if so, does the HOA agreement trump constitutional rights?

An HOA is not a government entity, so the first amendment doesn't apply.

The question is whether the HOA rules on lights discriminate based on religion in a manner that violates the Fair Housing Act.

 

[spacejamz]

An HOA is not a government entity, so the first amendment doesn't apply.

The question is whether the HOA rules on lights discriminate based on religion in a manner that violates the Fair Housing Act.

Seeing the actual text in the HOA rules that relate to this would be interesting as well...

 

[DrPizza]

The HOA didn't tell him he couldn't put up lights. It said he can't have TENS OF THOUSANDS FREAKING LIGHTS with spotlights, etc., all set up to get a lot of traffic past his house to get donations.

His display includes a REAL CAMEL. Can't have a nativity scene without camels. Homeowner association were idiots when they even mentioned the religious aspect. Regardless though, turning a quiet residential neighborhood into a busy attraction at the expense of his neighbor's enjoyment of their own property is a pretty poor thing to do - he doesn't have his neighbor's permission, and for once, I think his neighbors have a right to be glad that they belong to an HOA.


Anyone thinking it's okay, realize this - it's been described as Clark Griswold (Christmas Vacation) on steroids.

 

[Ham n' Eggs]

The HOA didn't tell him he couldn't put up lights. It said he can't have TENS OF THOUSANDS FREAKING LIGHTS with spotlights, etc., all set up to get a lot of traffic past his house to get donations.

His display includes a REAL CAMEL. Can't have a nativity scene without camels. Homeowner association were idiots when they even mentioned the religious aspect. Regardless though, turning a quiet residential neighborhood into a busy attraction at the expense of his neighbor's enjoyment of their own property is a pretty poor thing to do - he doesn't have his neighbor's permission, and for once, I think his neighbors have a right to be glad that they belong to an HOA.


Anyone thinking it's okay, realize this - it's been described as Clark Griswold (Christmas Vacation) on steroids.

sounds awesome to me. hilarious but awesome.
buuuuttt, this guy was a fool to live in a HOA type community so he should expect the pain in the ass neighbors complaining. we all have neighbors we would rather not have, it is called life and most of us focus our energies on other things than trying to correct our neighbors.

I, for instance, choose to plant a nice hedge so that instead of looking at a pile of crappy cars and boats, I get to see some nice green foliage rustling in the breeze and don't have to make eye contact with owners of aforementioned boats and cars whose only personality trait is that they constantly frown at everyone. Hedges my friend... hedges!

 

[Subyman]

The HOA didn't tell him he couldn't put up lights. It said he can't have TENS OF THOUSANDS FREAKING LIGHTS with spotlights, etc., all set up to get a lot of traffic past his house to get donations.

His display includes a REAL CAMEL. Can't have a nativity scene without camels. Homeowner association were idiots when they even mentioned the religious aspect. Regardless though, turning a quiet residential neighborhood into a busy attraction at the expense of his neighbor's enjoyment of their own property is a pretty poor thing to do - he doesn't have his neighbor's permission, and for once, I think his neighbors have a right to be glad that they belong to an HOA.


Anyone thinking it's okay, realize this - it's been described as Clark Griswold (Christmas Vacation) on steroids.

Ah, facts again show the War on Christmas to be a complete farce.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

well there is an interesting question

are Christmas lights covered under the 1st amendment and if so, does the HOA agreement trump constitutional rights?

Have you been paying attention to the HOA powergrab that's been going on for at least 30 years now? Of course HOA agreements trump constitutional rights, you agree to waive those rights and abide by the agreement when you buy the house and join the HOA. And while I hate HOA's with a passion and would rather live in a cardboard box in the middle of a busy road than to buy a house with an HOA, this is one area where they're right. Those idiots with the garish Christmas light displays would be the first ones to complain if their neighbors believed in different fairy tales and blinded the entire neighborhood with lights to support said fairytales. This is fair for everyone, you can't force other people to live with your eyesore and they can't force theirs upon you.

 

[thraashman]

However in the HOA's formal complaint nowhere does it mention anything about Christmas or religion. According to the HOA's letter, Kootenai County requires a permit to hold special events and even if Morris applied for the permit he wouldn't get it because special events are not allowed in residential neighborhoods.

The HOA also cited concerns about excessive traffic on his street, flood lighting that would disturb the neighbors and violations of the the HOA laws that he agreed to when he bought the home.

Scott Poorman, the homeowners association's attorney, says Morris is trying to spin this into religious intolerance. He says the HOA isn't trying to disrupt Christmas; they're trying to prevent a neighborhood nuisance.

I get so tired of these Christians that want special rights to be raging assholes and then complain how they're oh so persecuted when someone tells them to go fuck themselves.

If this asshat were my neighbor the HOA wouldn't have to do anything as I'd go out with a pair of wire cutters and dice up his fucking lights because they're a nuisance. If he complains I'll say he's persecuting me!

 

[pcgeek11]

I see lots didnt read the article:

However in the HOA's formal complaint nowhere does it mention anything about Christmas or religion. According to the HOA's letter, Kootenai County requires a permit to hold special events and even if Morris applied for the permit he wouldn't get it because special events are not allowed in residential neighborhoods.


I hate HOA's, But I tend to agree with them and feel sorry for people that live near this @sshole.

 

[WelshBloke]

I hate HOA's, But I tend to agree with them and feel sorry for people that live near this @sshole.

I certainly agree with this bit...

Poorman [anal HOA dude] wondered if Morris [attention whore with more light bulbs than brain cells] wanted some attention and chose the war on Christmas as his platform.

 

[DrPizza]

At one point, I entertained the thought of doing one of those huge Christmas light displays, synchronized to music that I'd pipe out over a small FM transmitter. We've all seen those displays on youtube. We've seen the guy who did Christmas in Serejevo, and got free tickets to said concert. Wow, those lights are soooo awesome! Then I realized, the neighbors might think so for a night or two - then, the excess traffic, gawkers, etc., start to get annoying. I'm not an asshole to my neighbors. If the neighbors were cool with it, then maybe - but if they aren't, then -

OP's story wouldn't be a story if people were more considerate.

 

[hal2kilo]

The HOA didn't tell him he couldn't put up lights. It said he can't have TENS OF THOUSANDS FREAKING LIGHTS with spotlights, etc., all set up to get a lot of traffic past his house to get donations.

His display includes a REAL CAMEL. Can't have a nativity scene without camels. Homeowner association were idiots when they even mentioned the religious aspect. Regardless though, turning a quiet residential neighborhood into a busy attraction at the expense of his neighbor's enjoyment of their own property is a pretty poor thing to do - he doesn't have his neighbor's permission, and for once, I think his neighbors have a right to be glad that they belong to an HOA.


Anyone thinking it's okay, realize this - it's been described as Clark Griswold (Christmas Vacation) on steroids.

One time I used to live across the street from one of those guys. I literally had to close my blinds.

 

[Oyeve]

Is hanging a lighted cross upside down allowed? I so feel like doing this to piss of stupid retarded christians.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

Is hanging a lighted cross upside down allowed? I so feel like doing this to piss of stupid retarded christians.

I think you should do it...I'm sure it will make you feel really good about yourself as you foist your perceived intellectual superiority.

 

[Oyeve]

I think you should do it...I'm sure it will make you feel really good about yourself as you foist your perceived intellectual superiority.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

/golfclap

Feel better?