Arlington Heights Residents React to Rejected Nativity Scene
Arlington Heights residents weigh in on the controversy that is now outshining the village's holiday display, after a Nativity scene offered for display at North School Park was rejected.
As residents and visitors walked through North School Park this weekend, many focused on what was included in the holiday display rather than what was not.
“Just look at the Dreidels,” Dana Foley said, “I can see how religions are not fully represented.”
A longtime resident of Arlington Heights, Foley said her two children always love to see the holiday display but she’s questioned the inequality it represents.
“I’ve always been surprised by the Dreidels,” Foley said, “There are Dreidels here, so I don’t know why they wouldn’t want a Nativity scene.”
A complaint was filed against the Arlington Heights Park District after the Illinois Nativity Scene Committee’s request to place a privately funded a Nativity scene at the village’s holiday display was denied. According to CBS Chicago, the board stated they did not want to make any changes to the display at that time.
“I would assume it’s a planning issue,” Foley said, “This is what it’s always been so I hope it was just a matter of planning.”
According to park district board president, Maryfran Leno, it takes the district staff months to plan and weeks to set up the display.
The village owns the property at North School Park and rents it out to the park district. In partnership with the village and special events commission, the park district heads organization of the holiday display.
On behalf of the complainant, a former Arlington Heights resident and co-chairman of the Illinois Nativity Scene Committee, the Thomas More Society sent the letter of request to the park district the week of the tree lighting ceremony, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Whether is was an issue of time, planning or just a simple 'no,' many said they wish there was a Nativity scene at the village's holiday display.
“I would like to see a Nativity scene but they don’t need to have one," said Chika Okano, “This isn’t my yard.” An Arlington Heights native who now lives out-of-state, Okano said she returns home every year to see the lights at North School Park.
“Nothing here screams Christian holiday,” said Okano, “So it is strange to see the Dreidels.”
Among the groups of people at North School Park, Okano said it does not look like religions are fairly represented in the village's display but some disagreed.
“I like to see the Dreidels,” Susan Koegel said, “There is a Christmas tree here.”
A lifelong Arlington Heights resident, Koegel said she’s seen the holiday display become more inclusive and more balanced over the years. “I think we all put forth a lot of effort to make sure all sides are represented,” Koegel said, “It’s all about awareness.”
Someone who does not celebrate Christmas, Koegel said the current display caters equally to both Judaism and Christianity. The addition of a Nativity scene, Koegel said, would throw off that balance.
“If they did put up a Nativity scene I’d like to see a Menorah” Koegel said, “It wouldn't bother me as long as everyone is equally represented.”
While Koegel said the display’s centerpiece, a 30-foot Colorado Blue Spruce, represents Christmas, others argued the tree symbolizes the holiday not the religion.
“The tree is Christmas but the Dreidel is more heavily religious," Foley said, "I think if any religion is represented, they all should be." But Foley admitted that is a slippery slope, "How do you include all religions?" Foley said, "I don't even know if that's possible."
The Chicago-based Thomas More Society is representing the Nativity scene group in an effort to get the park district board to rethink its decision and allow the Nativity scene at North School Park.
According to CBS Chicago, the groups claims the park district is in violation of their First Amendment rights and if the Nativity scene is not allowed, the two parties could be headed to court.
In This article
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North School Park
410 N Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL -
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Arlington Heights Park District - Administration Center
410 N Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL -
Village of Arlington Heights
33 S Arlington Heights Rd, Arlington Heights, IL
Rich
8:17 am on Monday, November 26, 2012
Dreidels, eliminate them from the holiday decoration. Problem over. Seem's like we always need politices and religon to start some problems. Enjoy the Holidays.
R Meyers
Donna M.
7:54 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
Richard: You sound antisemitic. What I hear you saying is, "Enjoy MY Holiday, Christmas".
MrMonarch
4:50 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
This is actually a reply to Donna's reply to your comment. Donna, if one is not pro-semitic, does that automatically make one antisemitic? Analogy; If one is not pro-Chicago Bears, is one automatically anti-Chicago Bears? It takes a lot to be anti-anything, and not liking something, doesn't mean you actively dislike it. Stop baiting, you sound like a bad politician.
Burt
9:51 am on Monday, November 26, 2012
This is the season of political correctness and spending money on Chinese goods so they can finish their aircraft carrier. The christmas tree was taken from ancient Germania where they brought a tree inside their huts to ward off evil spirits. Even though the US is 85% Christian ...who cares we might hurt someones feelings
Burt
9:54 am on Monday, November 26, 2012
I can believe that it takes months of wasting our money to decide on a nativity scene. It only took the city 20 Minutes to decide to raise our taxes.
Burt
9:55 am on Monday, November 26, 2012
We will be voting for a new mayor soon and Jess Jackson Jr is available so let's do it up big this time!!!!
Donna M.
1:23 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
A dreidel is a game played at Hanukkah. It is not a religious object. I think it is nice to include it in the holiday decoration along with the Christmas tree. I can't understand how some people can be against this small representation from the Jewish holiday. Isn't there enough Christmas representation everywhere from Halloween to New Years?
Melissa
2:19 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
Donna - Couldn't have said it better myself!
MrMonarch
4:42 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
What is Hanukkah? A religious holiday. So a game played only on a religious holiday and only by people of a certain religion, is not a religious object? Hmmm
Donna M.
5:35 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
MrMonarch: Really...so that would make candy canes a religious food. You can only get them at Christmas time. Oh and don't forget about religious hats. Red furry stocking caps with white trim, also religious? Not!! Even though people only wear them around Christmas.
Melissa
2:19 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
Foley is uninformed and making assumptions. As Donna M. stated, a dreidel is a Hanukkah game. How is a Christmas tree not religious, but a dreidel is?? By her argument, the dreidel and Christmas tree are exactly apples to apples. A nativity scene would be apples to apples with a Menorah. Maybe she should educate herself rather than getting her feathers ruffled over an inaccuracy. Susan Koegel has got it right – if they put up a nativity scene then put up a menorah.
MrMonarch
4:45 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
So how about represent the people who aren't religious at all? Would you be alright with a display for atheists that would be on par with the other decorations?
Melissa
5:09 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
MrMonarch - Not sure if that was purposefully directed at me or not, but I would absolutely be fine with a display for atheists! My comment was not meant to come off as only Christmas and Hanukkah should be on display. I support a person's freedom of speech, beliefs and way of life.
Donna M.
5:29 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
There's a train, a snowman and an airplane...those don't represent any religion. So yes atheists are represented by your reasoning.
Jim Osterberg
3:18 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
I will not speak for any other atheists, but as far as I am concerned I do not need representation, nor do I need for anyone to remove or install a religious display for parity. Frankly, I celebrate this Holiday as an opportunity to remember what really matters in life and to indulge in sensory overload that is so reminiscent of my childhood.
Where I draw the line is when precious (and dwindling) public funds are spent on issues related to this Holiday, whether it is city workers erecting religious monuments, or city attorneys prosecuting/ defending religion oriented installations.
Burt
9:10 pm on Monday, November 26, 2012
I don't think Jesus put up a christmas tree or played with dreidels
Donna M.
5:21 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
You might be wrong about the dreidel, "The dreidel is a top used to play a traditional Jewish Hanukkah game that dates back over 2000 years. A modern dreidel is available in the catalog at the back of this book. "
quoted from:
http://byron.com/topbook/history.html
Benjamin Lipsman
12:45 pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2012
“The tree is Christmas but the Dreidel is more heavily religious"
WTF? The dreidle is a game that happens to be played on the holiday... it's not any part of any religious service or any more religious than a Christmas tree. Both are parts of holiday festivities but neither is a fundamental religious component to the holiday. Seems like the closest comparably symbols for each holiday to be similarly represented.
Beth P
12:53 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Love the conversation. You are fogetting Kwanza which celebrates African American Heritage. It too is celebrated this time of year and is not a religious holiday at all, but our Village would benefit from the education and exposure of all cultures.
Melissa
3:29 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Looks like Patch neglect to report about the decided theme of the lights installment.
"But at a Nov. 7 board meeting, the Park District's commissioners discussed Finnegan's proposal and decided against including the Nativity scene, saying it would stick to its annual theme of children's toys."
The full article can be found here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/arlington_heights/ct-met-arlington-heights-nativity-20121124,0,1340021.story
Burt
3:57 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
I agree with Jim O, he should run for mayor. The US is broke and so is Arlington Heights! They dug up downtown for that lousy restaurant that serves frozen so called Mexican meals....it cost millions!
Palman
8:59 pm on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Christmas, December 25, is a Federal Holiday -- Hanukkah is not.
Dana
4:23 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2012
Well, I think the nativity scene would fit in perfectly with the rest of the displays. After all, belief in Jesus is about the most CHILDISH thing I can think of. Kind of like an imaginary friend! It would be right at home amongst the kiddie toys!
Ken
10:27 am on Sunday, December 2, 2012
Perhaps a lighted DNA double-helix for the park? Surely that would represent all of us fairly and without discrimination.