I never heard of Glenn Beck. From the sound of it I'm probably far better off this way. Hopefully no one will go and post his life history and ruin my content state of just not knowing or caring.

But Glenn Beck wants to take away the most sacred of days from the Jews and turn it into a right wing political statement. That's worse than the 9th Circuit.

Interesting points from his show yesterday.

1. 92% of Americans believe in a God

2. 67% of Americans are form of Christian.

3. We do not have a religious governemnt.

4. We are a country of religious people.

Given the above, how have we let our society evolve into political correctness of no mention of a god or Christianity to cater to a significant minority? If I were an expatriate in China, I would quietly recognize my religion (if allowed to) despite the country being primarily aetheist (at the governments direction).

If people want to emigrate to our country, they should be prepared to tolerate our customs. OR DON'T COME!!!!

We do not need the 9th Circuit to take away our "one nation under God".

To jhughs,

So what. Let them spend their money and attach their name to it for all to see.

Sometimes it's nice when certain groups identify themselves ;)

"I keep hearing this canard, Happy Holidays isn't christian!
While I think that's a bit boneheaded, as it means Happy Holy Days"

Actually that is an awful loose generalization of the true etymology. As "holy day" evolved into "holiday" the definition and common usage also underwent change. Today common usage of holiday means a day of festivity or recreation when no work is done. In Britain and parts of Europe a holiday means a vacation. It is an unfair generalization to suggest in our vernacular that many people, if any, still equate holiday with holy day. For example Veterans Day is a well known holiday but I don't think anyone confuses it with being a holy day.

Personally I would have no problem with faceless, agnostic corporations that only worship at the altar of the almighty dollar if they would have the intestinal fortitude to embrace and celebrate all religions. What I have a problem with are these same corporations that attempt to dumb down important religious event and especially Christmas into a faceless generic word like holiday.

And just for the record I have not one once of sympathy for these faceless, mindless corporations who relentlessly mine and sell data about every aspect of our lives, demographics, finances, etc. with one goal in mind and that is to extract more money from our pockets. If having all of our personal information was really so dear and important to them then why did they fail to collect data on our religious preference along with our education, annual salary, number of cars, etc., etc., etc.?

Well, we can all feel good, open-minded and progressive about displaying various religious symbols until some wise-guy decides that his religious symbol should get equal time and wants to put up a pentagram.

Then we'll all get up in arms, write letters, on and on, with the net result being: no religious symbols on public property - after a lot of time and money gets wasted reaching that decision. We should just stick to the no religious symbols rule and be done with it.

As for Christianity being the basis of our Constitution, many of our founding fathers were Deists, not Christians.

That's right. It's not a holiday tree. It's a Chanukah Bush.

I am a Christian and have no objection to the Menorah being on display on the Riverwalk. The following was googled and condensed from www.galleryjudaica,com:

"Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, is best known as the winter holiday when Jewish people light the "menorah" and exchange gifts. Hanukkah commemorates the victory of the Jews over their Greek rulers in the mid-second century B.C.E. Many, however, prefer to shift the holiday's focus away from a military-victory celebration, in favor of the commemoration of the "Miracle of Lights." It is somewhat ironic that Hanukah is the most widely known Jewish holiday, despite the fact that it is a minor holiday. Hanukkah is not described in scripture, and it does not have the religious significance of Passover, Sukkot, Shavuot, Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur. Still, the celebration of Hanukkah, the history behind its traditions, and the symbolism of the Menorah reinforce the basic tenets of Judaism: dedication, perseverance, generosity and remembrance. "

So, in my opinion, the Menorah has the same significance as a Christmas tree, Santa, etc., that is, as a symbol. Not the same as a Christian Cross or Star of David.

I respect all religions and symbols. So please do not call the Christmas tree holiday tree. How would the jews feel if their holiday symbol would be called holiday candles instead of Menorah?There is nothing wrong if someone wishes you a Merry Christmas around this time. I would not be offended by it at all. Just like I am not offended by my hindu neighbors when they put up lights in October to celebrate Diwali.

I really don't have an opinion one way or another. As far as I am concerned, it is Christmas season. Therefore people I speak with will hear Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays.

I have a question. Who was threatening suit? Please tell me it wasn't the good for nothing ACLU.

someone said, Enough of this generic "Happy Holiday" garbage that has been promoted by faceless, agnostic corporations that only worship at the altar of the almighty dollar.

That's fine IF you can figure out the particular religious affiliation of someone simply by looking at them. Get it wrong, at your peril.
I keep hearing this canard, Happy Holidays isn't christian!
While I think that's a bit boneheaded, as it means Happy Holy Days, those scary faceless, agnostic corporations have LOTS of customers that aren't Christian, and don't celebrate Christmas. You think they should stand up for all? I think exactly the opposite, they should celebrate, publicly, ALL.

Ken suggests Anonymous 12/14 8:30am do a google search on Wicca. Perhaps even better, go to a bookstore or library and take Anonymous 12/13 10:05 am (if you are not the same person, although writing style suggests you may be) and pick up some books on early American history, perhaps biographies of Jefferson, Madison, and Ben Franklin (just to start), and look up the Magna Carta while you are at it. Flush the historical revisionism taught by the Rad Right that the founders intended this to be a Christian nation (and do you really think anyone in the colonies back then gave a hoot about Judaic roots???) in any way. It is simply NOT true. Sorry.

And before you condemn me as being a "secular progressive" or some other half-wit label created to isolate anyone not in agreement with you into the camp of "other," know that I AM a Christian. That does not require me to blindly accept factual inaccuracies.

Maybe you should do a simple google search on Wicca, Anonymous 12/14 8:30am, as it is obvious you know nothing about it. You remind me of those who insist that Catholics drink real blood at their mass; totally uniformed.

However, your rabid response illustrates the problem the Park District opened up for themselves by setting a standard under threat of lawsuit. When they have to apply the standard equally, they will probably face lawsuits by people of your ilk that don't know what they are talking about. I picked the Wiccans to illustrate this point, and thank you for helping me make that point. The new policy sounds good, and is, until ignorance rears its ugly head.

It is time for everyone to stand up and celebrate their own beliefs and family traditions. Enough of this generic "Happy Holiday" garbage that has been promoted by faceless, agnostic corporations that only worship at the altar of the almighty dollar.

If you are Christian, then stand up and promote Christmas. If you are Jewish, stand stand up and promote Hanukah. Whatever your religion be proud of it and do your part to promote it so we all know and understand your traditions better.

Respect other religions and your religion will in turn be respected. Celebrate the days that are special in your religion and make the same allowances for those days that are special to those of other beliefs.

If every religion that is represented in Naperville actively promoted and celebrated those days that are important and special to them on an ongoing, rotating basis throughout the year it would say more about the sophistication, tolerance, and acceptance of the people of Naperville than only promoting one or two religions ever will.

Satanism preaching human sacrifice is equated to Christianity preaching love of fellow man (actually humans, but German roots make it come out as man). Our legal systems and government have really come a long way.

I would think the secular progressives would fight Wiccans to the death since Satan worship offends all Muslims (and everyone else), not just the fanatics, and would be a great recruiting poster for Bin Laden.

Or, is this another case of cultural suicidal ideology presenting itself as "showing them we are better than they are" by defending "free speech" or "freedom of worship".

All beliefs and values are the same? No good, no bad; just different?

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By Ken on December 13, 2009 2:04 PM

I see no problem with it, as long as every religion that donates it's religious symbol has it displayed at the proper time. In other words, no one should complain when the Wiccans want to display their symbols...

Good for the park district for doing the right thing. Too bad it took a perceived lawsuit for them to correct their decision. The park district came uncomfortably close to creating disharmony and conflict among the religious communities.

No one is questioning the Christmas trees and Santa’s house - so why question the Menorah? This is somewhat embarrassing for our community

I see no problem with it, as long as every religion that donates it's religious symbol has it displayed at the proper time. In other words, no one should complain when the Wiccans want to display their symbols...

The park district is to be commended. I am very glad Naperville is displaying the Menorah. The Christmas tree is a religious symbol just like a menorah. So many people forget that Naperville has a diverse population with many religions. If other religions want a symbol I don't see anything wrong with that. It is a great learning experience for children to see that acceptance of others includes understanding differences. Everyone can enjoy the decorations and have a happy holiday season. It seems like such a minor thing, but the decorations of Christmas, though secular, are symbols of a specific religion. Therefore, the precedent has already been made to display religious symbols. This issue can be used to teach children about differences and create more understanding.

It's amusing that the "secular" forces want to drive Christianity and Judaism out of the public institutions, out of the public eye, out of the laws when it is convenient for their agenda, and ultimately out of business while hiding behind its protections.

The reality is that the legal system, the Constitution, the common law and societal rules of behavior in the USA are based on the old and new testament and the personal-responsibility and moral treatment of others that are preached in the Bible. Self-regulated moral behavior is not only the bedrock of our legal systems, but the bedrock of our economy. Everything is based on trust of others and their work.

The secular progressives (Neo Marxists) wish to hide behind the Bible while dismantling the most successful country in the history of the world which is rooted in its teachings, and replacing it with their Gods: controlling government, money, sex and the exercise of power without self-restraint. If it feels good do it; if you have the power, use it; if you want it, make it legal.

The Riverwalk is one small skirmish in a much larger culture war. On one side, your rights are given by God; on the other side, your rights are whatever the King, Royalty and monkey-courts (Central Government) say they are. The victory of the rights-of-man won by Washington, the Continental Army and the Citizens is being undone one battle at a time. Freedom is under siege.

Our children and grandchildren are being enslaved with Government created debt that will increasingly force them to decide between a bowl of soup (dispensed at the Kings kitchens, paid for with freedom) and their God-given-rights.

The donate, then display was the perfect path to be taken. I would only hope that more do this to get a good representation of the faiths and celebrations that exist in our community. Each part of the whole is what makes a community great.

It's not like the displays will be interrupting the long lines of people waiting to get into Centennial Beach, waiting to pay $$ to go to the top of the Carillon, waiting to use the paddle boats, or waiting to use the skate park in the middle of winter.

I have no objection to any symbol of any religion or faith being publicly displayed. But, display the symbol in accordance with the law or code established or enacted for the place where the symbol will be displayed.

In the Sun on Friday, December 11, 2009, the front page carried a smaller headline that read "Closed session compromise allows menorah display on Riverwalk." The story indicates that "Park District Ordinance 641 specifically prohibits the installation of any symbol on the Riverwalk by any private persons or entities." Then why make an exception in the case of a menorah? The story answers this question by indicating that a compromise was reached by having the symbol donated to the Park District who now owned the symbol and could place it on the Riverwalk and not violate it's own ordinance. The story also indicated that one Park District official said "... everyone went away happy."If making everyone happy is the goal, then why not allow anyone to place any symbol, religious or otherwise, on the Riverwalk

The menorah is a beautiful religious symbol, but so are many other religious symbols, especially the symbol that relates to ones own religion. If persons from several other religions press for their symbols to now be displayed on the Riverwalk, ill lawsuits be threatened or intimated, will everyone come away happy from those meetings?

Is there anyone in any public organization anywhere who will say politely, honestly and firmly when dealing with requests such as these; "NO -our ordinance precludes such a display. If you want to change the ordinance, you can voice your opinion at future meetings of the involved public organization. Maybe a periodic look by public organizations at their laws and ordinances will bring the recognition that they might need to be changed or eliminated.

This question comes up every few years. About 5 years ago the city and park district agreed to holiday based light pole banners rather than Christmas. The Chabad donates or makes available menorahs world wide. There was the time that the City Council did away with the opening prayer because a few of the visiting clergy could not make it ecumenical. It was done behind the scenes without any publicity and no one missed it.

Naperville is special because of the long standing Jewish presence due to the fact that the Rubin family has been so prominent in the city for so long. The philosophy that there is room for all in the public arena keeps the controversy at a minimum.

Just because one group is represented doesn't detract from the ability of another group to be represented. If someone wants their symbol also, all they need to do is donate it to the park district or city. Look at Daley Plaza. The city puts up a tree. One group puts up at their cost a creche, another a menorah and a third a crescent and star. No one is left out. Everyone live in peaceful coexistence.