The Neighborhood Association Vs Baby Jesus

I believe in Christmas and the right to display a Nativity Scene on your front lawn but? If you do rent or buy a home that is within a Neighborhood Association you do have to follow the rules.

So, while Baby Jesus may have been the victor in the above linked article...unless the reason for the backdown by the Neighborhood Association was related to an error where the homeowners did not sign the required agreement? I don't believe in Mob rule pressure. The article doesn't address that an earlier article states:

Dean Williams, the community association manager and author of the letter, said according to association rules in place since 2000 and signed by the Samonas when they bought the home in 2002, homeowners must request permission to place statues or lawn ornaments outside their home. The Samonas say they never signed any such document.

The title linked article sounds like the Neighborhood Association folded:

The change of heart came after The Detroit News published a front-page story about the plight of the Samonas and their son Joe, who were ordered by the subdivision management group to remove the holiday display.

"As a demonstration of our regret over this incident, we would ask you to please accept a holiday gift basket as a token of our remorse, in the spirit of this holiday season," the letter said. "We hope you understand that, on occasion, mistakes in proper intrepretation are made and we have learned from this mistake."

When homeowners join neighborhood or condominium associations, Michigan courts have said they must abide by the rules the group sets. Just ask John O'Brien who was told he could not fly a Marine flag infront of his condo. John obviously didn't get enough public support behind him, not only did he not get a gift basket but he has outstanding legal fees. Guess John should have flown a flag with Baby Jesus on it rather than his Marine one.

If you don't like the rules? Don't buy or rent that house or work to change the rules the right way. It's this exact type of over-emotional response purposely trying to make cases like this seem it is an attempt to "remove" Christ from Christmas. If we are going to throw the rules out for one? Then why bother to even have them? Granted I am not a fan of Neighborhood Associations, however no one forced that family against their will to move into one.

(I also find it ironic both the Free Press and the Neighborhood Association chose the word "Holiday" rather than "Christmas" I wasn't aware any other holidays used the Nativity Scene)