Post by brassmonkey on Dec 15, 2008 8:08:04 GMT -5
At least the local officials didn't agree, and I applaud the woman for standing her ground.
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ‘OFFEND NEIGHBOURS’
FESTIVE: A mother was told to remove her Christmas lights
Monday December 15,2008
By Mark Lister
A MOTHER was told to remove her Christmas lights – in case they offended non-Christian neighbours.
Dorothy Glenn decorates her home with illuminations every year, including a giant tree and a 4ft Santa.
But this year she was stunned when a housing association worker called at her house and told her that the decorations she was displaying might be offending her neighbours.
The mother of three said at her home in South Shields, Tyneside: “I put the lights up in the first week of November and then recently a uniformed housing worker was outside and it looked like he was counting my decorations.
“When I went outside he said that the lights were ‘offensive to the community.’
“If I was offending anyone I could understand why he was telling me, but nobody has complained.
“My neighbours are Bengali and Chinese and I know that they love the lights. The children will always point them out when they walk past.”
Mrs Glenn, 41, has lived at the property for four years with son Owen, 19, and daughters Samira, 21, and Chelsea, 15.
She said she valued her close relationship with neighbours and enjoyed living in a community with people from different backgrounds.
She said: “I told him that I am far from a racist and that I wouldn’t be taking the lights down.
“I’m shocked, annoyed and upset. At the end of the day, it’s the festive season and they’re staying.”
Independent councillor Ahmed Khan, who represents Mrs Glenn’s ward, condemned the actions of the over-zealous employee of South Tyneside Homes.
He said: “Every year this woman puts her Christmas lights up and I know how popular they are. It’s great when people make an effort to decorate their houses.
“It’s this kind of nonsense that sets race relations back 20 years. That woman did nothing more than decorate her house to celebrate Christmas.” Jonn Midgley, co-founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said: “If that is the excuse of the housing association officer then it is a pathetic piece of political correctness, especially when I doubt they have consulted the people that they are worrying may get offended.”
Last night the housing association apologised to Mrs Glenn. It insisted that removing Christmas lights was not part of their policy.
A spokesman for South Tyneside Council said: “We would like to make it clear that South Tyneside Homes is happy for residents to put up Christmas lights to decorate their homes.
“The lights bring a bit of festive cheer to everybody and we are delighted to see examples of tenants and leaseholders across the borough taking so much pride in the appearance of their homes.”
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ‘OFFEND NEIGHBOURS’
FESTIVE: A mother was told to remove her Christmas lights
Monday December 15,2008
By Mark Lister
A MOTHER was told to remove her Christmas lights – in case they offended non-Christian neighbours.
Dorothy Glenn decorates her home with illuminations every year, including a giant tree and a 4ft Santa.
But this year she was stunned when a housing association worker called at her house and told her that the decorations she was displaying might be offending her neighbours.
The mother of three said at her home in South Shields, Tyneside: “I put the lights up in the first week of November and then recently a uniformed housing worker was outside and it looked like he was counting my decorations.
“When I went outside he said that the lights were ‘offensive to the community.’
“If I was offending anyone I could understand why he was telling me, but nobody has complained.
“My neighbours are Bengali and Chinese and I know that they love the lights. The children will always point them out when they walk past.”
Mrs Glenn, 41, has lived at the property for four years with son Owen, 19, and daughters Samira, 21, and Chelsea, 15.
She said she valued her close relationship with neighbours and enjoyed living in a community with people from different backgrounds.
She said: “I told him that I am far from a racist and that I wouldn’t be taking the lights down.
“I’m shocked, annoyed and upset. At the end of the day, it’s the festive season and they’re staying.”
Independent councillor Ahmed Khan, who represents Mrs Glenn’s ward, condemned the actions of the over-zealous employee of South Tyneside Homes.
He said: “Every year this woman puts her Christmas lights up and I know how popular they are. It’s great when people make an effort to decorate their houses.
“It’s this kind of nonsense that sets race relations back 20 years. That woman did nothing more than decorate her house to celebrate Christmas.” Jonn Midgley, co-founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, said: “If that is the excuse of the housing association officer then it is a pathetic piece of political correctness, especially when I doubt they have consulted the people that they are worrying may get offended.”
Last night the housing association apologised to Mrs Glenn. It insisted that removing Christmas lights was not part of their policy.
A spokesman for South Tyneside Council said: “We would like to make it clear that South Tyneside Homes is happy for residents to put up Christmas lights to decorate their homes.
“The lights bring a bit of festive cheer to everybody and we are delighted to see examples of tenants and leaseholders across the borough taking so much pride in the appearance of their homes.”
