Pro-Peace Symbol Forces Win Battle in Colorado Town (Peace Signs All over the Town!)

[Hepburn]

In any case, there are now more peace symbols in Pagosa Springs, a town of 1,700 people 200 miles southwest of Denver, than probably ever in its history.

On Tuesday morning, 20 people marched through the center carrying peace signs and then stomped a giant peace sign in the snow perhaps 300 feet across on a soccer field, where it could be easily seen.

“There’s quite a few now in our subdivision in a show of support,” Mr. Trimarco said.

...

Town Manager Mark Garcia said Pagosa Springs was building its own peace wreath, too. Mr. Garcia said it would be finished by late Tuesday and installed on a bell tower in the center of town.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/29/us/29wreath.html?_r=1&ref=us&oref=slogin

This story has such a wonderful ending. I am so glad Lisa Jensen stuck to her guns about her Peace Wreath.

[Eurobabe]

1. Praise the PEACE!

See my avatar... :)

[Hepburn]

9. I love the avatar!!!!!

What a great idea! Very, very cool and clever!

:hi:

[Eurobabe]

22. Take it, it was from a photo of the people's wreath

spread it far and wide on DU.

[Hepburn]

25. Good idea...I will try it! n/t

[rpannier]

2. Booooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The town is sending the wrong message to the troops.

Why does this town hate America?

Damned liberal America haters!

America Love It or Leave It!

The town is full or terrorist enablers!

This is gonna bring down the morale of the troops.

I'm sure Osama is cheering what this town is doing.


on note: Have I missed any of the quotes? Cuz, I think I hit all of the reichwing, republikkan spewing points.

[donheld]

11. .

:D

[meegbear]

12. War on Christmas!!

How could you forget that one?

[Gato Moteado]

3. this must burn up the freepers.....

...and other fake christians that hate peace.

[xultar]

4. That is what I was hoping would happen. I'm thinking of putting one up.

But I don't want to put up any lights at all.

[Maeve]

5. Don't put up lights, then

But a simple wreath can be easily transformed into a peace sign...I think I may alter the red ribbon on the one on my front door this year. :think:

[Hepburn]

8. I think just about any wreath can be made into a peace sign...

...Just take ribbon and attach it squarely in the center of the wreath, using the wreath as the outside circle of the symbol. If you use french ribbon (the kind of ribbon with wire on the sides), it can be shaped just about any way and it holds the shape pretty well. I have seen some pretty wreaths made out of man-made material in different colors ~~ get a wreath and ribbon of a matching/coordinating color, cut a few pieces of ribbon to form the center of the sign, attach them together and then attach that to the middle of the wreath. That is what I am doing and as an atheist, with a Jewish background, that is going on my front door in support of a season of peace and a celebration of one lady ~~ Lisa Jensen ~~ who would not back down from the grinch who tried to steal peace out of Christmas!

I may not be a Christian ~~ but I sure as hell support peace! And, of course, I support and applaud Lisa for not backing down to a bunch of idiots that thought they could ride roughshod over people with whom they did not agree.

[rman]

6. a usually quiet majority versus a bullying minority -

guess who wins in the end.

[texpatriot2004]

7. Someone should take pictures and make Christmas cards of

these Pagosa Springs Peace Signs.

[Freedom Rock]

10. great story!

What could have been just another chapter in our sad history of late has turned out to be a very nice story indeed. this is so cool.

[Hepburn]

13. Wrapped in wreaths, Pagosa Springs speaks its peace

From townspeople to town hall, from signs in the snow to signs aglow, from Colorado to Wisconsin and around the world, one couple's home display of garland has gotten its message across.

A new lighted wreath in the shape of a peace sign now graces the tower of the old Pagosa Springs town hall, and a band of townspeople marched Tuesday carrying peace signs and stamping a large peace sign in the snow of a town park.

Peace-sign wreaths are also popping up on homes as Pagosa Springs becomes part of a wide-ranging holiday wreath movement that has been sparked by controversy over one displayed on a home in a subdivision five miles south of town.

...

In Wisconsin, the Winnebago Peace and Justice Center said it sold a record 20 peace wreaths Tuesday.

...

But Trimarco said he has been "choked up" by some of the calls and e-mails from soldiers serving in Iraq, parents of soldiers in Iraq and Vietnam vets who wrote that they survived the war by displaying the sign on the backs of their helmets.

"Peace - it's such a simple message," Trimarco said. "It's not against the war in Iraq or anything like that."

...

Pagosa Springs Administrator Mark Garcia said the town was being tainted only because it was the closest spot on the map to the subdivision. People were calling and e-mailing to say they wouldn't visit or move to Pagosa Springs, so Garcia commissioned a local artist to make the large peace-sign wreath for the town hall to show people that "we support peace."

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4736553


:toast: :bounce: :thumbsup:

[TlalocW]

14. I hope Bill O'Reilly gets pissed and does a show about this

TlalocW

[GoneOffShore]

17. Don't worry, he will

He's already started his phony War on Christmas rant. I caught a little last night as I was channel surfing.

Something about someone objecting to being bombarded with images of a religious Christmas movie on the video wall at Circuit City or some other big box retailer.

O'Lielly is such an opportunist slug.

[catmandu57]

15. I want one

I don't know if I can find one locally, and I don't have the artistic ability to make my own. So it's off to the web in search of a peace wreath.

[leftchick]

19. Here you go!

I just ordered this one. It is a little pricey but a percentage goes to a great cause...

https://www.organicbouquet.com/p_58/pine-wreath-peace.html?categoryid=64

[Hepburn]

20. Wow.....

....that is a very pretty wreath.

[TlalocW]

24. Another thing you could do

Is do it with Christmas lights - either freehand stringing them up and trying to get a good looking circle or using some kind of frame.

I have an idea for a simple frame you could make yourself. Msg me if you want me to go into detail.

TlalocW

[xxqqqzme]

36. when george I invaded Iraq in '91,

I was so furious I dragged out my christmas stuff, found a couple of strands of clear lights and wound them around a huge peace sign I made out of cardboard and hung it in my front window. If you are motivated it isn't hard.

[stubtoe]

38. Hey! what a great idea!

Mind if I do the same, xxqqqzme??

[Lisa]

43. they do look nice ... Stephen King's display from a while back

http://wildsects.blogspot.com/2005_12_01_wildsects_archive.html

[Kellyiswise]

16. There are many more of us than is acknowledge. The rest of us

must come out of the closet and march and stand for peace. American history is among the most shameful in history on human and civil rights around the world.

[LeftHander]

18. OMIGOD - HUGH! Peace is breaking out! nt

[Eurobabe]

23. we're so screwn n/t

[GenDem]

21. I'll be creating my own PEACE wreath today

Going out to buy a nice big wreath today, and I will fashion a wire armature to retrofit it into a peace wreath. This may be a trend this holiday season all across the country!

[BushOut06]

26. But, it's a SATANIST sign! It has to be banned

Haven't you heard some of the fundie complaints about that wreath? It's a Satanist sign, and therefore must go! We can't have such obvious displays of religion, can we? :sarcasm:

[Arugula Latte]

52. If there was anything Jesus hated, it was peace and love.

That's what the rightwing fundies seem to be saying, anyway, and we all know they're soooo Jesus-like. :eyes:

[OneBlueSky]

27. there's power in Peace! . . . far more than in war, actually . . .

people just don't seem to realize it yet . . .

but Gandhi did . . . Martin Luther King, Jr. did . . . and Jesus certainly did . . .

maybe this small but important "win" will help open some eyes and some hearts . . . and allow people to think a little about how peace is S-O-O-O-O-O much more preferable and practical than war . . .

in the 21st Century, our survival -- and our planet's -- depends on it . . .

[Aristus]

28. Glory to God in the highest; and on Earth, PEACE and goodwill toward men.

This makes me so happy!

[Mad_Dem_X]

29. "That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown" :)

So glad that common sense has prevailed!

[Aristus]

31. And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by

night. When suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. And the angel said unto them: "Do not fear; for behold! I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be to all men. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

[Hepburn]

30. From their local town paper ~~ the peace sign in the snow

I love it! Congrats to Pagosa Springs and the people who did this!

[alittlelark]

34. Our vacation house is in that picture!

Dead center, log-style, in the back. It's on the other side of the river. The art gallery is the round building in front. We play kickball etc in that field w/ the family and kids. My dad and I left from there on Sunday.

The hot springs are to the right, and the 'freebie' tub that the neighborhood keeps up is right behind the large tree to the right.

Pagosa Springs is a great town!

[Hepburn]

46. Wow....

...you must have a lot of personal interest in what is going on in that town. How nice to see some place that you like and which you chose is a great little town that sure stood up for what is right!

What a lovely home in a lovely place! Congrats!

[alittlelark]

47. Actually we are selling it.

A developer named Hart has bought up the 2 lots to the west of us. He is putting up 39' condos. It took him almost 2 years to get these monstrocities approved (buying council votes). They will tower over our 2 story home and erradicate ALL winter sun. He offered us $575,000 for our place.... way too low. His hideous condos are an embarassment to the town of Pagosa Springs.

We are contemplating litigation - many neighbors are hoping we do it.



PS - the local paper is the Pagosa Springs Sun.

[Blaze Diem]

32. The Peace Sign is Universal ..send THESE PEOPLE the pics, they

will "get it". Let the healing begin, and please pass the peace sign.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2991953

[Hepburn]

33. Here is a pic is anyone wants to copy and save it to use

as an avatar ~~ please feel free to do so. 48%er graciously offered to do this for me. Thank you again, 48%. I can get the pic done ~~ my prob is figuring out how to get it posted. LOL Maybe by next Christmas time I can figure it out.

If anyone wishes to copy and save it, here it is:



:hi:

[Hepburn]

37. Aggggggggggh..............

.........don't use that one I posted. It's too big! Use the one that 48percenter has. Sorry!

[stubtoe]

40. Hi Hepburn - here is a smaller version of yours

Many thanks! It's nice with that 3D effect.

[Hepburn]

41. What a sweetie you are!

Thank you so much! LOL, now.......if I can AGAIN figure out how to get a personal avatar! I will try it again and see how I do!

Man, at my age??? Al these learning experiences? My bi-focals are fogging!

:hi:

[earth mom]

51. Thank you...

I will use it if you don't mind. :hi:

Yesterday, I posted a sister thread to this one in GD-to generate more interest in the idea of Peace Wreaths all over the country. Wouldn't that be lovely?! :woohoo:

Also, I should have linked each thread to the other, but had a migraine most of the day and wasn't thinking too clearly. Here's the link for the GD thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2824367

[Beaverhausen]

35. Buy a Peace Wreath and Adopt-a-land-mine

http://www.organicbouquet.com/p_58/pine_wreath_peace.html

this is the company who we bought the roses for Helen Thomas from! They rock.

[Sabriel]

53. I think you crashed their site. n/t

[HuffleClaw]

39. a happy ending !

"Two board members have disconnected their telephones, apparently to escape the waves of callers asking what the board could have been thinking"

and from the original tale of woe: "Kearns ordered the committee to require Jensen to remove the wreath, but members refused after concluding that it was merely a seasonal symbol that didn't say anything. Kearns fired all five committee members."

poor schmo is likely wondering what the hell went wrong! the bit about it being a 'satanic symbol' was pretty over the top, and likely helped the story become international news. i especially the part about the previous president being "a military veteran who would fight for anyone’s right to free speech, peace symbols included".

[Lisa]

42. and that is why this Canadian loves Americans!

Beautiful story.

"On Tuesday morning, 20 people marched through the center carrying peace signs and then stomped a giant peace sign in the snow perhaps 300 feet across on a soccer field, where it could be easily seen.

“There’s quite a few now in our subdivision in a show of support,” Mr. Trimarco said."


I'm so happy that Lisa Jensen did stick by her guns (or lack of guns?) -- and now she knows that she's not alone.

[symbolman]

44. Hey, Lookie Here!

I seem to have gotten the Peace Wreath Bug too :)

Thankya, they should add it to the list and let everyone have a shot at it. Solidarity in PEACE!

Town Manager is going to Hang one on the BELL TOWER? Jesus Christ, HOW MANY people CALLED that TOWN?!

Think about it.. if We can DO THIS, what ELSE CAN WE DO?

Remember, you have to SHAME them in LARGE NUMBERS :)

[buddysmellgood]

45. Here is a picture of mine in Wisconsin.

[donco6]

48. And here's the former HA president:

[Hepburn]

49. This hit me as funny:

A partial quote from the letter of the HOA to Lisa Jensen and Bill Trimarco backing down on banning the wreath:

"We had a misunderstanding with your Christmas decoration, and for that we apologize," the board wrote.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5177400,00.html

LOL, I wonder what they talked about with the wreath!?!?! I mean, they could have just ASKED it if it was a Satanic symbol since it appears that they had been communicating with it!

:rofl:

[NotGivingUp]

50. Very cool!