Feisty Seniors Win Christmas Tree Battle

Teresa Neumann-Commentary : Dec 11, 2012
Susan Abram and Mariecar Mendoza – The Daily News

Not only did the seniors not back down on the unconstitutional demand, but they said if someone tries to stop them from singing Christmas carols, they'll fight that too.

(Newhall, CA)—Don't mess with our rights. That's the message senior residents at the Willows Apartment Complex have established after fighting to keep a Christmas tree in the apartments' community room following a brouhaha from management who had originally ordered them to take the tree down because it was a "religious symbol."

The incident had produced a national uproar, as well it should.

According to a Daily News report, it was JB Partners Group, Inc., managers of the complex, who sent out an order saying the tree could stay. That, after being bombarded with countless phone calls and e-mails. (Photo: Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer)

"We think it was someone who heard something, and that someone told someone else and the person then told everybody," said the group's spokesperson, Monica Morones.

No doubt, that's exactly what happened. Isn't that how these ridiculous assumptions go?

California Congressman Buck McKeon had even weighed in on the fiasco, saying, "This is an absolute outrage and another example of a sad, sad trend I see happening in America today . . . These residents pay rent to a private entity and should have the freedom to practice the holiday traditions of their choice."

Resident Dora Hadnot, said, "We got our tree back and we're happy, but I'm upset we had to go through all this. It's Christmas. A tree means Christmas."

Another resident reportedly quipped that they would probably not be allowed to sing transitional Christmas songs next, to which fellow resident Marjorie Lenenberg replied, "If not, that'll be our next fight."

Looks like when it comes to spunk, determination, and standing up to bullies, we have a lot to learn from our senior citizens.