Peace Sign A Symbol Of Satan?

Colo. Town Bans Christmas Wreath With Peace Sign; Some Call Sign Unpatriotic, Satanic

(AP)  A homeowners association in southwestern Colorado has threatened to fine a resident $25 a day until she removes a Christmas wreath with a peace sign that some say is an anti-Iraq war protest or a symbol of Satan.

Some residents who have complained have children serving in Iraq, said Bob Kearns, president of the Loma Linda Homeowners Association in Pagosa Springs. He said some residents have also believed it was a symbol of Satan. Three or four residents complained, he said.

"Somebody could put up signs that say drop bombs on Iraq. If you let one go up you have to let them all go up," he said in a telephone interview Sunday.

Lisa Jensen said she wasn't thinking of the war when she hung the wreath. She said, "Peace is way bigger than not being at war. This is a spiritual thing."

Jensen, a past association president, calculates the fines will cost her about $1,000, and doubts they will be able to make her pay. But she said she's not going to take it down until after Christmas.

"Now that it has come to this I feel I can't get bullied," she said. "What if they don't like my Santa Claus."

The association in this 200-home subdivision 270 miles southwest of Denver has sent a letter to her saying that residents were offended by the sign and the board "will not allow signs, flags etc. that can be considered divisive."

The subdivision's rules say no signs, billboards or advertising are permitted without the consent of the architectural control committee.

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.

[bobandladyjane]

Oh My When he ( Kearns ) couldn't impose his will on five people in order to stop an act of PEACE he fires them. How BUSH-ESQUE of him. I'm so glad I don't live there.

[wadyaknow]

Why don't the just up and fire Kearns.
What a jerk and what a bunch of goofs to say it is the devil's symbol. Even if this was the devil's sign that could still be construed as a personal religious choice. Heck - I think the "Pope" is a hate-monger.

[rlegg369]

To quote the Late, Great, John Lennon. "All we are saying, is give peace a chance."

[jairod]

It is my understanding that neither a State, County, City, Municipality, nor any other organization can legislate away our Constitutional rights. The right to Free Speech is at issue in this case and that right must prevail. If someone wants to advertise to "Drop Bombs" in Iraq, that is their right as protected by the Constitution. The right to express that the Idea of "Dropping Bombs" on anybody is abhorent because of Religious ideals is also protected. That is the basis of argumentation: you take one side and I take the other. If you want to open the Bible and shake it in my face and tell me that it is against God's will to "Drop Bombs" on anybody, show me chapter and verse instead of trying to ram it down my throat: I will listen to you if you don't try to shove your Ideals dowm my throat. What civilized people do is discuss and consider. Accepting another's opinion without argumentation is stupid. When was the last time the people that oppose the Peace Sign in question sat with the person that put it up and discussed the whys and wherefores of that action?

[jvman4u]

So TYPICAL of the POWER hungry-control freaks that get onto the homeowners boards, in South florida they even control what kind of car you can own, and weather your visitors cars are allowed onto their streets for a visit to your home... Ain't all this getting a bit out of hand, can't they find more important things to do with their time? NO! instead they have to scour and find TARGETS, and then assault them with hate, fines and unhappiness, when they could have just told "those 3-4 people that complained" to go back into their homes take the MEDICATIONS and mind their own damned business, that it wasn't listed as one of the rules, and wasn't hurting anyone...

[thgdriver]

If there is a rule against "all signs" then she must take it down, but "all signs" must come down, not just the one's they disagree with..

This peace sign has been around for years, pardon my ignorance, but can someone tell me how and when it became a sign of the Devel or Saten?

[danimal50]

Keep your peaceful wreath up there in full view Ms Jensen. I would be pleased to help you with a portion of the monetary fine should one be levied.
In 1972, after returning from a year in Vietnam, there were those who were quite upset about the peace symbol I had on the back of my VW van. I kept my peace symbol on my van then and I hope you keep yours on your house now.
You are right ---- Peace IS way better than war, especially an unnecessary war, as Virtman was and as Iraq now is.

[syphlis]

Someone needs to find a branding iron with a peace symbol and sear it onto this kearns guy's forehead until the pus runs down into his mouth. How does it taste you sack of ***? can you taste the charred skin and flesh of the lives of countless women and children this POINTLESS war has trampled and shredded? CAN YOU TASTE IT?

[mick7744]

Well...you have to expect this sort of thing when you give moronic petty dictators a little authority. Pagosa Springs Colo. sounds like a great place not to live.

On the other hand, if this peace stuff was to catch on, the US economy would go right down the tubes and the rest of the world's right after it.

[thgdriver]

homeowners association's have rules as far as signs, yard sales, garage sale's, time's for mowing grass, keeping a home neat, and the like. Before you buy a home you are asked to read and sign the agreement. Once you sign you are bound by the rules of the association. It has nothing to do with your rights as a citizen of the USA. If you do not agree to the rules, don't buy a home with the association.

[dunkenhms]

This sounds more like an attack on the woman rather than the actual issue being expressed. How could anyone see the peace sign as demonic? This woman is doing nothing more than showing her hope for peace in this world. This is a huge infringement on her right to expression.

[marxgrl-2009]

The residents in that "cult neighborhood" should be ashamed of themselves. GET A LIFE and leave her alone.

[deesown1]

For those with children and loved ones in Iraq - may the hope for peace help you through your restless nights waiting for your loved ones to return home. May God remind them all that this the Season of "PEACE on Earth - Good Will Towards Men." And since WHEN did Satan EVER hang a wreath? Somehow I just can not seem to make the connection between Satan and Peace... For ALL of those men and women that have fought for us, both globally and even here in our own streets - no matter how our political views of a "Just War" or an "un-just War" clash and all of the arguments that may take place on the subject(s), PEACE be with you. And to you, Ms. Jensen, may you also have a joyous and peaceful holiday season!

[intn1]

Holy cow. Home owners' associations are stupid anyway. Seriously. Why join an organization that will tell you when and where you can park your car on your own property and try to tell you what you can and can't hang on a house you buy with YOUR money. This is America and these little communist clubs need to back off. It's her house..and it's a pretty wreath. Let her hang it up, and if her neighbors have a problem with it, they should talk to her..not their cults' president.

[squiz2]

Why would someone with children fighting in this war be offended by a peace-wreath? Isn't that what the soldiers are fighting for, peace? And aren't you hoping for their peaceful return? I could understand if they were unhappy about an anti-war sign, but a peace-wreath? Some people are just stupid. Especially the ones who think it's satanic.

[thgdriver]

The story starts out by telling us all it is an association.

"A homeowners association in southwestern Colorado".

It seemds to me she agreed to the rules when she signed the Homeowners associations agreement. Somewhere in the agreement, it pobably say's "no signs" of "any kind".

[jdb43-2009]

Keams and the "Satan-symbol" complainers are proof positive that lack of oxygen affects the brain. Maybe they need to move a little closer to sea-level and see if they gain some common-sense.

[deesown1]

You are right, if there is indeed a signed agreement to not hang anything outside - then by all means, ask her to remove it - HOWEVER, it seems that there are SPECIFIC complaints regarding the actual WREATH and its MEANING as it is seen by those around it. The fact that this particular symbol has complaints of "anti-war" and "satanic" meaning is the most outrageous thing I have heard in a long time. Regarding this particular issue, I have yet to hear ANYTHING that states that no one is to hang anything of a religious or seasonal nature outside of their home. I live in a very small community - and I am sure that there are different rules in different parts of the country and in different communities, HOWEVER, this seems to be about the personal perspectives of a specific wreath, NOT about how her Neighborhood Home Owners Association Contract reads.

[nicholasma]

Kearns sounds like a Taliban!, Is he the type that would drag the woman out into a football field and blow her brains out because she did not follow his Cult of o-bay? I Don%u2019t like the War, But I do and will stand by her right to express herself. Let%u2019s get it done and get our people home.S orry you had nowhere with simple freedoms to live (god knows we paid the price)

[thgdriver]

My sister lives in a neighborhood with an agreement of homeowners.

It dictates what time you are allowed to mow your lawn for instance. I suppose this is to stop someone from mowing at 1 AM with flood lights.

She told me someone moved in and deceided to have a yard sale every Saturday. This very quickly became a traffic problem in the hood.

The homeowners association had a rule of one yard sale, per family, per year, and made the offender stop the practice.

[heresmy2cent]

What a stupid little town.

I hope someone puts up a "swastika" wreath just to really **** off these simpletons.

[phd9]

For those who are commenting that, having signed the homeowners association agreement, then they are bound by it, I ask in turn, do you suppose that there's is the only home in the neighborhood with a holiday wreath? I find that highly unlikely.

[thgdriver]

Again, CBS did not give us the detailed agreement of this particular Homeowners Association. Kearns must be acting with some rule that is in the agreement.

I an not saying I agree or disagree, I like to fly our flag every holiday, and I do.

I chose not to live in one.

Some homeowners Associations wont let you even do that.

[thgdriver]

Phd9

Read all my posts, I said, if there is an agreement against signs, they must "all" come down not just the ones they disagree with!

[meboard]

Being the President of a HOA (3 years), you have to really look into the governing documents to see what they in fact say/allow. You get into trouble when you have a rule that is left to the judgement of the Board--what is considered "divisive"...and by whom? The fact that this President "fired" the other members of the architectual committee who disagreed with him is suspect. I have a feeling there is much more underlying this issue. I don't find this symbol any more "disturbing" then had she spelled out "PEACE"...which many people display during the holidays. HOAs make for an interesting study in human interaction.

[athomemom1]

To answer the question about what makes the peace symbol a satanic symbol, It represents an inverted, broken cross. It was originally intended to make a mockery of the crucifiction of Jesus Christ.Satanic rites often involve the use of Christian or Catholic rites or practices in reverse, such as the Lord's Prayer, and communion.
When these people moved in to this community, they signed up to its rules and regulations. There appears to be a certain status to having everything "just so". Everyones lawn the same
length, the right kind of car, etc... If she wanted personal expression, she should have chosen to live somewhere else. That is why people choose to live in a neighbor hood like that, to avoid anything that they might find offensive.

[nicholasma]

And some women want to live with a Taliban
Love thy neighbor

[kailo6]

I'm with everyone, but I think it's a mistake to write it off as a bunch of nutballs in one homeowners's association.

I have known some extreme fundamentalist folks who refuse to listen to or read anything unless their pastor tells them it's okay, and the pastor is basically their one channel of information. If that pastor is very right-wing and, say, supports the war in Iraq, he can tell his followers all kinds of stuff, like that the peace symbol is Satanic.

I don't think this is that far away from saying that, if you don't support the war, you don't support our troops and don't appreciate them and wish them safety -- when in fact, the opposite is likely to be true.

[meboard]

And God knows Colorado has their share of fundamentalist... I wounder how good'ol Father Ted's doing?

[bitchesur]

athomemom1

Your comment is ridiculous...
"When these people moved in to this community, they signed up to its rules and regulations. There appears to be a certain status to having everything "just so". Everyones lawn the same length, the right kind of car, etc... If she wanted personal expression, she should have chosen to live somewhere else. That is why people choose to live in a neighbor hood like that, to avoid anything that they might find offensive."

That is the most ridiculous statement I've heard so far today.

You know who believed sayings like this...Hitler

This isn't Nazi Germany is it???? It is America..Land of the Free... the right to free speech...

[bitchesur]

As a matter of fact, I may put up several of these "peace wreiths" for Christmas and hope someone has the nerve to say take it down now or else....

[kailo6]

Oh great! Thanks, athomemom, for the perfect example. Did your pastor tell you that origin story?

The peace symbol is a very modern creation, which was created in the mid-1900's by a recorded individual who was known, named, and the design is well-documented. It was never seen before. Check any book or wikipedia or any online source or anyone in the peace movement, or anyone wth any education at all and they can tell you this. If I'm wrong, please set me straight with any shred of evidence of it showing up anywhere before the last century and I'll take this all back.

By the way, I do work with ritual abuse survivors, most of whom were abused by Satanic cults. I can assure you that the peace sign is not used. And also by the way, those cults are populated in large majority by people who, in their daily and public lives, are extremely "devout" -appearing "Christians."

Best to research your subject from many sources before you report on it with authority in a public forum, ath.

[meboard]

Actulaly *********, athomemom1 is right... When you buy into a community governed by an association, you are given a copy of the rules prior to the sale of the unit. If you go ahead and buy the unit, you agree to live under those rules and resrictions. Note in this case, that the signs are subject to the ruling of the architectural committee. The committee uphead the display of the symbol/wreath and the Pres "fired" them. He surely oversteped his authority.

[kailo6]

P.S. Sorry to be such a snot. I sound like these horrible, hateful right-wingers (not all of the folks on the right, just these mean ones) who get on and spew bile and insult people and call names. Ath's post just got to me on a couple of fronts. :-(

[tinker3478]

It may well be perceived as a symbol of Satan by all the right-wingers who are pro-Iraq war. I personally prefer to lay the Satan charge at the feet of GWB-if he will quit crawfishing long enough to stand still.

But wow, what a tacky wreath!

[bitchesur]

She may be right or wrong, I dont really care, now my concern is about these "communist homeowner clubs" then.

Also, I never said she was wrong, I said it was a ridiculous statement she posted saying that the lady should have moved somewhere else if she wanted to put up a wreath... other than 163 Communist Lane.

[bluestardad]

stand your ground and keep the symbol!

[thgdriver]

athomemom1

Obviously, ********* does not understand the rules and regulations of a homeowners association, he/she is probably the same person we see butting into lines at the movies and post office, "RULES" are for other people not *********.

[golf_wiz1]

I thought one of the themes of Christmas was Peace on Earth and Good Will towards all men.

Seems this decoration is in keeping with that theme.

[bitchesur]

thgdriveer

It has nothing to do with understanding the rules and regulations, it has to do with rights. They make you give up rights to live in their neighborhood. If your fine with being a sheep and doing what your told, so be it, but our forefathers built this country by standing up for their rights and what they believed in even though the British thought otherwise.


And dont pass judgement on me like you know anything about me. I'm the one who would kick the #%@#^ out of your child who steps in line at the movies.

[thgdriver]

*********

When you signed the homeowners agreement you give up you rights, If you decide the rules do not apply to you after you give your "word" to obey the rules, then you are the person I see disregarding all our rules of decent society.

[jebediah76]

There is so much wrong with this that I don't even know where to begin.

This woman has the right to burn an american flag on her lawn every day if she wants to, whether it angers her neighbors or not. She has a right to do anything she wants because in this country - her rights, including her rights to free speech and to expression of her views and to her own opinions are hers -- AND THEY ARE UNALIENABLE.

On Constitutional grounds, the rules of the development should be struck down as illegal. Congress can't even make rules liek this - what makes this development so special??

And who are these crackpots with the peace sign as a satanic symbol?!? This is about the most disgusting thing I have ever read. It is also the saddest commentary on present day America I have seen in quite some time.

[jebediah76]

There is so much wrong with this that I don't even know where to begin.

This woman has the right to burn an american flag on her lawn every day if she wants to, whether it angers her neighbors or not. She has a right to do anything she wants because in this country - her rights, including her rights to free speech and to expression of her views and to her own opinions are hers -- AND THEY ARE UNALIENABLE.

On Constitutional grounds, the rules of the development should be struck down as illegal. Congress can't even make rules liek this - what makes this development so special??

And who are these crackpots with the peace sign as a satanic symbol?!? This is about the most disgusting thing I have ever read. It is also the saddest commentary on present day America I have seen in quite some time.

[phd9]

To repeat.

The homeowner association's position is completely untenable UNLESS it bans all Christmas wreaths. If, on the other hand they've been singled out simply because of the shape of their wreath, then the fact that they might have signed the agreement is immaterial.

[jebediah76]

There is so much wrong with this that I don't even know where to begin.

This woman has the right to burn an american flag on her lawn every day if she wants to, whether it angers her neighbors or not. She has a right to do anything she wants because in this country - her rights, including her rights to free speech and to expression of her views and to her own opinions are hers -- AND THEY ARE UNALIENABLE.

On Constitutional grounds, the rules of the development should be struck down as illegal. Congress can't even make rules liek this - what makes this development so special??

And who are these crackpots with the peace sign as a satanic symbol?!? This is about the most disgusting thing I have ever read. It is also the saddest commentary on present day America I have seen in quite some time.

[bitchesur]

Are you sure PHD?

Because thgdriver says once you sign the contract, you belong to the devil and his homowners clan and only line-cutting hoodlums at the movies and post-office break the rules..apparently

[cantshutup]

I challenge any one of you to google what Satanists believe...you'd be surprised at what you find...to say this peace symbol represents satan is actually close to the truth, because satanists believe they should avoid harming others...All you christians and non informed others have the christianized boogy man version of satan imprinted in your brains...satanism is nothing like the horrific demonic cults that christians assume this woman was promoting...morons!

[thgdriver]

Jensen admits she knows the rules and is braking them anyway!

"Jensen, a past association president, calculates the fines will cost her about $1,000"

[rudy654-2009]

That's right. These idiots make a big deal about a peace symbol wreath and now it's national news. They don't want it in their neighborhood, but now they have it there and on TV as well. Had they just ignored it they could have gone on about their silly lives instead of looking like the bullying fascist they are. Isn't subdivision life so wonderful!

[deesown1]

I think that in our quest to express our views as Americans with rights ~ we are missing something.
We do not know the contents of the Homeowners Association Contract that she CHOSE to sign. If it indeed states that NO ONE is to display any depictions of religion, political preferences and so on and so forth, then she should take it down. No one can FORCE her to live in that neighborhood. No one can FORCE her to sign that agreement. There is no mention that she was unfairly FORCED to agree to cruel and unusual guidelines in order to keep her family home of 100s of years...
I personally chose NOT to live in such a community but instead CHOSE to buy a home elsewhere.
If indeed she IS being falsely and unfairly persecuted it must be investigated and prosecuted properly - then we can scream from our American roof tops "shame on those that forget that it is our RIGHT as Americans to hang a wreath no matter what it may be interpretted as."