Happy Flamingo Day

December 16th 2003

   Well it happened again this year... as it always does..  some city catches hell for setting up a crèche on the lawn in front of city hall...  but this time its not just not a nativity scene causing trouble... there is a large Menorah as well ....  

    Mayor Laffey   decided that it would be ok for private groups to set up a religious display on city property so long as it was not paid for with city funds..   all in all, not a bad idea...   The city residents can take pleasure and pride in the display of "something" of religious significance and the city is not shelling out one thin dime to support any one religion,  but rather encourage the expression of all religion.   I don't believe that allowing a group to set up a display in the lawn is "imposing" a religion at all !!

    The A.C.L.U.  decided to get involved, for some reason...  I have no clue why...   I do believe in the separation of church and state...  and so long as the "state" isn't supporting , paying for, or endorsing a "specific" religion, I see no problem with allowing all religion equal opportunity to use the space on the lawn.. its sort of like allowing a St. Josephs parade on a city owned street,  so long as equal privileges are afforded every other group.

.. The idea being that the city would make the space available to any group that wanted to set up a "tasteful" display intrigued me... The concept is great until you think about who decides just what is "tasteful".  Well folks, in this town, it is the mayor !..   Yet another reason I should run for office.. .. I could set the bench mark for style and grace citywide .  

.. In the interest of equal representation , I have decided to impose a little culture, and style on the mayor.  I have created the "church" of the pink flamingo...  and we have our own special winter holiday,  I call it "Flamingo Day"  and it is with great pride, the church erected a fitting tribute to our leader, the GREAT FLAMINGO, on the front lawn of city hall.   

    Oh sure, it had to be done in the dead of night...   But I'm pretty sure that this is legal.

(this is the text from the sign)

Wishing You A Festive Flamingo Day

In the spirit of the Great Flamingo, spread Love, Peace, and Frivolity to your neighbors, and to the world!

...a message from the Church of the Pink Flamingo.

This Flamingo day Display has been brought to the citizens of Cranston at no cost to the city tax payers.

This display will be removed by Church members at the end of our ten day observance. .. please call with any questions 465 6829..

and Yes folks.. I am an ass.. I just had to get a quick photo of a flamingo in the manger .. he had a great time, keeping time with the ox and lamb.. 

.. just one quick shot of the flamingo embracing other religions..

and NO I am not enough of an ass to have left him there.. that would be "tacky" .. and we all know how I feel about "tacky"

BE WELL, AND SPREAD THE LOVE,

HAPPY FLAMINGO DAY !

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 17 1003,  9a.m.

    I got a call this morning from the mayors office.. they thought it best if I would come on down and fill out a release ...   so it looks like I'm legal, all asses are covered !

      Actually the folks at city hall sounded rather amused by the display.  I bumped into two lawyers from the A.C.L.U.  while walking out of city hall,  and we talked at length about church and state.. bla bla bla...  I think that for the most part they are right,  but it didn't matter... this experiment was all about opening a dialog.. doing my part to evoke change through the satirical medium of the pink flamingo.. Government should be a dynamic entity,  not a static crutch to fall back on for answers..  and it is working... people are talking.. 

01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, December 17, 2003

BY BARBARA POLICHETTI
Journal Staff Writer

CRANSTON -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island has not decided whether to pose constitutional objections to a holiday display in front of Cranston City Hall that includes a large menorah and an illuminated Nativity scene.

Steven Brown, executive director of the ACLU affiliate, said the organization's legal committee is expected to make a decision today.

The ACLU began looking into the matter on Monday, after receiving three complaints that the display -- which also includes an inflatable Santa Claus and snowman -- violates the principle of separation of church and state.

Mayor Stephen P. Laffey has defended the display, which was erected by residents who took him up on his invitation to have the public use the City Hall front lawn to display "appropriate" holiday decorations.

Before any decorations are put on the lawn, Laffey said, they must be approved by his office and that his written policy also states that it cannot "shock the consciousness of the community."

Laffey said that he had the city's legal department review the matter beforehand and that he does not believe the display violates a 1984 U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed the City of Pawtucket to keep a Nativity scene as part of a larger holiday display.

Brown said that based on initial descriptions, he doesn't feel the Cranston decorations fit the same parameters as the Pawtucket case.

Laffey's office reported yesterday that it had received dozens of phone calls -- all in support of keeping the Nativity scene and the menorah.

The menorah was erected by the West Bay Chabad and the near-life-size Nativity scene was put up by resident Jerome Gella.

Resident Jim Hackett contributed the Santa and the snowman.

Laffey said he would like to see more residents contribute to the display.

..and a special note to the Providence Journal, who holds the copyright to this piece.. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME !  

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 17 1003,  4 p.m.

I just got off of the phone with a reporter for the providence journal, Barbara Polichetti.  she sounded amused by all of this nonsense,  and interested in writing a story for the paper..    with any luck I will be able to post the story here in a day or so..  so please check back.

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 17 1003,  5 p.m.

The Providence Journal just sent over a photographer ,Kathy Borchers..  I asked the photographer to take these photos for me while she was here..   looks like the story will run tomorrow.. 

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 17 1003,  11 p.m.

the Flamingos were shown quite a bit on Channel 10 here in Providence.. the mayor said on camera that he thought they were "nice flamingos"

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 18 1003,  7:30a.m.

I'm told that WHJY 94FM radio was talking about them....  didn't hear it because I like to sleep in.... thanks to my EX-Wife Holly for calling to let me know. 

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 18 1003,  8 a.m.

here is the article from Providence Journal Writer,  Barbara P

The organization opposes religious displays at Cranston City Hall on constitutional grounds, but says the addition of plastic flamingos trivializes religion.

09:41 AM EST on Thursday, December 18, 2003

BY BARBARA POLICHETTI
Journal Staff Writer

CRANSTON -- A flock of 15 pink flamingos -- all wearing tiny Santa Claus caps -- has landed on the front lawn of City Hall right between a baby Jesus in a manger and a large menorah.

The plastic birds, which bring season's greetings from "The Church of the Pink Flamingo," are the latest addition to a holiday display that is drawing fire from the American Civil Liberties Union.

The ACLU announced yesterday that it will file a lawsuit in federal court challenging the display, which residents are erecting piecemeal at the invitation of Mayor Stephen P. Laffey.

Each decoration must be approved by the mayor's office and as of yesterday afternoon, the display included a near-life-size Nativity scene, a menorah, three Santas, an inflatable snowman, an angel -- and the flamingos.

"The ACLU believes that the city's approval of the display of a Nativity scene and menorah in front of the seat of government -- and immediately adjacent to a public school cannot withstand constitutional scrutiny," said Steven Brown, director of the Rhode Island Affiliate of the ACLU. "Public officials simply should not be in the business of promoting religious symbols or serve as arbiters of what are or are not appropriate holiday displays."

Laffey responded to the ACLU's planned legal action by saying, "As everyone knows, both the Grinch and Scrooge had a change of heart when they found out the true meaning of Christmas. And even though Mr. Brown may say, 'Bah Humbug' to Cranston, we say to him, 'Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men.' "

He said that residents are telling him that they love the continually expanding display, and that even though he was surprised to find the flamingos yesterday morning, he thinks that they fit in just fine.

"I was offended about [the city] being arbitrary about good taste," Bonelli, 36, said yesterday. "And what says good taste more than pink flamingos?"

"It's a little political statement," he said. "And as much as it is my being a bit smart-ass -- to which I fully admit -- it is also about promoting active dialogue.

"I want people to drive by and smile at the damn pink flamingos," he said. "And it is a bit of a mockery of the whole [city versus ACLU] situation, but it's also letting the city know that if you're going to allow one group to use City Hall lawn, you'd better allow everyone.

"It's a warning that this is opening up a can of worms."

A collector of pink flamingos with 45 on the front lawn of his Bracken Street home, Bonelli said that he decided on the spur of the moment to put the birds up Tuesday night.

"I burned my fingers with the glue gun," he said of his hasty work that transformed a Christmas tree skirt into the tiny red and white Santa caps.

He also created a large silver sign, which he put in the middle of the flock and which bears the message, "Wishing you a Festive Flamingo Day. In the spirit of the Great Flamingo, spread love, peace and frivolity to your neighbors and the world."

It is signed as a "message from the Church of the Pink Flamingo," states that no tax dollars were used for the display, and includes Bonelli's phone number.

He said Laffey's office called him yesterday and asked him to fill out the necessary paperwork for the public display. "Everyone had a good sense of humor about it," Bonelli said of the reception he received at City Hall. "I think everyone knows I'm having a little fun, and also no one wants to insult me if I am serious."

Laffey said that he readily approved the bright birds and that he thinks that they are "relatively tasteful. He said he has no problems with the flamingos perched next to a Nativity scene.

"They're nice flamingos," he said. "And when this whole thing is over, the only thing that people may remember is those flamingos."

"All this does does is highlight the fact that when government gets involved in religion, religion ends up getting trivialized and degraded," Brown said.

"If Cranston wants to display a Nativity scene at the cost of putting it next to Santa Claus and flamingos, then they deserve whatever they get."

"It's the ACLU that gets accused of being anti-religious by filing these types of lawsuits," Brown said, "but this shows that it's precisely the opposite. It's politicians that abuse and demote religion.

"I would think that most religious people would be terribly offended by having the sacred birth of Jesus just a few feet away from plastic flamingos in Santa Claus outfits."

Laffey countered that Brown is contradicting himself, "first saying that we're endorsing religion and now he's saying that we're trivializing it.

"Besides," he said, "Mr. Brown is not the fashion police for Cranston."

Bonelli, staying out of the back-and-forth between the city and the ACLU, said, "My first goal is just to be a cheap smile, and beyond that, my intention is to make people think."

http://www.projo.com/westbay/content/projo_20031218_cr18pink.2ff7c8.html

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 18 1003,  9:45 a.m.

just got a call from CH. 12 WPRI in Providence.. they are sending out a news crew...

they want to interview me...  this is getting way out of hand  ... they got the idea for interviewing me from reading the news paper... they called my home phone number after reading my name in the paper looking it up, not from actually finding my cell phone number on the sign...  what a bunch of slackers..  don't get me wrong, I love the press.. but they passed on the story, when it was called into the tip line on the 16th, and only now are running it.   

.. the crew was 15 min late.. the slackers...  but the interview was quick light hearted and fun... lets hope I'm not edited to look like a Bozo..    for those of you in the Providence area,  be sure to watch at  6:15pm.. 

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 18 1003,  1:30 p.m.

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 18 1003,  4:00 p.m.

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 18 1003,  8:50 p.m.

    its been a long, and funny as hell day.. and I'm trying to nap little on the couch, when yet again .. the phone rings.. so I answer the phone and its some guy asking about  the display, wanting to know it the Church of the Pink  Flamingos is real...  I give him a brief run down of what the deal is.. he thanks me and hangs up..  a little odd, but no big deal...     

    as soon as I start to drift off again,  the phone rings.. and its another guy,  sounding a little like the first.. he asks a few questions.. again I answer...  but I had to ask him why he was calling, as it didn't seem like an average citizen with a question.. yet he also didn't sound like a member of the Press.  as it turns out, it was Jim Racine, the style editor of the Village Voice, America's largest weekly newspaper... he was in town covering "Cher"  said she was in town for a movie premier or something .. hell I don't know, I was sleeping!.. well to make a long story .. well.. longer.. he thinks the Flamingos are just "fabulous" and wants to write them up in next weeks Voice...  how cool is this?!!..     go figure,  put out a handful of pink flamingos, and dudes from the village voice show up...    this is getting way too funny!  but this all sounds just too odd.. so I checked online at the village voice site,  and looked up the Masthead, and saw no listing for "Style Editor" or Jim Racine...  

.. check back later in the week,  if the article happens,  ill post the article as soon as I have it! 

.. sure I should go to bed.. but I have a funny feeling I have to check on the flock!

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 18 1003,  10:30 p.m.

    Damn it !!!   one of the flamingos has been stolen from the city hall lawn..  this is NOT in the spirit of Flamingo Day !!!  Thief beware.. the Great and Mighty Flamingo is a vengeful deity ,  and he will strike you down with a nasty case of chapped lips if you do not return the stolen property. 

    i took the time to write this web page address on the little sign..  so people can read up on this silly saga.  hope to have the missing Flamingo replaced in the morning !!!

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 19 1003,  8:30 a.m.

the flock was joined for a while this afternoon by Psycho-Amy.. a fun little doll.. she posed a Bit with the guys,   shared a few stories about being a persecuted plastic icon,  had a hot coco, and was off for a photo opportunity with Santa

    D.J. Roche from the Boston Globe called,  she writes a column on religion called Peaks and Valleys...  and the likes the flamingos...   sounds like a nice lady.. we chatted for a while... i was just pretending to be awake ..this press thing is fun,  but why does it  happen so damn early..  the article should be posted here as soon as it comes out..   www.Boston.com/globe/metro/peaks_valleys  

the AP interview was picked up by the Boston Globe (so far).

..and a special note to theGlobe, and AP, who holds the copyright to this piece.. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME !  

Flamingos join disputed holiday display at Cranston City Hall

By Amy Forliti, Associated Press Writer, 12/18/2003

CRANSTON, R.I. -- Under the dark cover of night, 15 pink flamingos donning Santa hats descended on City Hall, perching themselves between a Nativity scene and menorah.

 and can be seen here 

 (you may need to cut and paste these two lines into your web browser)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2003/12/18/

flamingos_join_disputed_holiday_display_at_cranston_city_hall/

this is some stranger.. just wandered by to see the flock.. said he wasn't at all offended !!

mid-day update... 

I was informed that Jesus was taken from his manger last night as well... 

and  now this from the Providence Journal

http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20031219_cr19folo.d0654.html

a true believer does not need proof.. but here it is anyway... the church of the Pink Flamingo does have members.. here Courtney is shown communing with the little fellows.

and this as well from the providence Journal..

I sent this E-Mail to Bob in response to his fine article 

here we have out little friend hamming it up for the camera..  he just loves his "evil second head" google eyes.

today was a busy day..  I got to chat on the radio again. this time with WHJJ 920 am.. not a bad little interview..    and I'm such a fool I didn't get the interviewers name...  

the flock is again complete.. I have replaced the missing flamingo.!! 

.. and an interesting conversation with a judge outside city hall .. he didn't think that there should be any display at all..  

... and while this was going on there was a small crew from a local union erecting a tasteful happy holiday sign.. they politely declined my offer of a few flamingos.   it was a funny sight.. I wish I had my camera.. there were 3 big guys, and a big truck .. with just one guy pounding in the stakes for the sign.. it looked like a typical "union " job

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 19 1003,  4:10 p.m.

.. I spoke with Arlene Violet on the radio today.. (WHJJ AM radio) she was nice,  and let me speak..  who would imagine a polite radio host !?

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 19 1003,  7:30 p.m.

we just got a few new members... Tienne, and Reverend Temptress.  Spreading Frivolity, and being pant less.. who should be doing what.. you decide !

Check back in a few days,  Reverend Temptress, shown here in a sassy frock will have our first official "Church of the Pink Flamingo" hymn

.. I still have yet to have my calls to councilmen McDonough, or Jackvony returned.. but I did get a call from  councilwoman O'hara.. but unfortunately I was not home to answer it..   I returned her call and hope she calls me back!!

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 19 1003,  8:35 p.m 

    Councilmen Randall Jackvony just gave me a call...  and was kind enough to make clear a few points.. he tells me that it wasn't so much the flamingos making the "mockery of religion"  but rather the situation, as a whole..  and that's fair enough for me..   he is right.. this is a mockery of a mockery in my humble opinion..  but for my part it is a good natured mockery.  ..and I'm so very pleased that Councilmen Jackvony  did see fit to call me  back, to take an active interest in the views of others, and how his views are perceived by others.. , rather than simply state his case to the press...   it was great to engage in the dialog.  

    Although I couldn't convert him to the church of the pink flamingo, he did admit that they gave him a smile...    and that's all I ask for ....spreading love, peace, and frivolity.  

    Perhaps this is all a huge plot on my part to get everything removed from the  lawn,  and perhaps I agree with the A.C.L.U. ?     you decide... ( or at least talk about it!)

Nativity scenes cause uproar


By Joyce Howard Price
THE WASHINGTON TIMES     December 19,2003

    As in every holiday season, efforts have been made this year to take Christ out of Christmas in schools and at other public events.
    A Nativity scene was removed from a showcase in Simmons Elementary School in Horsham, Pa.
    "The administration removed it because it was too overt in its religious significance," said a spokeswoman for the Hatboro-Horsham School District.
    District Superintendent William Lessa said he "always thought a Nativity scene is a religious symbol so significant that it was not appropriate in the context of public education."
    But Mr. Lessa said he is willing to re-examine that question in the wake of parental complaints and publicity that followed his decision to remove the Nativity scene. He said plenty of other symbols can be found in Simmons Elementary, including Christmas trees, a menorah and a symbol of Kwanzaa.
    "Christmas has become more secular than ever in the schools," said John Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute, a public-interest law firm that represents people in cases involving religious freedom.
    "Schools are really tightening down ... we're so besieged by the whole secular aspect [of Christmas] that people are getting the idea it's hopeless to complain" when religious aspects are removed, Mr. Whitehead said.
    He expressed concern about the Simmons Elementary action but said Rutherford would not have standing to bring litigation.
    In another case, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Rhode Island plans to go to court today to try to force removal of a Nativity scene from the Cranston City Hall lawn. Mayor Stephen Lassey invited residents to adorn the lawn with their own holiday decorations.
    Residents responded by installing items such as an inflatable Santa and snowmen, a menorah, a 4-foot-tall angel with lights and 15 plastic pink flamingos wearing Santa hats.
    "There was not a peep until a Jewish man decided to put up a Nativity scene in honor of his deceased Christian wife. Then, the ACLU announced it was getting involved," said mayoral spokeswoman Robin Schutt.
    In another case, a Connecticut artist who had been barred by a public library from including a painting of a Nativity scene from an Advent display of her works has been given a reprieve.
    The Nativity scene and four paintings of Jesus as an adult by artist Mary Morley were to have been excluded from her 17-piece art exhibit at the Meriden Public Library in Meriden, Conn., said Edmond M. Diorio, an affiliate attorney for Rutherford in Watertown, Conn.
    "For the past year, the Meriden Public Library has been letting local artists display their works in month long exhibits. But Miss Morley was the first artist where the library decided to pick and choose which works it would allow," Mr. Diorio said yesterday in a telephone interview.
    "This had every appearance of religious discrimination," he added.
    In a letter to the city's Department of Law, Mr. Diorio said library director Marcia Trotta let Miss Morley show paintings of Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, Moses, David and Goliath, and some angels, but not Jesus.
    At a meeting this week, the library's board of trustees unanimously agreed to accept the full collection.
    Meriden City Attorney Lawrence Kendzior yesterday insisted the library director "acted responsibly."
    Mr. Kendzior sad the Meriden library director thought the paintings she wanted left out "would create problems with the establishment clause of the Constitution."
    Meanwhile, things are peaceful in Cedar County, Iowa, where a Nativity scene stands on the courthouse lawn. Nearby is a sign saying that the display is "neither sponsored or endorsed" by the county. The lawn has been formally designated as a "public forum."
    "As far as I know, this policy satisfies the constitutional concerns of the [Iowa Civil Liberties Union] and others," said Stephen Benz, assistant county attorney.

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20031218-103308-1166r.htm
    

a special note to the Washington Times, and Joyce Howard Price, who hold the copyright to this piece.. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME !

FUN E-MAIL: Friday, December 19, 2003 9:50 AM

Re: wild Press updates

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 20 1003,  11:30 p.m.

I spend the day in NYC and miss this

http://www.projo.com/westbay/content/projo_20031220_cran20.128e2d.html 

..and a special note to the Providence Journal, who holds the copyright to this piece.. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME !  

Rainone says there should be no holiday display on city property and that Laffey's move forces the city to allow offensive displays. "What's going to stop the Ku Klux Klan from coming here and burning a cross?" Rainone said yesterday. well Mr. Rainone... you hit the nail on the head.. if ya'  let one.. then you have to let them all... but what a fun idea... allowing everyone to express themselves.. even if you find the  idea to be offensive..  hell, I say let them burn a cross.. and I for one will applaud the government that allows it.. I will also choose not to support it, or view the display.. 

well it happened again... I get home from NYC  and check on the flamingos. and I find that 7 have flown the coop...  what a pisser

.. while I was at the event in the city an acquaintance wished me luck with the flamingos...    I had not mentioned them to her...  she had explained to me that she was forwarded a link to this page from a friend.. said something about it being posted on another website devoted to this sort of silly web log..  anyone out there know anything about this... if so.. shoot me off an e-mail.. 

FUN E-MAIL: Saturday, December 20, 2003 11:14 AM

RE: quack ?

the kids I teach art to loved the flamingo.  I have a lovely Polaroid of
them with it.  my friend Christine is very jealous.  she wants her picture
taken with the  flamingos.  but she lives in d.c.
she also suggests that next year you use actual flamingos. now that would be
exciting.

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 20 1003,  12:00 p.m. 

I just checked my e-mail,  and I received this fine photo  from George and Nan..  Courtney's folks... they call it FlamAngel.  so happy to hear that they are celebrating the holiday with style !!

lets keep those fun photos and e-mails coming !

FUN E-MAIL: Saturday, December 20, 2003 10:40 AM

Re: Flamingoes, and Six Degrees of Separation

Dear Scott--

I, and my friends down here in the DC area, think what
you've done is wonderful.  I was passed a link to your
site by Kayla XXXX, for which I am
grateful.  Keep up the good work, man!

In the meantime, the flamingos' hats are *great.*

Good luck with your endeavors-- and getting some sleep
in between interviews!

Kind regards from South of the Border*,

Kate (Arlington, VA)

* (the Mason-Dixon line.  As a Lexington, Mass.
native, it's *different* down here...  Lexington, for
*years* had annual upheavals about the placement of a
crèche on the Battle Green, about which the debate
would rage on and on-- every single year.  Your effort
is an *excellent* editorial comment!)

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 21 1003,  7:30 a.m..

I got a phone call this morning from an un named Cranston bus driver... he was walking his dog at Fay Field ( I think he said Fay?) and happened upon one of the flock parked on the pitchers mound of the baseball field.  this un named bus driver was kind enough to drive to city hall and get my phone number from the sign at city hall... he then drove the flamingo to the police station to report the situation... he then told me that the police asked him if he would return the flamingo to the lawn....   again this fine citizen did the right thing and drove back across town to deliver the bird...   this same defender of the flamingo faith later called me to let me know that he found another two of the birds in another field...  he has them in his car now.. and I will pick them up later in the day.  

Deck lawn with pink flamingos

By B.J. Roche, 12/21/2003

here is no Christmas tree at the State House in Augusta, Maine, but across the street at Blaine House, the governor's mansion, it's a case of the more the merrier; they were set to light a menorah on Friday, and next up is a Kwanzaa celebration. That's one way to navigate the issue of religious expression in public places this time of year. But when Mayor Stephen P. Laffey of Cranston, R.I., announced that any religion could be displayed on the City Hall lawn (of course, within the bounds of good taste), how could he have known that the Church of the Pink Flamingo would take him up on it? ''When the mayor said it was about good taste, the first thing I thought of was pink flamingos,'' said theater designer Scott Bonelli, who committed a ''drive-by flamingoing'' one night last week, installing 15 pink flamingos in Santa Claus hats near the Nativity scene, menorah, various Santas, and an angel. The ACLU is, naturally, taking action, but Bonelli is unrepentant. ''What makes a church, and who's to say what's in good taste?'' Bonelli says. ''The world is full of bickering and spite. If you can have one grin as you pass City Hall, then I've done my job.''

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/355/metro/Deck_lawn_with_pink_flamingos+.shtml

..and a special note to the Boston Globe, who holds the copyright to this piece.. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME !  

 

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 21 1003,  12:30 p.m..

    I picked up the two additional flamingos that were found in the park..   thanked the man for helping reunite the flock.. he and his wife sounded amused by it all..  while replacing the flamingos on the lawn a police officer came by .. I flagged him down, figuring that it would be easier to file a stolen flamingos report right then and there, rather than having to go down to the police station....  and it would be far easier not having to give the office a description, he could simply stand there, basking in the glory , that is the flamingo.. and sort of soak up the aura.  The cop  was cool, and asked "off the record" what the deal was with the flamingos"  laughing while he asked..  I asked him if he thought it was funny, and he quickly sobered up and said "no".. as if trying to show some respect for something that I might take seriously..  I had to explain to him that it was supposed to make him giggle.. that was the whole idea of this little exercise.  the report was taken, and now at least the cops will have my phone number if anyone tries to turn in the remaining 4 birds..    .. Ill post the report as soon as its available.. 

    while talking with the cop, I was interrupted by woman asking if the church of the flamingos was a "real " religion..    again I had to explain, that wasn't the point ! either way, she said she liked the flock just fine.. as did the old German guy who wanted to shoot the union bastards for putting a happy holiday sign up on the lawn.  honest folks I don't make this stuff up.. 

...but then it happened.. Mayor Stephen P. Laffey walked around the corner , waived to me , and called to me by name...  (I must say that I felt more than a little foolish that I didn't immediately recognize him ...  )  the mayor and I talked a bit.. and YES ! he was amused by the display.. and I quote " I laughed my ass off", said the mayor.  we talked at length about how I sort of helped his cause , by helping to prove that he doesn't discriminate..   and I reminded him that while I was actively trying to test that policy, I didn't believe that he should have the power to make the decisions that he has made.. ( all the while thanking him for letting the flock stay) 

.. the mayor told me that he believed that he did have the power to make the decisions so long as they were made fairly, and equally.. he just doesn't get it.. he told me that so long as something didn't offend the people it would be fine.. and that he wouldn't allow a swastika on the lawn...  he didn't seem to understand that if he didn't allow the swastika on the lawn, he wouldn't be applying the standards equally..  and that even if the city had given him that right,( he may have said the charter, I was too cold to think straight,  but he did offer up what sounded to be a legitimate reference and cited a chapter and everything)     perhaps it should be revoked, as it would allow him the power to make decisions that could compromise the separation of church and state... 

    When I offered the idea that if he were a nazi mayor he would be free to put said swastika on the lawn.. he  said that the people would be free to vote him out of office..   

    OK  mayor, a point well taken... but lets just think for a moment, .. if the nazi mayor with the complete control,  decided to "punish" those who didn't follow his publicly posted beliefs.?  or decided that they didn't have certain rights, such as voting...  (buts that's another story... )

    all in all the mayor sounded like a nice guy... with good intentions,  but he didn't have a grasp of the bigger issue.. it shouldn't be his job to decide these issues ! Laffey critic Louis G. Rainone brought a 3 1/2-foot wooden angel, with a picture of Laffey taped to the head, to City Hall.  But I hear that Rainone  did NOT sign

    but it was a pleasant conversation, he asked me if I saw the paper today, or yesterday.. he sounded pleased with the coverage.... is he happy to spark a dialog, or does he simply like the press... who knows.. 

      Mayor  Laffey did ask me if he could have a flamingo for his office when the holiday was over... he did say he would be happy to pay for it.. I countered that I would be honored to give the mayors office a flamingo!   and to think today of all days I didn't bring a camera.. .

I have not heard back from Bob Kerr ..It would be great if I get an e-mail reply.. 

and at this point, I have not heard back from councilmen Kirk McDough, I left a message with his wife Friday Morning)

I did get an un solicited call from Councilwoman Ellen O'Hara on the 19th, but I was not here to receive it.. I did call her back and left a message.. but I have not heard back !

 

NEWS CLIPPINGS 

A crèche in Cranston

01:00 AM EST on Sunday, December 21, 2003

Opinion: Editorials

By The Providence Journal editorial board

The First Amendment, which supposedly guarantees freedom of speech and religion, has been twisted into guaranteeing the right of any small number of citizens to avoid feeling offended. It's time for the public, and judges, to fight back and reassert freedom -- and common sense.

In Cranston, for example, citizens have put holiday displays on public land around City Hall. They've turned up with an inflatable Santa, an inflatable snowman, and a menorah, to mark Hanukkah. It was when that modern horror of horrors, a Nativity scene, made its appearance -- imagine, the birth of Jesus being linked to Christmas! -- that the American Civil Liberties Union reportedly received three complaints. Three, out of a city of more than 80,000 people.

That was enough for the ACLU to spring into action. Steven Brown, executive director of the organization's Rhode Island branch, said that the display appears "unconstitutional and designed to have the effect of promoting religion." So the ACLU has announced a legal challenge.

Nothing in the Constitution says that God may not be mentioned in public, or represented by citizens on public property. The First Amendment says Congress shall make no law establishing a state religion; that treasured freedom lets each of us worship as we please. Stretched to cover Cranston, it means that city government may not use its powers to force a state religion on anyone.

The holiday display is clearly not doing that. Mayor Stephen Laffey, indeed, seems to have a better understanding of First Amendment freedoms than does the ACLU. He invited citizens to put reasonable displays of their choosing around City Hall, calling it a "forum for freedom of speech." (Flamingos in Santa hats were eventually added -- no separation of church and kitsch there!)

In protecting the freedom of all to worship as they please, we do not need to bring the might of government crashing down on anyone who remembers the message of Hanukkah or recalls that Christmas relates to Jesus. Using government power to obliterate any evidence of religion around a federal holiday -- one that was created out of respect for a religion adhered to by a majority of the population -- violates common sense, and maybe the First Amendment.

http://www.projo.com/opinion/editorials/

content/projo_20031221_21edcrech.353127.html  

you may need to cut and paste these two lines together in your browser

..and a special note to the Providence Journal, who holds the copyright to this piece.. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME !  

FUN E-MAIL:  Sunday, December 21, 2003 11:41 PM

Dear friends.... I am proud to say Scott at Big Head Studios is a friend of
mine.... please take a moment to review the web page below.

happy semi religousouso holidays

( sent to a huge mailing list)

FUN E-MAIL: Sunday, December 21, 2003 3:34 PM

FUN E-MAIL: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 10:40 PM

Scott,
If you want the flamingo back again, send $100 to the ACLU.  Email me a
copy of the canceled check, and I will send the pink goose!

P.S.  Know anybody who wants this little white baby thingy back, and
what charity would be appropriate?

Dan Salamie <dsmail@att.net>

My Reply To Dan

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 24 1003,  8:00 a.m.

I was just told that the ducks got a mention on the Channel 10 (wpri)  morning news  I didn't see it,  

and here we have a few more mentions in the news paper ...

They were donated by a sex-toy manufacturer, and besides, the exhibition at Cranston City Hall was already full.

01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, December 24, 2003

BY SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
Journal Staff Writer

CRANSTON -- A dozen vibrating rubber duckies, provided by a California sex-toy manufacturer, briefly joined the eclectic holiday display outside City Hall yesterday afternoon.

Within an hour of their arrival, Mayor Stephen P. Laffey's staff plucked the yellow ducks, saying the exhibition was already full.

The toys were placed by Scott Bonelli, who last week added 15 pink flamingos wearing Santa hats to the display, which now includes a Nativity scene, a menorah and several secular items.

Many of the flamingos have since been stolen, and Bonelli keeps replacing them only to find the birds missing again.

The owner of the California company -- which lists Bonelli as a local retailer -- gave him a dozen ducks to set out.

"As far as I'm concerned, they're waterfowl," Bonelli said. "Since I'm missing flamingos, I'm merely replacing them -- like Jesus was missing, now Jesus is back . . . frankly, I'm running out of flamingos."

The baby Jesus figure was stolen from the Nativity scene Thursday night, but was later recovered by police officers who discovered it while responding to a fight on Arcadia Avenue.

Laffey's office did not see things the same way as Bonelli.

On Monday morning, Laffey closed the exhibition to new items, saying the best spots were taken and the lawn was getting cluttered.

(He did say exceptions might be made. For instance, the mayor said he wanted a display for Kwanzaa, an African-American cultural festival.)

Laffey's director of administration, Robin Muksian-Schutt, ordered the ducks removed yesterday. She said they were not removed because of their adult nature.

The mayor invited residents this month to contribute to the holiday display. Before items were placed on the lawn, the mayor or his designee needed to approve them. (The Rhode Island affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit Monday saying that having a Nativity scene and a menorah in front of "the seat of government" is unconstitutional.)

Bonelli took issue with Laffey's policy, saying the mayor should not be "the final arbiter of good taste."

"I'm not mocking religion," he said. "I'm mocking the . . . process of the government. It's silly. It's totally silly."

When told of the city's decision to remove his ducks, Bonelli said, "I don't necessarily agree with it, but no harm, no fowl."

http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20031224_cr24duck.1af85c.html

AND THIS 

.and a special thank you to the Providence Journal, who holds the copyright to this piece.. thanks for not asking me  to remove these news articles... PLEASE DON'T SUE ME !  

FUN E-MAIL: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 11:33 PM

Once again, I wish to express my admiration of the whole flamingo thing that you did/ are doing.
R. D. Flowers 

FUN E-MAIL: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 2:18 AM 

Pink Flamingo,,, spread the love, peace and frivolity

want to get a flock ?? 

when you contact them.. let them know I sent you 

 Dear Scott,
 Our minimum order is $100.00 plus shipping or there is a $25.00 handling fee.
We sell the flamingos in bulk 16 birds to a carton for $33.44 a carton.
All orders are placed by fax 978-537-0050 or by mail UNION PRODUCTS 511 LANCASTER ST. LEOMINSTER, MA. 01453.

Linda

FUN E-MAIL: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 12:33 PM

Re: Missing flamingo

Scott,
I know what your opinion is, it is very clear, about the Mayor and the ACLU.
I just wanted to point out that perhaps with all this attention, you have
forgotten how to take a JOKE! And a charitable joke at that.

My Reply To Dan

KUDOS AND CONGRATS.....

.... to Scott Bonelli, who donated a flock of pink flamingos in Santa hats for the display on the lawn of Cranston City Hall. The only thing that surprises us is how, when the figure of the Christ child was apparently kidnapped from its manger, the abductor (or abductors) did not replace it with one of the ubiquitous Mr. Potato Head figurines that dot the Vo Dilun landscape.

In the Urinal’s zeal to prop up anything done by Cranston Mayor Steve "Daffy" Laffey, regardless of how boneheaded, the Other Paper pitched in with an editorial on Sunday, lauding the ridiculous exhibit. At one point, the nameless Other Paper editorial scribe claimed that Laffey, "seems to have a better understanding of First Amendment freedoms than does the ACLU." We think Bonelli is the First Amendment hero here.

.

for the full article.. click here..  http://www.providencephoenix.com/features/p_and_j/documents/03464917.asp

..and a special note to the Providence Phoenix, Philippe, and Jorge, who holds the copyright to this piece.. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME !  

Hey Philippe, and Jorge thanks for the Kudos.. (and congrats)  

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 29 1003,  9a.m.

..I just now I received a call from the Cranston police department... I was told by the officer that he had just today received the file on this case... as there were a lot of rapes and murders this holiday season.. but he was careful not to belittle the seriousness of the crime... even when I was telling him it wasn't a big deal.. I just wanted the cops to have a phone number to call if more Flamingos show up at the station.. 

.. I was told that the case would remain open, and was under investigation...  

.. this worries me.. if there are all that many rapes and murders in Cranston,  shouldn't they devote all of the force to serious crime,  and sort of screw the flamingo investigation.. I would be totally cool with that...   when I mentioned this to the officer.. he bent over backwards to tell me that they were handling this as a serious crime...  I think he was a little paranoid.   damn it.. I don't want a moments time wasted, by the cops .. I just wanted them to have my contact information, 

    I only found 6 only Flamingos today..   so I have pulled the  festive flamingo display.

....all hail the Great flamingo, may his spirit live on in all of us !!

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 29 1003,  4:45 p.m.

    I just now got a call from the mayors office.. they have some ducks for me to pick up.. didn't say how many.. and offered no explanation as to why they were removed..  ]

.... you just know that ill be passing them out to the girls in the office tomorrow, when I go to pick them up !!

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 30 1003,  10:00 a.m.

    this morning I performed the dreaded "self google" ( www.google.com ) and No,  its not some strange sexual thing. I was simply  wandering the web ,  looking to see if I could find mention in the village voice.  I didn't .. but I found this mention in a "blog" from some dude in Rhode Island..  the random rants in his life put into a handy, easy to read web site..  http://www.greeblie.com/jimspot/archive/2003_12.html .. scroll down to his Dec. 23rd entry.. not only does "Jim" have some strong views about the A.C.L.U. and the 1st amendment.. he also used the word "Fucknugget"   .. finding mention of this in someone's personal web ranting is all too amusing.   

.. just received notice from on of the high priestess that the Flamingos were shown on local Fox news again last night...   must be old footage as the little guys have been removed.... lets hear it for the crack news team @ Fox !!

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 30 1003,  1:00 p.m.

.. I went to pick up the Ducks today.. and talked to Laffey's director of administration, Robin Muksian-Schutt.  ...what a nice lady... and she seemed to like the flamingos !  she was the kind shepherd to the duck flock .. kept them warm in a little bag beside the desk, until I came for them...  I did notice that one of the Ducks had batteries installed..  and I know I didn't leave them that way.... Robin informed me that an un-named city employee was trying to figure out how to turn the duck on , and installed the batteries .. "just to see".. and I was also told that it wasn't done on "city time".   sure.. I believe that !!.. I couldn't imagine city employees Quacking off on company time !!

.. Robin and I talked for a while.. and I had a great time...   hell this whole thing is funny.... she told me that the Washington Times   http://www.washingtontimes.com  picked up on the story,  but wasn't sure if they mentioned the flamingos.  I tried searching the site but couldn't find a thing... they were updating the site, so ill try back later.. and post whatever I find..  if anyone has the paper, please let me know, I would love to see it

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 31 1003,  8:00 p.m.

thanks got out to Reverend Temptress ... who appears to be the "media relations Tsar" for the church..   she sent a couple more  great "google " finds

http://www.opinioneditorials.com/guestcontributors/larson_20031229.html  for another "interesting" take on the church and state issue..   you might think that Jan would understand that the A.C.L.U. is not prohibiting religion,  but rather the governments endorsement of one. 

and

 http://www.projo.com/westbay/content/projo_20031229_lawyer29.23ba06.html from the Providence Journal..  both items published on the 29th...  it looks like a few freaky groups have offered help to the city defending itself against the dreaded A.C.L.U.  

What is the Deal with Prohibiting Religion?

Jan Larson

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;
- US Constitution, Amendment I

Just about everyone in the United States has probably least heard of, or maybe even experienced, a case where some long-standing tradition such as the display of a nativity scene, the singing of Christmas songs or the mention of God in the Pledge of Allegiance has been subject to legal challenge. In far too many of these cases, the challenges have been upheld under the premise of the separation of church and state.

Language evolves over time and some of the language and phrases used by the founders in the Constitution are not entirely easy to understand for many people today. However, it seems pretty clear to me what the above portion of the First Amendment means.

Congress, not city councils, state legislators or junior high teachers, but Congress shall not make any law that establishes a religion. In addition, Congress shall not make any law that precludes anyone from practicing his or her religion. Pretty simple, it seems to me.

These two simple statements have evolved, through judicial rulings over the years, to effectively mean that nothing that may be viewed by anyone as having a religious connotation may exist or be practiced in any way in any institution that could be considered "the government." How does singing a traditional Christmas carol in a school have anything to do with Congress establishing a religion?

To be clear, I do not favor religion or religious advocacy emanating from government entities. I do have a problem with the fact that the second clause of the First Amendment is not being defended. Just as government shall not establish or promote a particular religion, government shall not prohibit the free exercise of religion.

The mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island, Stephen Laffey, appeared on The O'Reilly Factor last week and defended his decision to allow a nativity scene and a menorah, along with several other non-religious items including a group of plastic pink flamingos, to be displayed on the front lawn of the Cranston city hall. Naturally the ACLU is challenging these "religious" displays claiming that their display on public property constitutes an "establishment" of religion.

Preposterous.

The ACLU and other left-wing extremists that fight so hard to protect the sanctity of the so-called "establishment clause" of the Constitution might want to take a look at the preamble to the Constitution:

We the People of the United States ... .

The government is not some faceless monolith, but it is "we" the people. Government entities at all levels are not "things" but are "we the people." The public property that is so vigorously defended by the ACLU is "our" property. "We" can use that property as "we" see fit.

Any attempt to prohibit the use of public property for the display of religious symbols stands contrary to "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."

Mayor Laffey, in the aforementioned interview, stated that his approach is one of inclusion and that the only restrictions on the displays are that they must not be obscene or in some other way offensive. Displays representing different religions are welcomed. In other words, the mayor is using common sense and is allowing the all of the "people" to use "their" property as they see fit. The ACLU's position as a defender of the Constitution notwithstanding, this is how it should be.

There is no "establishment" of religion in this case or in many similar cases. This is simply a case of the people of Cranston using "their" public property to celebrate the holiday season. The ACLU should be defending the rights of citizens to exercise their chosen religion, not trying to drive all religious expression from the society, as some (a vocal minority) would prefer.

We could use a lot more common sense in this country when it comes to "public" use of "public" property. With the dawn of a new year just a few days away, would it be too much to ask that we resolve to use some common sense in 2004? Unfortunately, the answer is that it probably is too much to ask.

###

Jan A. Larson is currently employed in private industry in Texas. He is a staunch supporter of honesty in government, fiscal conservatism and equal opportunity for all. He holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Nebraska, a master of science degree from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Colorado State University.
jan@pieofknowledge.com

a special note to  OpinionEditorials.com, and Jan A. Larson who hold the copyright to this piece.. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME !  

01:00 AM EST on Monday, December 29, 2003

By SCOTT MAYEROWITZ
Journal Staff Writer

CRANSTON -- Four conservative organizations have volunteered to defend the city, at no cost, against a federal lawsuit brought by the Rhode island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union over the city's holiday display.

Offering their services are, thus far, the American Family Association's Center for Law and Policy, the American Center for Law and Justice, the Rutherford Institute and the Alliance Defense Fund.

Most of those groups say they work to promote traditional families values. Issues that they have fought for include outlawing abortions, allowing public displays of the Ten Commandments, stopping same-sex marriages and promoting school prayer.

At issue is the holiday display in front of City Hall that is an amalgam of diverse exhibits placed by residents at the invitation of Mayor Stephen P. Laffey. Besides a Nativity scene and a menorah -- the items the prompted the ACLU lawsuit -- it includes Santas, a snowman, a flock of pink flamingos and a Seasons Greetings sign posted by a local of the Teamsters.

The ACLU suit, filed in U.S. District Court, Providence, contends that the display, "at the seat of city government," violates the constitutional separation of church and state.

City Solicitor Jametta O. Alston is reviewing the conservative groups that offered to defend the city and will suggest which offer, if any, the city should accept, Laffey said.

THE AMERICAN FAMILY Association's Center for Law and Policy, based in Tupelo, Miss., "responds to the requests of Christians for legal representation involving First Amendment free-speech and free-exercise rights as well as the constitutional issues involved in the continuing battle against pornography and obscenity," according to its Web site. Its policy positions derive from the Bible and follow the belief that the law of the Creator is the true law.

The American Family Association is currently leading boycotts against the Walt Disney Company, for supporting "the pro-homosexual agenda through corporate practices;" Abercrombie & Fitch, for "use of soft-core pornography in company catalogs aimed at young and teenaged consumers," and KMart, for the sale of adult-rated music CDs.

The group has also targeted Amazon.com for the types of books it sells; J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels, because they train children "to see opposing forces from a pagan, not a Biblical perspective" and the National Endowment for the Arts, for using tax dollars "to fund obscene and sexually explicit 'art' depicting the homosexual lifestyle and denigrating Christ and the Christian religion."

THE ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND, in Scottsdale, Ariz., "provides the resources that will keep the door open for the spread of the Gospel through the legal defense and advocacy of religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and traditional family values."

The group was launched in 1993 by the leaders of more than 30 ministries, according to the group's Web site.

"Their prime concern was the dramatic loss of religious freedom in America's courts and the resulting challenges to people of faith to live and proclaim the Gospel," the site says.

The Alliance Defense Fund has argued successfully before the U.S. Supreme Court that Congress can mandate that publicly supported libraries provide Internet filtering devices on computers to protect children.

It also won a court ruling, according to its Web site, that "peaceful pro-life activists were not in violation of the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute and other laws that called for triple damages and were designed to cripple criminal enterprises." The group also won a case upholding of Ohio's school-voucher program.

The Alliance Defense fund lists as one of its victories the case Good News Club v. Milford (N.Y.) Central Schools. Thomas Marcelle -- who was Mayor Laffey's roommate at Bowdoin College -- successfully argued that case before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2001. The court ruled that the Milford Central Schools could not prohibit the Good News Club, a private Christian organization for children, from using the schools -- as other groups did -- for its meetings.

(The Rutherford Institute also includes that case in its list of victories.)

THE AMERICAN CENTER for Law and Justice, in Virginia Beach, Va., was founded in 1990 by televangelist Pat Robertson "to undo the damage done by almost a century of liberal thinking and activism."

The organization says it is "dedicated to defending and advancing religious liberty, the sanctity of human life, and the two-parent, marriage-bound family," according to its Web site.

"When students are told they cannot start Bible clubs in their schools, or when their Bible clubs don't receive equal treatment like other clubs, our legal teams spring into action to defend the student's rights."

The center says it stands firmly behind President Bush's judicial nominations.

"Many of the ills that plague our society have resulted from judicial rulings that reflect the personal political agenda of liberal judges, instead of honest, careful interpretations of the Constitution."

Other issues for the center include limiting pornography, opposition to abortion, a ban on federal support of stem-cell research, and maintaining prayer in the public arena.

The group says its victories have been accomplished "in spite of the intense opposition of groups like the American Civil Liberties Union. They have openly named us as their adversary. So have People for the American Way, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Planned Parenthood and many other special-interest activist groups."

THE RUTHERFORD INSTITUTE, in Charlottesville, Va., provides "free legal services to people whose constitutional and human rights have been threatened or violated."

The group, on its Web site, says it protects the rights of parents whose children are strip-searched at school, stands up for teachers fired for speaking about religion and defends individuals against illegal search and seizure.

The institute has attacked zero-tolerance polices, spoke out against sexual slavery, has urged a moratorium on the death penalty, defends churches regarding zoning laws, taxes and licensing regulations and defends "all human life, born and unborn, young and old, healthy or infirm."

a special note to the Providence Journal, and SCOTT MAYEROWITZ, who hold the copyright to this piece.. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME !  

UPDATE>>> January 3 1004,  8:00 a.m.

got to love www.Google.com ... they sent me to this site http://pets.surfwax.com/files/Flamingos.html

 ... http://pets.surfwax.com  is a site devoted to News & Articles on Pets and Wild Animals.. and from there I found this article that I had missed from the Providence Journal, several past articles from the Journal, and the article from the Washington Times (posted below)

 

http://www.projo.com/blogs/offbeat/projo-20031226-offbeat.dd5b11be.html (for the full article)

UPDATE>>> October 1, 2004

 I just found this mention of the Flamingos 

http://p200.ezboard.com/fdistrubingcommunityfrm2.showPrevMessage?topicID=246.topic

and this mention on Jimspot.net     I just love being fodder for another web log rant !!

http://testblog.jimspot.net/index.php?m=200312

  UPDATE>>>  sometime in mid October

I did file a small claims court case against Reilly, and Dufault...   someone in the court decided it was an "interesting" case.. and sent off the details to that tacky TV show.. Judge Joe Brown...   the producers want to have us on the show.... but I don't think that Reilly and DuFault are foolish enough to expose themselves on TV..   I , on the other hand, have no problem with being foolish..    

.. they declined the offer to be on TV  so it looks like this will have to be settled in the RI small claims court..  the date is set for October 18th

UPDATE>>> November 15th 2004

I just get a call around 7pm ish.. its that Large headed Brian Crandall from Channel 10 TV ... he informs me that the courts have finally made a ruling on the city hall display issue... in a nut shell,  the judges say its OK to have a display on city property,  but the mayor shouldn't be the one deciding what is OK to display.... we share the same mind !!!>     I called my "Media Wife",  and had her over for the interview... I don't do media appearances without her... she is my "rock" during these trying times when the world is at strife over serious issues like flamingoes.. 

.. Brian came over with a camera guy and an intern... got to say that boy has a large cranium... damn huge even...   looks way larger in person..    we chatted for a quick interview.. usual deal.. same question asked several times in search of the perfect editable sound bite...   . use me for your agenda oh mighty media empire .. damn you channel 10 !...

.. but on a fun note.. it gave me a chance to bend the ear of a media king pin, about the Reilly issue, and we hope to see Brian in court with the rest of the crack news team from channel 10.. 

.. the piece should be gracing the airways at 11pm... 

......... and its true, the camera does add 30 pounds,,, I'm svelte,  honest..

.. ill be sure to post more about the court ruling as soon as its made available...  and ill post the small claims court results after the 18th...    

.. check back often... or better yet... get a life... this think not dying is almost too funny to be pathetic.

..... and perhaps this isn't the best time to ask the mayor about putting a HUGE Flamingo on the lawn this year... ill give him a week to lick his wounds.

UPDATE>>> November 15th 2004 11:pm

Wow .. the top story was the city hall "display" court case... and I got a few seconds of face time... and the flamingos were shown in almost every shot of the display.  This story beat out a wild Coyote story by 6 minuets...  .. now if only I could arrange for a flock of wild coyotes for swarm on the lawn of city hall.. now that would be a story !!!   and what did  I learn from this media appearance....  well, I'm one sexy beast, and the camera loves me... but DAMN.. I have a pronounced lisp... do I really sound like that???   now I'm regretting that year of speech therapy in the 4th grade...  what a waste of time, if I ended up talking like this.. 

.. I heard the Flamingos made an appearance on Ch.12 news as well..  I didn't see it.. but MOM said they looked good !

UPDATE>>> November 16  2004   6:24am

FRONT PAGE NEWS

http://www.projo.com/westbay/content/projo_20041116_crxmas.ddfbb.html

Cranston holiday display upheld

A federal judge rules that religious expression is not forbidden on the City Hall lawn -- but also rules that the city may not both open the display to public whimsy and regulate what appears.

01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, November 16, 2004

BY DANIEL BARBARISI
Journal Staff Writer

CRANSTON -- A federal judge has ruled that Cranston Mayor Stephen P. Laffey was not unduly mixing church and state when he allowed a holiday display featuring a creche, a menorah and pink flamingos on the lawn at City Hall last year, but that the city did violate the First Amendment by restricting what items could be placed in the display.

Laffey, claiming victory, said that he will now rewrite the city's policy based on the judge's decision, and hopes to erect a new, city-run display outside City Hall this holiday season.

Last winter, Laffey encouraged residents to put seasonal displays that he deemed appropriate on City Hall's front lawn. First a menorah went up, then an inflatable snowman and Santa Claus, and then a Nativity scene. Then the display took a turn toward the bizarre, when the largely religious items were joined by a group of 15 pink flamingos wearing Santa hats, sponsored by the "Church of the Pink Flamingo."

After the display went up, the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union filed suit on behalf of a Cranston resident, contending that the city was trying to convey a religious message by displaying religious items at the seat of public government, and was violating the provisions of the First Amendment separating church and state.

The ACLU also argued that Laffey's oversight of the display amounted to a restriction on freedom of speech.

In September, the city filed a motion to dismiss the case before it went to trial, and argued its case before U.S. District Judge William E. Smith. Yesterday afternoon, Smith returned his decision, granting the city's motion on the church and state provisions, but siding with the ACLU on the free-speech issue.

Smith wrote that he could find no religious purpose in Laffey's efforts, and in fact, said that "the opposite is true," as Laffey issued news releases encouraging all types of displays on the lawn.

"Nothing in these public statements or in the actual implementation of the policy reveals or even remotely supports an inference that a religious purpose was behind the creation of the limited public forum," Smith wrote.

The decision in this case repeatedly refers to a similar lawsuit filed by the ACLU against the City of Pawtucket in the 1980s. That case was eventually settled in 1984 by the U.S. Supreme Court in the city's favor. The city annually erected a display in a park owned by a nonprofit organization in the heart of the city's shopping district.

As long as the display represented a diversity of religious and secular items, it was acceptable.

That display included reindeer, a Santa Claus, a Christmas tree, a banner reading "Season's Greetings," and a Nativity scene. It sits virtually unchanged at a city park each year.

In the Pawtucket case, the Supreme Court said that complete separation between church and state is not necessary, and that only accommodation of all religions and hostility toward none was the key.

Smith wrote that the basic facts of the Cranston case regarding the line between church and state are very similar to the Pawtucket case, and that the Pawtucket case can be applied well here.

THE ACLU HAD ARGUED that the cases were different because the display was on the lawn of City Hall, the seat of municipal government. Also, the display was smaller than Pawtucket's; secular items, such as a Santa and a snowman, were placed there after a menorah simply "as a pretext," the ACLU alleged, to pass constitutional muster.

Smith wrote that it doesn't matter whether the city or private individuals put up the display, it still passes constitutional muster, particularly in light of the Pawtucket case.

But Smith said that the Laffey administration's policy of reviewing items for their appropriateness once they were placed in the display acted to restrain free speech by giving the mayor discretion to approve or remove items placed in a supposed open public forum.

"By granting the mayor the discretion to approve or deny displays on the basis of what he deemed 'appropriate' . . . the policy did not sufficiently protect the free speech rights of Cranston's citizens," Smith wrote.

Despite the split decision, Laffey, outside City Hall last night, called it a "major victory" for the city.

"It was certainly no great victory for the ACLU. It was a waste of their time," he said. "The ACLU would do far better to take on some serious discrimination cases."

But Rhode Island ACLU president Steven Brown said that it's a Pyrrhic victory for the city at best, and said that the ACLU had accomplished its goals.

"It's split down the middle," Brown said. "The judge has essentially recognized that what happened last year was inappropriate."

"It's important in reaffirming basic principles of free-speech law," he said. "They would have to draft a new policy that would meet the stringent standards of the First Amendment, whether the mayor likes it or not."

Smith's decision appears to leave the city with two realistic options if it wants to erect a display, which Laffey said he intends to do.

It could erect its own city-sponsored display, as the city of Pawtucket does, or it could open the forum up to the public with little to no city supervision, and allow a free-for-all.

Laffey said that he hasn't decided on what policy to pursue yet, but is leaning strongly toward the Pawtucket model.

Laffey said that he will announce a policy after Thanksgiving. He said he doesn't believe the pink flamingos will be allowed to make a return appearance.

a special note to the Providence Journal, and DANIEL BARBARISI, who hold the copyright to this piece.. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME !  

UPDATE>>> 11:am

the providence Journal website http://www.projo.com/  had a nice photo of the flamingos on the front page of the site.. with a link to the "headline of the day" slideshow... the slide show featured plenty of great shots of the flamingos taken last year from the journal archives, accompanied by a tape of WPRO 630 news radio radio personality , Daryl Young reading the headlines from the Journal article.  and commenting on it with another person, ( didn't get her name) but they mentioned the flamingos, and the "church" 

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Can I just say "WHAT THE FUCK !"

.. if Laffey decides to have a city sponsored display , that's one thing.. and I thing I would fight.. but if it is decided to let the locals put up a display,  he had damn better well not try to stop the church of the pink flamingo from erecting a display.. 
.. 

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if you would like to see a return of the festive flamingos, feel to send a nice note to any and all members of city government listed below....  

UPDATE>>> November 17  2004   

my smirking face again on Ch. 10   , an even slower news day,  when the news is a repeat !

FUN E-MAIL: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 

Scott,
 
While I understand the Court's concerns regarding Laffey allowing public participation in concert with Mayoral review; I find it more than odd that the display of manger + ??? remains, for this is certainly tantamount to mayoral review, no matter how thickly and creatively it is veiled  errr enshrouded.

I say--bring back the flamingoes--one at a time if we must, but....Let them speak for all of us!  As a worshipper of the great flamingo, I find myself left out at holiday time--afterall--we do not even have a dreidel song that public schools can exploit in the interest of singing the baby jesus' name in December.

Wish to once again feel--in the pink,
I am,
Nan 
Mom of the Courtney (currently of Italy)

UPDATE>>>November 18  2004 

(MY DAY IN COURT)

wow.. what a day.. so much to say... so much I cant....

     I went to court and asked to have an arbitrator work with us to find a solution...  well I cant tell you who said what or offered what... but I can tell you that I walked out of the meeting ready to spit blood, and ready to go before a judge...    but the judge decided that the case couldn't be heard by the small claims court.  so it was dismissed  .. so after wasting 3 hours of time we all went on our merry way...   I wonder why it was worth fighting for Guy... as he bills his time at $200 an hour.. and you just know that I plan on revisiting this in court again, and again, for as long as it takes... 

more to come....

UPDATE>>> November 18 2004

Cranston Herald

UPDATE>>> December 16 2004

Cranston Herald

..and a special note to the Cranston Herald, who holds the copyright to this piece.. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME ! 

UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 24 2004

<<<I SENT THIS TO THE MAYOR TODAY>>> 

Wishing You A Festive Flamingo Day

In the spirit of the Great Flamingo, spread Love, Peace, and Frivolity to your neighbors, and to the world!

Who would have thought... 

..I drive by city hall tonight, and find 2 of the little bastards perched dead center on the lawn.. I have no idea how they got there... Perhaps they were returning from a seasonal migration.. Perhaps some joker thought it would be funny to take them from my front yard, and place them there... 

Perhaps we shall never know the truth behind this holiday miracle...    But we can rest assured that so long as there are true believers, the great flamingo will return to spread frivolity, joy, and peace.

Be Well,

Scott Bonelli

BigHeadStudio.com

fun email 12-27-04   from Robin,  she works in the mayors office

Hi Scott,
 
I actually got a phone call yesterday about the flamingo addition from someone who works at City Hall....I had not seen them,
 
Hope you had a Merry Christmas......and a happy Flamingo Day.....
 
Robin
 
P.S. - I have not looked at a rubber duck the same way since last year's events!!

fun email 12-27-04

From: Scott_BigHeadStudio.com [mailto:Scott@BigHeadStudio.com]
Sent: Mon 12/27/2004 10:50 AM
To: Mayors, Line
Subject: Re: Wishing You A Festive Flamingo Day



I think this is all pretty funny.. I noticed them missing from my yard the
other day,  and thought "no big deal" they tend to pop up in a neighbors
yard within a day or so..  but when I drove by city hall I laughed my butt
off..
..
I guess I should ask,  are the birds still there...
.. and if so , can I claim ownership???

hope you had a happy holiday !
Scott

fun email 12-27-04  from Robin,  she works in the mayors office

YES!!!  They're out there....I hadn't realized that they had disappeared from your lawn!!  Please return them to their flock....wouldn't want them to feel displaced!!

fun email 12-27-04

From: Scott_BigHeadStudio.com [mailto:Scott@BigHeadStudio.com]
Sent: Mon 12/27/2004 11:23 AM
To: Mayors, Line
Subject: Re: Wishing You A Festive Flamingo Day



wow.. I would have thought that the mayor would have had them removed by
now...
. ill try to pick them up sometime today

I cant believe there has been no protest from the ACLU !

Scott

fun email 12-27-04  from Robin,  she works in the mayors office

LOL!!!!  LOL!!!! 
 
No problem....I'll let everyone here know that you're coming to get them so they don't fly away.

fun email 12-27-04

From: Scott_BigHeadStudio.com [mailto:Scott@BigHeadStudio.com]
Sent: Mon 12/27/2004 11:40 AM
To: Mayors, Line
Subject: Re: Wishing You A Festive Flamingo Day



.... or I could leave them for the mayors office...
.. think he would appreciate the gesture.. ?
... you know.. if the latest court ruling had not been made,  my plan was to
erect just one flamingo this year.. but he would have been about 10 feet
tall.
.. I think that this whole this is too funny the way it wont die down...
Garry Reilly's campaign actually took one of my photos from my web-site for
use in his campaign literature... I took the pompous ass to court... now
there was a fiasco !

Scott

fun email 12-27-04  from Robin,  she works in the mayors office

Thank you, but I believe that they belong with the remainder of the flock....I hate to see them apart given the attention that they draw...they need the security of the rest!!
 
 
I heard about the Reilly thing....unbelievable!!!
 
Come up to the third floor and check out the Christmas tree in the main office!!!

UPDATE>>> December 28 2004

Today I got a call from Barbara Polichetti, the nice reporter from the Providence Journal.  she wanted to hear all about the holiday miracle: the return of the great flamingo... she tells me that she received an anonymous tip on her answering machine, to let her know that a few flamingos were hanging out at city hall... she wanted to know if I knew anything about it..   we chatted and had a fun time.. I think she may just get the joke.... but did let me know that she is no Jim Terracani , and wouldn't go to court to protect her sources...  she sent out a fun photographer to take a few pix,  that bastard had me laying in the snow... funny dude..  ill post the text of the article , and that sexy photo here tomorrow  .. 

.. then I'm off to pick the stray flamingos from the mayors office.. and I laugh my ass off.. there in the office is a nice tree decorated with flamingo Christmas lights, and topping it ,  The tree topper one of the missing flamingos from last year... little red hat and all..   the story is this.. earlier in the month some dude shows up with the flamingo and a small lamb in a bag,  told them that he was so embarrassed.. his kid stole them from the display last year, and the dad just now found them in his room...  rather than give me a call to return the flamingo, the mayors office decided to keep it for the tree.  I was told that they did call the owner of the lamb, but he never came to pick it up...   the nice lady in the office asked if they could keep him , or if I wanted him back.

.. well.. in keeping with the spirit of the holiday, spreading frivolity and whatnot I told them that they should keep him, and celebrate all year long.  

.. on the way out the door I gave a flamingo to my friend Rory,  and later in the day he called to tell me his supervisor wanted one... so ill drop it off tomorrow when I go back with the camera!

UPDATE>>> December 29 2004

the journal ran this on the front of the "west bay" section, with a big ass photo on me smiling like a dork, laying belly down in the snow with the flock..  i look like a fool!

01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, December 29, 2004

BY BARBARA POLICHETTI
Journal Staff Writer

Journal photo / Kris Craig

CRANSTON -- Just like the famed swallows of Capistrano, plastic pink flamingos have returned to the holiday display on the front lawn of City Hall.

Sometime over the weekend, two of the long-legged lawn ornaments -- each wearing a jaunty red-and-white Santa Claus cap -- alighted amid the Nativity scene, inflatable snowmen and holiday moose set up by the city.

Unlike last year, however, the public had not been invited to participate in the holiday decorating, so the big birds were removed after a couple of days and kept in the mayor's office until they could be claimed by their owner, Scott Bonelli.

Bonelli, who tends to a flock of more than 30 flamingos in the front and back yards of his family's home, in the Laurel Hill Avenue neighborhood, said that he was driving by City Hall over the weekend when he spotted two of his birds (which he recognized as his own by their Santa caps.)

"Perhaps some joker thought it would be funny to take them from my front yard and place them there," Bonelli said in an e-mail to Mayor Stephen P. Laffey's office last Friday. "Perhaps we shall never know the truth behind this holiday miracle. But we can rest assured that so long as there are true believers, the great flamingo will return to spread frivolity, joy and peace."

Last year, claiming to be representative of "The Church of the Pink Flamingo," Bonelli put 15 cap-clad birds in front of City Hall.

A designer of theater sets who also makes sex toys, Bonelli said at the time that he wanted to make a political statement challenging the policy which made the mayor's office the arbiter of what people could contribute to the holiday display.

He also wanted, he said, to make people smile.

Last December, the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the display -- with its creche scene, Menorah inflatable snowman, angel and flamingos.

Only last month, U.S. District Judge William Smith ruled that the 2003 display, with its mixed menagerie, did not violate a constitutional separation of church and state. But he also ruled that the city had subverted freedom of speech by having Laffey acting as the guardian of what residents could put on the lawn.

This city responded this year by not inviting the public to participate, and instead putting up its own eclectic display consisting of both religious and secular symbols of the season.

Bonelli picked up his two birds at City Hall yesterday and said he was happy to see that the pink-flamingo spirit -- as well as the holiday spirit -- is alive and well at City Hall.

He noted that a Christmas tree in the anteroom to the mayor's office is bedecked with tropical-theme decorations and has a pink flamingo perched in its top boughs. He also spotted another of the feathered species in the city clerk's office.

When asked why many of the plastic flamingos around his house sport Santa caps, Bonelli said, "It's not because they're endorsing Christmas or any other holiday, it's because they're not used to the cold weather up here."

And, regarding his flock, he said he prefers to think of himself as a caretaker, not owner.

"It's just like the Easter bunny -- nobody really owns him," Bonelli said yesterday. "It's just that when he [the bunny] comes to town, or the flamingos do, you're there to help spread the joy."

a special note to the Providence Journal, Kris Craig and BARBARA POLICHETTI, who hold the copyright to this piece.. PLEASE DON'T SUE ME !  

fun email 12-29-04  from Cindy Fogarty Councilmember Ward 2

Scott:
Hope you have been reunited with your littel lvoed ones - the picture in the Journal was great. i agree - we will probably never know what mysticism is behind your flamingos. Wishing you a Happy, Healthy New Year.
 
Cindy Fogarty
Councilmember Ward 2

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I think Cindy was so caught up in the spirit of Flamingo Day, that she forgot to run the spell checker.. 

Unless otherwise noted, all photographs, are the property of Scott Bonelli, and may not be used without permission.  The same goes for the entire content of this site....    so don't be a tool,   just ask first !!!

Send mail  with questions or comments about this web site to Scott@BigHeadStudio.com

Last modified: January 09, 2010