.. 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. 
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.. 
Flamingos join disputed holiday display at Cranston City Hall
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.
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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 .
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..
.. 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..
ACLU expects to rule today on City Hall holiday display 01:00 AM EST on Wednesday, December 17, 2003
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.
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,
Flamingos have ACLU seeing pink 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
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.
Bonelli, who designs theater sets and creates adult sex toys, said that he decided to get involved -- not to make a statement about the separation of church and state -- but because Laffey's policy regarding the display leaves it up to the mayor's office to decide whether or not a decoration is tasteful enough to be in front of City Hall. "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."
Brown said that ACLU lawyers spotted the flamingos yesterday morning. The expansion of the display did not affect their decision to go to court with a lawsuit to be filed as soon as possible, he said. "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.
.. no , I had no idea this would be such a big issue... but it
is kinda' '' funny isn't it... and do check back
often for updates... I just finished an Associated Press
interview , with Amy Forliti. ill post the interview as soon
as I find it..
UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 18 1003, 4:00 p.m.
today @ 4pm I was interviewed live with Dan York... AM
630 WPRO Dan was an asshole with an agenda, and he tried
to direct me to fit that agenda.... when Dan realized
that I wasn't going to agree with him, he simply dismissed me,
cut me off.
... another thing that pissed me off with the interview... Dan was obsessed with the word Dildo.. he said it like a Zillion times... he said that if I truly wanted to make a statement of protest I should have set up a display of several large Dildos on the lawn... he wouldn't let it go.. he repeated it several times.. when I informed him that I thought it would be too offensive, to be a true test of the mayors intent, he simply repeated that he thought it would be a better test of the intent with little regard for my intent.. NOT pissing people off... I was also surprised to hear that he was offended that the display of Flamingos was put up, next to a manger.. he thought that it was disrespectful of that religion, and presumed to tell the listeners that there is no valid church , called the church of the pink flamingos.. when I questioned him how he would define a church, he blew off the question.. to make a long story short.. it is my opinion that Dan York, of WPRO AM630, is in fact himself a DILDO, and a rude one at that !! the idea of all of this bullshit is to foster discussion, and this fool just wanted to hear himself talk ! the highlight of the conversation was that I got to use the phrase "egregious outrage" ! God I love that phrase (may the great flamingo forgive me) UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 18 1003, 6:00 p.m. the interview on Channel 12 was just fine.. light hearted.. and I didn't look fat on camera.. i got a lot of air time! ... the birds were also shown on Channel 6 as well.. don't know if they actually mentioned the flamingos as I was still stunned from seeing my pretty face on Channel 12 earlier. 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).
Flamingos join disputed holiday display at Cranston City HallCRANSTON, 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. The plastic pink flock had its own holiday message: "Wishing you a festive Flamingo Day," a note next to them said. "In the spirit of the Great Flamingo, spread love, peace and frivolity to your neighbors and the world! A message from the Church of the Pink Flamingo." They're amid a veritable menagerie of holiday decorations on the City Hall lawn, which Mayor Steve Laffey opened up for all kinds of displays -- from a menorah to an inflatable Santa Claus, an inflatable snowman to a Nativity scene (the latter put up by a Jewish man in honor of his deceased wife, a Christian). The flamingos popped up after Scott Bonelli saw news reports about disputes over the display of religious symbols on city property. Although Bonelli said he applauds the expression of different views, he didn't think it was right for the mayor to decide which displays were appropriate. "I was trying to be a little bit tongue and cheek," said Bonelli, 36, of Cranston. "It's not a big ugly protest, it's more to get people to think." The Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union plans to file a federal lawsuit over the religious displays, said Steven Brown, ACLU executive director. "The mayor claims that he's just allowed private groups to do what they want, but the fact of the matter is, the mayor has sole approval power," Brown said. According to the city's policy on decorations, the lawn would serve as a "limited public forum" for holiday displays from Dec. 5 through Jan. 1, and all citizens wishing to leave displays must get approval from Laffey's office and sign a waiver releasing the city from liability if a display is damaged. "It's my way of saying to the people of Cranston, 'This is your land, and if you want to set up some appropriate holiday displays, go ahead,'" Laffey said. "Quite frankly, the flamingos are fairly tasteful," Laffey said. The flock of flamingos appeared on the lawn late Tuesday. Laffey said when his office noticed the birds and the note left with them Wednesday morning, officials contacted Bonelli, who signed a waiver and got city approval. Roger DeSilva, 60, of Cranston, said he sees both sides of the debate, and he can appreciate the humor behind the flamingos. "It must be a tribute to all the elderly going to Florida, to get them ready for their trip," DeSilva chuckled, as he sat at Caffe Bon-Ami Inc., working on a crossword puzzle.
© Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights
reserved.
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/
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 Democratic Councilman John Lanni calls the City Hall exhibit -- that mixes religious and secular symbols -- unconstitutional and a publicity stunt. 03:28 AM EST on Friday, December 19, 2003
CRANSTON -- For varying reasons, a majority of City Council members don't like the holiday display unfolding on the front lawn of City Hall that includes decorations ranging from a Nativity scene to a parade of pink flamingos. Many said yesterday that they agree with the American Civil Liberties Union which is opposing the display on the grounds that it is unconstitutional because it violates the principle of separation of church and state. The ACLU said Wednesday that it will file a lawsuit in federal court against the city because of the display which is being erected -- one decoration at a time -- by residents at the invitation of Republican Mayor Stephen P. Laffey. "Of course it's unconstitutional," said Democratic Councilman John Lanni. "He [Laffey] knows it, his lawyers know it and the average citizen knows it. "This has been tested in just about every state in the country. And all this is," Lanni said, "is a publicity stunt for the Laffey ego. This is just so that people will know who he is when he runs for higher office." Councilwoman Paula McFarland said that Laffey has done more than just mix church and state. "He's mixed church and commercial symbols," McFarland said, alluding to the pink flamingos wearing little red hats placed between a large menorah and a near-life-size Nativity scene. "He's making a mockery of religion," she said. "Next, we'll have the church of Santa Claus and the church of snowmen represented on the lawn. And there's even the possibility of the church of Laffey." Laffey, who was not available for comment yesterday, has defended the display and his policy which gives his office the authority to decide what decorations are "appropriate" and can be erected. Laffey said earlier in the week that he did not think that the eclectic display -- which now includes three Santas, an angel, and an inflatable snowman plus the menorah, the Nativity scene and the flamingos -- is covered by a 1984 U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed the City of Pawtucket to keep a creche in a park next to City Hall. That decision found, in part, that the Nativity scene was just a small part of a much larger holiday diorama that included Santa's reindeer, candy canes and a wishing well. Cranston City Councilwoman Cynthia Fogarty, a lawyer, said yesterday that she agrees with the ACLU and she is concerned that the city might have to spend taxpayers' money in court to defend the display. She is also worried about the city opening itself up to the liability of having to pay the ACLU's legal fees and other costs, if it loses. Laffey, who yesterday was scheduled to preside over a menorah-lighting ceremony in the front lobby of City Hall, has said that he has had ample offers from local lawyers who are willing to represent the city free of charge. He approved the flamingos on Wednesday after resident Scott Bonelli surreptitiously set them up Tuesday night along with a large sign that brings greetings from "The Church of the Pink Flamingo." Yesterday, Democratic Councilman Kirk McDonough decried the entire display as no more than an insulting jumble of secular and religious objects. "I am particularly offended by the novelty of pink flamingos separating the Nativity scene and the menorah," he said. "The lack of respect for the two religions is an affront to all and should be rectified immediately." Republican Councilmen Allan Fung and Marc Ferolito both backed Laffey, saying that they thought the display was legal and not offensive. "We're creating kind of a diverse atmosphere," Fung said. Citywide Councilman Randall Jackvony, also a Republican and the minority leader, disagreed. He said that while he does not concur with the ACLU's position, he does feel that it is inappropriate to have a display that combines a Nativity scene with a snowman and multiple Santas. "In my personal opinion, we should take all the items off the lawn tomorrow," he said. "It's essentially making a mockery of religions when you have them next to the Church of the Pink Flamingo." "I'm a practicing Catholic. . . and while I think God has a sense of humor, I think that there's only so far you can take it." Councilwoman Ellen O'Hara said she agrees with the ACLU and is upset that the display is making Cranston the brunt of many jokes. "I was sort of hopeful that we had begun to turn the corner in Cranston and get ourselves off the front page," she said referring to months of headlines about the city's fiscal woes. "But I get up this morning to find out that we are the laughing stock of the state once more."
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.. 01:00 AM EST on Friday, December 19, 2003
It's a cheesy piece of work, this invitation to the people of Cranston to break the law. It only cheapens a sacred holiday. But as the Christmas season kicks into gear shortly after Labor Day, as the push begins for Americans to turn their credit cards into smoldering ruins, someone invariably steps up to make a blatant appeal for the religious vote -- and tap the self-promoting potential of facing off with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). This year, it's Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey, who is quickly becoming the most camera-ready pol in Rhode Island. Laffey has checked in as this year's champion of the warm Christmas fuzzies, inviting residents to turn the front lawn of City Hall into a holiday display. The public donations so far include a life-size Nativity scene and a menorah. Thus we have the annual tacky splurge of self-serving, self-righteous declarations of what belongs in Christmas and where it can rightfully be placed. It includes the inevitable, trifling assertion that the public has a right to express itself about the holiday. But the public is not one big, Santa-loving mob. There are differences among us, and those differences are demeaned by allowing religious symbols onto publicly-supported property. And a mayor playing Father Christmas turns warm celebration into low rent political spectacle. So the ACLU has responded, as it has to. It carries the burden of protecting the Constitution and it sometimes has to deal with calculated publicity stunts such as the one currently being pulled at Cranston City Hall. There is that nagging constitutional prohibition against mixing public business with private religious beliefs. It is as it has to be. Religion is a private matter and has no place in government. People can govern with religious conviction without pushing religion in the faces of their constituents. But Laffey has joined a long line of Yuletide hustlers, playing the faith of some of the people off against the hard inflexibility of the law. He has played the usual dreary cards -- the Grinch, Scrooge -- in reaction to the ACLU challenge to the religious symbols at a public building. So the pink flamingos seem crudely appropriate. They are a mockery of a mockery. They have taken Laffey's flouting of constitutional restraints to a fittingly absurd extreme. The flamingos showed up in the holiday display Tuesday night courtesy of one Scott Bonelli, a Cranston resident who designs theater sets and creates adult sex toys. Bonelli told The Journal that he was offended by the city's arbitrary position on what is tasteful enough to be included in the holiday display. So he landed 15 of the flamingos on the City Hall lawn between the Nativity scene and the menorah. It is a joke -- a garish comment on Laffey's latest grab for attention. Bonelli has raised the silly stakes by 15 flamingos wearing Santa hats. It is funny in a sad way. But it is also wasteful. The dispute will take time and resources and way too much emotion away from things more deserving. It has become an annual folly, this testing of the law and the will of the ACLU to stay true to its mission. It is presented by people who see a return in claiming the right to spread the spirit of Christmas wherever they choose. And somewhere down the line, in a church basement or senior center, someone will warmly hug Mayor Laffey and wish blessings upon him for putting Christ back in Christmas at City Hall. Glad tidings indeed. Bob Kerr can be reached by e-mail at bkerr@projo.com
I sent this E-Mail to Bob in response to his fine article
Hi Bob...
.. Quick question.. when you said "It only cheapens a sacred
holiday." What holiday were you referring to?...
Christmas, Chanukah, Flamingo day... It is
my contention that there are plenty of religions out there.. all
valid to the believers, and that no one group should be
discriminated against..
.. While I do believe in the separation of church and state, the
mayor wins a few points in my book for allowing the Flamingo day
display, without judging the validity of my " beliefs"..
my problem with the mayor is that he believes that his office
is the final arbiter of good taste.. ( sure he approved the birds,
but that's not the point, .. who is he to make that decision..
) I personally have no problem with using a little city
property for any and all winter holiday displays, what with
what we are paying in taxes in this city, I feel that I should have
plenty of rights to the land. I feel that the use of the land
is no different than the city allowing a St. Joseph's, or St.
Patrick's day parade on a city street, so long as all are afforded
the same privilege.
I think that the best answer to this issue
would be for the mayor to appoint a group of citizens, to manage the
site, and simply allow everyone who requests the space, access
to it. and remove the office of the mayor from the equation
completely.
.. I enjoyed the article, it was the first time I heard of the
complaints of the councilmen..
.. Once again I would like to state that the intent of the display
was not to offend any religious groups.. it was simply what I
believed to be a harmless protest.. an attempt to get
people to discuss important issues.. a catalyst if you will...
.. I am personally a little baffled by anyone who says that the
proximity on by display to any other is an insult to that religion.
the presence of a symbol is only offensive if you don't believe in
the symbol. That is the main issue.. Who gave the government
the right to decide if my religion, or any other religion is valid?
!
.. I would be happy to answer any questions you may have, or
any questions that the councilmen may have. While my phone
number is listed on the display, at this point I have not heard from
any of the detractors. (and at this point, I have not
heard back from councilmen Kirk McDough, I left a message with his
wife this morning)
Scott Bonelli
www.BigHeadStudio.com
401 465 6829
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
FUN E-MAIL: Friday, December 19, 2003 9:50 AM Re: wild Press updates
Scott,
I know you are probably way to busy to talk to
us "non celebrities" but... I had to say I felt the same
way about that ass Dan York. He sounded like a MORON!
You should have called him a DILDO, he certainly is one. He
never let you speak. It was more lighthearted on channel 12.
This all is too funny. Here's to the
Flamingo's of America (or does it go
beyond that???) I am sure you will get some wacko's trying to
join up...
:)Kristin
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
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 UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 20 1003, 12:00 p.m.
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-- 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.
PEAKS & VALLEYS
Deck lawn with pink flamingos 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
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 Cranston01:00 AM EST on Sunday, December 21, 2003
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
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 ( sent to a huge mailing list)
FUN E-MAIL: Sunday, December 21, 2003 3:34 PM
Hey Scott,
Can I be a missionary in the Church
of Pink Flamingoes and have one of the
little guys to start my chapter here in humble Rockland County, NY?
Lord knows we've got churches and places of worship of all kinds
around here. I think it would fit right it.
Too, too much. It confirms my belief
that the media (and the ACLU is really the Anti-Christ... no,
wait... that's Bob Kerr... talk about having an AGENDA!!!) is the
root of all evil. That's why I'm happy to be living under a
rock.
Keep me up with the postings. What a
gas!
NEW INFO: http://www.riaclu.org/cranston_religious_display_nr.htm "ACLU SUES OVER CRANSTON RELIGIOUS DISPLAY"
UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 22 1003, 10:30 a.m..
While I was inside, the ladies decided that in the spirit of flamingo day, and the frivolity that it embraces, they should make little antlers for those in the flock without hats, they found some twigs and lacking the proper flamingo antler application device, they sought help from the locals who were there to "worship" at the site... the nice camera- man from Channel 12 WPRI News, was kind enough to loan the ladies a roll of masking tape. as we were leaving the site I received a call from Barbara Polichetti. again she was amused but this whole story, and asked a few questions about the flamingo-napping the story is posted below...
here is Susan spreading PEACE"
Nativity figure returned, pink flamingos take flight 01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, December 23, 2003
CRANSTON -- After a three-day hiatus, the baby Jesus has returned to his place in front of City Hall, but several more plastic pink flamingos have taken flight. At the same time, Mayor Stephen P. Laffey has closed the site to new displays, saying the space is getting cramped and he does not want new items to detract from those already present. The Christ child was taken from the Nativity sometime Thursday night, but thanks to a chance encounter, he was back in place yesterday morning. Two police officers who saw a television news story about the theft Saturday night recalled seeing a baby Jesus figure at a home where they had responded for a disturbance two nights earlier. A 19-year-old Arcadia Avenue resident had called the police to break up a fight with friends at his home. One of them left the baby Jesus on his steps, scrawled with derogatory comments in red lipstick. The police thought nothing of the figure until seeing the news report. They returned Saturday night and retrieved it. The owner of the figure, Jerome Geller, did not want to press charges. In the last week, several of the 15 pink flamingos placed on the display have also disappeared. Their creator, Scott Bonelli, has a basement stockpile of more than 40 flamingos and was preparing to replace the stolen ones when he got an anonymous phone call Sunday. The caller was walking at Fay Field when he spotted one flamingo, still wearing its small Santa Claus cap, on the pitcher's mound. Later, he discovered two more on a wooded path near the field. Bonelli said they were returned to their rightful place on the front lawn of City Hall, but that more are now missing. As of yesterday afternoon, 11 out of the original 15 flamingos -- some replacement birds -- were on display. With staff reports from Barbara Polichetti. http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20031223_cr23aclu.b0ed1.html
FUN E-MAIL: Monday, December 22, 2003 11:50 AM Holy Crap Scott, You have 45
flamingos on your front lawn. How the
hell do UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 22 1003, ???p.m.. just got a call from MOM ... ( she is sort of the press secretary for the church) she told me that this whole issue was being discussed on NATIONAL TV and that I should turn on Bill O'Reilly's FOX News show, The O'Reilly Factor.. looks like we got a mention on the national level... the mayor did a few national radio spots as well.. but I cant confirm that the flamingo flock was mentioned if anyone out there has seen this listed in the paper, or has seen television coverage.. please let me know !!! FUN E-MAIL: Monday, December 22, 2003 11:09 AM
I see you are stirring up shit in your neck
of the woods .....sounds like fun, can you tell me what the Church
of the Pink Flamingos
is all about. Let me know if I can help your cause later buddy
Eric
FUN E-MAIL: Monday, December 22, 2003 12:30 PM Fucking Awesome! -Ken
FUN E-MAIL: Monday, December 22, 2003 1:46 PM Scott that is great! FUN E-MAIL: Monday, December 22, 2003 11:06 PM I'm am soooo fucking loving this Scott....
FUN E-MAIL: Monday, December 22, 2003 6:42 PM Happy Flamingo Day to you I love it finally a holiday I can sink my beak into.... .....I hope you have a fun holiday and
hope to see you in the New year. UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 23 1003, 7:30 a.m.. Special thanks to Reverend Temptress, for forwarding the online version of the Boston Globe article.. ( its posted above, on the Dec.21st update.) Temptress tells us that he will have the First official rock and roll hymn of the church of the pink flamingos ready soon... please keep checking back...
The federal lawsuit seeks to keep decorations with a religious theme off the City Hall lawn. 01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, December 23, 2003
PROVIDENCE -- The Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit yesterday claiming that the holiday display in front of Cranston City Hall violates the Constitution. The ACLU is not asking the court to force the removal of the display -- which is scheduled to come down Jan. 1 -- but is suing the city and Mayor Stephen P. Laffey to block the display in future years. Earlier in the month, Laffey invited residents to put seasonal decorations that he deemed appropriate on City Hall's front lawn. A menorah was the first item erected, soon followed by an inflatable Santa and snowman, and then by a Nativity scene. Other additions include 15 pink flamingos wearing Santa hats, a "season's greetings" sign from the Teamsters, an angel and plastic snow dogs. The ACLU takes particular issue with the menorah and Nativity scene, symbols that it says deliver religious messages. "Placement of these religious symbols at the threshold of the seat of government for the City of Cranston . . . has the principal and primary effect of advancing religion and [conveys] a plain message that the [city and Laffey] endorse, sanction, promote, support and approve of the overtly religious message," the lawsuit says. ACLU Executive Director Steven Brown said that the snowman, Santas and other nonreligious aspects of the display are there simply to circumvent legal precedents regarding the separation of church and state. Brown went one step further, saying it "seems likely" that Laffey invited people to display the objects simply so he could obtain publicity and gain political points. Laffey denied the accusation, but the display yesterday catapulted the Republican mayor once again onto the national media airwaves. He appeared on conservative pundit Bill O'Reilly's FOX News show, The O'Reilly Factor, spoke to CBS radio's national news audience, and did a radio interview with Oliver North, the guest host of the nationally syndicated Sean Hannity Show. "Obviously, nobody is trying to establish any new state religion here. It's just a freedom of expression, and I always thought the ACLU was for free expression," Laffey said outside City Hall yesterday. "We can see that when Dickens wrote about Scrooge or Dr. Seuss wrote about the Grinch, they weren't just fictional characters. They really exist, and I can only hope that between now and Christmas Day, the ACLU sees the Ghost of Christmas future and changes its heart about the holiday season." Laffey said the ACLU is "a very extreme group" taking a position that 90 percent of the public doesn't support. The mayor said that before encouraging the placement of items on the front lawn, he got the free legal advice of two specialists: Norman G. Orodenker, the partner overseeing the city's legal work at the Providence law firm of Tillinghast Licht Perkins Smith & Cohen, and Thomas Marcelle, his college roommate, who successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2001 that the use of a school for meetings by a Christian organization was constitutional. "Does anybody see the establishment of a church here?" Laffey asked reporters gathered outside City Hall yesterday. "I didn't think so." THE ACLU, however, sees things differently. "In order to conduct city business in Cranston City Hall, anyone must pass a 5-foot-high menorah and a life-sized Nativity scene," said lawyer Miriam Weizenbaum, who along with Amato A. DeLuca, is representing the ACLU for free. "They create the appearance that the city is endorsing religion." The ACLU is bringing the lawsuit on behalf of Grace C. Osediacz, a Cranston resident who has directed an after school program for the School Department at Bain Middle School since June. Osediacz said that on Dec. 15 she was leaving a meeting at the school administration building next to City Hall, saw the display and called the ACLU. "I feel very strongly that religion simply is not the business of government. Rhode Island was founded on the principle that religion and government should be separate," Osediacz said. "I'm really outraged that any public official would invite the placement of religious symbols right in front of City Hall, at the seat of government." Osediacz declined to identify what religion, if any, she practices, saying "that's my business and no one else's." The ACLU also takes issue with a City Hall policy that calls for "appropriate holiday and seasonal decoration[s]" and leaves it up to the mayor to decide what is and is not proper. "The policy gives the mayor complete discretion to decide what types of displays -- displays being a form of speech -- are acceptable, without any guidelines whatsoever," Weizenbaum said. IN THE 1980S, Pawtucket faced a similar lawsuit from the ACLU. 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. The display included reindeer, a Santa Claus, a Christmas tree, a banner reading "Season's Greetings," and a Nativity scene. Virtually unchanged, the display is now at a city park. The ACLU said yesterday this case is different because Cranston's display is at the seat of city government and is much smaller than the Pawtucket display. In addition, the snowman and Santa were placed there after the menorah "as a pretext" to allow the city to pass constitutional muster, the ACLU said. When asked about menorahs at Providence City Hall and the State House, the ACLU's Brown said he also had concerns about those, but no member of the public has complained. (Representatives from Providence and the governor's office said their displays are legal.) Laffey says it will cost the city nothing to defend the case. However, if defeated, the city might be ordered to pay the ACLU's legal costs. Three national conservative organizations -- the American Center for Law and Justice, the Rutherford Institute, and the Alliance Defense Fund -- have all volunteered their services to the city. The Alliance Defense Fund says it 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." http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo_20031223_cr23aclu.b0ed1.html
FUN E-MAIL: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 12:02 Am Re: flamingo "egregious outrage" this is too hilarious !!!! ... I can't wait
to see what happens with
FUN E-MAIL: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 10:51 AM
Hey Scott,
May I please join the church of the "Pink"
-
Flamingo...?
Do I have to be baptized? circumcised?
Austrosized? resized?
Please send me the application form
today so I can start contributing to the greater good of the world
!!! Thank you for the updates.. Funny boy
Thank you for your time & expertise on
this...
All the best
Steven
UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 23 1003, 3:30 p.m.
thanks Tony, for supporting the work of the "church". May you be blessed by the Great flamingo,
You've done a good thing.
here we have an angry old man.. he doesn't like the flamingos or ducks at all... he is shown in the second photo with a little smile.. he does like the Manger scene.. but refused to pose with the Menorah !!
FUN E-MAIL: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 4:33 PM I'm a new church convert! Hey Todd! (just a quick note.. I was
called Todd for a short time while in prison) UPDATE>>> DECEMBER 23 1003, 4:45 p.m. ? I just got a call from Scott, the reporter for the Providence Journal.. he told me that he just got a call from the Mayors office.. they have removed the ducks.. he wanted to know if I had any thoughts.. ?? well, it was nice to be offered the chance to get the last word in.. .. the ducks were shown on CH. 6 news... and they looked right at home supporting their plastic avian allies in the field , standing in unity, for peace, love, and Frivolity.. ( and oh, yeah.. pants are optional in the church) ...I didn't bother to watch CH 12 or 10.. FUN E-MAIL: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 10:40 PM Scott, Dan Salamie <dsmail@att.net> My Reply To Dan
H I Dan..
.. I do support the A.C.L.U. !
I think that for the most part they do a great job..
perhaps this little protest is to help them show that the lawn
should not be a public forum... ... my opinion.. is that
while I'm not against the use of the lawn for a display... I
feel that the mayor is not the person to decide what's in good
taste.. or an affront to the people on Cranston...I think that the
government should step out of the picture completely..
.. so, how do I know that the
flamingo is OK.. send me a photo of him with today's
newspaper.. and we will see...
Scott Bonelli
www.BigHeadStudio.com
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 ... Vibrating rubber ducks pulled from Yule displayThey 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
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 ALCU sues Cranston for holiday displayThe federal lawsuit seeks to keep decorations with a religious theme off the City Hall lawn. 01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, December 23, 2003
PROVIDENCE -- The Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit yesterday claiming that the holiday display in front of Cranston City Hall violates the Constitution. The ACLU is not asking the court to force the removal of the display -- which is scheduled to come down Jan. 1 -- but is suing the city and Mayor Stephen P. Laffey to block the display in future years. Earlier in the month, Laffey invited residents to put seasonal decorations that he deemed appropriate on City Hall's front lawn. A menorah was the first item erected, soon followed by an inflatable Santa and snowman, and then by a Nativity scene. Other additions include 15 pink flamingos wearing Santa hats, a "season's greetings" sign from the Teamsters, an angel and plastic snow dogs. The ACLU takes particular issue with the menorah and Nativity scene, symbols that it says deliver religious messages. "Placement of these religious symbols at the threshold of the seat of government for the City of Cranston . . . has the principal and primary effect of advancing religion and [conveys] a plain message that the [city and Laffey] endorse, sanction, promote, support and approve of the overtly religious message," the lawsuit says. ACLU Executive Director Steven Brown said that the snowman, Santas and other nonreligious aspects of the display are there simply to circumvent legal precedents regarding the separation of church and state. Brown went one step further, saying it "seems likely" that Laffey invited people to display the objects simply so he could obtain publicity and gain political points. Laffey denied the accusation, but the display yesterday catapulted the Republican mayor once again onto the national media airwaves. He appeared on conservative pundit Bill O'Reilly's FOX News show, The O'Reilly Factor, spoke to CBS radio's national news audience, and did a radio interview with Oliver North, the guest host of the nationally syndicated Sean Hannity Show. "Obviously, nobody is trying to establish any new state religion here. It's just a freedom of expression, and I always thought the ACLU was for free expression," Laffey said outside City Hall yesterday. "We can see that when Dickens wrote about Scrooge or Dr. Seuss wrote about the Grinch, they weren't just fictional characters. They really exist, and I can only hope that between now and Christmas Day, the ACLU sees the Ghost of Christmas future and changes its heart about the holiday season." Laffey said the ACLU is "a very extreme group" taking a position that 90 percent of the public doesn't support. The mayor said that before encouraging the placement of items on the front lawn, he got the free legal advice of two specialists: Norman G. Orodenker, the partner overseeing the city's legal work at the Providence law firm of Tillinghast Licht Perkins Smith & Cohen, and Thomas Marcelle, his college roommate, who successfully argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2001 that the use of a school for meetings by a Christian organization was constitutional. "Does anybody see the establishment of a church here?" Laffey asked reporters gathered outside City Hall yesterday. "I didn't think so." THE ACLU, however, sees things differently. "In order to conduct city business in Cranston City Hall, anyone must pass a 5-foot-high menorah and a life-sized Nativity scene," said lawyer Miriam Weizenbaum, who along with Amato A. DeLuca, is representing the ACLU for free. "They create the appearance that the city is endorsing religion." The ACLU is bringing the lawsuit on behalf of Grace C. Osediacz, a Cranston resident who has directed an after school program for the School Department at Bain Middle School since June. Osediacz said that on Dec. 15 she was leaving a meeting at the school administration building next to City Hall, saw the display and called the ACLU. "I feel very strongly that religion simply is not the business of government. Rhode Island was founded on the principle that religion and government should be separate," Osediacz said. "I'm really outraged that any public official would invite the placement of religious symbols right in front of City Hall, at the seat of government." Osediacz declined to identify what religion, if any, she practices, saying "that's my business and no one else's." The ACLU also takes issue with a City Hall policy that calls for "appropriate holiday and seasonal decoration[s]" and leaves it up to the mayor to decide what is and is not proper. "The policy gives the mayor complete discretion to decide what types of displays -- displays being a form of speech -- are acceptable, without any guidelines whatsoever," Weizenbaum said. IN THE 1980S, Pawtucket faced a similar lawsuit from the ACLU. 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. The display included reindeer, a Santa Claus, a Christmas tree, a banner reading "Season's Greetings," and a Nativity scene. Virtually unchanged, the display is now at a city park. The ACLU said yesterday this case is different because Cranston's display is at the seat of city government and is much smaller than the Pawtucket display. In addition, the snowman and Santa were placed there after the menorah "as a pretext" to allow the city to pass constitutional muster, the ACLU said. When asked about menorahs at | |||||||||||||||||
this
is some stranger.. just wandered by to see the flock.. said he wasn't
at all offended !!
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 !!
went to
replace the missing 4 flamingos
today... but found that another 3 are missing... this sucks
!!! I was joined on this mission by the St. Louis Bishop,
Susan, as well as the South County High Priestess
Courtney. We bumped into a photographer from the
Providence Journal, as well as a news crew from Channel 12 WPRI
News, they were there for a live report for the noon
news.. I was also at city hall that day to pay a
little on my back taxes... 
Great
news... the church has a friend in Tony, from Big Teaze Toys
in Woodland Hilly CA. 
The ducks
have joined the flamingo flock
welcome to
the media "frenzy" ...this is the Channel 6 WLNE TV
(CBS) camera guy, capturing what only can be thought of a
"art" the man should get an EMMY for his
camera work... it looked great on the 6 P.M. news.... .. I didn't see it , but I'm sure the story made the 11 P.M. news as
well 
"Ace Reporter" Scott Mayerowitz from the
Providence Journal is shown here with the CH. 6 photographer.. if
only I had the camera out seconds later... Scott was seen
"dancing in celebration" among the flamingo
flock... (honest.. I swear !!! ) ok .. so he
might have been tripping over them... but he did have spirit !!