Dec 12, 2011
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A group of Christmas carolers was thrown out of a U.S. Post Office in Silver Spring, MD, after the post office manager told them they were not allowed to sing Christmas carols on government property.
A spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service confirmed the incident occurred Saturday at a branch office in the Aspen Hill Shopping Center. A trio of carolers walked into the building dressed in attire reminiscent of Charles Dickens and began singing.
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“They were only a few notes into their carol when suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a scowling postal manager rushing to confront the carolers,” said JP Duffy, who was standing in a line with his wife and two-year-old daughter.
Duffy, who also happens to be a staff member of the Family Research Council, said he was stunned by what happened next.
“He told them that they had to leave immediately because they were violating the post office’s policy against solicitation,” Duffy said. “He told them they couldn’t do this on government property. He said: ‘You can’t go into Congress and sing and you can’t do it here either.’”
A spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service’s Capital Metro ARea said the carolers had “beautiful voices” but were told they could not perform in the lobby.
“Public assembly and public address, except when conducted or sponsored by the Postal Service, are prohibited in lobbies and other interior areas open to the public,” the spokesperson told Fox News & Commentary.
“We have rules and regulations governing conduct on postal property,” the spokesman said. “The only reason you should be inside is for postal business.”
The carolers explained that they had been performing at businesses in the shopping center for several years – including the post office – and they’ve never encountered any problems. But the post office employee refused to budge and ordered them to leave.
Duffy said that customers standing in line began to boo the postal worker.
“Over the last several years, we have watched militant secularists team up with federal bureaucrats in the effort to sterilize the public square of anything remotely connected to anything religious,” Duffy said. “This postal manager has clearly received the memo which has led him to stamp out Christmas caroling. But I have my own memo to all the Christmas carolers out there. Let’s not surrender to the secularist version of Christmas future.”
Duffy suggested that the U.S. Post Office follow the advice of its founder – Benjamin Franklin.
“So shalt thou always live jollily; for a good conscience is a continual Christmas,” Franklin once wrote.
“This is good advice that the U.S. Post Office and all of us would do well to heed,” Duffy said.
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Does anyone want to pay the legal bills for the USPS when some God challenged idiot sues them for allowing carolers on government property, and not protecting their right to separation of church and state?
Some people should put their feet in others shoes. Sure, if it's your home, allow it. If it's certainly going to cost you your job and maybe a legal battle, what would you do?
NOT that there IS a law of separation of church and state; it's a law of the state not being allowed to abridge your right to worship. It separates the state from interfering between you and God.
Separation of church and state is not specific on the religion, but yes the state shouldn't interfere in your chosen worship.
This mamager over-reacted, and sounds like a Scroodge, but those are EVERYWHERE. My husband works for the PO as a mail carrier, and he is one big Santa at Christmas; and a very giving, helping, generous man the rest of the year.
Boycott the USPS, if this is the way they want to treat Americans, then we shall use other means of getting our mail or packages to wherever they need to go… unfortunalely this cannot be done all the time, but cutting back will cut them back… No wonder they are in such dire-straights financially.
The guys in line should have continued the song. They missed a great opportunity. I would like to think that I would have the courage if it happens to me.
The customers should sing carols while standing in line and see if their policy changes! Watch out Post Office I will be singing – I really CAN'T sing!
Me either but I also will be trying. I have a letter to mail today. I will be singing in the PO!
Joy Knight Pressley That's awesome!
Christians have been laid back for too long, and it's time to stop letting the heathens run all over us; we've got to take a stand for Christ!
Curious. If Christ is all powerful, why do you feel you need to take a stand for him? I'm not trying to be mean or anything, I'm genuinely curious.
Chris White: Jesus Christ IS all powerful…but he is not a bully…he gives us freewill. I am perfectly capable of defending myself…but my dog still protects me…why?…because she loves me unconditionally. making sense now?
Earl Fuller Got it…you're a dog
Paul Wegener …no, you dont get it…wow I thought speaking to you so a child could understand would help you understand, but I guess some people are incapable of understanding the most basic concept.
You know what, the effective cure for that serious problem is to vote out Obama and his likes.
You know what, the effective cure for that serious problem is to vote out Obama and his likes.
Oh boo freakin hoo…did they say they couldn't go out in the parking lot and sing? Or across the street? Holy shit people it's JUST a post office. Do they really need to sing IN the lobby? Maybe they should've gotten permission first and there'd be no problem (there isn't one but overreaction again).
"Hey everyone! Please don't judge all of us because of one (or a few) bad eggs. I work at the Post Office and I am a Christian, as are many of my co-workers AND managers. I'm sure it just depends on where you go. We are a "Main" office in a good sized city in Texas and we play Christmas music and still say, "Merry Christmas." I would love to see some carolers come in and cheer up some customers that have had to wait too long in line. Regardless, hope you all have a Merry Christmas and don't forget to stock up on your "Forever Stamps" because prices will probably go up next month. God bless." Posting for a friend who is not on fb.
Got you, Todd! God bless you! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!
Have a Merry Christmas too ma'am
Merry Christmas to you!
now we wonder why they are going down and struggling, I even went to mail something but needed one copy of the letter I was sending and offered to pay for that copy and they said no they cant do that. real customer friendly I tell you. maybe if they worked on their people skills they would do much more business.
So what you do is, go in and buy a stamp, then sing a carol on the way out the door.
If the post office doesn't want Christians singing Christmas Carols in the lobby perhaps they should stop trying to profit off of the holiday. They sell stamps featuring Mary and Jesus and feature iconic Christmas images all over their website… Seems to me they're a bit conflicted!
I recall that the Postal Service is in the midst of a serious finacial crisis. Layoffs, service cuts and closing locations are becoming reality. Christ brought hope into the world…which seems that the Postal Service could use right now. Benjamin Franklin got it…why can't they? The Post Office should be happy to see ANYONE come in their doors…what carolers will you kick out if you no longer hve a job? Doesn't Christmas usually generate a great stream of revenue for the Post Office anyway? Well then…rejoice! Hope came into your office (but you pushed it out the door).
Well said!
I'll give you that one. It might certainly put the employees in higher spirits.
But it is OK to spend all that tax money bringing that BIG Christmas tree to the White House. Our forefathers are turning over in their graves at the utter hypocrisy!
The Christmas tree, and decorations are donated every year always. No cost to the taxpayers. But if a cost arises I will be glad to donate to the cause.
like so many retalers, they like the money Christmas brings to them, but they don't want to acknowledge it. Shame on you USPS!
The best cure for this manager's behavior is to use the Post Office as little as possible. And see if they change their tune. I bet they will fast.
The best cure for this manager's behavior is to use the Post Office as little as possible. And see if they change their tune. I bet they will fast.
My suggestion. Let us start using online banking more and start sending Christmas cards over the internet. Stop using the post office for mail. If they think they are in trouble now, a nice boycott will show them what trouble really is.
Through rain, sleet, nor snow, or hail…nothing can stop the U.S. Mail…..except Christmas carolers. Merry Christmas everyone.
Be it Post Office or any where, until we the people stand up and defend our rights we will continue to loose our rights. Merry Christmas to all.
Who wants to join me in singing CHRISTmas carols at the post office in Blairsville ???
Step right up and get your stamps, religious or non?
Jesus BORN FOR OUR SALVATION —MERRY CHRISTMAS!
As a human sacrifice to a bloodthirsty god. Happy Saturnalia!
Paul Wegener: the sacrifice was for you…so your ungrateful soul doesnt burn in hell…Jesus took on more in his last hours than ALL humans take on in all their lifetimes!…show a little respect you arrogant worm!
Earl Fuller Human sacrifice TO TO TO TO a bloodthirsty god. You really need to read peoples posts. And how did he take on more? Nobody else was ever crucified?
Paul Wegener..like I said God the Father was not "bloodthirsty"…his son Jesus was the sacrifice so all humanity would not perish. and Jesus took on more because he "became" sin at that moment…and God the Father is Holy and cannot look upon sin, so he turned away from his son for a brief moment. Jesus went through more than anyone on earth could ever experience. and yes Paul other people were crucified….that was a common practice among the Romans in that day. but you would have known that if you would have read the Bible and watched the history channel or went to a library and studied up on the Roman Empire.
I'll bet that if this were some OWS people nothing would have bean said.
This is another story designed to whip up outrage over the "War on Christmas". The manager does sound like a bit of a Scrooge, but as long as the rules apply the same to everyone (no heavy-metal bands, no mime performances, etc.), then it seems fair and constitutional to me. Prove to me that other groups are allowed to perform there, and then you can cry "persecution".
It figures, how about a city nativity display without Jesus.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2569684853042.125653.1581840268&type=1
I work at West Point and this morning we had the pleasure and the honor of listening to some of the West Point Band play Christmas Carols. So what's the difference. He sounds like an Ebenezwer to me.
It is a shame that the people in line in the post office, instead of booing the postal worker, didn't all start singing Christmas carols for the rest of the time they were in the post office "conducting business".
To quote part of the article: It is "suggested that the U.S. Post Office follow the advice of its founder – Benjamin Franklin.
“So shalt thou always live jollily; for a good conscience is a continual Christmas,” Franklin once wrote.
“This is good advice that the U.S. Post Office and all of us would do well to heed,”
I can't help but think about an article I read indicating that to overwhem the system would be a major part of their strategy. Maybe we better refocus our sttention at the fire and not the flames.
@ Donald Hill all others who have concern….only if "We the People" allow this to continue.
Sad
The Postal Service should also have some rules on how a postal employee should conduct himself in public. Apparently rudeness and crudeness was how this situation was handled. The postal employee could have been "The Grinch".. No wonder the post office is losing money.
Keep Christ in Christmas! It's His birthday anyway!
Keep Christ in Christmas! It's His birthday anyway!
Hmmm….. a little more….wonder why they sell Christmas stamps with the Holy Mother and Christ child? What about Nativiity stamps? Makes no sense.
Hmmm….. a little more….wonder why they sell Christmas stamps with the Holy Mother and Christ child? What about Nativiity stamps? Makes no sense.
People who feel like that are in the minority. What are we going to do about it? That type of abuse needs to stop.
Glad I use e-mail to communicate and now I think I'll use UPS and FedEx to ship my parcels, let the USPS go broke and go extinct.
The good thing about all this BS is, it comes and goes pretty quickly…..
You should get a group of people together, get in line with packages and all start singing Christmas carols. See if they make you leave then…..
And If your dumb enough to let statues of angels and whatever ruin your day, you deserve it!
Although the Singing chip monks at Walgreens makes me want to rip off their heads…….
This reeks of some low level manager in 'cover your a ss' mode.
If one of the customers was one of our country's noble champions of freedom aka whiny litigious atheists, the sandy vajayjay would have a lawsuit for hurt feelings that could only be assuaged by a hefty settlement.
With Obooboo in the WH and his minions, we are looking more and more like the old Soviet Union everyday.
Nobody will give a hoot about all this crap in February.
Those Losers won't even exist in another couple of years- Hurray.
I wonder what would have happened if the carolers refused to leave? Would they have been arrested? Maybe they should have stood their ground and kept singing. Perhaps the customers in line would have joined in. What is this country coming to? If all we Christians avoid using the services of the post office this Christmas, they'll lose a LOT of money! Maybe then they'll get the message.
Who cares? I've stop using them to deliver my Christmas Cards long ago. You can do the same. Vote with you dollars.
I will no longer send any christmas, easter, or any other religious mai via USPS…oh wait… I stopped using them years ago…USPS is a waste of money and they will soon be gone anyway…problem solved.
Next thing will be for him to try and get Christmas Day banned (which is a federal holiday) and he can work that day instead.