busy body idiots relent (one in a not frequent enough series)

Common sense prevails:

A subdivision has withdrawn its threat of $25 daily fines against a homeowner who put a Christmas wreath shaped like a peace sign on the front of her home.

Homeowner Lisa Jensen told The Associated Press Monday that the board of directors of the Loma Linda Homeowners Association had apologized, called the incident a misunderstanding and had withdrawn its request for the wreath's removal.

I'm glad Lisa Jensen got her apology, and will be allowed to hang her peace sign from her house this holiday season, but what misunderstanding? This isn't the first time this HOA has gone nuts about a peace sign, and they threatened to fine the homeowner $25 a day, because "three or four" idiots, including the HOA's president, think that the peace symbol is Satanic.

"The peace sign has a lot of negativity associated with it," said Kearns. "It's also an anti-Christ sign. That's how it started."

Wrong again, stupid. It got started because you have nothing better to do than stomp around your little fiefdom and impose your narrow views on everyone who is unfortunate enough to live there under your watchful eye, and your anti-peace sign crusade didn't even begin or end at Lisa Jensen's house!

The committee's former chairman, Jack Lilly, said Kearns had told committee members he was going to have them removed because they didn't think the wreath and another, unrelated peace symbol in the neighborhood should be taken down.

(Emphasis mine.) The more I read about this incident, the more it seems like this is just one man on a mission to eradicate a symbol he personally finds offensive. There was no "misunderstanding," other than the HOA president misunderstanding what is and isn't appropriate use of his limited authority. And apparently, I wasn't the only person who thought it was outrageous:

"We would like to thank everyone who has contacted us with moral support and offers of financial support. We are grateful to hundreds of complete strangers who felt so moved by this story they contacted us," she said.

"It seems whenever someone tries to say 'Peace on Earth' it is met with so much resistance," she said. "The incredible amount of support we have received over the last couple of days really is proof to us of how many people believe in peace and in our right to say it."

Yeah, what exactly do these self-appointed arbitrators of what's acceptable and what isn't have against peace? You know, peace means a whole lot more than "not war."

Comments

[Kornham]

I bet the property values just went down. Nobody is going to want to live in that community now.

[CHV]

Soo: I did recall that "X-Files" episode. It was pretty funny, no doubt written by an author who'd heard his/her share of insane HOA stories.

The worst HOA horror story I ever heard was from a friend whose own neighborhood HOA board expected him to pay monthly dues owed from the PREVIOUS owner of his home, who apparently moved out months earlier without squaring his bill.

Despite all attempts by my friend to speak to the HOA in a reasonable tone, they would not relent.

At the time, my advice was to tell the HOA board to get bent, and countersue them for damages if they tried using the courts to get their cash.

I'm not sure how the situation turned out. But I just can't see those idiots as having had a legal leg to stand on.

[SteveB in Ohio]

Hallelujah!

Being a nosy neighbor is a long-standing tradition. Having your nose pushed firmly out of someone else's business is also a long-standing tradition.

I'm so glad this situation ended peacefully, to coin a phrase. It reminds me why I'm a member of the ACLU.

Pat referenced the song "Little Boxes," by Malvina Reynolds. Having grown up in the suburbs, that song has been one of my favorites since I was a kid. It now reminds me of the series "Weeds," which I highly recommend.

SteveB

[bkw]

But I just can't see those idiots as having had a legal leg to stand on.

They might, depending on what agreements were signed when the house was purchased. I recall reading something about a fellow having his house sold out from under him (by the HOA) when he didn't pay his dues.

Some HOAs are really egregious.

The x-Files episode is "Arcadia". Season 6, I think.

And yes, I cordially dislike HOAs as well, having had a few run ins myself (also over windows, whee). On the other hand, I do see their upside, assuming they are competently and reasonably managed.

[Rebecca]

I went and did some research, and found the REAL story behind the peace sign. Go to DesignBoom and read about it. Here's a tiny exerpt:

the anti-nuclear emblem or the peace sign is one of the most widely known symbols in the world. it was invented on the request of lord bertrand russel, head of the british ‘campaign for nuclear disarmament’ or CDN and sponsor of mass marches and sit-downs in london. the graphic symbol was designed by gerald holtom, a member of the CND movement, as the badge of the ’direct action committee against nuclear war’, for the first demonstration against aldermaston (a british research center for the development of nuclear weapons) in 1958. holtom, a professional designer and a graduate of the london royal college of arts, had originally considered using the christian cross symbol within a circle as the motif for the march, but various priests he had approached with the suggestion were not happy at the idea of using the cross on a protest march.

[CHV]

>>They might, depending on what agreements were signed when the house was purchased. I recall reading something about a fellow having his house sold out from under him (by the HOA) when he didn't pay his dues.

bkw:

Something similar almost happened in my HOA when a guy down the street who lost his job, and was really struggling hard financially (and missing dues payments), was almost put out by the HOA.

Personally, I've only had one run-in with them over a vehicle (commercial van used for work) a former roomie used to park in my driveway.

After he moved out, that issue evaporated. But still, that incident left a bitter taste, and my next home will definately not be under an HOA's domain.

Otherwise, I might as well be living in a glorified apartment.

[Mike01s]

Kind of related. Funny how Christmas brings out the idiot in people - this time is a city's leadership: http://lisatrifone.typepad.com/dream_for_an_insomniac/2006/11/like_keeping_tu.html

[chrisoliver74]

The origins of the peace symbol are further back than you think. The symbol inside the circle is inverted meaning "vulnrability". Upright it would mean "strong" or "protection".

The ignorance of people blows my mind.
http://www.omniglot.com/writing/runic.htm
http://www.runestones.com/runes.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Guide-Runes-Divination-Llewellyns/dp/0875425933/sr=1-4/qid=1164857935/ref=sr_1_4/105-5440968-8189204?ie=UTF8&s=books

[John]

Maybe, maybe not. The link describes several possibilities for the history of the peace symbol.

If it was based on the semaphore letters for N and D, the relationship to the runes are purely coincidental.