DENVER, Colorado (AP) -- A homeowners' association in southwestern Colorado has threatened to fine a resident $25 a day until she removes a Christmas wreath with a peace sign that some say is an anti-Iraq war protest or a symbol of Satan.Some residents who have complained have children serving in Iraq, said Bob Kearns, president of the Loma Linda Homeowners Association in Pagosa Springs.
He said some residents believed the wreath was a symbol of Satan. Three or four residents complained, he said.
"Somebody could put up signs that say drop bombs on Iraq. If you let one go up you have to let them all go up," he said in a telephone interview Sunday.
Lisa Jensen said she wasn't thinking of the war when she hung the wreath. She said, "Peace is way bigger than not being at war. This is a spiritual thing."
Jensen, a past association president, calculates the fines will cost her about $1,000, and doubts they will be able to make her pay. But she said she's not going to take it down until after Christmas.
"Now that it has come to this I feel I can't get bullied," she said. "What if they don't like my Santa Claus?"
The association in this 200-home subdivision 270 miles southwest of Denver has sent a letter to her saying that residents were offended by the sign and the board "will not allow signs, flags etc. that can be considered divisive."
The subdivision's rules say no signs, billboards or advertising are permitted without the consent of the architectural control committee.
Kearns ordered the committee to require Jensen to remove the wreath, but members refused after concluding that it was merely a seasonal symbol that didn't say anything.
Kearns fired all five committee members.
This is one of the things I am most afraid of when buying a home or condo these days... Homeowners Associations. They suck! What do you benefit from them? You have to pay dues, and then you are scrutinized to hell with what you do, and are restricted from doing anything that makes your house look different than anyone elses? Why? Why does everyone want to assimilate? Is there a point? Where's the freedom of speech? This lady puts up a PEACE wreath and people complain that its a sign against supporting the troops? What the hell? I thought, completely hypothetical, that the troops in Iraq were there to help promote democracy and peace in the middle east? (of course, I think the Iraq thing.... well I won't say more than that) Anyway, I love it how the Homeowner president fires the 5 people who go against him. Sounds like democracy rules this association. Mmm hmm.
My cousin, who lives in a suburb of Phoenix, AZ also is in a homeowners association, not by choice I'd assume. But when I went down to visit him while on a business trip earlier this year, I remember he bought some garden rocks to place for decoration. They don't have grass down there nor bark so they use red rocks.... or something like that. But he picked a slightly darker shade of red than the standard -- you can hardly tell either... and the homeowners came screaming at his doorstep and demanded he return those and get the proper color. I thought it was ludicrous.
My other cousin, his brother actually, couldn't use his condo deck to put a BBQ on it!! A BBQ?? What's the point in having the deck then?? He also couldn't have a bike on it either... blasphemy.
Anyway, homeowners associations... are you suppose to enjoy being in one?
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