'Jesus is the reason for the season' sign sparks controversy
PASCO, Wash. - Jesus seems to be the reason for neighbors to fight about a sign in one Pasco man's yard.
His large Christmas decoration has become the cause of controversy.
The homeowner's association says this sign breaks its rules.
Covenants for Mediterranean Villas, off Broadmoor, say signs can't be more than two-feet by two-feet. This one is six-feet by three-and-a-half feet.
Homeowner Tim Meeker believes it's not about the size, it's about the message. He told KEPR he will not take it down, even with the threat of fines.
"I feel this is the reason for the season right here and it doesn't offend anybody," Meeker said. "There was no rule against it last year, what's the problem this year? I'll see a lawyer. If they take it I'll call this police for theft its in my yard, on my property."
To get all sides Action News talked to board members of the homeowners association. They said they didn't ask for the sign to come down last year because Tim had just moved in and they didn't want to rock the boat with a new neighbor.
They say every resident got a copy of the rules and they intend to move forward with legal action to remove the sign.
The board members insist the message about Jesus would be welcome if the sign was the acceptable size.
His large Christmas decoration has become the cause of controversy.
The homeowner's association says this sign breaks its rules.
Covenants for Mediterranean Villas, off Broadmoor, say signs can't be more than two-feet by two-feet. This one is six-feet by three-and-a-half feet.
Homeowner Tim Meeker believes it's not about the size, it's about the message. He told KEPR he will not take it down, even with the threat of fines.
"I feel this is the reason for the season right here and it doesn't offend anybody," Meeker said. "There was no rule against it last year, what's the problem this year? I'll see a lawyer. If they take it I'll call this police for theft its in my yard, on my property."
To get all sides Action News talked to board members of the homeowners association. They said they didn't ask for the sign to come down last year because Tim had just moved in and they didn't want to rock the boat with a new neighbor.
They say every resident got a copy of the rules and they intend to move forward with legal action to remove the sign.
The board members insist the message about Jesus would be welcome if the sign was the acceptable size.
The thing find fascinating is that Jesus is not the reason for the season. Jesus was most likely born in late September. Constantinople moved the celebration of his birth to December 25th in an attempt to compete with the pagan religious celebrations of Yule and the winter solstice. No where in the Bible does it mention things like Christmas trees because those were borrowed from the celebration of Yule.
 @rowman2222 Jesus absolutely is the reason we celebrate Christmas. Whether He was born in December or not and most christians know he wasn't but it is a day we set aside to celebrate his birth. I wish the God hating heathens would leave OUR celebration alone. Don't celebrate it. The athiests have a holiday as well...it's called April Fools Day.
Personally I don't see anything wrong with this sign!! Let him rejoice in his religious beliefs!! It's nice to see someone who stand for what he/she believes in. Someone who actually knows this season isn't about getting rich, expensive gifts! It's about the Lord, and Love!!Â
I managed property for over 30 years and how I can say is, "What if everyone did it!" How would that neighborhood look. It's not fair if he puts signs up and you don't allow others. In my Mobile Home Park I allowed for one full day to have the Rules broke after that it stopped. It was a Senior Park. Personally I would not want to be a neighbor ot Tim's if he is going to break the rules. I would not want to move in that area if it had signs all over. I am pretty sure everyone knows what the reason for the season is without the sign. The Guy just wants to raise Hell with his neighbors and get his face in the paper. It's male PMS.
why is it that christians are always being villified for publicy proclaiming their love of god and yet someone who praises allah and buddah never seem to be a problem what always annoys me is one person whines and the entire christian community suffers for it i have respect for how others choose to worship even if i might not agree with them but i'm not gonna make a legal issue out of it just because it offends me
some only want god when it suits them most "use the saying "god help me" without thinkin g what it truly means but when things are going their way they don't need it
I worked for a property management company that dealt with HOA's. While I personally wouldn't want to live with the kind of restrictions HOA's impose, the homeowner did agree to follow those rules BEFORE he moved in. It's not like it's a surprise that he can't put his sign up, he knew beforehand that it wasn't allowed. The HOA told him the new sign could still read what his current one does, just in the size allowed by HOA rules. It seems to me that the homeowner is the one who is making it about religion, not the HOA. If you don't like the rules, move out.
Jesus! Look at the size of that sign!
Further, if you've lived in ANY HOA before, you'd know they can and do impose limits on signs in the neighborhood - maybe not WHAT the sign says (as per your comment @Robert), but to the SIZE. The HOA clearly says he is more than welcome to post his size, but within the stated size limitations. These sort of limitations have been vetted out clearly in state legislature and the judicial process.......
As a Christian, I find it repugnant that people want to circumvent PUBLISHED rules that they agreed to when purchasing a property under the guise of religion. For pete sake, put up the sign within the stated rules and if you don't like the rules, have them changed legally through real channels instead of saying "MY rules are more important than YOUR rules." Further, if I lived in this neighborhood, as I would resent having to potentially pay higher HOA fees to cover the legal costs to uphold the PUBLISHED rules......
I happen to agree with robert. The HOA was designed to prevent yards with 6 foot tall grass and a junkyard on a lawn, not to impede on ones personal rights of expression
 @common sense Then don't buy in an HOA. My car was parked mostly in my drive and a bit on my grass. It was against the agreement I signed and the car was towed. I no longer live in an HOA.
What this man posts on his own property is his business unless it is openly and deliberately offensive such as hate speech. Â It is this persons right to freedom of speech to convey their opinion. Â as far as any HOA covenants or rules...any HOA rule or covenant that impedes upon a persons constitutional and/or basic legal rights automatically nullifies such rules and as such can be argued down in court. Â lastly, i happen to agree with his sign and its message.
 @Robert R Buce This isn't about what's on the sign. It's about the size being not allowed. The homeowner was given a copy of the rules stating what size signs were allowed and he agreed to those rules before he moved in. I'm sure the HOA has a signed copy of the escrow paperwork stating that he agreed to them as well. The HOA told him the message about Jesus would be welcome if the sign was the acceptable size. It's the homeowner who is making it about religion.
 @Robert R Buce This is NOT a free speech issue. I wish citizens would read the first amendment before using it....the GOVERNMENT can not impede free speech, the HOA rules are completely legal.  He knew the rules, agreed to them, post a sign within the rules and all is well. He's just another stubborn, 'rules are for others' extremist.  He has no legal footing and you are ignorant by choice.