Sheriff Jim Alderden, of Fort Collins, Colorado, Says Thumbs Down to Holiday Task Force

Larimer County sheriff Jim Alderden has voiced his disagreement with the Holiday Display Task Force recommendations for the changes in holiday decorations on public property in the city of Fort Collins. The task force, which is compiled of fifteen members appointed by the city manager, has recommended to the city council that government and public property not be adorned with holiday decorations that could be too easily be associated with any one religion.

Alternative holiday decorations that have been suggested are non-colored lights, snowflakes, snowmen, and penguins. Christmas trees will not be allowed on public property except for the city museum which is being reserved to be decorated with symbols representing various religions.

After news of the Holiday Display Task Force's ideas, the sheriff made a public announcement that he would be putting a Christmas tree outside on the lawn of his office. He added that to avoid using taxpayer dollars, donations would be accepted from anyone to help purchase and decorate the tree.

Since the tree will technically be on county owned property and not city owned property, the city council and any approved recommendations from the task force cannot be enforced on the sheriff's lawn. His decision and announcement are purely to publicly disagree with the idea of the task force, though.

The sheriff went on to post his opinion on the Larimer county website in his "Bulls-eye" report. In his report, the sheriff states, "While the secular progressives have tried to take Christ out of Christmas, supported and bolstered by the ACLU which is waging its own Jihad against Christianity, the majority of Americans, including those living in Larimer County and Ft. Collins, recognize and value our Christian heritage.

Valuing our heritage while being tolerant of other religions!" Larimer county commissioner Kathay Rennels has indicated that there is concern that the sheriff posting his opinion on the county website may be crossing the line of what the website is intended for.

The task force ideas have caught the attention of many media outlets including radio stations, television networks, as well as, Bill O'Reilly. The task force spokesperson and ACLU member, Seth Anthony, has conducted many interviews about the task force recommendations and believes the media is just exaggerating the recommendations that have been made. The city of Fort Collins city council will review the Holiday Display Task Force recommendations on November 20, 2007. Whatever decisions are made will not be implemented until 2008.