Are Peace And Christmas Incongruent?

Who would have thought that a symbol of peace would be unwelcome at Christmas time? Leave it to someone to find a problem, causing a Pagosa Springs, Colorado couple to resist an order by their homeowners association to remove a peace symbol-shaped wreath from an exterior wall of their home. The couple received a letter telling them to take it down or face a fine of $25/day because "residents are offended by the Peace Sign displayed on the front of your house." Every member of the subdivision's five-person Architectural Control Committee was asked to resign when they collectively opposed the decision by the board of directors to levy the fine.

The reasoning goes that people with relatives serving in Iraq think the sign is anti-war. Why people with relatives in Iraq aren't praying for an end to the war I'll never know. Seems to me that they'd be the first ones at the altar hoping the conflict will end and their loved ones will come home safely. That doesn't preclude a successful end, regardless of how you define it, to the military action. People can pray for world peace, happy lives for those in Iraq, and the safe return of our fellow citizens, can't they?

The wreath hanger uppers said they didn't intend the wreath as a statement against the Iraq war and planned to leave all of their Christmas decorations, including the wreath, up until after Christmas because they were put up to honor the Biblical call for peace and goodwill toward men.

Now here's some stuff I didn't know. According to the association's president, "The peace sign has a lot of negativity associated with it." "It's also an anti-Christ sign. That's how it started." I don't quite understand how the idea of peace is anti-Christ. A dove with an olive branch denotes peace and that isn't anti-Christ, so what's the problem with the peace sign?

The Symbol Sourcebook: An Authoritative Guide to International Graphic Symbols admits to uncertainty about the source of the "crow's foot" design. "It was introduced by pacifist Lord Bertrand Russell during Easter of 1958, when he marched at Aldermaston, England, campaigning for nuclear disarmament." However, some claim the symbol represents an upside-down cross with broken arms and is therefore anti-Christian or Satanic.

The homeowners association president said those he contacted for legal advice had "laughed at" the idea of allowing the display of a peace symbol. Probably the same people fighting so hard to put the Ten Commandments in all public places. Colorado law does not keep associations from prohibiting certain types of displays.

Update: The homeowners association has agreed that the wreath is indeed compatible with the ideals of Christmas and has apologized to the peace-mongers.