Amendment 1 of the United States Constitution states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
Lighting a Christmas tree or a menorah at town hall does not establish a state religion, nor does it equate to establishing a law. In fact, Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) declares that Christmas is a federal holiday. If the federal government can pass a law celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, without establishing a state religion, then I hardly doubt lighting a menorah or Christmas tree on town property in West Milford, N.J. will either.
Those who believe that there is a Constitutional mandate to separate Church from State have a flaw in their logic. The U.S. Constitution was written in order to limit the powers of government, specifically to limit the power or the federal government. Our rights as Americans, and as human beings, do not come from a piece of paper. They are natural rights granted by God.
The U.S. Constitution was written to give enumerated powers to the federal government. In other words, the federal government may only have power to do the following things specifically listed (or enumerated) in the U.S. Constitution. Think of it as a list of what the federal government is allowed to do. If it is not on the list, it cannot be done. Unfortunately, too many of our citizens do not understand this, including some who wear black robes in Washington D.C.
The Pilgrims came from England to find religious freedom. Here we are in 2012 and we have established secular progressive atheism as the state religion of choice. These are sad times we live in.
Remember the names of the councilmen and councilwomen who voted against religion.
PS - It is a Christmas tree not a holiday tree.
Edmund Hofmann
Hewitt