Ohio town threatens legal action against ‘zombie’ baby Jesus Nativity scene on man’s lawn
A man in Ohio is facing legal action if he does not take down his Nativity scene that features zombies instead of traditional biblical characters.
Jasen Dixon told WXIX that he manages 13 Rooms of Doom haunted house, so he already had the zombies, including one resembling the baby Jesus.
“I wanted a Nativity scene and I worked with what I had," he explained.
Neighbor Dan Fluker said that he didn’t really pay attention to the Nativity scene “until the different color lights came on, then finally the baby was put in the manger."
“The neighbors don’t like it. My father hates it and anything bad that happens he blames it on that," Dixon pointed out. “On the average we probably get 30 or 40 cars stop and taking pictures, getting out with their camera. People that follow zombie movies and stuff like that love it,"
I think that the creators of Z-Nation should work it into the plot of an upcoming episode.
But, back to the real world, the thought of a zombie baby Jesus, makes me a bit queasy for some reason. Still, there is no way that the government should step in and determine how the guy decorates his yard for Christmas.
The township couldn’t get much more blatant could it? I’d like to see someone, maybe a local newspaper reporter, compare the size of the zombie display with other more traditional displays.
This is always a bit of a sticky issue. I am not talking about the right to express your own views but rather how far neighbors can go in decorating their homes the way they like. For the most part people can do whatever they like and the law will protect them but the fact is that what we do affects our neighbors in both the enjoyment of their home and the resale value if they happened to be in the market to sell.
I have seen some outlandish things people have done to their homes that have turned them into absolute eye sores not just during the holiday season but all year long. If its just a couple weeks around Christmas most reasonable people (religious fanatics aside) wouldn’t be bothered too much by a few zombies on the front lawn, but what if this guy decided to make his entire front lawn a life size gruesome zombie scene and leave it up throughout the year?
Unfortunately unless you live in a gated community where the HOA has explicit control over the outside of the homes there is little most people can do to control crazy neighbors.
A friend of mine lived down the street from one of those people who have the gawdawful Christmas displays which are as bright as the noonday sun and he hated it. From when it got dark until dawn, there were cars driving up and down his street at about 2 MPH staring at the lights, made it almost impossible for him to get home. Of course, it could be worse.]
Homeowners on Fairley Road in Ross Township, Pennsylvania, say their neighbor Bill Ansell is terrorizing them year round with his hostile anti-Christmas spirit.
“Any opportunity he has to make our life a hardship, he does," resident Chris Hebda told ABC News’ “20/20."
“He’s an angry person that’s very unstable," resident Pamela Heck told “20/20."
Neighbors Chris and Joanne Hebda said they have had to stare at the unpleasant decorations for the past six years. Fairley Road is a unique cul-de-sac; a circular street with Ansell's house right in the middle, surrounded by six other homes. That makes it hard to avoid his handiwork.
“There was a Virgin Mary here, and he placed a knife through her head, right there on the edge of our driveway," Joanne Hebda told “20/20." “I thought it was a terroristic threat."
To make matters worse, his neighbors said, Ansell also tacked up profane signs all over his house attacking the township and neighbors personally.
This is always a bit of a sticky issue. I am not talking about the right to express your own views but rather how far neighbors can go in decorating their homes the way they like. For the most part people can do whatever they like and the law will protect them but the fact is that what we do affects our neighbors in both the enjoyment of their home and the resale value if they happened to be in the market to sell.
I have seen some outlandish things people have done to their homes that have turned them into absolute eye sores not just during the holiday season but all year long. If its just a couple weeks around Christmas most reasonable people (religious fanatics aside) wouldn't be bothered too much by a few zombies on the front lawn, but what if this guy decided to make his entire front lawn a life size gruesome zombie scene and leave it up throughout the year?
Unfortunately unless you live in a gated community where the HOA has explicit control over the outside of the homes there is little most people can do to control crazy neighbors.
Local communities could have laws that control the brightness and hours that any display can be on. Also any sound. It wouldn't have to single out any particular kind of display but all displays. Such displays can be seen as disturbing the peace. Police could close off access to the road if it causes traffic jams and increased traffic noise.
It's always going to be hard to control the extremists, but it's worth a try.
Lois