I don’t typically approve of lies and deceit, but when it comes to preserving the magic of Christmas, my scruples disappear. After all, life is mundane enough. Why not offer kids a little magic, especially when it comes to making them a believer? And if you don’t agree with me, that is completely fine. You do what’s right for your family and just teach your kids not to spoil it for anyone else’s. Most people can get onboard with that. But apparently, a full-grown adult in Ontario, Canada, did not get the memo.
The New York Post reported that the Brantford police station received endless calls about a local nonbeliever who put “Santa is FAKE” signs all over the windows of his home. Sadly, the home happens to be along the route of the local annual Santa Claus parade.
Other signs read “Your family buys your presents” and “Your parents are Santa.” Neighborhood parents were naturally outraged, and police took swift and immediate action.
“An officer spoke with the individual responsible and the signs have since been removed,” Robin Matthews-Osmond, corporate communications manager for the Brantford Police Service, shared in a statement to CBC News. “While it isn’t illegal to be a ‘Grinch,’ we do encourage everyone to embrace the spirit of the season and help foster a positive, welcoming community,” she added, “especially during events like the Santa Claus Parade.”
Nevertheless, people were enraged by it.
“I hope that house gets egged with dozens and dozens of eggs, and then it freezes and doesn’t thaw until late spring,” wrote one disgruntled commenter on Facebook.
“I wish someone had some of that aerosol snow spray and coated the window with it,” noted someone else.
Plenty of people, however, thought it was simply a joke and that it was too far to get the police involved. Others cited that it was their “right” to do this and it infringed free speech to try and “silence” them.
I suppose that legally speaking nothing was done wrong, but morally? It’s extremely questionable. The world is truly a grim and rough place; kids don’t have much to look forward to at the rate we are going. Today, people are struggling just to get jobs and to own homes. The promise of a good future if you “just work hard” isn’t really panning out.
The internet is constantly forcing kids to grow up before it’s really time. Given that so many harsh realities weigh down on our kids, why not let them hold onto some magic?
