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    Christmas message lands Boston worker in hot water

    BOSTON (AP) — A Boston subway dispatcher who programmed an electronic message board in a station to scroll the lyrics of "Deck the Halls" instead of the normal service announcements on Christmas Day won't face severe punishment.

    Travelers seemed to get a chuckle out of the holiday levity. But Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officials weren't amused and initially said the dispatcher could be strongly disciplined.

    State Transportation Secretary Richard Davey told The Boston Globe (http://bo.st/tqbpE5) on Tuesday any punishment will be light — perhaps just a reminder not to use the signs for anything other than their real purpose.

    Davey says the dispatcher is a good and long-term employee of the transit agency and meant well.

    ___

    Information from: The Boston Globe, http://www.boston.com/globe

     
    • That Guy  •  4 mths ago
      I'm a freethinker who doesn't believe in any organized religion, and I have no prob whatsoever with people saying "Merry Christmas". Nativity scenes don't bother me either. Why are people so uptight about this?
      • dog 4 mths ago
        Same here, That Guy. However, i'm sure there would be a lot of Christians that would have had a huge problem if his message was "Praise Allah". Have to draw a line equal to all.
      • mustang 4 mths ago
        Cause they are a bunch of selfish narcissists!
      • Jon 4 mths ago
        This country has become a bunch of selfish, narcissistic, douchebags, with the only thing on their minds is themselves and their own little planet. I fear we are all in for a very rude awakening.
    • cheese monkey  •  4 mths ago
      this is to all the Christian and non Christians out there....Merry Christmas!!!!
      • RavensTim 4 mths ago
        christmas is over
      • george 4 mths ago
        That's the big problem.
      • Cubman 68 4 mths ago
        Technically Christmas is NOT over. The twelve days of Christmas START on Christmas Day. So Cheese Monkey...A VERY Merry Christmas to you and five gold rings!
    • Dolly  •  Houston, Texas  •  5 mths ago
      as a non christian person, really a no religion person, i happen to enjoy singing christmas carols, and have put up a tree before. i see nothing wrong with posting something so harmless and which actually brings smiles to peoples lives. that employer needs to lighten up.
      • Hurricane Andrew 5 mths ago
        Where do you draw the line? Can he post "Go Sox" during baseball season? Can he post "Obama Sucks?" Does the content matter? Or is it that he violated the policy by posting ANYTHING other than approved messages? I'm betting it's the last option.
      • Purrmaid 4 mths ago
        To Hurricane Andrew - Stop being so obtuse. There is a BIG difference between a Christmas song and posting a derogatory rant of the President of the United States. Are you that dense that you can't tell the difference?
      • Roy 4 mths ago
        Dear Dolly, I hope and pray for you that you will find the satisfaction and peace that I have so long enjoyed in the salvation found through Jesus Christ. "Unless man man is born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." - Jesus, John 3:3.
    • Mary  •  Milwaukee, Wisconsin  •  4 mths ago
      For the love of God, get over it! It was an attempt to make people happy and give them a lift on Christmas. What was so horrible about that? The person who programed the sign provided a service to the community by lightening the mood on a hectic day.
      I guess I was right not to choose Boston as a vacation spot if they are that uptight. Would have liked to see some of the historical places, but not among such 'proper and uptight' people!
      • george 4 mths ago
        He was only trying to cheer people up. We really need it. The only thing we get from the ACLU (Anti-Christian League United) and the government is doom and glum, with the massive debt spread around.
      • The Atheist. 4 mths ago
        The commuters liked it. it was the MBTA authorities who didn't. Don't be so generic with your labels, stupid cow. See? Didn't like that one, did ya?
      • Mike C 4 mths ago
        Stay home, cheesehead.
    • MAGS  •  Phoenix, Arizona  •  4 mths ago
      As a religious orthodox Jew, I appreciate positive messages from anyone - even if not in my "slang", I appreciate all good wishes, any love and friedship offered. We live in a Christian country with the freedom to worship as we please Thank G-d (whatever name you call Him/Her) :-)
      • JT 4 mths ago
        I've never heard of an Orthodox Jew living in Phoenix, Arizona...
      • james 4 mths ago
        just because you never heard of it does not mean it doesn't exist.
      • Carrie 4 mths ago
        Mags,
        Thanks and Happy Hanukkah.
        I hope the holiday season brings happiness and joy for you and your family.
    • Quenched  •  San Jose, California  •  5 mths ago
      Wish I could say thank you to the subway employee who put that message up.
    • Lady  •  Waco, Texas  •  5 mths ago
      Fa La La La La La La La La ... I see nothing offensive in that message.
    • Kyle  •  5 mths ago
      people would rather see that then all the delays and track maintenance...
    • Bob  •  Las Vegas, Nevada  •  5 mths ago
      Thank goodness for this individual and his/her wanted folks to have a festive Christmas season.
    • rjohn  •  Long Beach, California  •  5 mths ago
      some companies pay creative people big bucks to come up with ideas like that to endear their customers. The MBTA needs to get a clue, and maybe promote the guy.
    • Tony  •  Astor, Florida  •  4 mths ago
      Well I guess the electronic message board in Times Square will now have to say
      "Enjoy the difference between the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012"
    • LuluK  •  Tracy, California  •  5 mths ago
      Jeez, Mr. Boss.....I'm glad to see it was Christmas cheers scrolling and not a shooting or any other type of violence. Lighten up, Buddy!
    • Gary A  •  5 mths ago
      I was at a hotel over the Christmas holiday and said Merry Christmas to a doorman who responded likewise followed by telling me that he was not allowed to say Merry Christmas to guest until they first said it to him. The degree of political correctness is rediculous.
    • Glorious Walrus  •  5 mths ago
      little bureaucrats have no sense of humor
    • Howard the duck  •  Muskegon, Michigan  •  5 mths ago
      I cannot believe how fast our country is going down the tubes
    • Da Norseman  •  Phoenix, Arizona  •  5 mths ago
      Ban Political Correctness!!!
    • G. Washington  •  Kabul, Afghanistan  •  5 mths ago
      God help us if we smile in Boston!
    • Manny  •  5 mths ago
      Hope you all had a Merry Xmas or Happy Hanukkah or whatever you may celebrate, and hope you have a great New Year.
    • Kristeen  •  Sydney, Australia  •  5 mths ago
      So the next time the president gets on TV delivering a Christmas message to the masses, he should be disciplined for misuse of public airspace?
    • Rick C  •  5 mths ago
      Back in the 90's, on Christmas Eve, i saw a bus in Las Vegas that had "Happy Thanksgiving" on the display. Got a chuckle out of that!
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