(New London-WTNH, Dec. 6, 2006 6:00PM)_ Holiday music is everywhere this time of year - on the radio, television, and filling busy stores. But in the Jewett City borough of Griswold, holiday music fills the air outside a local church, and for some people that's a problem.
Up until this holiday season there has never been a complaint about this hourly music which goes from 8 AM to 8 PM, but now it is causing concern.
For more than a decade, bells and music have played from this Jewett City bell tower on the hour.
Kevin Curtis of Jewett City said, "I think it adds to the character. It makes it a little charming."
One group's quest to silence the sounds also makes for lively conversation on the sidewalk below.
"If the bells happen to toll I have to roll the windows up in my car and then turn the music up as loud as it will go to not hear them. I'm an atheist," said Bill Russell of Norwich.
But is it really the volume or the type of music?
Bill said, "I don't want to hear Christian music."
The town actually owns the sound system in the bell tower. Russell and his group American Atheists filed a complaint saying it is unconstitutional because it violates the separation of church and state.
"Government is not supposed to respect an establishment of religion and that's what we have here," said Rusell.
Okay, Bill, ya half-wit, let's review the Constitution, shall we? Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...
*sigh*
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