An Associated Press story on Monday proves some folks have a long way to go to reach civility, even at the holiest time of the year.

Police in Jersey City, New Jersey, say a mall Easter Bunny and a father got into a scuffle after the man's child slipped from a chair while getting her photo taken.Here's what we know.A father placed the 1-year-old into the clutches of the bunny inside Newport Centre Mall.A photo was taken.Then, somehow, the child slipped from the grips of the bunny and fell off the chair.At that point, the father verbally and physically attacked, according to the bunny's statement to police.Unfortunately, the video posted online shows only the scuffle and not events leading up to the scuffle.But the video clearly shows a man wearing a bunny costume fighting with the father and then being separated by security.Moments later, the bunny reappears, throws off his white, fluffy gloves, and exchanges more punches, looking more like the Energizer bunny than an Easter Bunny.The crowd and store security get involved in separating the two, both of whom were taken to Jersey City Medical Center for minor injuriesAccording to mall management, the mall Easter Bunnies are employed by Noerr Programs, a photography company which is a regular seasonal tenant of the mall. The firm says they use three "cast members" who take turns greeting kids.For now, the bunny has been sidelined and no charges have been filed. The investigation is ongoing and detectives are speaking with witnesses - of which there are many - to determine who initiated the attack.It's hard to imagine what could spark such a fight, assuming, of course, that the child simply fell from the chair by accident. And naturally, we don't know all of the details.The 22-year-old man portraying the bunny will not work the final week of the holiday promotion, although he hasn't been suspended or fired."The safety of guests and cast members is of utmost importance to the Noerr Programs, which operates and manages the Easter Bunny photo program," the company said in statement."We will continue to investigate this incident and take appropriate action. We are cooperating with the Jersey City Police Department who are leading this investigation and have assigned other employees to fill the role of Bunny."It's unclear how the bunny caper will be resolved. But one thing is certain.We live in a time when people can fly off the handle much too easily, even during holy days that recognize peace and salvation.In fact, the altercation had all of the characteristics of the Cabbage Patch Doll fights of Christmases long ago.And maybe there's a larger issue at play. Religious holidays are becoming secular and the true meaning lost.Some people seem to believe Christmas honors the birth of Santa, and Easter salutes chocolate and the bunny.No wonder these wild mall scenes have become commonplace.Still, Monday's bunny brawl is a visual paradox and a sad statement about the nature of humans to resort to violence much too quickly.By Donald R. Serfass |

dserfass@tnonline.com