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"holiday tree" nonsense

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eiramnoaj

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I just posted this to my fb and figured, what the hell I may as well post it here too.

This sort of nonsense makes me so angry. A "holiday" tree. Oh really. What holiday? Is is a Hanukkah tree? No. Is it a Kwanzaa tree? No. Oh that's right, it's a Christmas tree. Give me a break already. Since when did Christmas become a bad word?!?!



http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...=webmail1&utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

Nov 27 (Reuters) - Rhode Island will go ahead with plans to hold a "holiday tree" lighting ceremony in the state capital despite controversy last year over Governor Lincoln Chafee's decision to avoid using the word "Christmas" in reference the tree.

The announcement on Tuesday that the state would hold a tree-lighting ceremony in Providence came just 24 hours after the governor's spokeswoman said the annual event had been scrubbed. Last year, protesters interrupted the ceremony with demands the conifer be officially referred to as a "Christmas tree."

Spokeswoman Christine Hunsinger blamed the confusion on a staff communication error and said there would in fact be a "holiday tree" lighting at an unspecified date.

"The governor has stated his position very clearly: He believes 'holiday' is more inclusive," she said. "It's in a building paid for by all Rhode Islanders."

Chafee's decision not to use the word Christmas in reference to the tree drew criticism from conservatives last year, including one state lawmaker who dubbed him "Governor Grinch." Some Christians see the trend towards "holiday" parties, cookies and trees as part of a secular drive to scrub the lexicon of references to Christmas.

The governor has argued that the term is consistent with the state's history of religious tolerance, and Hunsinger noted that Chafee's predecessor also used "holiday tree" on official invitations to the ceremonial lighting.
 
Ok, that is just silly. It is a Christmas tree. It just is. I am one that wishes others "happy holidays," but it's a Christmas tree. :p
 
I'm probably going to get attacked for this one, but this type of response drives me crazy. Why on earth would anyone choose in the name of Christ to attack someone for attempting to be more inclusive? I don't get it. If Muslims or Jews or atheists want to come look at the pretty tree and enjoy and experience some sense of joy or brotherhood why is that such a terrible thing?
 
Because, quite simply, it's a Christmas tree. It's not a generic holiday tree. It's a Christmas tree.

Not attacking you, just attacking the nonsense that for some reason has made the word Christmas a word to be feared or hidden or somehow disguised. Utter nonsense.
 
People do not put a tree up for Kwanzaa, or for any other holiday. It is a Christmas tree.

I have no issue with anyone taking joy in a beautiful tree, but it is a symbol of Christmas.
 
slpeters19 said:
I'm probably going to get attacked for this one, but this type of response drives me crazy. Why on earth would anyone choose in the name of Christ to attack someone for attempting to be more inclusive? I don't get it. If Muslims or Jews or atheists want to come look at the pretty tree and enjoy and experience some sense of joy or brotherhood why is that such a terrible thing?
Click to expand...

Thank you, beautifully stated.
 
I don't expect any other religion to change what they call their holiday or its symbols because it offends or doesn't include ME..... why am I not supposed to utter the word "Christmas" because it offends THEM?

Muslims and Jews and Buddhists and Athiests and Martians are ALLLLLLLL welcome to come look at the pretty Christmas tree :bliss:
 
eiramnoaj said:
Because, quite simply, it's a Christmas tree. It's not a generic holiday tree. It's a Christmas tree.

Not attacking you, just attacking the nonsense that for some reason has made the word Christmas a word to be feared or hidden or somehow disguised. Utter nonsense.
Click to expand...

I agree that your tree is a Christmas tree, so's mine. But neither of them is in the state capital. If the tree in Rhode Island's state capital, paid for by public funds, truly is a celebration of the idea that God took human form in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, i.e. if it really is a Christmas tree, it shouldn't be there.
 
I too don't get why Christians can't be Christians.

I always wondered if it was odd for me to wish someone Merry Christmas when I didn't know their religious beliefs and if it was offensive for them to hear that. After having worked for several years now for a company with its HQ in Jerusalem I've become accustomed to being given greetings for many holidays that I don't celebrate. It doesn't offend me, so it should work the same when I'm the one giving the greeting.

So it is a Christmas tree, unless of course someone can show me where non-Christians use it in their religious practices.

ETA - someone other than the pagans. I'm aware that many of Christian's practices are co-opted from pagans.
 
Then they can call it a winter solstice tree....but it's not, it's a Christmas tree celebrating the birth of Christ and no amount of Happy Holiday nonsense changes that. It is disgusting what is going on in this world. Leave my Christianity and our traditions alone!!! Since when do people get offended if they don't get everything their way. Since when is it excluding people to have Christian traditions. Come follow me, and I will give you rest...get it. Non Christians are welcome to follow. Is this now the planet of the selfish..it's all about me or it's about nothing? Redic! Oh wait...oh nevermind, not worth the letters.

Fa la la la la la la la la
:g1:
 
slpeters19 said:
I'm probably going to get attacked for this one, but this type of response drives me crazy. Why on earth would anyone choose in the name of Christ to attack someone for attempting to be more inclusive? I don't get it. If Muslims or Jews or atheists want to come look at the pretty tree and enjoy and experience some sense of joy or brotherhood why is that such a terrible thing?
Click to expand...

I agree Chafee is a total idiot. Let everyone enjoy the tree regardless of religion. Afterall these days Christmas ends up being secular anyway and is a legally sanctioned holiday as Christmas. He is such a dufus, I agree.
 
slpeters19 said:
I agree that your tree is a Christmas tree, so's mine. But neither of them is in the state capital. If the tree in Rhode Island's state capital, paid for by public funds, truly is a celebration of the idea that God took human form in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, i.e. if it really is a Christmas tree, it shouldn't be there.
Click to expand...

Huh? btw our building does lots of Christmas decorations and so have that "inclusive" candle thing too, but interesting we support the Jews but not the Christians (no nativity) :lol:
 
Some things are just easy....Most people are off of work for CHRISTMAS, or getting holiday pay and they are not turning it down because they dont believe in Christ. The funny thing is that in all this inclusion speak, there is never a time when there is an expectation of other religions being inclusive and changing the names/basis of their Holy days.

And of course the tree is not a Christian invention, nor is the celebration that occurs right at the winter solstice, but that is not the real issue with this..
 
Here's my thing about people getting offended by being told merry Christmas- I was raised catholic and am non-practicing. If someone came up to me and said "happy Hanukkah" or "happy kwanza", I wouldn't get offended. I'd say it right back to them! That's like some women getting offended because the word male is in female, or men in women. If we can't call it a christmas tree, then we better call a menorah a holiday candle fixture instead. Because that's offensive to me. Totally ridiculous!! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE, IT'S A CHRISTMAS TREE!
 
mrs.melton08 said:
Some things are just easy....Most people are off of work for CHRISTMAS, or getting holiday pay and they are not turning it down because they dont believe in Christ. The funny thing is that in all this inclusion speak, there is never a time when there is an expectation of other religions being inclusive and changing the names/basis of their Holy days.

And of course the tree is not a Christian invention, nor is the celebration that occurs right at the winter solstice, but that is not the real issue with this..
Click to expand...

Nobody's saying that anyone should change the name of their holiday to incorporate others--people have the right to be as exclusionary as they would like in celebrating Christmas. This is about a decorative element of the STATE CAPITAL--the state shouldn't be celebrating or endorsing specific religious holidays with public space and public funds. It only comes up about Christian holidays because Christians are the only ones in our culture who expect the government to do so. Everyone's entitled to fill their holiday with as much exclusion and resentment as they choose... they just don't get to have the government do it too... And frankly I think jumping all over anyone who tries to be more inclusive is just... well, not very Christian...

Anyway, I should get some rest. I'm picking out my Christmas tree today.:lol:
 
slpeters19 said:
Nobody's saying that anyone should change the name of their holiday to incorporate others--people have the right to be as exclusionary as they would like in celebrating Christmas. This is about a decorative element of the STATE CAPITAL--the state shouldn't be celebrating or endorsing specific religious holidays with public space and public funds. It only comes up about Christian holidays because Christians are the only ones in our culture who expect the government to do so. Everyone's entitled to fill their holiday with as much exclusion and resentment as they choose... they just don't get to have the government do it too... And frankly I think jumping all over anyone who tries to be more inclusive is just... well, not very Christian...

Anyway, I should get some rest. I'm picking out my Christmas tree today.:lol:
Click to expand...

Not sure which part of my post was "jumping all over anyone"?

I was speaking in general and in general no one says Happy Holidays to a specific (one of the most important) Holy Days of another religion.

As for this tree, personally if it isn't welcome as a Christmas tree, it shouldn't be there, it shouldn't be renamed IMO
 
mrs.melton08 said:
Not sure which part of my post was "jumping all over anyone"?

I was speaking in general and in general no one says Happy Holidays to a specific (one of the most important) Holy Days of another religion.

As for this tree, personally if it isn't welcome as a Christmas tree, it shouldn't be there, it shouldn't be renamed IMO
Click to expand...

I agree. Let them be a bit creative and come up with something different if Christmas is so offensive to them.


If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck and quacks like a duck...
 
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