View Full Version : Bravo, non-Puritan Boston!
Maksutov
27-November-2005, 12:52 PM
Boston "holiday tree" causes controversy. (http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2005-11-25T225326Z_01_KRA582362_RTRUKOC_0_US-LIFE-TREE.xml&archived=False)
Good for you, Boston. What better name could there be? Definitely an improvement on the "xmas/hanukkah/kwanzaa/solstice/etc./etc." tree.
As usual the fundamentalists continue in their unrelenting attempts to appropriate/hijack everything and anything they (a priori) define as theirs. Stuff it, Falwell!
It's the last day of the Thanksgiving weekend in the United States. Here I will give profound and heartfelt thanks to the founders of this nation for the separation of church and state!
N C More
27-November-2005, 03:18 PM
Decorated trees were originally pagan symbols (http://www.fabulousfoods.com/holidays/xmas/treehistory.html) anyway. The Christians incorporated evergreen trees into their celebration. So, it seems more accurate to refer to them as holiday trees. However, one can refer to their own personal tree anyway they want. That's the joy of freedom! http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/verschiedene/a075.gif
Parrothead
27-November-2005, 07:50 PM
You know, each year that I hear this controversy over the name of a tree, I am just amazed. People's sensitivities and the "pc"ness of the whole situation is laughable (IMO). If people are so adamant about calling the tree a "holiday" tree, why are the not equally concerned about the names of other religious symbols on display at the same time (I don't know about other cities, but here the display is a celebration of lights, festivities and respects the various religions celebrating their holy days during the time). Why not any concern about the public display of Menorahs at the same holiday displays, should they not be referred to as holiday "candalabras" so as not to offend people or make that religion stand out? We've had this arguement over the tree name so many times in the past number of years here in Toronto. Most people found the whole arguement silly. In arguing that it not be called a Christmas tree, due to one religion taking precedent over others, the question would be raised, isn't it just as disrespectful, singling out one religion against others by renaming the tree, but the names of symbols from others remain? This year the city website once again calls it a Christmas tree from the outrage voiced not only by Christians, but those that practice other faiths and those that don't practice any, over the name change to the tree in previous years.
The Supreme Canuck
27-November-2005, 08:22 PM
Okay, I had a bit of a rant here, but I decided to edit it. All I want to say is that calling people "fundamentalists" may not be accurate nor is it constructive.
Tinaa
27-November-2005, 08:40 PM
Maksutov:
You are just asking for trouble!
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