Rhode Island's "Holiday Tree"

FOUCS!!!! (I accidentally turned off face detection) Anyway, just another bullshit controversy,enjoy!

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Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Chafee
• Fox
• christmas
• war on christmas
• jesus
• holiday
• jewish
• first ammendment
• religious
• atheist

[kelarael]

Well I do think it's a bit of a shame that it's sensitive enough to call it a holiday tree rather than a christmas tree, it's called the christmas holidays, it's for christmas day, whether you add any religious aspect or not, I think you can still call it a christmas tree. But I don't think it's a PROBLEM to call it a holiday tree.

[Venaloid]

@kelarael - Well there *are* other holidays at that time of year: Ramadam, Hanukah, Kwanza, and possibly others. It isn't *just* Christmas that people are celebrating, so I think it makes perfect sense to say "Happy Holidays" and call it a "Holiday Tree".

[xaicho]

I'm sorry, but they were tress before you appropriated them in becoming your very own personal Christmas trees. Christ, they're arguing semantics.

[Venaloid]

@kelarael - But it does help to do so if, in fact, there are multiple beliefs around you. I wish my Christian friends a Merry Christmas, but if I don't know what they believe (and especially if I'm a governor saying something to a huge group of people I've never met) I'll say "Happy Holidays" so everyone feels included.

[kelarael]

@kelarael Also consider this: Do I have to believe in Thor to call it Thursday? or Woden to call it wednesday? Or should I also respect Mars, god of war, on tuesday? (for the french "mardi", for example)?

You should respect and recognise the cultural and religious traditions of others in your community, but that doesn't mean you have to word everything neutrally.

[kelarael]

@Venaloid True, but I think it's context, in traditionally christian countries, the holiday is known as christmas, so unless you're actually talking to someone of another religion, "Christmas" to me is the default term... here in Australia the public holiday is listed as "Christmas Day" so for me, it's christmas, regardless of the religious connotations.

Ramadan goes for a month, so do you say "happy ramadan" all month? or just at christmas? It's actually in June/July anyway.

[Atheist4USA]

Governor, don't let these so-called christians bully you! Thanks for being sensitive to other religions and to atheists!

[BigIdeaSeeker]

I just want it to have a big ol'. Banner going across it that has that verse in Jeremiah where god says, "do not erect a tree in your home and decorate it with tinsel as the pagans do," or something like that. :-). Either way, don't care what it's called, but am with the governor that a more inclusive term is more productive socially.

[practicalmagic9]

@practicalmagic9 tempest in a teapot..served by a despot...augh...

[practicalmagic9]

"despite the backlash, chaffy's not BACKING DOWN"...inflamatory language, much? REALLY...hmm...that's sorta the language of a school yard bully brawl rather than "meek and mild jesus"onians, yathink? oh, and they had SUCH a soft spot in their hearts for the tree that they took out a chain saw and cut it down and hauled it off (for a PRICE...yeah...i don't buy for a minute they didn't sell it or donate it for a tax deduction!plus free advertising!)jeezuscripst!

[DarkMind95]

"Not a Xmas tree farm!" -_- Someone is uneducaded.