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Boston "Holiday Tree"

Then there is the case of Las Cruces. A couple of people take issue with the three crosses on the logo of the town as well as with the name itself. I saw an interview with some fat bastard who said "everytime I pass a police car with the emblem on it, I feel that religion is being forced down my throat". I'd like to foce some more food down his fat throat, slaughter him and eat his f'in liver. So this tiny town now has to defend against a lawsuit? WTF?
And what about all them towns with militaristic names that offend good, peace-loving people? Like Fort Lee, NJ, and Fort Wayne, IN? And towns named after military men, like Leesburg, VA, and Washington, DC, not to mention the entire state of Washington.

And towns named after aboriginal American murderers, like Columbus, OH, and the district which is the seat of our nation's capital, Columbia.

And roads named after racists and more military men, like Jefferson Davis Highway and Lee-Jackson Memorial highway.

And cities and towns and states that exploit the memories of aboriginal American tribes long since wiped out by the white eyes, like Massapequa and Syosset, NY, and Sioux Falls and Cheyenne and North and South Dakota.

And why are towns in upstate NY named after ancient Greeks and Romans - Ithaca, Syracuse, Troy, Homer, Marathon, Cicero - but no other ethnic minorities? How come there's no Gaul, NY, or Attila, NY, or Mingdynasty, NY or Muhammadtheprophet, NY?

And how come Mount Rushmore has nothing but white men on it, and two of them slaveowners?

It's easy to get offended once you put your mind to it.
 
Seems to me that it's the christians that are making a big deal out of this. Call the tree whatever you want.

I'm atheist, and I decorate holiday trees for solstice. ;-)

Isn't the xmas tree something else that the christians got from pagans?
 
No, and you're also not the little Jewish boy I went to school with who was punished every single day by our teacher for refusing to recite the Lord's Prayer with the rest of the class.

A world of difference between assault and what I outlined.

(eat his liver? Hyperbole much?)

Sometimes....
 
A world of difference between assault and what I outlined.

Who said he was assaulted? He was punished--made to stand in the corner. No assault, except on his freedom of religion, which the law neatly fixed.
 
Now wait a minute. I'da thought the fundies (and heck, other Christians) would be pleased that Boston is correctly separating the historically pagan elements of the holiday from the truly Christian part (which apparently involves deeply discounted laptops at Circuit City).

Good point. I grew up in a fundy enviroment and I was told that christmas wasn't about trees, lights, Santa and presents.
 
Just what kind of lawsuit coudl Jerry even bring vs. Boston!?

I say we put Falwell face on all the Santa Clauses.
 
These cases show the hypocrisy of fundies. When the government makes pro-Christian decisions, the fundies pull out these platitudes about how this is a democracy, and the government expresses the will of the people, and if the majority does anything that you don't like, too bad, you don't get to complain. But now the duly elected government of Boston has made a decision that they don't like. And do they accept it like good little Americans? No, of course not. They whine and moan about being "persecuted" and throw a big hissy fit. Apparently following the will of majority is more important than not offending anyone- unless, of course, they're the ones being offended.

Given the very real problems involved with being a human being, with a family, in the early 21st century, I submit that this argumentation about separation is largely misdirection at worst and a marketing ploy at best.
There are still cases like the one slingblade describes, and every time we allow a violation of SOCAS because it's "not a big deal", it gives more ammunition for the people who say that this is a "Christian nation" and we should therefore allow even further violations. Sorry, but when the Senate votes 99-0 in favor of the "**** you, atheists" resolution, I consider that a "very real problem". The government is quite clearly giving support for bigotry against atheists, and I don't understand how that is considered acceptable.

I saw an interview with some fat bastard who said "everytime I pass a police car with the emblem on it, I feel that religion is being forced down my throat".
While he is overreacting, I think this is a valid issue. It's pretty clearly a religious reference, and it does suggest endorsement of religion.

So this tiny town now has to defend against a lawsuit? WTF?
No, they don't have to defend against the lawsuit. Why do Christians refuse to accept responsibility for their decisions?
 
ring ring ring ring ring ring ring

So pretty, with lights and everything, they are all over the place, from Washington DC to Rockefellar Center in NYC. They aren't Christmas trees, they're Yule Trees. I would like to see the state-sponsored displays of them cease, since it really is state-sponsored support of religion.

Also, I am really annoyed by those bell-ringers everywhere, how can I make them STOP?
 
Well then there's the even-handed approach... from my hometown...

diwali_switch_on_picture_gallery22.jpg


Deepavali is a festival that celebrates the victory of divine forces over evi l... Both Belgrave and Melton Road in the city were decorated with thousands of colourful light bulbs which transformed the area into a bright, fascinating showcase which has become one of the biggest Diwali celebrations outside India.

The show was attended by community leaders including the Lord Mayor John Allen, MPs and councillors. The lights were switched on by Deputy Leader of Leicester City Council Vijay Patel.
Think how that would annoy a fundie.

" 'Holiday lights' ? No, actually, we're worshipping the Goddess Lakshmi."
 
Ive wrote a nasty letter to mayor demandin the city errect a FESTAVUS POLE! How dare they ignore and up and coming religion.
 
There are still cases like the one slingblade describes,

I would like a current reference to such activity that did not result is severe legal action.

While he is overreacting, I think this is a valid issue. It's pretty clearly a religious reference, and it does suggest endorsement of religion.

It suggests history. If this guy is intimidated by a city logo that was there before he was born he needs help, not media exposure.

No, they don't have to defend against the lawsuit. Why do Christians refuse to accept responsibility for their decisions?

So you think that they should fold? Why? Because of a couple of people who are offended? In what way is a logo "establishment of religion"?
 
Anything that makes obvious the culture war to the naive masses is a good thing. This issue, itself, is secondary.
 
Another look at the issue... why's it so important to Christians that the city of Boston call it a "christmas tree"...?

Because that's what it is and that's why it's there?

If you want separation of church and state, then the city shouldn't be erecting a tree in the first place. With government money, at least. If private people want to put up such a tree on public property, that's another thing. But renaming it, or putting Santas and a Star of David around a creche set, isn't solving the problem.
 
In Soviet Union (No this is not a begining of a horrible joke) we had "Holiday Tree" it was used to celebrate the new year. Though obviously derrived from Christmas celebration rituals of the west it was not at all religious.

Not to say the tree has anything to do with Christ. Not much pine in the desert.
 
But, durn it, a Christmas Tree is a Christmas Tree, and BPSCG's right: it doesn't belong to any other holidays and so there's no one to alienate by calling it what it is. BUT, should the city then put up a menorah, and other winter holiday symbols, next to the Christmas Tree, in order to be equitable to its diverse residents?
Or they should just stop putting Christmas Trees up. It's not going to kill anyone if they don't, after all.
 

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