'Inclusive' Name Change Needles N.S. Tree Grower

CBC ^ | November 23, 2005 | CBC Online Staff

[NorthOf45]

'Inclusive' name change needles N.S. tree grower

CBC News
November 23, 2005

A spruce tree grower in Nova Scotia isn't happy his 16-metre Christmas tree has become a "holiday" tree in Massachusetts.

Every fall, the province sends a tree to Boston as a thank-you gift for the help the New England city gave Halifax after the devastating 1917 ship explosion that levelled parts of Nova Scotia's capital.

Officials with Boston's parks department decided it would be less offensive to some people and generally more inclusive if the word "Christmas" was dropped when they referred to the tree.

"A lot of people celebrate various religious holidays but also enjoy the lights, and we're trying to be inclusive," said Toni Pollak, Boston's commissioner of parks.

But Donnie Hatt, of Beech Hill, says he wouldn't have sent his 36-year-old white spruce to Boston this year if he knew it would be called a "holiday" tree. In fact, he'd rather see it run through the wood chipper in his backyard.

"I think it's a bunch of bullcrap," Hatt said Tuesday. "The States is never happy with the way things are. They always gotta change something.

"Ever since I was born, a tree was put up for Christmas, not for holidays, because if you're gonna do that you might as well put a tree up for Easter."

Not everyone in Boston agrees with the name change, either.

"A lot of us felt it wasn't right," said resident Ray Brochu. "How could they have the right to even change the name of a gift that was given to us from the people up there?"

Despite the controversy, the "holiday" tree will be placed in the Boston Common and the lights will be powered up on Dec. 1.

[NorthOf45]

Ridiculous ... just ridiculous.

[DeusExMachina05]

Does this surprise anyone, cause it doesnt surprise me. Although Canada doesnt have the lock on virtue when it comes to pc speech.

[Savage Beast]

"A lot of people celebrate various religious holidays but also enjoy the lights, and we're trying to be inclusive."

Hey, Toni. Why not let all those people who are "offended" by Christmas worry about being "inclusive"?

[Investment Biker]

Ah the Christmas tree. It crept from pagan conquest of northern Europe by Christians into the celebration of Christ's mass. There is also the advent wreath that crept in. Now the pagans are reclaiming the tree. I say good riddance, let them have their weird beliefs. Let us now return to a Christmas without pagan symbols.

[GOP_Party_Animal]

Of course, the issue is deeper than what an inanimate object is named. The goal of the PC crowd is to stamp out the word "Christmas", not just change the name of symbols that were once pagan. This is what irks Christians like me; The snuffing out of the Christmas holiday (and all its symbols) from America.

[Txslady]

[Clint Lippo]

This kind of idiocy of Mass. I went to the Witch Museum in Salem MA,and at the end of the exhibits was a display dealing with Sen. Joe McCarthy.[Witch hunts,how clever.] Sarc.

[Willie Green]

"Ever since I was born, a tree was put up for Christmas, not for holidays, because if you're gonna do that you might as well put a tree up for Easter."

[coloradan]

It's the "giving tree festival." Courtesy of Ann Coulter.

(Rules!)

[NorthOf45]

Although Canada doesnt have the lock on virtue when it comes to pc speech.

This is true. Many of us up here agree with you ... including the supplier of the tree.

[newzjunkey]

"I think it's a bunch of bullcrap"

That pretty much sums it up.

[FReepaholic]

..."Ever since I was born, a tree was put up for Christmas..."

Ah yes, the sacred "kill a tree for Christ" tradition.

[Nea Wood]

"I think it's a bunch of bullcrap," Hatt said Tuesday.

You said it best, sir.

[Always A Marine]

"A lot of people celebrate various religious holidays but also enjoy the lights, and we're trying to be inclusive," said Toni Pollak, Boston's commissioner of parks.

Inclusive? This is not inclusive, but exclusive. It is the exclusion of Christ from public life.

[SALChamps03]

You know, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a Christmas Tree, regardless of the origins of the custom.

[SALChamps03]

You know, trees can be replaced.

[singfreedom]

Not to be contrary, but they don't want to "snuff it out". They want us to keep buying and giving, et al, they just want to "change the name" so those few other folks will spend their money too! Sarcasm/

"They" don't seem to consider the fact that there are a lot more of "us" than "them"!

[IVC1974]

Boston has forgotten its Christian roots...no, in fact, Boston has spit on its Christian roots. It has spit on the Pilgrims, on William Bradford, on the Puritans. Boston has rewritten history in fact. Boston is one God-hating reprobate town.

But, mark this Boston: When a nation or people spit on and reject their true history and heritage, the end is near.

[IVC1974]

Ah the Christmas tree. It crept from pagan conquest of northern Europe by Christians into the celebration of Christ's mass. There is also the advent wreath that crept in. Now the pagans are reclaiming the tree. I say good riddance, let them have their weird beliefs. Let us now return to a Christmas without pagan symbols.

No worries... Europe has returned to its pagan roots. It has rejected its Christian Heritage and is now a post-Christian society devoid of any absolute truth or morals. The only morals Europe has are the ones dictated to it by their godless governments and the Euroweenie Union. Ironically, there is now a REAL reason to despise WHITE EUROPEANS.

[BenLurkin]

You left out the Siberian Eskimos.