Rhode Island gov. stands by 'holiday tree'

UPI ^ | Dec. 1, 2011

[presidio9]

Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee sparked controversy nationwide when he called a 17-foot spruce tree in the State House a "holiday tree."

Chafee cited a 1663 Colonial charter and the legacy of state founder Roger Williams when explaining that not calling the tree a Christmas tree earlier this week is in Rhode Island tradition, the Boston Herald reported.

"I'm just continuing what other governors have done," Chafee said, after dedicating another tree to soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. "I just want to make sure I'm doing everything possible in this building to honor Roger Williams.

"In my own house, I'm free to have a Christmas tree, and it's with great pride," Chafee said.

Chafee said his office has received a flood of phone calls and e-mails from disgruntled traditionalists.

Parents of children who sang at the State House Wednesday expressed confusion as to why Chafee wouldn't call it a Christmas tree.

"The whole way here, we were getting fired up about it," said Ted Slader of North Scituate, whose fourth-grade daughter, Erica, sang Christmas carols in the State House rotunda Wednesday. "I know he's just a left-wing nut job and everything, but you can't say the word Christmas? The average Joe I talk to,

[cubreporter]

So he calls it a holiday tree? We call it a Christmas Tree.
No one can take away what you call your tree.
Merry Christmas and enjoy your Christmas Tree, Christmas presents, Christmas decorations, Christmas dinner, Christmas star, Christmas stories, Christmas HYMNS, Christmas carols, Christmas movies, Christmas plays, Christmas cards and anything else Christmas we want to celebrate. Especially the birth of Christ.
So, let this dip call the tree whatever he wants. It doesn’t bother us at all. He is unsure of himself and chooses to be politically correct. We are SURE of ourselves and chose to be CORRECT period.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

[Rapscallion]

What authority gives Gov. Lincoln Chafee the right to void 140 years of tradition in America? Has he lost touch with the reality that we pay him to only do a job, and not to alter our culture? He seems so detatched from reality that he sounds like a candidate for shock treatments.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Somebody ask these dbags what holiday is it? Arbor day? Flag day? The song by Nazareth?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTDUvuCpDl8

[AwesomePossum]

Wow, I did not know that they were selling Christmas trees off of a lot in Rhode Island in 1663..........

8:}