Posted on 11/27/2002 7:26:24 AM PST by marshmallow
TORONTO (Reuters) - Christmas is becoming an endangered word in parts of Canada in a rash of politically correct behavior -- such as renaming a Christmas tree a "holiday tree" -- that even non-Christians dismiss as silly.
Toronto city officials began the flap last week when they called the 50-foot (15.2 meter) tree set up outside City Hall a "holiday tree." That sparked much derision and prompted the city's mayor to set the record straight.
"Our special events staff went too far with their political correctness when they called it a holiday tree," said Mayor Mel Lastman. "They were trying to be inclusive and their hearts were in the right place, but you can't be politically correct all the time."
The mayor plans to introduce a motion in city council this week that will officially put the word Christmas in front of the word tree in all future city documents.
The name change led to complaints from Christians and left many non-Christians wondering what all the fuss was about.
"To take a generic term, slap it on a symbol that really only has significance to one religion..and then say we're being multicultural does not really fit," said Anita Bromberg of the Jewish group B'nai Brith Canada. "Whatever you call it, it's still a Christmas tree."
"You're not being inclusive when you try to apply one religious symbol to everybody. You call it what is."
Toronto has become the most multicultural city in Canada, with communities from around the world and residents who speak more than 100 different languages.
"I'm not sure what they're trying to achieve," Ahmed Shoker of the Canadian Islamic Congress in Saskatoon said on Monday. "Everyone has the full right to celebrate in their own way."
Toronto is not alone in its efforts to stress a holiday spirit rather than talking about Christmas.
The Royal Canadian Mint has a commercial in which it changes the old holiday standard "Twelve Days of Christmas" to "Twelve Days of Giving." But Mint spokesman Phil Taylor said the wording was merely meant to "position coins as a great gift for the holidays for whatever faith."
"It's the same kind of over the top political correctness," said Bernie Farber, Ontario executive director of the Canadian Jewish Congress. "There seems to be a fear within certain circles in Canada that people are going to react to Christmas in a negative way. But it's not the case.
"It's time to sort of get on with life, accept everybody for who they are and revel in their holidays as opposed to look for ways to deny people's holidays. It's just plain silly."
Red herring alert: it's not about the tree, it's about the word Christmas. I guess what comes next is the usual drivel about Christmas being a "pagan" holiday, etc.
The mission of the anti-Christian left, including the mush-headed Liber(al)tarians we often see around here, is to get "Christ" out of "Christmas" (and everywhere else).
DWG
So - that's one good thing, still - I guess. The thing that I am noticing here in southern IN this year is that there are now 2 major discount stores open on Thanksgiving (K-Mart and Meijers), as well as Walgreens whch has been doing that for some time now. Also - noticed this morning while I was driving one of my sons to a chemistry class - a sign in front of a Mcdonald's saying that it would be open on Thanksgiving Day for breakfast.
It appears that more and more retail stores are remaining open, as well as restaurants on Thanksgiving and Christmas - it's just not what it used to be anymore - sadly!!
Those days are just not... like the ones we used to know.....
Nope. But that's not the point. We Christians use the Christmas tree in our Christmas celebrations and I want to keep it as a symbol of our religion. They shouldn't have a decorated tree of any sort in their pagan holidays. By golly, we've got dibs on it and they need to go find something else. It's just too bad the Christmas tree is far superior to anything they could come up with.
Winter solice, winter holiday, holiday tree...are all PC terms that I am not shocked Canada is embracing. As I suspect their politics have taken a direct LEFT turn.
Canada signs up for the U.N. Tobin Tax
And I am sure they (if not already) signed up for the ICC and globalization.
Calling the truth 'drivel' is a liberal tactic.
So Thanksgiving is just another regular school day?
It is plain and simple PROPAGANDA!!!
BUT GOD FORBID IF CHRISTMAS IS CALLED CHRISTMAS. It is Winter Break (or some schools Winter Solstice)
I decided this year I won't be doing business in any store that doesn't acknowledge Christmas.
Sounds as though my shopping excursion is going to be frustrating.
As far as Christmas presents--- that is difficult they have all gone PC, the upscale stores were the first and Wal Mart followed.
When Northern Europeans converted to Christianity, they kept the custom of the evergreen - because it stayed green and alive in Winter. This practice became part of the Christmas celebration. They also liked to adorn the tree with apples and candles - now our ornaments and lights.
FP
It is drivel. Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The winter solstice, or whatever the pc crowd and the ACLU insists we "stole" it from is a completely different festival.
Europeans who used to celebrate their pagan festival began to celebrate the birth of Jesus at the same time. The Church of Rome decided to celebrate the Birth at this time.
This is nonsensical, stupid, political correctness as all of the various world wide known religions are represented in symbolic ways at the White House during various State dinners showing protocol to the visiting guest. And are all probably represented in some way in the WH during Christmas time. So why Hyde did not say 'Christmas tree' is beyond me.
Yesterday, I called the promotions director at the station and told her I received their Holiday Viewing Guide, and asked exactly what holiday it was for...Memorial Day, Fourth of July, what? She replied, "Thanksgiving and Christmas." I asked, "Why didn't you say so? Are you people so stupefied by political correctness that you can't even use the word Christmas?" She said, "I don't know what you want me to say." I told her I didn't want her to say anything, I wanted her to catch on." Needless to say, she didn't. Bless her poor black heart...I couldn't tell her I'd never watch her station again. I haven't watched it in years, already!
Red herring alert: it's not about the tree, it's about the word Christmas. I guess what comes next is the usual drivel about Christmas being a "pagan" holiday, etc.
The mission of the anti-Christian left, including the mush-headed Liber(al)tarians we often see around here, is to get "Christ" out of "Christmas" (and everywhere else).
At the risk of being accused of calumny (I don't beleve that anyone can state that my opinion is heresy), I believe that there is nothing particularly "Christmas" that attaches to the paganistic, racially imprinted, winter solstice worshiping ritual of adorning ones winter shelter with evergreen fronds and bushes.
Other that a coincidence of seasonality of the observence, of course.
It is everywhere, (both political parties are equally guilty of practicing the communisim political correctness craft.) I am sure even Bush.
But in some cases the word holiday could actually be referencing -Thanksgiving and Christmas- stories.
You do NOT celebrate multiculturalism by destroying your own culture. You share the joys of each with each other.
Jeremiah, Chapter 10, verses 2 through 5 read, "This what the Lord says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. For the customers of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they can not walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good."
I found that passage quite intersting when I came across it. It immediately reminded me of our Christmas trees. Certainly food for thought.
And a grand excuse to run up credit cards to keep up with the Jones' and update all the electronics/computers/video games and buy even a larger TV screen. In any given upscale yuppie neighborhood it is fashionable for pre teens to be seen outside on the best/most expensive four wheeler or an actual inneractive paint ball war world in the woods or the best Volvo/Beemer for the college bound son or daughter.
To throw more fat on the fire, it is also highly unlikely that Christ was born anywhere near December 25.
There is nothing specifically about the date in Scripture, but the circumstantial evidence points to either spring or fall.
Late December in the Judean hills is a very cold, wet, snowy time of year. Hardly a time that:
1) large numbers of people would choose to travel on foot to their ancestral homes
2)a loving husband would pick to travel with a 9-months pregnant wife
3) shepherds would choose to sleep out in the fields with the sheep.
The traditional idea of the Wise Men showing up on the night of his birth would also seem to point to a time of year that is not largely overcast.
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