Hannukah Bush

Bummer (4.00 / 3)

I thought this diary might be 'bout Sarah Silverman.

www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Fri Nov 28, 2008 at 21:23:05 PM CST

Why is there a White House Christmas Tree ? (4.00 / 1)

It does not represent pagan tradition, or freedom of religion, it represents a state religion. It sucks, as does having a stupid 20 ft. tall Menorah to compete with it, like we have in Concord. Any argument that a Christmas Tree or Menorah is not representative of religion is b.s. Does anybody care about the issue, or is it seen as sour grapes by those of Christian heritage?

http://www.nytimes.com/aponlin...
It's a Fraser Fir for White House Christmas Tree

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: November 30, 2008

Filed at 3:57 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- First lady Laura Bush kicked off the holiday season Sunday by standing out in the rain to receive this year's White House Christmas tree.

A horse-drawn wagon pulled the 20-foot Fraser fir, which will decorate the Blue Room, up to the White House. Bush was waiting under an umbrella.

''It'll be the great big tree that this year will be decorated with ornaments from all around the United States, decorated by artists from all around the United States,'' the first lady said of the tree that will serve as the centerpiece in the White House holiday decor.

Jessie Davis and Russell Estes, owners of River Ridge Tree Farms in Crumpler, N.C., where the tree was grown, joined the first lady, along with their families.

River Ridge also will provide about 25 smaller trees for the White House, including the ones for the offices of the president and vice president, according to the North Carolina Farm Bureau.

The White House is not my house, it's not your house,and frankly it is not the Obamas' house. It belongs to America and should not favor any creed or religion.  

"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does." Allen Ginsberg

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by: JonnyBBad @ Sun Nov 30, 2008 at 15:39:18 PM CST

"Don't care" is too strong (4.00 / 1)

But it is a hard issue to get people excited about, so I find I don't pay a lot of attention to it.

Personally, I take the "all holidays" approach. I will not be offended if someone wishes me a Happy Ramadam, nor would I expect them to take offense at Merry Christmas.

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by: JimC @ Sun Nov 30, 2008 at 20:09:39 PM CST

[ Parent ]

in the White House? (4.00 / 2)

Would you accept a Jewish, or Muslim, or Aetheist President, one who did not sport a Christmas Tree ? Conversely would you be happy if 'forced' to see a national symbol like the President's house decorated to celebrate a religious holiday or traditions, not of the European Christian persuasion ?
I was forced to say the Lord's Prayer in public school, forced to sing and participate in Christmas pageants. I hated it, and will never forget that it did not celebrate my faith. That has changed to a great degree, but I still take offense at religious symbols on public property. "Charlie Wilson's War" had it about right...do it at a Church, not in front of the Firehouse or on the Town Square. There are plenty of them with lawns.

"Poetry is not an expression of the party line. It's that time of night, lying in bed, thinking what you really think, making the private world public, that's what the poet does." Allen Ginsberg

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by: JonnyBBad @ Sun Nov 30, 2008 at 21:25:57 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Yes (0.00 / 0)

Would you accept a Jewish, or Muslim, or Aetheist President, one who did not sport a Christmas Tree ? Conversely would you be happy if 'forced' to see a national symbol like the President's house decorated to celebrate a religious holiday or traditions, not of the European Christian persuasion ?

I would accept that. But after 12 years of Catholic school, Jon, I am not typical.

And the country would most likely not accept that, so I take your point.

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by: JimC @ Sun Nov 30, 2008 at 23:47:27 PM CST

[ Parent ]

For the rest of us (4.00 / 1)

http://www.festivusbook.com/

I am with Jon on this. Also, in principle, I don't think Christmas should be a national holiday.

www.KusterforCongress.com  

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by: Jack Mitchell @ Mon Dec 01, 2008 at 08:04:18 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Christmas should be a national holiday, to some degree. (0.00 / 0)

Christmas should be treated like a national holiday, because for a very large portion of Americans, it is a very important holiday, and it's unreasonable to expect most any American organization to be able to operate for a day without people who celebrate Christmas.

But it is a holiday of religion, not of nationalism.  And both having "secular-progressive" leanings and belonging to the Chinese-food-and-movies-on-Christmas crowd, I'm not exactly ecstatic about having a National Christmas Tree outside the White House.  On the other hand, I have no problem with a Christian President having a tree in the Residence.

Meanwhile, going back to Jon's point, I wonder whether a Jewish, or Muslim, or Atheist President would have a National Christmas Tree despite their own religious preferences in order to avoid being attacked by Hannity and O'Reilly for aiding The War on Christmas (as if cashiers saying "Happy Holidays" is a threat to anybody's traditions).

I will say this, though: a candidate's religion wouldn't stop me from voting for the right person for the job.  I'm Jewish, but I have voted for a Christian for President, and I would just as soon vote for an atheist, an agnostic, a Muslim, a Buddhist, or what have you, if that person were right for the job.

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by: Douglas E. Lindner @ Mon Dec 01, 2008 at 15:16:45 PM CST

[ Parent ]

OK, Justice Thomas (0.00 / 0)

I am with Steve Breyer: Build no new religious monuments (or trees, if you will), but give some deference to those that already exist or are traditional.

Don't throw the baby out with the egg nog!

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by: JimC @ Mon Dec 01, 2008 at 15:53:50 PM CST

[ Parent ]