In show of sensitivity, schools chief renames Easter events

projo.com ^ | 03/23/07 | Gina Macris

[Puppage]

“I don’t like the term ‘politically correct,’ ” Rearick said, but

...BUT you jump right in any way.

[PzLdr]

Considering the Easter Bunny originated in the symbol of the Celtic Goddess of fertility, the hare, this is almost funny.

[LonePalm]

How about having a show of sesnitivity towards CHRISTIANS for a change.

But I guess that is too much to ask.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[pgyanke]

Elsewhere, similar government bans on the Easter Bunny and Easter egg hunts have become fodder for critics who say there’s nothing religious about these symbols. But Burk, who volunteered that he was raised as a Roman Catholic, said that the Easter Bunny has been part of Easter celebrations as long as he can remember. “Without Easter, there would be no Easter Bunny,” he said.

Ok... I'm speechless...

[AppyPappy]

You totally missed the point. He didn't have a problem with the rabbit. He had a problem with the word "Easter".

[Reaganesque]

Following this logic, we should ban: chocolate, jelly beans, peeps, decorated eggs, plastic grass and pastel colors. These are all associated with Easter to, therefore, they endorse religion.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

[PzLdr]

Oh, I got the point all right. I also got the part where the under principal, raised a Catholic, claimed that the Easter Bunny was synonymous with the Christian celebration of Easter. That was the point of my post. The Easter Bunny traces its origin to a pagan goddess. It has nothing to do with Christianity [anymore than Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer has anything to do with the Christian celebration of Christmas]. I find such ignorance and illogic truly amazing.

[AppyPappy]

No no no. If the rabbit had been called the Spring Rabbit, he wouldn't care. But he only cared because the word Easter was used. I don't care about pagan goddesses. I care that he removed the word "Easter" because Easter was Christian. That's suppression of free speech.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Instead of the Easter Bunny, the Parent-Teacher Council booth will offer photos with Peter Rabbit.

Perhaps they should opt for Harvey instead.

[Joy in the Journey]

Give that rascally old school a phone call!

401-624-6668

[bboop]

"Easter, Easter, Easter" -- come and get me. I'm adding it to my forbidden words list.

[ladyjane]

Tiverton is one of the prettiest little towns you would ever want to see. It is on the banks of the Sakonnet River, very close to Newport and Little Compton. Gorgeous land.

It's sad to see such nonsense in such a pretty place.

Anyone who feels like sharing feelings with the superintendent you can do so here:

wrearick@tivertonschools.org

[ladyjane]

Forbidden word list:

Easter
Christmas
St. Valentine's Day
niggardly
refugee
alien
tar baby
tar-and-feather

[Kenny Bunk]

Permit me to wish everyone a very satisfying
Equinoctial Celebration

I checked with Gore HQ, and now, due to Global Warming, these content-free rites should be celebrated on January 15th. Cards should be exchanged with Women, Children, Members of Federally Protected Minority Groups, and Gays and Lesbians. You see, FrPR, back in the day when evil patriarchal European white men knew this seasonal event as "Passover," or "Easter," these groups suffered horribly.

I also checked with national PETA HQ (I am the Maine Chapter President, you know) and this whole RABBIT thing has been ruled demeaning to an important species.

[Kenny Bunk]

Kindly add
"blackguard,"
"Mumbo-Jumbo,"
"Jemima," "Uncle Ben,"
"Apple Brown Betty,"

[Tokra]

If the rabbit had been called the Spring Rabbit, he wouldn't care. But he only cared because the word Easter was used. I don't care about pagan goddesses. I care that he removed the word "Easter" because Easter was Christian. That's suppression of free speech.

I am not disagreeing with you - I find the "banning" of the words Christmas, Easter and the like absolutely outrageous.

However the word Easter is not a Christian word. The holiday of Eostre (the Teutonic goddess of Spring and fertility) was celebrated hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. When the Christians were converting the Germanic tribes - they kept the same holiday and the same name and pegged it to the Resurrection. The word Easter is a direct derivative of the word Eostre. (she was also connected to Astarte, Ashtoreth and other names for the fertility goddess of the pagans)

A question that has bothered me since I was a kid is that Jesus died on Good Friday and spent three days in the tomb (according to the Bible) but was already resurrected a day and half later on Sunday morning. How do you count Friday afternoon to Sunday morning as 3 days? If he truly spent 3 days in the tomb and was raised on the Sabbath (Saturday) - he would have to have died on Wednesday at the latest - not on Friday.

[AppyPappy]

However the word Easter is not a Christian word.

Sure it isn't. I guess we are all wrong.