Posted on 11/08/2011 5:06:29 PM PST by SJackson
First, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker took on public sector unions.
Now he's re-igniting the Christmas wars.
Walker said Monday that the evergreen decorated with ornaments and adorned with a star in the center of Wisconsin's Capitol Rotunda is a Christmas tree, not a holiday tree as it's been called for the past 25 years.
The roughly 30-foot-tall tree was called a Christmas tree from the first display in 1916 until 1985. That's when politicians bowed to concerns about government endorsing religion and started referring to it as a holiday tree.
The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation has opposed the term Christmas tree, saying it offends nonreligious people and amounts to a government endorsement of Christianity.
The president of that group, Annie Laurie Gaylor, called Walker's decision rude and insensitive to non-Christians.
"The reason that it was turned into a holiday tree was to avoid this connotation that the governor chooses one religion over another," she said. "It's essentially a discourtesy by the governor to announce that. He intends that to be a slight and a snub to non-Christians, otherwise he would not do it."
Walker, in a press release, downplayed any potential controversy by simply referring to the decoration as a Christmas tree and not noting any change. His spokesman Cullen Werwie confirmed that the designation and change from past practices was intentional.
"It's a Christmas tree," Werwie said. "In all honesty, I don't know what more to say about it."
The controversy over the name of the tree has ebbed and flowed over the years. In 2007, the state Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution to change the name to the Christmas tree, but it died in the Senate.
In past years, displays from a variety of religions have been set up in the Capitol rotunda during the holiday season including a menorah and a sign from the Freedom From Religion Foundation which calls religion "superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."
The tree will be decorated with ornaments submitted by the state's school children. On display from late November through early January, the tree is encircled by a model train and is a popular stop for school groups and other tourists.
What a childish bunch these idiots are to worry about what the tree is called. It’s nothing more than anti Christian bigotry
Good for Gov Walker.
A Christmas tree, it's a Christmas tree. Evan Obame might admit that.
...and it’s got to have better ornaments than the Obama Christmas tree had a few years ago....
Obama’s Christmas tree graced by Chairman Mao, transvestite
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=119800
Evergreen ping.
All in due time.....one year ago he was Milwaukee County Executive. Let him Gov for a while--he's doing good things for the entire nation right where he is
(and selfishly, we want to keep him here for a while)
Governor Walker has the patience of Job.
I don’t think I’d be so polite.
“makes me wonder why Scott isn’t running for higher office.”
He still has work to finish here.
They never have worried about being seen to “endorse religion”, they mean Christianity.
Give him time...
God Bless Scott Walker.
This is why Wisconsin is back on the right track.
We have a governor who calls things what they are.
It is a Christmas tree. Be honest with yourself. When you see an evergreen with decorations, candy canes, star on top, blinking lights, what do you think of?
Kwanzaa? Hannukah? Eid? Winter Solstace?
No. You immediately think Christmas. Because that’s what it is.
Anyone can celebrate it. That’s what being inclusive is about. Not forcing people to recognize stuff they don’t want to, but having the ability to celebrate it if you want to.
Lots of callers to Madison talk radio saying “Hey I’m an atheist but I can’t stand Annie Laurie, and for pete’s sake, call it what it is - it’s a Christmas tree!”
I agree-we need to keep Scott in Wisconsin for the big battles. Paul Ryan should have run for President.
“The president of that group, Annie Laurie Gaylor, called Walker’s decision rude and insensitive to non-Christians.”
What about when the teenie-weenie atheist minority is rude and insensitive to God-fearing folk ? Why is that always OK ?
Ping!
Somehow I missed this article in 2009, and I didn’t need to read about it in 2011. It just makes me sick to my stomach. Will it be 2012 soon?
Thank God for Scott Walker.
Let’s make this a trend to restore the great traditions to the US I’ve had enough of this PC garbage.
Excellent going Governor Walker. Finally a man who knows how to take the right kind of stand. So refreshing!!!
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