Citizen complaint of the day: War on Christmas? Yeah, right

They are a religious symbol, but not Christianity.

Yeah, it almost reads like a strawman character you expect to find on some straight-to-DVD movie about how Christmas is being threatened by people saying "Happy holidays."

...the kind using reverse psychology to make people who believe there's a strong anti-religious, especially anti-Christian, element among our academic and cultural 'elite', and that many examples of official kow-towing to silly political correctness, example being refusing to refer to Christmas as Christmas, referring to it instead as the 'holidays'. And the MANY goofy examples in schools across the country. With this 'complaint', these people can say, see, we told you there's no conspiracy against religion and especially Christianity, especially in academia and the public sector. Look at city hall decorated in trees and wreaths.

And I say this as a person who is Agnostic, with a bone to pick with ALL established religions.

why not live in a country that oppresses particular religions and refuses to allow people to practice their believes. Maybe some of the Tribal areas in Pakistan may be appealing to you. I hear the weather is nice this time of year.

But why address one if you refuse to acknowledge all!

On February 29, 1892, the Supreme Court declared (in Holy Trinity v. ... United States) declaring America to be a “Christian nation.. This nation was founded by Christians, for Christians, with tolerance for all other religions.

I refer you to your Massachusetts state Constitution and every state Constitution in the US which acknowledges GOD as the giver of our rights:

Part the First. A Declaration of the Rights of the Inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Art. I.—All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness.

II.—It is the right as well as the duty of all men in society, publicly, and at stated seasons, to worship the SUPREME BEING, the great creator and preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained, in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping GOD in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience; or for his religious profession or sentiments; provided he doth not disturb the public peace, or obstruct others in their religious worship.

III.—As the happiness of a people, and the good order and preservation of civil government, essentially depend upon piety, religion and morality; and as these cannot be generally diffused through a community, but by the institution of the public worship of GOD, and of public instructions in piety, religion and morality: Therefore, to promote their happiness and to secure the good order and preservation of their government, the people of this Commonwealth have a right to invest their legislature with power to authorize and require, and the legislature shall, from time to time, authorize and require, the several towns, parishes, precincts, and other bodies-politic, or religious societies, to make suitable provision, at their own expense, for the institution of the public worship of GOD, and for the support and maintenance of public protestant teachers of piety, religion and morality, in all cases where such provision shall not be made voluntarily.

I agree- I too get a little mifffed seeing all our tax dollars being used to decorate various places around the city and metro area for Christmas (don't tell me it's just some generic winter holiday sparkle- it's not). I don't know how much it costs but the money could be spent elsewhere.

But it would be interesting, to put a spin on what theszak posted, if the city asked one of the local art schools each year to do a "festive winter" display. It would let the students try their hand at a real space and budget and show off the efforts of our local schools. It would be something to look forward to ("Ooh, the BAC is doing the interior this year, can't wait to see what they do!"). Could end up with something controversial but it could also interesting as opposed to another light-up tree.

Since when is a Christmas tree religious?

The tree in the pictures also have stars on top, ornaments and red and green bows. Almost anyone looking at it would say it's a Christmas tree. The fact some people might label it as a "holiday tree" and ignore the history and symbolism is insufficient defense. Issues of establishment of religion and discrimination don't go away just because some people are using a different term, that is transparently constructed to pretend avoid everything that's makes this problematic. That there might be some situations where the line is hard to draw, doesn't mean that situations cannot fall clearly on one side of the line.

Isn't that kind of like saying a Christmas tree isn't also tree? I mean, I understand that the menorah used for hannukah is different than others used the rest of the year, but isn't a hanukiah still a type of menorah, albeit a special one? (married into a jewish family, so i'm a somewhat knowledgeable shiksa!)