"Capitol Holiday Tree" now "Capitol Christmas Tree", thanks Dennis Hastert

[mopaul]

http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20051129-120703-5977r.htm

thank god and jesus we have men like dennis hastert to remind us all where our priorities are.

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House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert has told federal officials that the lighted, decorated tree on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol -- known in recent years as the "Holiday Tree" -- should be renamed the "Capitol Christmas Tree," as it was called until the late 1990s.
The Capitol's senior landscape architect confirmed the name switch yesterday for The Washington Times.
"It was known as the 'Holiday Tree' for several years and just recently was changed back to the 'Capitol Christmas Tree.' This was a directive from the speaker," said Capitol architect Matthew Evans.
"The speaker believes a Christmas tree is a Christmas tree, and it is as simple as that," said Ron Bonjean, spokesman for the Illinois Republican.
The Capitol tree, traditionally overshadowed by the White House's "National Christmas Tree," was renamed a "holiday tree" several years ago, according to the Capitol Architect's offices, in an effort to acknowledge the other holidays of Kwanzaa and Hanukkah -- although no one seemed to know exactly when the name was changed or by whom.

[MarianJack]

1. God Forbid We Respect the Varied Faiths!

That might be a little too much like an American Ideal ofr the fundies!

[rodeodance]

2. I believed Laura referred to the season as Happy Holiday's yesterday.

Someone on DU posted this.

[rodeodance]

3. does Hasturd have to submit a bill to change it to Christmas?

[tritsofme]

5. Since it seems no bill changed it to "holiday"

in the first place, and Hastert is the Speaker, he can probably do as he pleases.

And even if it did, its not like any Democrat in their right mind would oppose the change, lest they be mocked as godless commies.

[mopaul]

6. hastert introduces 'anti christmas tree desecration' bill

[chat_noir]

11. Can O Fun (thanks, liveoaktx) has the video of Laura's "Happy Holidays"

http://www.canofun.com/blog/viddate.asp

http://www.canofun.com/blog/videos/whydoeslumphatechristmasnov2805.wmv

[izzie]

4. And every one that sees it will call it a Christmas tree

even non-Christians:woohoo:

[Hubert Flottz]

7. I wish I could shit in his Easter Basket!

Or his mess-kit!

[onenote]

8. so who re-named it in the first place?

Its not like this can be a big secret. The lighting of the Capitol tree is an event (albeit a minor one) every year. There must be press releases or pronouncements in the public record.

Its interesting that the WT article suggests that the change occurred in the "late" 1990s. If so, it means it occurred while the repubs controlled the House.

For what its worth, I googled this and the earliest reference to the "Capitol Holiday Tree" I could find was from 1995, which is still during repub control. http://edition.cnn.com/EVENTS/seasons_greetings/national_tree_lighting/

One more factoid: the lighting of a Capitol Tree is not a particularly ancient tradition, dating back only to 1964.

onenote

[mopaul]

9. where did jesus say, 'take thee a pine tree & decorate it in my name'?

[WyLoochka]

10. The tree tradition is rooted

in "heathen" celebrations of the winter solstice. Christians could not wipe out the custom so co-opted it long ago.

[Skidmore]

12. They are tossing every emotion-laden Freeper bait

out there now. Does this stink of desparation, or what?

[DS1]

13. So what?

Who gives a fuck what it's called. Both sides have done their share of trivial official acts.

[SillyGoose]

14. Doesn't he have anything better to do?

These nutcases are wiggin' out over this sh*. Its way past time for them to get some therapy to deal with these obsessive tendencies.

:eyes:

[Terran]

15. Well, it *is* a "Christmas Tree"

and I think it was stupid to call it a "holiday tree". I'm all for being inclusive this time of year, but come on--Christmas trees are related to *Christmas*, not any of the other faiths' celebrations this time of year. Merely uttering the word Christmas does not oppress people who don't celebrate it.

[abluelady]

16. I was going to say the same thing

I have never heard of a Chanukah tree or a Kwanza tree. For goodness sake, it is okay for the tree to be called a Christmas tree. Anything else, imho, is disrespectful to the other religions. Let's face it, the tree is not put up on the 4th of July.