General Discussion

OffWithTheirHeads

(10,337 posts)

27. Seriously? With all the shit going on around the world we need to worry about this shit?

Sat Dec 5, 2015, 07:37 PM

Dec 2015

As an athiest since I was 14 (now 65) I could give a flying fuck. A national Creche would disturb me but really, getting upset about a pagan custom re-purposed is like getting upset over Starbucks coffee cups. I have better things to do with my time. I'm much more worried about the fact that it is now acceptable to spew racist, mysoginist, homophobic, Islamophobic hate on our airwaves without challange. That scares the shit out of me.

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Are you OK with having a National Christmas Tree, [View all] Nye Bevan Dec 2015 OP

Hell no. mwrguy Dec 2015 #1

Christmas trees are not Christian. ManiacJoe Dec 2015 #7

yes Pagan Rosa Luxemburg Dec 2015 #95

I have a theory about the Pagan winter solstice festival and would like your opinion Yavin4 Dec 2015 #111

Evergreens Rosa Luxemburg Dec 2015 #146

not really. christmas is celebrated by many non christians JI7 Dec 2015 #10

Christmas is a big thing here in Japan Art_from_Ark Dec 2015 #144

I don't have an issue with a Christmas tree at all yeoman6987 Dec 2015 #33

It is not even close to a "Christian symbol" ProudToBeBlueInRhody Dec 2015 #38

What religious tradition were you raised in, if any? JudyM Dec 2015 #49

I'm a recovering Catholic ProudToBeBlueInRhody Dec 2015 #62

Why was it forbidden? JudyM Dec 2015 #63

Because up until the 60s or so, the Catholic Church ProudToBeBlueInRhody Dec 2015 #64

Oh, got it - it was a decorating issue. But you don't think the tree is a symbol of Christmas... JudyM Dec 2015 #65

So are reindeer a Christian symbol? Frosty? ProudToBeBlueInRhody Dec 2015 #74

Ha! No, reindeer aren't but Rudolph is, that's a Christmas song. JudyM Dec 2015 #75

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, pangaia Dec 2015 #80

This message was self-deleted by its author JudyM Dec 2015 #82

Real-life reindeer, not the other reindeer in the song! nt JudyM Dec 2015 #83

What do you mean, "not the other reindeer in this song?" pangaia Dec 2015 #88

Um, they're not any more real-life, than santa... or are you saying you believe santa is real? nt JudyM Dec 2015 #97

Of COURSE Santa is real. pangaia Dec 2015 #109

Large Advent Wreaths Drahthaardogs Dec 2015 #147

like Santa Claus redstateblues Dec 2015 #133

Christmas trees are fine...Now the Xmas doormat at the Whitehouse--- snooper2 Dec 2015 #110

At this point I am allergic to all expressions of state religion. Warren Stupidity Dec 2015 #2

There is no "state religion" in the US. That "the state" chooses to recognize that the VAST jonno99 Dec 2015 #105

as long as there's one of these, and other symbols. elleng Dec 2015 #3

Beautiful! JustAnotherGen Dec 2015 #30

For the win. Baitball Blogger Dec 2015 #39

Thanks, Blogger! elleng Dec 2015 #41

I am not really sure to which symbol you are referring. pangaia Dec 2015 #117

No national tree, no national menorah, no national Ramadan, no national prayer breakfast, no Senate merrily Dec 2015 #4

Mostly With You ProfessorGAC Dec 2015 #118

Clearly the tree is there for Christmas, which is not secular. merrily Dec 2015 #119

Meh! ProfessorGAC Dec 2015 #123

Consider it what you will. Almost everyone else considers it a Christmas tree. merrily Dec 2015 #124

OK ProfessorGAC Dec 2015 #132

Three replies, though. merrily Dec 2015 #134

And? ProfessorGAC Dec 2015 #148

No problem at all. hrmjustin Dec 2015 #5

I think it's a lovely custom and I have no problem with it. 'Tis the Season! n/t CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2015 #6

Ditto! cwydro Dec 2015 #18

I'm agnostic and I agree! smirkymonkey Dec 2015 #61

Life-long atheist here: I think it's fine. Throd Dec 2015 #8

+1 ^^^ discntnt_irny_srcsm Dec 2015 #14

+2 ^^ nt dumbcat Dec 2015 #31

Why Nationalize A Symbol Of Commercial Excess Appropriated From Pagan Traditions cantbeserious Dec 2015 #9

Ha! You win! SammyWinstonJack Dec 2015 #104

It's also "appropriated" by atheists, agnostics and non-fundy types too. MADem Dec 2015 #113

Maybe continue to have the national tree, but saltpoint Dec 2015 #11

I'm an atheist and I like Christmas trees. Vinca Dec 2015 #12

Me too! etherealtruth Dec 2015 #15

I like gospel music, too. It's very weird. Vinca Dec 2015 #42

I can relate .... etherealtruth Dec 2015 #46

J S Bach pangaia Dec 2015 #89

It is a TREE... and its origins are not Christian. Pick your battles wisely. This isn't the one. hlthe2b Dec 2015 #13

Exactly. JoePhilly Dec 2015 #22

My Jewish friends repudiate that argument. They say that it is used as a Christian tree and CTyankee Dec 2015 #69

Anything can be expropriated as a symbol of any religion. The truth is the origins of the tree are hlthe2b Dec 2015 #73

Regardless of its origin it's now a symbol of a Christian holiday. Practicing Jews who take Judaism JudyM Dec 2015 #86

I have good Jewish friends who DO in fact include a Christmas tree and other similar decorations pangaia Dec 2015 #90

I'm sure they are good friends. JudyM Dec 2015 #98

Exactly right. Joe the Revelator Dec 2015 #102

"Doing IT wrong?" pangaia Dec 2015 #116

Christian.... "artifacts?" Are you saying a Chrimtmas tree is a Christian artifact? pangaia Dec 2015 #108

Dont know why you're ROFL, since it most certainly is. The star on top, the angel ornaments, etc... JudyM Dec 2015 #121

Well, I have a Jewish cousin who enjoys a Chanukah bush. MADem Dec 2015 #92

I haven't asked and one that I referred to is now deceased, otherwise I would ask her. CTyankee Dec 2015 #107

I think it's all about the lights in the dead of winter, myself. I don't think most people look MADem Dec 2015 #112

gotta have something to get you through... CTyankee Dec 2015 #115

most jews i know put up a tree themselves JI7 Dec 2015 #145

No problem at all. In fact, I love it. eom lunamagica Dec 2015 #16

as long as I don't have to cut it, decorate it, or care for it! niyad Dec 2015 #17

Is it fair to say that the US is a Christian country? oberliner Dec 2015 #19

not in the official sense but treestar Dec 2015 #59

Except Docreed2003 Dec 2015 #154

Interesting treestar Dec 2015 #155

Yes, it is MFrohike Dec 2015 #72

Meh. n/t X_Digger Dec 2015 #20

I'm against it because they cut down a beautiful, mature tree to have it. Coventina Dec 2015 #21

Live Tree bpj62 Dec 2015 #34

Wow, didn't know that, the logistics must be crazy. joshcryer Dec 2015 #44

It's been a live tree for a while now (nt) Recursion Dec 2015 #43

+1 darkangel218 Dec 2015 #106

I'm OK, but it should be plastic, so it symbolically represents our economy HereSince1628 Dec 2015 #23

Atheist here, don't care LittleBlue Dec 2015 #24

I don't give a rip what they call it Warpy Dec 2015 #25

Me too. leftyladyfrommo Dec 2015 #47

Don't care personally but whatthehey Dec 2015 #26

Seriously? With all the shit going on around the world we need to worry about this shit? OffWithTheirHeads Dec 2015 #27

+1!! RiverLover Dec 2015 #35

I'm in favor of ALL trees Joanie Baloney Dec 2015 #28

I dig that idea! n/t Wilms Dec 2015 #68

Thanks, Wilms Joanie Baloney Dec 2015 #70

I am okay with it. Kalidurga Dec 2015 #29

Yeah I have no issue at all. romanic Dec 2015 #32

Establishment clause permits it: Just not forcing the specific ideology. lindysalsagal Dec 2015 #36

I want to be poutraged but I can't seem to muster up the care necessary to do so. ileus Dec 2015 #37

Fine with it ProudToBeBlueInRhody Dec 2015 #40

Celebrating the Holiday Season includes all holidays - - like Christmas. baldguy Dec 2015 #45

I view Christmas trees as being pretty secular. Codeine Dec 2015 #48

I want a Satan Tree Facility Inspector Dec 2015 #50

How about a Festivus pole? MADem Dec 2015 #93

The money spent on it (including person hours, electricity, etc) should be spent on serving the poor JudyM Dec 2015 #51

I"m also OK with a National Menorah and a national (really big) colander Ferd Berfel Dec 2015 #52

All traditions should be equally represented Rebkeh Dec 2015 #53

I object to the fact that 2naSalit Dec 2015 #54

It's a live tree. Glassunion Dec 2015 #55

Sanity is winning by 90% Reter Dec 2015 #56

Sycamores are prettier and Eucalyptus smell better. Tierra_y_Libertad Dec 2015 #57

I am a life long Atheist and I celebrate every holiday I can manage! Walk away Dec 2015 #58

One of the biggest thrills of my life was visiting a redwood forrest yuiyoshida Dec 2015 #60

Absolutely Liberal_in_LA Dec 2015 #66

As long as it's not a Merry Christmas doormat pinboy3niner Dec 2015 #67

Pinboy. Nay Dec 2015 #96

fffttttttt Sissyk Dec 2015 #103

The Christmas Tree will be lit when the President pushes the buzzard. nt JustABozoOnThisBus Dec 2015 #122

The buzzard needs rung! nt pinboy3niner Dec 2015 #128

Push the buzzard, Frank! n/m ProudToBeBlueInRhody Dec 2015 #151

Yule regret that underpants Dec 2015 #129

FGS, should we do away with all holidays?? All cultural history? ALL %^U&$$@# JOY?! WinkyDink Dec 2015 #71

I do not have enough time to expound on how little I care one way or another Scootaloo Dec 2015 #76

It is a pagan symbol to start with. Dawson Leery Dec 2015 #77

If a Christmas tree was even REMOTELY related to Christ Nevernose Dec 2015 #78

As a Jew I can assure you that to many non-Christians, Christmas is very much about Christianity. nt JudyM Dec 2015 #84

Christmas, my favorite pagan holiday. TIME TO PANIC Dec 2015 #79

Not a problem with it ronnykmarshall Dec 2015 #81

There are a few thousand things more important to me. CBGLuthier Dec 2015 #85

Isn't the idea to drag the tree into the house in the rather skewed hope that doing this MADem Dec 2015 #87

You all should read "When Santa was a Shaman" about the pagan roots of our holiday symbols Hekate Dec 2015 #91

pagan symbols don't bother me, but sometimes the trees make me sneeze. Turn CO Blue Dec 2015 #94

I'm in favor of any tree JEB Dec 2015 #99

100% WillowTree Dec 2015 #100

I want a National Festivus Pole... Historic NY Dec 2015 #101

Not really, but it's waaaaaaay low on the list. (n/t) Iggo Dec 2015 #114

No way! No pagan symbols on public property! KamaAina Dec 2015 #120

LOL - some religious folks are just so god damn stupid. randys1 Dec 2015 #126

I would like to see a National Yule Log. yellowcanine Dec 2015 #125

Yes - it's Christmas time. 840high Dec 2015 #127

It's just a tree with lights abakan Dec 2015 #130

A non-issue with me. Rex Dec 2015 #131

as a way to promote conspicuous consumption during the winter dembotoz Dec 2015 #135

As long as it's not a National Merry Christmas Doormat, I'm cool REP Dec 2015 #136

A National Christmas Buzzard would be fun, though (nt) Nye Bevan Dec 2015 #137

GMTA pinboy3niner Dec 2015 #140

Damn my eyes! REP Dec 2015 #142

I demand a Festivus tree. Vinca Dec 2015 #138

You've already failed Festivus 101. ProudToBeBlueInRhody Dec 2015 #152

The name Christmas Tree should just be changed to Commerce Tree to go with the Commerce Day it Todays_Illusion Dec 2015 #139

I've been OK with it since, oh, 1963 or so Art_from_Ark Dec 2015 #141

if it helps to remind one Christian to quit shooting up clinics, it'll be worth it Bucky Dec 2015 #143

Well I'm kind of a pagan. I celebrate Beltane and Samhuinn. sibelian Dec 2015 #149

I'm OK with it Omaha Steve Dec 2015 #150

Christmas has become more of a cultural tradition, and less about Christianity Chemisse Dec 2015 #153