Portland’s "Holiday Tree"

Officials in Maine’s largest city have decided to call the traditional Christmas tree at Monument Square a “holiday tree,” citing a desire to be sensitive to other people and religions as the reason for their decision to avoid directly referencing the Christian holiday. But Michael Heath, executive director of the Christian Civic League of Maine (CCLM), notes that the Portland officials apparently have no problem with insulting 850,000 Christians who live in Maine.

On this issue, I have to respectfully disagree with Mike Heath. The city’s political correctness is ridiculous, for the reason Kiera McCaffrey mentions (below), but why does it really matter what they call the silly tree? We Christians focus all of our energy on whining and complaining about every little thing that secular culture does and we miss the important part. The Christmas tree was originally based on a pagan ritual. Even the date of Christmas was taken from pagan culture. I love many of our secular Christmas practices and symbols – including the Christmas tree – but we need to get real: they are a part of secular culture. Jesus never said that we must celebrate His birth on December 25. He never said we should erect evergreens in our living rooms for the month of December. He never suggested hanging mistletoe above our doorways. And for all we know, he was born in July.

Like I said, Portland’s move is a stupid one:

But Kiera McCaffrey, a spokeswoman for the Catholic League for Civil and Religious Rights — a group that has been tracking the issue for some 12 years — says Portland’s renaming decision will not fool anyone. In talking with the Herald, McCaffrey asked what other religions take evergreen trees indoors and decorate them. “They are Christmas trees,” she said. “Everybody knows that.”

However, they don’t know any better. They are blinded by their hatred. What’s our excuse?

Source: Bows of Folly: Portland Blasted for PC Pandering With ‘Holiday Tree’