NationStates Jolt Archive

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.
okay, I personally find this rediculous. The fact is that a pine tree with pretty lights and orniments and all that good stuff represents christmas. I, being half jewish, was disgusted by the concept of the "hanukkah bush". They are seperate, unrelated holidays. Hanukkah is not the Jewish Christmas, nor will it ever be. As stated in the article,
"To rename a Christmas tree as a holiday tree is as offensive as renaming a Jewish menorah a candlestick," Mr. Staver said.
That is very true. I don't know anyone offended by a christmas tree as long as others can display their religious symbols on the same property. Most large cities have both a christmas tree and menorah.

Don't call a cat a dog just because it will make other people happy. Its still overly PC.

what do you all think?


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

The concept of the "hanukkah bush".

It is awfully sad that a minor holiday which is primarily concerned with religious freedom has become so assimilated and commercialized, eh? The Maccabees roll in their graves every year.

It is awfully sad that a minor holiday which is primarily concerned with religious freedom has become so assimilated and commercialized, eh? The Maccabees roll in their graves every year.
Not to mention they were made of aluminum, and therefore when light strands had their insulation wear out, the tree would shock unsuspecting assimilated Jews.

okay, I personally find this rediculous. The fact is that a pine tree with pretty lights and orniments and all that good stuff represents christmas. I, being half jewish, was disgusted by the concept of the "hanukkah bush". They are seperate, unrelated holidays. Hanukkah is not the Jewish Christmas, nor will it ever be. As stated in the article,

That is very true. I don't know anyone offended by a christmas tree as long as others can display their religious symbols on the same property. Most large cities have both a christmas tree and menorah.

Don't call a cat a dog just because it will make other people happy. Its still overly PC.

what do you all think?


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

I agree. But we're going to have to put up a Festivus tree (a bare aluminum pole).

Maybe there are enough religions to have something on display year-round.

okay, I personally find this rediculous. The fact is that a pine tree with pretty lights and orniments and all that good stuff represents christmas. I, being half jewish, was disgusted by the concept of the "hanukkah bush". They are seperate, unrelated holidays. Hanukkah is not the Jewish Christmas, nor will it ever be. As stated in the article,

That is very true. I don't know anyone offended by a christmas tree as long as others can display their religious symbols on the same property. Most large cities have both a christmas tree and menorah.

Don't call a cat a dog just because it will make other people happy. Its still overly PC.

what do you all think?


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

My grade school used to have this school-wide game each spring, in which a giant jar full of candies was placed in the foyer and every student was allowed to guess how many candies were in the jar. Whoever was closest to the real total won the candy.

I propose that this thread be a General Forum Candy Jar Raffle: Everybody gets to place one guess as to the number of people who will explain to this dingbat that "Christmas Trees" were a part of other religious traditions for centuries before the Christians co-opted them. Whoever gets closest to the real total will win ownership of Vaitupu. :)

Not to mention they were made of aluminum, and therefore when light strands had their insulation wear out, the tree would shock unsuspecting assimilated Jews.
You've just made my 2.4 hour period that stretches from now until lunch.

My grade school used to have this school-wide game each spring, in which a giant jar full of candies was placed in the foyer and every student was allowed to guess how many candies were in the jar. Whoever was closest to the real total won the candy.

I propose that this thread be a General Forum Candy Jar Raffle: Everybody gets to place one guess as to the number of people who will explain to this dingbat that "Christmas Trees" were a part of other religious traditions for centuries before the Christians co-opted them. Whoever gets closest to the real total will win ownership of Vaitupu. :)
yeah, I know they were part of other cultures traditions, and I do know that they were borrowed by Christians. However, in todays society, you see the pretty little pine tree, and think Christmas, not assorted pagan religions.

so in the words of Violet in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, "Can it you nit!";)

And I'm not sure I like this idea of ownership over me. I've seen this groups collective posts, and I think I might be safer locked in a cage with starved rabid gophers. So my guess is 25.

I prefer the "Generic Gift Giving Holiday Tree" or "Consumerismas Cannabis Plant".

"Consumerismas Cannabis Plant".
now THERE is a holiday I could get into the spirit of.

Incidently, I get to give a presentation to the Montgomery Elementary 2nd grade on December 8th to discuss Hanukkah. Fun!

I prefer the "Generic Gift Giving Holiday Tree" or "Consumerismas Cannabis Plant".

You might prefer our massive "Holiday Bud Arrangement" instead...

Who cares what they call it? Holiday tree isn't offensive to me as a Christian, I don't really see why it would be.

Christmas tree may be offensive to someone though, so Holiday tree sounds like a better idea.

I don't really care though, maybe if the tree itself offends someone (no matter what it's called) they should just take the whole thing down and never speak of it again.

Incidently, I get to give a presentation to the Montgomery Elementary 2nd grade on December 8th to discuss Hanukkah. Fun!
you poor, poor soul

yeah, I know they were part of other cultures traditions, and I do know that they were borrowed by Christians. However, in todays society, you see the pretty little pine tree, and think Christmas, not assorted pagan religions.

Um, maybe YOU do, but that's not what I think. When I see a evergreen tree in the midst of winter, I think of the tradition of celebrating the Winter Solstace that predates "Christmas trees" by several thousand years.

If you personally associate decorated evergreens with Christmas, then you can call them Christmas trees. I don't automatically associate them with Christmas, so it would be stupid of me to start using your terminology because then the word "Christmas" would become even more meaningless than it already is.

Hell, this is a lot like the arguments people have over department store clerks saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." Why would you want the name of your holy day reduced to a synonym for "shopping"? We've already got a full generation of kids who think "Easter" is a kind of chocolate, so if you want to preserve the meaning and importance of Christmas then you might want to start separating it out from the secular icons that are taking it over. Right now, most kids think Christmas is about paying homage to Santa (and his archangel Rudolph) in order to get a new Playstation, and focusing on non-Christ-related icons like evergreen trees is not going to help slow this process.

Of course, as a non-Christian, I don't really care if you want to give up and let Christmas become 100% secular (it's already 80% of the way there anyhow). I just figure that people who believe in Christ will want to keep Christ's birthday somewhat sacred, and I figure they might be losing sight of their goal with all the "War On Christmas" stuff.

so in the words of Violet in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, "Can it you nit!";)

Don't make me open a can of Fizzy Lifting Drink on your ass!


And I'm not sure I like this idea of ownership over me. I've seen this groups collective posts, and I think I might be safer locked in a cage with starved rabid gophers. So my guess is 25.
Hmph, I'm insulted by that. Rabid gophers indeed. We're rabid badgers, at the very least, and probably closer to an exotic species of psychotic lemur.

Who cares what they call it? Holiday tree isn't offensive to me as a Christian, I don't really see why it would be.

Christmas tree may be offensive to someone though, so Holiday tree sounds like a better idea.

I don't really care though, maybe if the tree itself offends someone (no matter what it's called) they should just take the whole thing down and never speak of it again.
I don't find it offensive perse, just incredibly stupid.

Its a christmas tree, not a holiday tree. Same as a menorah is not just a candle holder. While both names are somewhat accurate, its pointless. Why not just call it what it is, but still give all the religions an opportunity to display their icons on the land?

If Jews want a menorah, let them have one. If christians want a tree, let them have it. Hell, if people who actually celebrate festivus want a pole in the ground, give it to them. But why start treating a Christmas tree as if it is a symbol for every religion? I wouldn't call the national menorah a "holiday candelabra" because the people who I would be trying to appease would get nothing out of it. Just because you lable it for every holiday doesn't make it representative of that.

<snip!>

Yes! Down with Santa Claus idolatry!

I don't find it offensive perse, just incredibly stupid.

Its a christmas tree, not a holiday tree. Same as a menorah is not just a candle holder. While both names are somewhat accurate, its pointless. Why not just call it what it is, but still give all the religions an opportunity to display their icons on the land?

If Jews want a menorah, let them have one. If christians want a tree, let them have it. Hell, if people who actually celebrate festivus want a pole in the ground, give it to them. But why start treating a Christmas tree as if it is a symbol for every religion? I wouldn't call the national menorah a "holiday candelabra" because the people who I would be trying to appease would get nothing out of it. Just because you lable it for every holiday doesn't make it representative of that.
yeah okay. I change my vote, I agree with you. Thank you for clarifying.

What's wrong with calling the tree a Christmas Tree when it is used for such purposes? I fail to se how it's offensive. It's symbol as part of the Christmas tradition. Renaming it for PC purposes is simply asinine and disrespectful; just as it is to change Menorah to candlestick...

I can see not saying "Merry Christmas" in favour of "Happy Holidays". But renaming the tree is simply...stupid.

Um, maybe YOU do, but that's not what I think. When I see a evergreen tree in the midst of winter, I think of the tradition of celebrating the Winter Solstace that predates "Christmas trees" by several thousand years.

If you personally associate decorated evergreens with Christmas, then you can call them Christmas trees. I don't automatically associate them with Christmas, so it would be stupid of me to start using your terminology because then the word "Christmas" would become even more meaningless than it already is.

Hell, this is a lot like the arguments people have over department store clerks saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." Why would you want the name of your holy day reduced to a synonym for "shopping"? We've already got a full generation of kids who think "Easter" is a kind of chocolate, so if you want to preserve the meaning and importance of Christmas then you might want to start separating it out from the secular icons that are taking it over. Right now, most kids think Christmas is about paying homage to Santa (and his archangel Rudolph) in order to get a new Playstation, and focusing on non-Christ-related icons like evergreen trees is not going to help slow this process.

Of course, as a non-Christian, I don't really care if you want to give up and let Christmas become 100% secular (it's already 80% of the way there anyhow). I just figure that people who believe in Christ will want to keep Christ's birthday somewhat sacred, and I figure they might be losing sight of their goal with all the "War On Christmas" stuff.

Don't make me open a can of Fizzy Lifting Drink on your ass!


Hmph, I'm insulted by that. Rabid gophers indeed. We're rabid badgers, at the very least, and probably closer to an exotic species of psychotic lemur.
personally, I don't give a damn about the sanctity of any holiday. I was raised non-religious and categorize myself as being atheistic. However, I just find it pretty stupid that this whole PC game still rages for no reason. I've never met a person who was offended by the name "christmas tree", and therefore, there is really no reason at all to call it a holiday tree. The whole merry christmas vs. happy holidays thing is a whole other story.

and a can of fizzy lifting drink sounds quite refreshing right now.
And can we settle on perhaps mildly insane blue monkeys? Or perhaps capuchin?

Dammit, NSGeneral is going to make me late for class again.

a car company, i think its toyota, is running a holiday ad with "we wish you a merry christmas" changed to "we wish you a happy holday"

every time it comes on the tv i start to rant. if you want to use a christmas song (or have a christmas tree) call it what it IS. dont pull this psuedo inclusive wording bullshit. no one believes it.

okay, I personally find this rediculous. The fact is that a pine tree with pretty lights and orniments and all that good stuff represents christmas. I, being half jewish, was disgusted by the concept of the "hanukkah bush". They are seperate, unrelated holidays. Hanukkah is not the Jewish Christmas, nor will it ever be. As stated in the article,

That is very true. I don't know anyone offended by a christmas tree as long as others can display their religious symbols on the same property. Most large cities have both a christmas tree and menorah.

Don't call a cat a dog just because it will make other people happy. Its still overly PC.

what do you all think?


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

Remove tree, put dead criminal in place

a car company, i think its toyota, is running a holiday ad with "we wish you a merry christmas" changed to "we wish you a happy holday"

every time it comes on the tv i start to rant. if you want to use a christmas song (or have a christmas tree) call it what it IS. dont pull this psuedo inclusive wording bullshit. no one believes it.

That's true. Nobody believes it. And I don't think anyone honestly gives a shit. The people who claim to be truly offended by this sort of thing are more than likely only making a fuss to start trouble and see how far they can get with it, and should be duly ignored.

Personally, I have no problem with people calling them "Christmas Trees", as long as I get to call them "Perfectly good tree that you had cut down just so that you could drag it into your house and hang lights off it for a few weeks, then dump it, you stupid redneck." If it's a real tree, anyway. If it's plastic, I'll probably just smell it.

yeah okay. I change my vote, I agree with you. Thank you for clarifying.
ha...perhaps I should have been more clear in the first place, no?

ha...perhaps I should have been more clear in the first place, no?
it's possible that you were perfectly clear the first time, I have had a cold for a while and am on cold meds.;)

Its a fucking Christmas Tree. Its what I've always called it. Its what I will always call it. Long after its been made a crime to call it one, I'll still be calling it one.

If you dont like Christmas, or feel it doesnt represent you properly, make up your own holiday. Apparently its Ok.

Hallmark will love and support you too. Just buy shit and ship it to other people. You'll get all the support you need.


"And now, for the feats of strength.."

apart from hating anything christmassy..(well apart from the chocolate and the candles and the presents)
apart from me not really doing the christmas thing..

i find this incredibly stupid. it's not a holiday tree. if it were, you'd put them up on easter, 1st of may, new year's eve, thanksgiving, and tons of other days. you don't. you do it on/for christmas. it's a christmas tree.

i mean, it's not discrimintaing or anything, so how could it be offensive? it's not like anybody says that any other religion/belief cannot celebrate their holidays and display their specific holiday stuff (and name it accordingly) just because you put up christmas trees and call them such, right?

p.s. this very much reminds me of what my mum told me about times in Eastern Germany when the wannabe-communists tried to stamp out religion and re-named christian stuff, with angels becoming "geflügelte jahresendfiguren" -> winged end-of-year figure"

I don't care what it's called. I personally call it a Christmas tree and Santa breaks into my house every year and leaves presents for my children that my husband and I actually buy. *LOL*

It didn't originally represent Christmas, that is correct… but then again, a cross originally was an instrument used for a most barbaric method of execution.

The only good thing that comes out of this is that "Christmas" becomes completely secularised and not even Christmas anymore, so Christians can actually celebrate Christmas without mixing it up with the neo-Mammon festival otherwise known as Christmas.

Hang on… "Holiday" has religious connotations too! It came from "Holy Day."

Bah, to me Christmas is a holiday for kids. It holds zero religious meaning for me or my family. It's about getting and giving presents to people you like/love/care for. Namely my children. It's about the magic of Santa Claus in my house, as I have two very young children. No angel goes on the top of my tree, star all the way baby...lol

p.s. this very much reminds me of what my mum told me about times in Eastern Germany when the wannabe-communists tried to stamp out religion and re-named christian stuff, with angels becoming "geflügelte jahresendfiguren" -> winged end-of-year figure"
how can you not love the Germans? Don't have a word for it? Take a dozen others and jam them together. problem solved.

I don't care what it's called. I personally call it a Christmas tree and Santa breaks into my house every year and leaves presents for my children that my husband and I actually buy. *LOL*
lol...charming. I think me and my sister ruined christmas. We wouldn't go to bed till midnight or later, so they couldnt bring the gifts down. Then, we insisted on waking them up around 4 or 5 AM. By jumping on their beds. for up to 20 minutes (I seem to remember them whispering "ignore them and they'll go away". they did, we didnt, and we got a good work out and our way.)

such cute little buggers we were.

Bah, to me Christmas is a holiday for kids. It holds zero religious meaning for me or my family. It's about getting and giving presents to people you like/love/care for. Namely my children. It's about the magic of Santa Claus in my house, as I have two very young children. No angel goes on the top of my tree, star all the way baby...lol
I always thought the star looked better.

when my grandma was still alive, we would all treck to midnight mass, and all the kids would sleep in the pews. But since then, the holiday has pretty much become what you described. This year, I'm kinda sad because we're going on a cruise (okay, not that sad;) ) and wont be around for christmas. I take it as a chance to display how much I care about some people by giving them gifts that it is clear I thought about and in some cases put alot of effort into pulling off.

you poor, poor soul

What makes it more fun is that since it's a public school, I have to keep it 100% secular. I can't talk about the miracle of the oil. I can, however, talk about the Syrian oppression, the brutal rebellion, and the desecration of the Temple.

In short, I can talk to these children about oppression, war, rebellion, and desecration .... but not the miracle. Strange country, eh?

Definitely a Christmas tree

I'm an atheist it is still a christmass tree, doesn't offend me, and I work with a lot of Moslem, Hindu, Jain, Judea as well as Atheist and Christian and the only religion that has opposed any form of the word christmas has been that bizarre oppressive regime that is Management.

What makes it more fun is that since it's a public school, I have to keep it 100% secular. I can't talk about the miracle of the oil. I can, however, talk about the Syrian oppression, the brutal rebellion, and the desecration of the Temple.

In short, I can talk to these children about oppression, war, rebellion, and desecration .... but not the miracle. Strange country, eh?
hmm...quite a curious situation...I would think you can teach the miracle story (which sadly, according to several rabbis and hebrew school teachers I've had isn't any more true than santa) as long as it isn't you saying its the truth, but just tell it as a nice story.

but then again, this is America. We wouldn't want to give our kids hope about overcoming the odds. They might form opinions of their own then:eek:

They did an interview with vendors that sell the trees and asked why many have begun calling them Holiday Trees instead of Christmas Trees.

Their answer? Profit.

The vendors said that if they called them Christmas Trees, only Christians would buy them, so they call them Holiday Trees to get more people buying. Obviously, in some cases, this isn't true, but that seems to be their reasoning.

It's all the liberal PC crap. It's always the liberals, probably because conservatives are on the side of Christmas on the holiday/Christmas thing. Want more examples of retarded PC crap?

A school was in trouble because it used the word picnic. Black students complained that the word was a racial term for a lynching. The word really came from the French term pique nique, which pretty much means "eating on blanket". The school changed it from picnic to outing. You guessed it, the homosexuals complained. The school went on with the event without using a noun to describe it. Lol.

A girl was in trouble when her friend had an asma attack. Her friend forgot her inhaler, so the heroic girl used her own inhaler to save her friend. She got in trouble on drug trafficing charges.

A first grader got suspended for half a day when he gave a friend a lemon drop. The school treats all suspicious objects as drugs. Of course, the mothers were pissed. No telling what would have happened if he gave his friend a twinkie.

PC is retarded. I don't care if African Americans get offended if I say the word "picnic". It's the fault of the educational system that they were offended, not me. If I see someone dying, I don't care if I get life. I'm still going to keep that person alive. Down with PC. Down with PC. Who's with me?

It's all the liberal PC crap. It's always the liberals, probably because conservatives are on the side of Christmas on the holiday/Christmas thing. Want more examples of retarded PC crap?

Wow, this really makes me want to read what you have to say. Because, you know, blaming everything that is wrong on a nebulous group of people that you probably can't even really define makes perfect sense.

A school was in trouble because it used the word picnic. Black students complained that the word was a racial term for a lynching. The word really came from the French term pique nique, which pretty much means "eating on blanket". The school changed it from picnic to outing. You guessed it, the homosexuals complained. The school went on with the event without using a noun to describe it. Lol.

I've never heard of this, and I have to admit I doubt its veracity. Got a link?

A girl was in trouble when her friend had an asma attack. Her friend forgot her inhaler, so the heroic girl used her own inhaler to save her friend. She got in trouble on drug trafficing charges.

I've heard a story similar to this, and I'm guessing it is the one you are talking about. What actually happened was that a girl's boyfriend let her use his inhaler when she was having an attack. It was a silly case. Of course, it has nothing to do with political correctness and everything to do with idiotic "no tolerance" policies, which are really more of a "right-wing" construction than a "liberal" one.

A first grader got suspended for half a day when he gave a friend a lemon drop. The school treats all suspicious objects as drugs. Of course, the mothers were pissed. No telling what would have happened if he gave his friend a twinkie.

Once again, nothing at all to do with PC, and everything to do with "zero tolerance" policies.

A school was in trouble because it used the word picnic. Black students complained that the word was a racial term for a lynching. The word really came from the French term pique nique, which pretty much means "eating on blanket". The school changed it from picnic to outing. You guessed it, the homosexuals complained. The school went on with the event without using a noun to describe it. Lol.




Um as far as I can tell in french pique nique has nothing to do with food eating or blanket

(if someone that knows more french then me cares to correct or conferm that would be great)

Um as far as I can tell in french pique nique has nothing to do with food eating or blanket

(if someone that knows more french then me cares to correct or conferm that would be great)
Unless it's from some old french words that don't exist or only exist in the parisian french (we were taught more along the lines of quebec french...)

I got this: Picnic was borrowed from French piquenique, a word which seems to have originated around the end of the 17th century. It is not clear where it came from, but one theory is that it was based on the verb piquer `pick, peck' (source of English pick), with the rhyming nique perhaps added in half reminiscence of the obsolete nique `trifle.' Originally the word denoted a sort of party to which everyone brought along some food; the notion of an `outdoor meal' did not emerge until the 19th century.
Nothing to do with lynchings

source: http://www.takeourword.com/et_n-p.html#picnic

Unless it's from some old french words that don't exist or only exist in the parisian french (we were taught more along the lines of quebec french...)

I got this:
Nothing to do with lynchings

source: http://www.takeourword.com/et_n-p.html#picnic
Nothing to do with lynchings? That's what I and a bunch of people said. Oh well, PC morons are still out there and they're pretty much liberal because PCness definitely isn't a conservative idealogy.

Nothing to do with lynchings? That's what I and a bunch of people said. Oh well, PC morons are still out there and they're pretty much liberal because PCness definitely isn't a conservative idealogy.
You still havent shown any of thoes potentialy BS examples you gave (and have been picked apart) actualy happened

You still havent shown any of thoes potentialy BS examples you gave (and have been picked apart) actualy happened

The inhaler example is real - although it was a boyfriend letting his girlfriend use his inhaler. I don't think he was charged with "drug trafficking", but he was suspended or expelled for distributing drugs in school.

It was a bullshit case. Of course, like I said, it was a product of more Republican "no tolerance" policies that leave no room for examining individual cases than it was a product of anything "PC".

The inhaler example is real - although it was a boyfriend letting his girlfriend use his inhaler. I don't think he was charged with "drug trafficking", but he was suspended or expelled for distributing drugs in school.

It was a bullshit case. Of course, like I said, it was a product of more Republican "no tolerance" policies that leave no room for examining individual cases than it was a product of anything "PC".
I understand
But when you think about it the only simmilarity between the real story and his was the inhailer

Other then that not only did he potentialy get the people wrong, the accusation of crime wrong

The association with PC wrong (as it was as you say a no tollarance rule)
But he also failed to give any real information on it

With as week as that is I feel it can still be "potentialy bs" (at least his rendition of it) along with the rest of his examples

It's all the liberal PC crap. It's always the liberals, probably because conservatives are on the side of Christmas on the holiday/Christmas thing. Want more examples of retarded PC crap?

A school was in trouble because it used the word picnic. Black students complained that the word was a racial term for a lynching. The word really came from the French term pique nique, which pretty much means "eating on blanket". The school changed it from picnic to outing. You guessed it, the homosexuals complained. The school went on with the event without using a noun to describe it. Lol.

A girl was in trouble when her friend had an asma attack. Her friend forgot her inhaler, so the heroic girl used her own inhaler to save her friend. She got in trouble on drug trafficing charges.

A first grader got suspended for half a day when he gave a friend a lemon drop. The school treats all suspicious objects as drugs. Of course, the mothers were pissed. No telling what would have happened if he gave his friend a twinkie.

PC is retarded. I don't care if African Americans get offended if I say the word "picnic". It's the fault of the educational system that they were offended, not me. If I see someone dying, I don't care if I get life. I'm still going to keep that person alive. Down with PC. Down with PC. Who's with me?
Firstly, people on both extremes do the PC/Censorship game. Its just as stupid from both sides.

If your school was too lazy and actually changed the name without looking into the history of the word, then they are the stupid ones.
http://www.snopes.com/language/offense/picnic.htm
that took me maybe 5 seconds to find.

the girl who gave someone else her inhaler is an idiot. Just because it comes in the same form by NO means equals it being the same medication. Are tylenol and percocet the same just because they come in a pill form? The wrong medication or the wrong dose could have made the attack more severe or caused more severe adverse effects.

if that last one happened, then you went to a very stupid school system. I suggest moving.

I prefer "ceremonial decorative plant-form." Hard to argue with, and really drives the one PCnazi I know nuts. almost as much as "I find the term 'politically correct' offensive, because it implies that political considerations are a better basis for action than morals and ethics."

I prefer "ceremonial decorative plant-form."

I like that one. I'll have to remember it.

I can understand some non-christian becoming upset with the association of the tree with a religion which is not theirs. particularly, if they are devout and their religion has some rule about other religions ("mine is the only true faith all others are false"), they wouldn't want such a thing polluting their environment.

calling it something else is a cheap cop-out to put one up and participate in the holiday.

personally, I would think that a christian would balk at calling it a "christmas tree" as it has nothing to with christ and christianity. the christian usurping for the pagan seasonal festivals - easter, hallowe'en, christamas, etc. it ws done to help convert them to christanity for their own good so that they may be saved.

today, these festivals have been again usurped by commericalism.

to me, it's just a decorated tree. it's nice too look at and brightens up the winter (I live in a country where there is snow and such). I don't particularly care for the unrestrained slaughter of these trees just so someone can put one up in their house for a couple of weeks. that's just a waste. decorate trees outside and decorate them again next year.

I wonder what would be the reaction if people just stated calling this season the winter solstice festival. the solstice is a physical reality and "fesitval" is not derived from a religious source as "holiday" ("holy day").

the laughable part is that while this would be completely accurate and secular without commerical bias, I doubt it would fly. some religous nut would scream that it promotes paganism.

instead, let's call it "santamas". the trees would be "santa trees" illuminating the living room so that santa will know where to put all the loot expected by every self-centred, spolit child and adult. the corporations will be sure to funnel many advertising dollars to provide the appropriate mythos and make it fun for everyone.

the girl who gave someone else her inhaler is an idiot. Just because it comes in the same form by NO means equals it being the same medication. Are tylenol and percocet the same just because they come in a pill form? The wrong medication or the wrong dose could have made the attack more severe or caused more severe adverse effects.

This was a case in which the two knew each other well, and knew the medication was the same. In fact, in the case that made national news, it was a boyfriend giving his girlfriend (who had forgotten hers that day) his inhaler because she was having a rather severe attack. Inhalers for asthmatics are generally albuterol - and ODing on that would likely take more than what's in a full inhaler. Believe it or not, kids that live with diseases like diabetes, asthma, etc. tend to know more about it than others - and to know what types of medications they are on. They have to, for their own safety.

I prefer "ceremonial decorative plant-form." Hard to argue with, and really drives the one PCnazi I know nuts. almost as much as "I find the term 'politically correct' offensive, because it implies that political considerations are a better basis for action than morals and ethics."
And how does this piss off people that are concerned wtih being PC?

And how does this piss off people that are concerned wtih being PC?
Because it's an un-PC label! Duh! :D

And how does this piss off people that are concerned wtih being PC?
I was wondering about that myself.