Since when do a “few” dictate to the majority?
In the small town of Ashland Oregon, located just a few miles over the northern California border, an elementary school principal decided, on her own, that a “holiday giving tree” represented a religious symbol. The tree was ordered removed because it offended a “few” students.
Christmas, a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, brings with it concern for others and generosity by the American people for those less fortunate. Yet, a few misguided “progressives” are allowed to deny the magnanimity of a community because a “few” complain. Forget that “many” might have benefited from a “giving tree”. No, instead, it is fashionable to be concerned about and ignore the long established traditions of an American holiday. In “THE” shining example of democracy, we are allowing a few to dictate their sentiment to the majority. How is this possible? Where is the outrage?
This is just a bunch of C.R.A.P. (Christmas Ravage Allowed by the Public)!
If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Ashland Daily Tidings December 04, 2009
Bellview Elementary School Principal Michelle Zundel has removed a holiday giving tree at the school after a family complained that the tree was a religious symbol.
The move has upset dozens of parents who say the tree was not a religious symbol, but a way to celebrate the holiday season and help those in need.
After removing the tree, Zundel created new guidelines this week for school-sponsored holiday displays — effectively banning holiday trees, Santa Claus figures and Dreidels, which are “legally categorized as secular,” she said. She plans to hold a meeting to discuss the guidelines Tuesday from 7:15 to 8 p.m. in Bellview’s conference room.
When Bellview students returned from Thanksgiving break Monday, two snowmen figures sat where the 5-foot-tall giving tree had been in the school’s lobby. The decorations from the artificial tree — lights and tags requesting gifts for needy children — had been transferred to the snowmen.
Zundel said Thursday that she removed the giving tree because it offended a few students who do not celebrate Christmas. Three or four families have told Zundel they found the display offensive, she said.
“These children felt somehow less welcome at their own school, having that symbol so prominently displayed,” she said.
Zundel acknowledged that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that holiday trees are not religious symbols and that they can legally be displayed in schools. However, she said she felt that the Bellview tree symbolized Christmas, and should be taken down in the interest of maintaining religious neutrality at the school.
“Because we have compulsory attendance in our schools, we need to be more sensitive than the law requires,” Zundel said. “The displays promoted by a public school should be religiously neutral.”
The organizers of the second annual giving tree program said they were not promoting religion or Christmas with the tree — they were trying to help needy students and spread holiday cheer.
“There’s nothing religious about it,” said Allison Hamik, a Bellview parent who helped organize the giving tree program. “We didn’t put religious symbols on it.” ….
Submitted by Rich
