Robertson and the Holiday Tree
(Image from the incorrectly-named Religious Freedom Coalition)
I heard recently that Pat Robertson had told his minions to not get so upset over Christmas trees being referred to as “holiday trees” and other ridiculous terms. I actually disagree with him. It’s not surprising that I disagree with Robertson. It’s just surprising that we have opposite opinions on this subject.
You can wish someone “happy holidays”, because there is more than one holiday this season. That’s just being inclusive. But a Christmas tree is a specific symbol belonging to a specific holiday (Yes, its origins are pagan, but it was co-opted by Christmas.). What the hell is the point of having a tree if it isn’t for Christmas? What does that make a menorah—a “holiday candelabra”?
Some fundies want you to boycott any retailer who uses the term “holiday tree” instead of “Christmas tree”. That’s just plain stupid. Why don’t they put their energy into feeding the homeless or toys for tots instead?
Nevertheless, I wanted to see if there really is an epidemic of holiday trees suffocating good, God-fearing Christmas trees, choking them out like some sort of secular kudzu. I typed “holiday tree” into Google. Some of the ads that appeared were for Christmas trees. Some ads were for “holiday plants” (presumably mistletoe and poinsettias). There were a few for holiday trees. The biggest retailer promoting these is Target. However, even though the headline of the ad was “holiday trees”, the actual text said “Shop Christmas decor at Target.” This shows they still haven’t abandoned Christmas. Boycotting them would be stupid.
I went in search of Robertson’s comments, and I found it on YouTube.
(YouTube page is here.)
It’s refreshing that Pat actually understands a little bit about Christian history and the pagan roots of at least a little bit of the Christmas celebration. Now if we can only get him to understand the non-Christian roots of the rest of his religion.
Here’s another video, brought to my attention by ParrotLover. I wasn’t going to include it originally, because it isn’t funny in a bad way. I finally decided to show it to you, because it’s so appalling. The self-righteous sense of entitlement this guy shows is sad. This season is all about the Christians. Everyone else be damned!
(YouTube page is here.)
December 7th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
The funny thing is that the banner from Lowe’s says “Christmas Tree” in Spanish right below “Holiday Tree” in English. So do the fundies still get to be mad at this?
December 7th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
The least that last asshole could do is recycle those damn catalogues.
I’m offended.
December 7th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
No boxofbirds, they would be too busy trying to deport anyone who wished them a Feliz Navidad.
December 7th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
God, what unmitigated arrogance. “Merry Tossmas!”
“When was the last time you heard somebody say ‘What are you getting your kids for Thanksgiving?’” Well, no, people don’t say that. However, they do buy things to prepare for the feast. They also give gifts for Hanukkah, which the fundie seems to have forgotten about. In Spanish culture, they give gifts on January 5th, El Dia de Los Reyes. But the only Spanish people getting those catalogs are probably illegal, so we can ignore them.
Then there’s the part about how retailers are “offending us!” by using the word “holiday.” Yes, they are offending you. The question is “why?” Because your holiday doesn’t get to be more important than all the other ones? With that attitude, ask me if I care when you’re offended.
God, how I hated that video.
December 7th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
I agree with the “Christmas tree” part in that I think it’s silly to call it a holiday tree. It is what it is. Now, if the “tree” were a big part of, say, Hanukah AND Christmas, they might have a point in that it’s shorter and easier to write in ads. But it’s not. It’s pretty much only used in the celebration of Christmas. Christmas itself is actually more of a secular than religious holiday. They celebrate it in Japan, afterall. How many Christians are there in Japan these days? Having one day a year where you get together, dress up some trees, drink some egg nog and give/get gifts is a pretty cool thing. Human tribes have always had some sort of year-end party/holiday and Christmas is the main one these days. I don’t know anybody (beliver or non) that doesn’t celebrate some sort of Christmas.
What was my point? Oh yea… I may think Holiday Trees sounds silly, but I think boycotting a store over it (or the lack of Merry Christmas) is just absolutely ass! What happened to our culture of inclusion?!
I LIKE “Happy Holidays” as a greeting. It’s like so American in a good way. It’s saying, brother/sister, I don’t care what you believe in or if you don’t believe in anything, have a great end of year season celebrating whatever it is you want! Even with your “Holiday Tree” if that’s what you like to call it!
December 7th, 2007 at 3:56 pm
No, Parrotlover! Don’t you understand? We aren’t inclusive! That’s PC! And we aren’t PC either!
It’s MY way or the highway! MINE!
December 8th, 2007 at 2:10 am
Yes, but the point is that unlike all the other “holidays” at this time of year, Christmas alone has this inflated reputation of being “something that everybody does”. It’s like some kind of Christian hegemonising force. When atheists celebrate Christmas with their families they’re giving it the stamp of approval and endorsing the Christian agenda.
December 8th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
I love these people’s sense of priorities. In a country gone insane where war is being waged under false pretenses, with an administration making Nixon’s look like a bunch of boy scouts, they focus their energy on something so completely, ridiculously mundane? What’s actually shocking me is that there is not one negative comment on this fucktard’s youtube page. Then again, considering there are 17,000 views and 17 comments, all positive, I’m suspecting that the reaction he’s been eliciting is far more negative than he would have us believe.
December 9th, 2007 at 7:09 am
“When atheists celebrate Christmas with their families they’re giving it the stamp of approval and endorsing the Christian agenda.”
I disagree, I’m afraid. The one thing I would never do with my children is to indoctrinate them with any religious or non-religious beliefs. That said, we DO celebrate Christmas in a sense–all of the spirit of a warm winter holiday with no pesky religious nonsense. We have a tree ( it’s aluminum ) we give out presents, we get together with family and friends and we exchange gifts. We also know that to many of the important people in our lives this holiday has a different meaning than it does to us. Christmas is a very important holiday to children and one of my best memories from when I was a child. I want my kids to remember it as such and to grow up making a choice about their own belief system. If it happens to be a religious one at least I know that while letting them know what I believe, I gave them the choice to make up their own mind. Last thing I want to be is a fundie athiest parent!
December 9th, 2007 at 7:54 am
As a Lowe’s employee, I just can’t stay off of this one. With all the unnecessary paranoia about offending Christians, I’m not surprised that a multi-billion dollar business would try to please everybody. My particular store is one of the busiest in our area, and we had that banner up, yet no one complained.
I agree with Ron. Its a Christmas tree. And even though I think the “reason for the season” is utter bullshit, we have our tree up, and I’m looking forward to Christmas, mainly because of my kids.
As an aside, this year will mark the beginning of a “tradition” for our household. Last year my very Christian in-laws came over Christmas night. They unknowingly paid homage to the Flying Spaghetti Monster by eating my lovely spaghetti dinner and watching “Pirates of the Caribbean” afterwards. We’re doing it again this year. BWAAA-HA-HA-HA-HA!!!!!!!!!!!
December 10th, 2007 at 8:59 am
A pastafarian christmas? Most excellent…! Ramen!
There are so many aspects of Christmas that are non-Christian, that I love celebrating it too. With the exception of some of the common carols, you have to strain to find religious references to it in the average household.
Tree? Check.
Wreath? Check.
Presents? Check.
Cookies for Santa? Check.
Egg nog? Check.
Lights? Check.
Ornaments? Check.
Stockings? Check.
Snow globe? Check.
Nativity scene from in-laws boxed up in the garage? Check.
It’s really the fundies that ruin Christmas by trying so very, very hard to make everybody feel bad for enjoying a secular solstice celebration.
December 10th, 2007 at 10:02 am
ParrotLover,
How true. Isn’t it strange how these people can be so absolutely certain their crazy-ass beliefs are true, yet get so insecure whenever someone dares to doubt them? That, in a nutshell, is your “War on Christmas”.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
One thing for sure, the dude is right. He’s the biggest tosser I’ve ever seen…