Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Political correctness rules with Avenue’s ‘Peace Tree’

The Avenue has demonstrated its complete lack of moral courage by erecting a “Peace Tree” in lieu of a Christmas tree. This, when the shopping center will benefit immensely from the Christmas season, seems awfully ungrateful. No one is going to The Avenue to buy presents to put under the Peace Tree, after all.

What is more disturbing about this event is that The Avenue, a private concern, is so cowed by the forces of political correctness and anti-Christian zealotry that it would cave before a protest was even launched!

The Christmas tree, along with Santa Claus, the reindeer, and various Christmas movies, are almost completely removed from the religious event on which they are based. More than anything, these things are symbolic of the “Christmas season,” a time of family, coming together, showing love, and sharing meals.

In short, Christmas has become more of a cultural tradition than a religious remembrance. While I lament that fact, I’m at least glad that our culture has some kind of tradition to hold us together as a people.

I also find it ironic that the same zealots who would attack Christmas trees (and they are a tiny minority, let’s keep in mind) generally look at the religion-based traditions of other cultures with admiration and awe. But, because Christmas is Christian, it loses any intrinsic cultural or traditional values that it may possess and is seen as some sort of assault on the delicate sensitivities of non-Christians.

It is time to dismantle this notion that public displays of Christmas decorations are somehow antithetical to living in a free and open society. The U.S. and all Western countries are founded on Christian principles. They are not cultural descendants of Egypt or China or Islam, for that matter.

This is not to deny the value of those cultures or traditions, but people in those cultures rightly acknowledge their cultural and religious heritage. I am simply saying that we should be unafraid to do the same.

Acknowledging our Christian heritage or traditions is not a de facto act of exclusion. It is an organic expression of who we are and where we came from. All people of all faiths are welcome and not just tolerated, but protected by law. If they are offended by a Christmas tree or feel that it is an attempt to proselytize or “endorse” a particular religion, tough!

We should not be a country ruled by the hyper-sensitivities of a small minority which seeks to undermine the foundational principles of our nation, culture, and history.

Trey Hoffman

Peachtree City, Ga.