Wednesday, December 3, 2003

Let’s have a little peace about tree

I applaud the management of The Avenue for their attempt at making the lighting of the “Peace Tree” an all-inclusive celebration of the holiday season. A recent letter to the editor blasts The Avenue for their lack of “moral courage” by not calling the tree a “Christmas” tree.

Being a marketing manager myself, I’m assuming that The Avenue’s primary objective was to bring in shoppers of all walks of life, not just Christians.

I actually stayed away from the tree lighting because I thought it would be too religious for my family to take part in (DJ from Christian radio station, choirs from local churches). Our family chooses to practice our religious beliefs at home and in our own place of worship, not at a shopping mall off a highway.

But after reading that particular letter, I realized how difficult a job it is for any public establishment (retail or otherwise) to plan promotions/events around religious holidays without offending the public and potential customers. If I owned a shop in The Avenue, I would want to bring in all types of people, whether they were Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus or atheists.

As I look around our beautiful community, I see a fairly diverse population of white, black, Hispanic, Asian, Eastern Indian and European. I strongly doubt if everyone is of Christian faith.

Yes, Christmas is a religious holiday but why can’t everyone participate and be made to feel accepted? Wouldn’t Jesus have accepted all different types of people to his table? Would he have been upset by calling a tree a Peace Tree?

I think he would have been more upset by all the fighting and bickering going on because some people are feeling so threatened by other beliefs. I think your reader, and all of us, should remember, and also practice, the fundamental meaning of Christmas: Love.

During this particular holiday season, I believe calling the tree a “Peace Tree” is a very appropriate name. With a war lingering in Iraq and our own culture wars brewing here in America, a little bit of “peace” between us all would be a welcome relief, even for a short time. Peace be with you.

Julie Williams

Peachtree City, Ga.