Christmas Trees and The Easter Bunn

In (2005) I donated a Christmas (Holiday, Hanukah, Kwanza, etc) Tree on which I hung a variety of ornaments representing a diverse representation of faiths and various New York / American icons, including a menorah (Jewish), Christian symbols (ornament with a cross), Muslim symbols (moon and star), ear of corn (Kwanza), A New York Yankee Ornament, Etc. (http://nyccg.com/tree.html).  The United States is a Christian based democratic country and has as such protected the ability for people to practice their faiths, cultures and identities both here and around the globe for over two centuries.  This should not be undone, as the protection of these vast diverse cultures and the resonating conflicts and discourse between them is essentially where we derive our American culture and identity from.  We need this base and the world needs this base.  To my knowledge you take oaths and get sworn in with your hand on a bible in this country and it has done us well so far.   The watering down of our American heritage, dropping the pledge of allegiance and blending into one vast grey area of "Happy Holiday Ville" is absurd.  To be afraid to say Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukah or Happy Kwanza or Happy whatever you believe in is absurd.  People need their separate beliefs and need the ability to openly express and represent who they are.

“My recent attendance to houses of worship has been predominantly at St. Patrick's Cathedral as well as The Park Avenue and Central Synagogue's,” states Finan. “All of the fusses around the lighting of trees during the Holiday Season complete rubbish. A tree can be decorated with whatever ornamentation one chooses, or none at all. It is a symbol of the season, not a religious icon. Growing up in a Catholic household with parents of Irish and Italian decent, we never were taught to kneel and pray before our Christmas trees. It is a beautiful decorative ornamentation that puts smiles on the faces of children and warms the hearts of adults. People need to embrace the symbols of each others faiths and cultures and share in the positive aspects of them. Deriding and competing against one another's cultural richness is not what the USA is about, and only leads to animosity, conflict and hatred. So hang a dreidel on your Christmas tree, put a Christmas tree ornament on your Hanukkah Bush and enjoy your neighbors Kwanza Shrubbery!   Enjoy The Easter bunny.  Enjoy the Spring Bunny.  Just please open your hearts and eyes and find a way to enjoy all of the various symbols of each others cultures.