OH DEAR, DEAR TANNENBAUM

What a week. To let all you folks who don't own a TV and can't afford a newspaper, this piece is going to be about Christmas trees and the war against saying Merry Christmas. For those of you with nothing better to do than cite copyright laws to me, I will be quoting extensively from Peter Breiger, April Lindgren, the Canadian Press and Peter Worthington. Forgive me if I miss some quotation marks. Now, on to the subject at hand.

From the Toronto Sun comes the story that some idiot judge ordered a Christmas tree removed from the lobby of the courthouse and banished it to a far, back corner, behind frosted doors with the explanation, "I do not think it appropriate that when the clients of our court enter our courthouse, the first thing they see is a Christian symbol." This judge is a fool.

Peter Worthington writes on the subject saying, rightly so, that the Christmas tree is not a religious symbol. For all you democratic liberals out there who disagree, go look in the Bible and show me where a Christmas tree is mentioned. Mr. Worthington writes, "The Christian church used to reject the Christmas tree as a pagan ritual, or tradition. The Puritans, when they landed at Plymouth Rock, banned the Christmas tree as irreligious." A far cry from the Menorah, which is indeed a religious symbol, but for some reason has escaped the wrath of the thin skinned who walk among us. What about banning the poinsettia? It has become the flower most associated with Christmas, but like the tree it has no religious significance. How about mistletoe? Just another Christmas tradition rooted in pagan times. So how can anyone be offended by a 'religious' symbol that is not religious at all?

The Christmas tree today symbolizes commercial enterprise spending, generosity, cheerfulness and a festive season. Mr. Worthington goes on to say, "When the Vietnam war was just beginning, I spent a Christmas in Vientiane, Laos, hardly a Christian country. Yet everywhere Christmas trees and decorations were on display, symbolizing not Christianity, but a festive season of goodwill and friendship and simple joy of life." Funny but true, when Russia was still the USSR, officially an atheistic country that persecuted religions, Christmas trees abounded this time of year, and Grandfather Frost brought presents to kids.

The Christmas tree tradition began with Norse pagans and Celtic Druids who revered evergreens as symbols of the deity and of life that didn't die as the seasons changed. Germanic Saxons were the first to put lights, in the form of candles, on their trees, and the ancient Romans brought greens into their homes at the festival of Saturnalia. Mr. Worthington explains that, "Our Christmas tree tradition came from Germany -- dating in England back to Queen Victoria, whose German husband, Prince Albert, erected a Christmas tree in Windsor castle in 1841. By 1890, there were trees in most British homes. By 1900, Christmas trees were part of America's traditions -- though in the mid-1800's a Cleveland minister was chastised for putting one in his church." Justice Marion Cohen, the jackass judge who made this proclamation, still uses a Bible for oaths, though the Bible is not necessary if one is not a Christian. Why aren't the thin skins railing about that overtly religious symbol?

Perhaps more surprising is the reaction of other faiths on this subject. Peter Breiger, along with April Lindgren report, "It's so stupid, I'm at a loss for words," said Tarek Fatah, founder of the Muslim Canadian Congress."The judge should take a trip to the rest of the world. Christmas is celebrated by Muslims in many countries -- they should ban political correctness, not Christmas trees." This is a Muslim mind you. (at least there's one out there who doesn't subscribe to Osama's philosophy of killing all the infidels) "If people are offended [by a Christmas tree], I'm glad they're offended," he added."I think it indicates a serious mental disorder when people want to bring down other people's happiness." They report further, "Hindus would be highly upset if another group infringed on our right to put up Hindu symbols in public," said Ron Banerjee, spokesman for the Hindu Conference of Canada." Going on, they write, "I think it's important that political correctness not be taken too far so that we're being crazy about it." Hear, hear. We are bent over so backwards today we can kiss our own butts. But some terrorist lovers refuse to believe that. Their idea is that what terrorists do to Allied troops is a walk in the park compared to the horrendous torture captives in places like Gitmo are subjected to.

The judge's move is contrary to Canada's multicultural spirit, according to B'nai Brith Canada. Frank Dimant, executive vice-president of B'nai Brith, said, "Canadians should be welcome to celebrate the religious and cultural uniqueness of their holidays and that ought to include, for example, Christmas trees at this time of year in public places." The Muslim Canadian Congress also expressed dismay. "This is stupidity and takes political correctness to new heights," said Farzana Hassan, president of the MCC. "We should ban political correctness, not the Christmas tree."

Mr. Worthington ends his report with, "Justice Cohen has acted foolishly and unnecessarily -- just like those people who insist on calling Christmas trees "Holiday" trees." I couldn't agree more.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!

(This message has been written for all those who don't own a TV or know how to read a newspaper)