[lpkmckenna]

Ontario's premier and several religious groups Thursday slammed a provincial judge's decision to banish the Christmas tree standing in a Toronto courthouse lobby because it might offend non-Christians.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/na...d4&k=65784

Muslim Canadian Congress founder Tarek Fatah:

"It's so stupid. I'm at a loss for words. 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."

The group issued a press release calling on Muslims to "celebrate Christmas with their Christian cousins and light up Christmas trees to send a message to the Ontario judge that she is wrong on all counts."

Hindu Conference of Canada spokesman Ron Banerjee:

"Hindus would be highly upset if another group infringed on our right to put up Hindu symbols in public. I think it's important that political correctness not be taken too far so that we're being crazy about it."

Liberal Premier of Ontario Dalton McGuinty:

"We enjoy the wonderful privilege of building a pluralistic, multicultural society," he told reporters, noting that Queen's Park, where there are Christmas trees aplenty this time of year, also celebrates Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and other traditions.

"We're not asking any one of the wonderful communities that make up our province to somehow abandon their traditions. What we're saying is let's share in those opportunities, let's better understand those celebrations."

It's nice to see such disparate groups come together in defense of common sense.

I wonder, though, if the response would have been as swift if the banished item was not a Christmas tree, but a nativity scene instead.

[Wiskedjak]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna 

I wonder, though, if the response would have been as swift if the banished item was not a Christmas tree, but a nativity scene instead.

Probably not. The Christmas tree is not a Christian religious symbol.

[IceBreaker]

common sense finally

I don't really think anyone is opposed to Christmas trees unless they are just looking to get attention for themselves.

[- - e r i k - -]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

Probably not. The Christmas tree is not a Christian religious symbol.

Indeed. So why would it offend non-christians?

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna 

I wonder, though, if the response would have been as swift if the banished item was not a Christmas tree, but a nativity scene instead.

I believe it would. The message here is these groups don't want the SAME THING to happen to them.

And thanks for posting that lpk.

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by - - e r i k - - 

Indeed. So why would it offend non-christians?

It doesn't. They claim it does, but these things offend no rational, sane individual.

[ebuddy]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna 

Ontario's premier and several religious groups Thursday slammed a provincial judge's decision to banish the Christmas tree standing in a Toronto courthouse lobby because it might offend non-Christians.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/na...d4&k=65784

Muslim Canadian Congress founder Tarek Fatah:

"It's so stupid. I'm at a loss for words. 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."

The group issued a press release calling on Muslims to "celebrate Christmas with their Christian cousins and light up Christmas trees to send a message to the Ontario judge that she is wrong on all counts."

Hindu Conference of Canada spokesman Ron Banerjee:

"Hindus would be highly upset if another group infringed on our right to put up Hindu symbols in public. I think it's important that political correctness not be taken too far so that we're being crazy about it."

Liberal Premier of Ontario Dalton McGuinty:

"We enjoy the wonderful privilege of building a pluralistic, multicultural society," he told reporters, noting that Queen's Park, where there are Christmas trees aplenty this time of year, also celebrates Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and other traditions.

"We're not asking any one of the wonderful communities that make up our province to somehow abandon their traditions. What we're saying is let's share in those opportunities, let's better understand those celebrations."

It's nice to see such disparate groups come together in defense of common sense.

I wonder, though, if the response would have been as swift if the banished item was not a Christmas tree, but a nativity scene instead.