Day 2: Oh! Christmas Tree

Wish 2: Preserve Christmas Traditions

Who's afraid of the big good tree? Does a Christmas tree insult you?

A judge in Toronto ordered a Christmas tree out of a downtown provincial courthouse lobby because she says it makes the non-Christian visitors feel they are not part of the institution.

At the capitol in Michigan, an aetheist group is protesting that calling the lobby's tree a Christmas tree endorses Christianity and violates the First Amendment.

A few days ago, 14 Christmas trees at the Seattle-Tacoma airport were brought down because a rabbi suggested that the airport include at least one menorah, or he would sue.

Gosh! These are just trees. With lights. And decorations.

But don't get angry with those who order Christmas trees to be brought down. These things happen because people are worried that, in a growing multicultural society, certain symbols are not inclusive, and can insult.

I know I'm asking the wrong crowd - you - if you are insulted by Christmas trees. If you're reading the Twelve Wishes of Christmas, I guess you at least like Christmas, trees included.

But do other known traditions insult you? Imagine you enter a restaurant and there's a Maneki Neko (beckoning cat - the ceramic cat that waves). Do you tell your companion, "Dude, that waving cat freaks me out!"? If you're walking down the street and there's a dragon parade passing by, do you walk away in disgust? I can't imagine a national or religious festival or event that is deliberately meant to alienate me in particular.

So if you are a Christian, or you believe in Christmas, then stand tall (you trees included). Let those trees get decorated and lighted. There is nothing wrong with spreading joy the way you know. Never ever worry that the PC police will ask you not to mention Christmas. Say Merry Christmas! like you mean it.

Actually, in all the situations above, people around were disappointed. A informal survey determined that hardly anyone is insulted by Christmas trees. (Duh!) All over America, you hear stories of balancing.

The removal of Christmas decorations in offices is balanced by staff putting small, more elaborately decorated Christmas trees in their cubicles. Airline employees pitched in to buy and put up their own Christmas trees in Seattle (and by the way, the 14 trees have been restored by popular demand).

My second wish is to preserve our Christmas traditions, at least for the next two thousand years. And to never ever think we insult anyone by following those traditions.