TONY: EVERY YEAR PEOPLE FLOCK TO ROCKEFELLER CENTER, HOME OF ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS CHRISTMAS TREES IN THE WORLD. BUT EVEN HERE THERE’S BEEN SOME DEBATE AS TO WHAT TO CALL THE TREE.
TONY: BUT BY CALLING IT A CHRISTMAS TREE IS THAT ESTABLISHING UNCONSTITUTIONAL ESTABLISHMENT OF RELIGION?
TONY: WELL, AS PART OF OUR ONE VOICE SERIES ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KNIGHT FOUNDATION WE ASK WHAT SHOULD IT BE CALLED?
(SOT: ) “I call it a Christmas tree.”
(SOT: ) “Christmas tree.”
(SOT: Anna Besedina) “I think it should be called a holiday tree actually.”
TONY: EACH YEAR THIS “CHRISTMAS CONTROVERSY” SEEMS TO REAR IT’S UGLY HEAD.
TONY: TRADITIONALISTS ARE INTENT ON KEEPING THE WORD “CHRISTMAS” AROUND. MANY SAY KEEPING THE CHRIST REFERENCE IN CHRISTMAS TREE IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE SEASON THAT MUST STAY.
TONY: WHILE REFORMISTS PUSH FOR THE MORE GENERIC TERM “HOLIDAY” TO DESCRIBE A PUBLIC DISPLAY OF YULE TIDE SPIRIT.
TONY: IN WISCONSIN, OFFICIALS ARE DEBATING A PLAN TO RENAME THE THIRTY- FIVE FOOT BALASAM FIR THAT STANDS IN THE CAPITOL ROTUNDA A CHRISTMAS TREE. SINCE 1985 IT WAS OFFICIALLY REFERRED TO AS A HOLIDAY TREE, SO AS NOT TO OFFEND NONRELIGIOUS PEOPLE.
TONY: THE GREAT HOLIDAY TREE DEBATE PICKED UP STEAM IN DECEMBER 2005, WHEN CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVES THREATENED BOSTON WITH A LAW SUIT FOR REFERRING TO THIS AS A “HOLIDAY TREE” ON A CITY WEBSITE.
TONY: THEN IN SEATTLE, THE FOLLOWING YEAR, HOLIDAY TENSIONS ROSE AGAIN WHEN A LOCAL RABBI THREATENED TO SUE SEATAC AIRPORT IF OFFICIALS DIDN’T AGREE TO DISPLAY A MENORAH BESIDE ONE OF SEVERAL CHRISTMAS TREES.
(SOT: Rabbi Elazar Bogamilsky) “The idea is really to bring them up to board. To say hey, these are our rights and hopefully you can accept this as part of your display.”
TONY: NOT EVERYONE IS A CHRISTIAN, DO YOU THINK IT SHOULD BE CALLED HOLIDAY TREE TO BE SENSITIVE TO THEM?
(SOT: Esther Adelumwye) “I don’t think it should matter that much to them because it’s Christmas time, it’s known as Christmas time, so it should be called a Christmas tree.”
TONY: BACK IN NEW YORK HUNDREDS GATHER AROUND ALL 8 TONS OF THIS NORWAY SPRUCE AND SHARE A HOLIDAY TRADITION. EVEN IF THEY CAN’T ALL AGREE WHAT IT SHOULD BE CALLED. TONY ANDERSON, CHANNEL ONE NEWS.
TONY: NOW, ITS YOUR TURN! WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS CHRISTMAS CONTROVERSY. SHOULD THIS SYMBOL OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON BE CALLED A HOLIDAY TREE OR A CHRISTMAS TREE?
TONY: GO TO CHANNEL ONE DOT COM AND CLICK ON YOUR TURN TO VOTE. WE MAY SHARE SOME OF YOUR RESPONSES IN THE SHOW.
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