#An Atheist in Wheaton An Atheist in Wheaton » Holiday tree, this is the âWar on Christmas?â Comments Feed An Atheist in Wheaton * About Holiday tree, this is the âWar on Christmas?â Tweet IFRAME: http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fan-agnostic-in-wheaton%2F2012%2F12%2Fholiday-tree-instead-of-christmas-tree-this-is-the-%25e2%2580%259cwar-on-christmas%25e2%2580%259d%2F&send=false&layout=button_count&width=120&show_faces=false&action=like&colorscheme=light&font&height=21 IFRAME: http://www.facebook.com/plugins/comments.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fan-agnostic-in-wheaton%2F2012%2F12%2Fholiday-tree-instead-of-christmas-tree-this-is-the-%25e2%2580%259cwar-on-christmas%25e2%2580%259d%2F%23comments&permalink=1 By James Kirk Wall, December 2, 2012 at 7:33 am There was so much spinning on the OâReilly Factor this week that the people in New York thought Hurricane Sandy had returned. So what catastrophic event warranted all this hot air? In Rhode Island the Governor Lincoln Chaffee followed the example of the previous Governor and called a decorated tree in the State capital a Holiday Tree. Seriously, that was the big emergency that Bill OâReilly needed to save our country from. So why is big bad blowhard Bill so animated over this event? Not surprisingly, his anger is fueled by ignorance. Bill insists that the tradition of a Christmas tree started in Germany. Bill is wrong. A decorated tree in December has been a tradition long before the Bible was ever written. It is a pagan tradition celebrating the Winter Solstice. Something to think about for those who donât celebrate Halloween because itâs a pagan holiday, but put up a decorated tree in December and color Easter eggs in the Spring. So why does Bill have such a problem with Holiday trees? This is never explained. He insists a Christmas tree is a secular symbol. If that is true, whatâs the beef with calling it a Holiday tree? To steal a line from Penn Jillette, doing Holiday instead of Christmas brings everyone in; not only the atheists, but Jews, Muslims and other religions as well. Bill accuses Governor Chaffee of removing a tradition. He says this while the governor is standing in front of the decorated tree. The tree is there! No one is taking it away or even talking about removing it. Itâs just called a Holiday tree. Once again, what is the problem? Secularism is taking hold of the United States and has been for some time. Itâs not the 1950s anymore. Easter break is now called Spring break. Christmas break is now called Winter break. This is not due to a war on Christianity; this is due to a desire to include everyone. The grand holiday in December is a mixture of Pagan traditions, the legacy of Saint Nicholas, and Americanization such as fat Santa and Black Friday. Many people of all religions come to settle in the United States and celebrate the winter holiday. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, the Solstice, Kwanzaa, something secular or anything else, the grand celebration in December is for you. So in the spirit of being fair and balanced and looking out for everyone, even the people who donât have the same beliefs that I do, Happy Holidays to all! And may logic and reason bless us, everyone. James Kirk Wall Filed under: Uncategorized Tags: atheist, Bill OâReilly, Fox News, Jews, Lincoln Chaffee, Muslims, Pagan, secular, war on Christmas Tweet IFRAME: http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fan-agnostic-in-wheaton%2F2012%2F12%2Fholiday-tree-instead-of-christmas-tree-this-is-the-%25e2%2580%259cwar-on-christmas%25e2%2580%259d%2F&send=false&layout=button_count&width=120&show_faces=false&action=like&colorscheme=light&font&height=21 IFRAME: http://www.facebook.com/plugins/comments.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagonow.com%2Fan-agnostic-in-wheaton%2F2012%2F12%2Fholiday-tree-instead-of-christmas-tree-this-is-the-%25e2%2580%259cwar-on-christmas%25e2%2580%259d%2F%23comments&permalink=1 Leave a comment * ChicagoNow is full of win Welcome to ChicagoNow . Meet our bloggers, post comments, or pitch your blog idea. Sign in Pitch your idea * Advertisement: * Meet The Blogger James Kirk Wall James Kirk Wall has been featured in Radio, Television and Newspaper. Jim is the author of Agnosticism: The Battle against Shameless Ignorance. As an educated and plain speaking facilitator of knowledge, Wall is able to take the best from philosophy, science, history, religion, and other academic studies and provide a holistic common sense perspective of life's biggest questions. Wall holds a degree in Business Management and resides in Wheaton, Illinois with his wife and son. He's available for debate and public speaking. This philosopher/ author can be contacted at jameskirkwall@yahoo.com. * Subscribe by Email ____________________ [BUTTON] Completely spam free, opt out any time. * Recent posts + James Kirk Wall Presents the Story of Adam and Eve » James Kirk Wall on An Atheist in Wheaton Posted November 17, 2013 at 9:25 pm + Shameful Ignorance vs. Shameless Ignorance » James Kirk Wall on An Atheist in Wheaton Posted November 10, 2013 at 6:46 pm + James Kirk Wall replies after being called out by Glenn Beck » James Kirk Wall on An Atheist in Wheaton Posted November 3, 2013 at 9:20 pm + Glenn Beck strikes back at James Kirk Wall over Rights » James Kirk Wall on An Atheist in Wheaton Posted October 31, 2013 at 5:24 pm + Dear Glenn Beck, human rights have never come from god » James Kirk Wall on An Atheist in Wheaton Posted October 27, 2013 at 10:06 pm * IFRAME: http://www.facebook.com/plugins/likebox.php?href=http://www.facebook.com/pages/Agnosticism-The-Battle-Against-Shameless-Ignorance/160411613377&show_faces=true&stream=false&width=326&colorscheme=light&border_color&header=true&height=290 * IFRAME: http://www.facebook.com/plugins/likebox.php?href=http://www.facebook.com/chicagonow&show_faces=true&stream=false&width=326&colorscheme=light&border_color&header=true&height=290 * Latest on ChicagoNow + Four Steps: Out of Depression and Into the Light from From Paranormal to Pretty Normal by Therese Rowley, Ph.D. posted today at 8:45 am + Texting and driving will be the death of me from Chicago's Real Law Blog by Michael Helfand posted today at 8:32 am + Parenting My Adopted Transracial Transcultural Adolescent from Portrait of an Adoption by Carrie Goldman posted today at 8:15 am + Lincoln Annex, Speeding Ticket Revenue from District 299: The Inside Scoop on CPS by Alexander Russo posted today at 8:05 am + The Avs best the Blackhawks 5-1. from Puck PowWow by Hostile Hawk posted today at 8:02 am * Related posts From Lifestyle: Religion » + Will you pray for the exorcism of gays today? » Pam Spano on Being Catholic...Really Posted today at 5:49 am + Logic and Organization: Why? » IMPROV CLASS FOR THE SOUL on Improv Class For The Soul Posted November 14, 2013 at 3:40 pm + Sermon on "The Fox" » Hesham Hassaballa on A Faithful Word Posted November 13, 2013 at 9:53 pm + Falling Plates: when death is just a memory » Allison J. 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