News of Newhall seniors protesting the removal of a Christmas tree from their community room this week because, they said they were told, it was a religious symbol prompted a national outcry -- a collective bah humbug from Christmas defenders. It was, many said, another example of the so-called "war on Christmas" and political correctness run amok.
The issue isn't new, but the debate over appropriate public demonstrations of traditionally religious holidays has now spread beyond blatant symbols like the cross and Nativity scenes to the unassuming Christmas tree.
Chalk it up to the melting pot, experts say.
"The country is becoming more religiously diverse over time so that raises all kinds of questions about how we get along," said Eric Rassbach, deputy general counselor for The Becket Fund for Religious Liberties, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization.
"These issues come up every year, and I think it's borne out of people trying to figure out how to deal with the religious diversity we have in our country."
The recent controversy at The Willows senior apartment complex in Newhall illustrated how passionate Americans can be over their Christmas tree and their freedom to view it in communal spaces.
Residents said they were told by building staff that they had to take down the Christmas tree because of the presence of Christ's name in Christmas tree.
"I enjoy the beauty of this lovely tree as a symbol of harmony and kindness that is displayed at this time of year," Frances Schaeffer told the Daily News during an informal protest at the complex.
The 92-year-old Jewish resident said she's lived at The Willows for 23 years and has always looked forward to seeing the Christmas tree displayed during the holiday season.
Ultimately, management decided to keep the tree -- saying the whole incident was a miscommunication -- and even hosted a Christmas tree decorating party on Thursday.
But that didn't erase the more than 900 comments posted on the Daily News website that expressed anger at the management company for trying to tear down one of the most popular symbols of the holiday.
Residents from the East Coast to the South and beyond expressed everything from disgust to shock and bafflement.
"I'm appalled that we have come down to this level in this country," said Sue Brown of Elkhart, Ind., in an email to the Daily News on Thursday.
"Political correctness is out of hand. It's just another tool to abuse people."
In other email, self-described atheist Robert Jaimes of Peoria, Ariz., said, "Let them have a holiday tree, x-mas tree, or -- PC Police forbid -- a Christmas tree or menorah.
"It is decor and nothing else. The symbolism is held in the individual person, not the objects themselves," he said. "The holidays are a celebration in this country, regardless of religion or lack thereof."
But cultural observers say the Christmas tree is now becoming a polarizing symbol.
"All kinds of expressions that are rooted in the Christmas tradition are becoming targets," said Sabina Magliocco, a professor of anthropology at CSU Northridge who specializes in folklore and religion. "Even saying `Merry Christmas' is looked upon in some circles as not being politically correct because you're assuming everyone celebrates that Christian holiday. The Christmas tree is part of that."
Congressman Buck McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, said rules prohibit congressional leaders from sending their constituents any religious happy holiday greeting.
"We can't say Merry Christmas, we can't say Happy Hanukkah, we can't say anything that even alludes to a religious celebration or specific holiday greeting. We can't even use the colors red and green," he said. "Are these great American holiday traditions next to go?"
But local attorney William J. Becker Jr. doesn't see that happening. He represents the Santa Monica Nativity Scenes Committee, which is planning to appeal a city ban on the nearly 60-year tradition of displaying Nativity scenes at Palisades Park.
"There are people who are trying to force religious neutrality, and that's never going to happen," Becker said. "There are at least as many people who respect the traditions as there are people who don't respect the traditions."
Even nonbelievers, Magliocco said, often adhere to the Christian-rooted traditions of America.
"If you look at American culture, officially: `Congress shall make no law that governs religion.' But historically, the United States was settled by Christians, so there's a level at which our daily life is influenced by that," Magliocco said, pointing to several of the country's customs tied to the yearly celebration such as school vacations.
Yet that doesn't prevent the yearly battles over the holiday symbols -- even when those fights appear to be resolved.
In the 1980s, the Southern California American Civil Liberties Union attempted to bar displays of a Jewish menorah and a Christmas tree at Los Angeles City Hall.
The California Court of Appeal settled the issue, allowing the government building to continue having a Christmas tree in the City Hall rotunda and a menorah -- which Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa lit during a ceremony Friday.
"There needs to be an admittance that there are plenty of religions here and then we've got to embrace it," Rassbach said. "The government shouldn't just put its hands over its ears and say, `I can't hear you."'
The office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich couldn't agree more.
"We don't consider this issue touchy at all. It's a clear issue with no gray area at all," said Tony Bell, spokesman for Antonovich. "There is a Christmas tree that celebrates the birth of Jesus and the menorah that celebrates the Festival of Lights and those are holidays that are celebrated by the vast majority of residents of Los Angeles County. There are some people who don't celebrate those holidays and they can do it. But we're about inclusive celebration of the holidays, not exclusivity."
"Religion is that one hot potato. It is and always will be," attorney Becker said.
"We're in an intolerant age right now. But the bottom line is, if you don't have a similar tradition, you should not deprive others from celebrating their traditions."
Poster Comment:
This lady got it right!
"Political correctness is out of hand. It's just another tool to abuse people."