What's in a name: Kentucky 'Christmas' tree

November 7, 9:34 AMAtheism ExaminerTrina Hoaks

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Is it a 'Christmas' tree or is it a 'Holiday' tree? Does it matter?

Stock MS Word Photo

It seems that the governor of Kentucky and his administration recently ticked off some of the locals when they announced they were looking for a tree to display at the state's Capitol during the holiday season. The Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet sent out word last week that the administration was looking for a "holiday" tree to be donated to the state.

According to an Associated Press report, that wording just didn't sit well with the locals who promptly began sending a "steady stream of e-mails" to the administration. The e-mails were accompanied by phone calls.

Spokeswoman Kerri Richardson said that the tree is a "Christmas" tree in the mind of Governor Steve Beshear and always has been. She said, "'For Gov. Beshear, it is a Christmas tree. Period. The end. That first request from the Finance Cabinet didn't reflect that, but the governor speaks for himself. He's calling it a Christmas tree. That's what it is.'"

For some people though, the damage has been done. At least that is the belief of Reverend Jeff Fugate, pastor of Clays Mill Baptist Church in Lexington. He said that he is trying to get people to show up at the Capitol on December 7th to sing Christmas carols. It seems he is on a mission to "save" Christmas. He said of the governor, "'He's already told folks what he believes, and he's already excluded the word Christmas. He's made a blunder here.'"

According to the report, Edwin Kagin, the National Legal Director for American Atheists, said that this seems to be "'much ado about nothing,'" He referred to Christmas as "religious and secular" holiday enjoyed by many.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue chimed in saying, "On November 3, we noted that the 'War on Christmas' had begun. One piece of evidence that was offered was the decision to have a 'Holiday Tree,' instead of a 'Christmas Tree,' in Frankfort, Kentucky." He added that after the governor was "pounded by outraged Christians" he and his administration "reversed"  and "have now chosen to call the Christmas Tree the 'Christmas Tree.'"

In summary, he added, "Christians have every right to be insulted when agents of government refuse to acknowledge their holiday, and it matters not a whit if the stated purpose is inclusion. Indeed, the politics of inclusion is a malignant cultural cancer that needs to be wiped out, along with its parent ideology, multiculturalism."