A Christmas tree by any other name

[Vegan Joe]

*Twas the month before Christmas*

*When all through our land,*

*Not a Christian was praying*

*Nor taking a stand.*

*The politically correct police had taken away,*

*The reason for Christmas - no one could say.*

*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*

*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*

*It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say*

*December 25th is just a " Holiday ".*

 

*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*

*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*

*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*

*Something was changing, something quite odd! *

*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*

*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*

*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*

*At Lowe's the word Christmas - was nowhere to be found.*

*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears*

*You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.*

 

*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*

*Are words that were used to intimidate me*

*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*

*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!*

*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*

*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*

*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*

* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*

*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*

*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*

 

*So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"*

*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*

*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*

*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!*

[Tarz]

Yeah, the true meaning of Xmas has been lost and just become a season of commercialisation and gross over-consumption/indulgence, but I believe the Christmas celebrations/traditions have their roots in pagan festivals, so I'd say there's more than one reason for Christmas other than for Christianity.

[blabbate]

Yeah, the true meaning of Xmas has been lost and just become a season of commercialisation and gross over-consumption/indulgence, but I believe the Christmas celebrations/traditions have their roots in pagan festivals, so I'd say there's more than one reason for Christmas other than for Christianity.

This is why I prefer to put up a Mithras Tree.

 

It's right next to the Festivus Pole.

[VeganDeVil]

It's right next to the Festivus Pole.

[RAINRA]

I think Xmas trees are terrible and dumb... if you need one go fake so that you can resuse it every year. It would be cool if they had a more eco fake tree. Millions of treees world wide are cut for this dumb ornament celebration... so that we can put commercialism under it .. .to top things off. No wonder so many are in debt and then people are so crazy about presents that they run over people and kill them... smart ... really smart.

 

Some traditions were never evaluated for health,,, or for ecology at all it was just like ok that seem cool lets do that.

 

example : candles on a birthday cake... as wax drips on the cake... the person spits while they blow the candles out and smoke is blown into the face of the person sitting accross the cake.. people got some really dumb ideas... and we just take it for granted with out even thinking about it...

 

I think people should focus on family, friends, the people without families and the poor.

[VeganDeVil]

I think Xmas trees are terrible and dumb... if you need one go fake so that you can resuse it every year. It would be cool if they had a more eco fake tree. Millions of treees world wide are cut for this dumb ornament celebration... so that we can put commercialism under it .................. I think people should focus on family, friends, the people without families and the poor.

I suppose I have to technically agree........ but the nostalgia factor will stop me from ever translating that sentiment into my actions! Christmas trees can be a really beautiful way to bring families together. Sure, there are other ways to do that..... more ecologically sound, less consumer based ways...... but there's something so lovely about buying a tree, and decorating it with your family and friends, and enjoying it's light and fragrance in your home all month long. Maybe it is selfish, ecologically speaking, but if this is one of my 'vices' I don't think I'm doing too badly!

[thendanisays]

I think Xmas trees are terrible and dumb... if you need one go fake so that you can resuse it every year. It would be cool if they had a more eco fake tree. Millions of treees world wide are cut for this dumb ornament celebration... so that we can put commercialism under it .................. I think people should focus on family, friends, the people without families and the poor.

I suppose I have to technically agree........ but the nostalgia factor will stop me from ever translating that sentiment into my actions! Christmas trees can be a really beautiful way to bring families together. Sure, there are other ways to do that..... more ecologically sound, less consumer based ways...... but there's something so lovely about buying a tree, and decorating it with your family and friends, and enjoying it's light and fragrance in your home all month long. Maybe it is selfish, ecologically speaking, but if this is one of my 'vices' I don't think I'm doing too badly!

 

i had this talk with lean and green about a week ago. i've always had a real one. he's always had a fake one. we were debating which is worse. cutting down a tree is certainly bad, but the resources used to make a fake tree might outweigh the chopping of one tree.....so............this year--we're getting a live tree in a pot and after the holiday, we're going to plant it outside. problem solved.

[xjohanx]

I think Xmas trees are terrible and dumb... if you need one go fake so that you can resuse it every year. It would be cool if they had a more eco fake tree. Millions of treees world wide are cut for this dumb ornament celebration

Hmm, we don't buy trees anymore because our dog keeps running in to them and makes a complete mess which forces us to clean up every hour for the house to look acceptable. But in all fairness the trees (at least here) are always planted by humans and new ones are planted for every one that gets chopped down. Someone who knows Swedish law better than me can correct me if I'm wrong but I think it's illegal to go out into the woods and just take a tree with you. So here it evens out, almost. It's not like the rain forest where people just takes every tree in one place and then just moves on to the next without even blinking.

 

What Dani said is a really good idea BTW!

[blabbate]

I think Xmas trees are terrible and dumb... if you need one go fake so that you can resuse it every year. It would be cool if they had a more eco fake tree. Millions of treees world wide are cut for this dumb ornament celebration... so that we can put commercialism under it .. .to top things off. No wonder so many are in debt and then people are so crazy about presents that they run over people and kill them... smart ... really smart.

The christmas tree industry is ecologically sustainable from a forestry perspective, though. They're replanted at a rate in excess of their use, and we have plenty of natural firs and other trees in the national forests. In fact, if you can cut your own tree from a national forest, that's probably the best option. The problem comes when they aren't local, because their carbon footprint really comes from transportation.

 

However, the fake trees are virtually all petroleum based and packed with chemicals. They also require transportation, and they don't biodegrade. Environmentally, they're one of the worst options. You'd have to reuse it for many, many years to make up for the damage.

[RAINRA]

I just think the idea of a tree is silly all together. I understand the symbolism behind it and how Christmas is big for many... and all these things add up to make the holiday. I respect that and I think that the feeling is great. I am not saying it does not bring families together of course it does and joy. I think that people just are not conscious much around holidays. It seems like ok well I can take a break because it is a holiday...

 

 

Not saying if you replant yours that it is bad, I think that is great. I just hate seeing in front of Whole foods all these trees that have no roots just chopped so that they can be used for a few days and just discarded. It seems a bit useless...

[blabbate]

I just think the idea of a tree is silly all together. I understand the symbolism behind it and how Christmas is big for many... and all these things add up to make the holiday. I respect that and I think that the feeling is great. I am not saying it does not bring families together of course it does and joy. I think that people just are not conscious much around holidays. It seems like ok well I can take a break because it is a holiday...

 

Not saying if you replant yours that it is bad, I think that is great. I just hate seeing in front of Whole foods all these trees that have no roots just chopped so that they can be used for a few days and just discarded. It seems a bit useless...

Agreed about not really caring about a tree either way. Whatever brings people together is fine with me.

 

However, while it's sad to have all those trees tied in front of Whole Foods, it makes for a nifty effect to have them lined up on either side of the entrance path. It's like walking from the street directly into a forest.

[blabbate]

It's right next to the Festivus Pole.

Well of course. The only reason I even lift weights is in preparation for the yearly Feats of Strength. (The Airing of Grievances requires no prep.)

[Richard]

Humbug, christmas makes me want to shoot myself in the head

[Marcina]

Humbug, christmas makes me want to shoot myself in the head

 

I hear ya! Lol

[DV]

I think Xmas trees are terrible and dumb... if you need one go fake so that you can resuse it every year. It would be cool if they had a more eco fake tree. Millions of treees world wide are cut for this dumb ornament celebration... so that we can put commercialism under it .................. I think people should focus on family, friends, the people without families and the poor.

I suppose I have to technically agree........ but the nostalgia factor will stop me from ever translating that sentiment into my actions! Christmas trees can be a really beautiful way to bring families together. Sure, there are other ways to do that..... more ecologically sound, less consumer based ways...... but there's something so lovely about buying a tree, and decorating it with your family and friends, and enjoying it's light and fragrance in your home all month long. Maybe it is selfish, ecologically speaking, but if this is one of my 'vices' I don't think I'm doing too badly!

 

i had this talk with lean and green about a week ago. i've always had a real one. he's always had a fake one. we were debating which is worse. cutting down a tree is certainly bad, but the resources used to make a fake tree might outweigh the chopping of one tree.....so............this year--we're getting a live tree in a pot and after the holiday, we're going to plant it outside. problem solved.

 

My future daughter-in-law is allergic to pine trees so we've had the same artificial one for years. We were going to have you guys decorate it with us tonight but then had to make the trip to Canada! Maybe Thursday, Friday or Saturday? If not, we'll have our neighbors decorate with us since they won't have a tree this year.

 

In my family, decorating the tree and making cookies are the big christmas activities. We only give gifts to those in need (sometimes family members) and gifts directed to us are in our names to our charities. It took a few years to make this change. The "kids", who are in their 20s at this point, were the most resistant. It's definitely about being around family and friends for us.

 

So MERRY CHRISTMAS from a feminist, atheist, politically incorrect woman who understands the true, non-christian meaning of the holiday.

[robert]

 

So MERRY CHRISTMAS from a feminist, atheist, politically incorrect woman who understands the true, non-christian meaning of the holiday.

 

Sounds like my kind of woman!

 

Not you, you're not single, neither of us can tolerate most people, and I'm sure we wouldn't be able to stand each other, you know, me with my green pants and all......but that description....my kind of woman.

[DV]

I saw those friggin pants in your Hawaii pictures recently! I will BUY YOU ANOTHER PAIR if you will PLEASE retire them!!!!!

 

And you are way more tolerant than me.

[Dr. Pink]

We use a fake tree. That's only because we can't afford a real one .

 

There's only one( Okay two ) good reasons to every buy a real one.

 

1. If you don't buy them someone else will and chances are they will mistreat it. Those tree's are already going to die. If there going to die might as well show them a good time. Cover it in Vegan candy. Give it hugs. If you had let the "Bad Guy" buy the tree he will cover it in sugary canes and put "Hanna Montana" DVD's under it. Now that's just cruel on your part.

 

2. If no one buys say one of these trees. All of the other trees will laugh at the lone tree. Saying," No one wants you" and crap like that. If not for anything buy the tree to make it look good in front of his other "tree buddies".

 

 

Also. If you don't plant it. I'm sure you could still find a way to take what has died, plant a bunch of tree babies in your back yard and "boom Boom Boom. Tree's everywhere". More then you will ever need for the rest of your life.

[HCPinGviini]

We buy a real one every year. And after christmas we use it to warm up our sauna.

 

I don't think there's really a reason to buy a fake one as I think that buying a real one is good, at least if you use it for some other purpose as well like we do.