Catholic League president Bill Donohue discusses a controversy over this year’s San Jose Christmas tree display:
Every year since the 1950s, San Jose has had a proud record of honoring Christmas with a grand display of Christmas trees. This year, however, a controversy has arisen over some trees.
San Jose’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez is the site of approximately 500 Christmas trees, an event organized by a non-profit organization, Christmas in the Park. Last year, it drew over 650,000 visitors. In addition to the display of Christmas trees, there are many Christmas-themed events for families. Unfortunately, some have politicized the annual celebration.
This year there is a tree erected by the Satanic Temple, and one that celebrates Colin Kaepernick kneeling on the field. There is also a section of the park set aside for LGBT activists: they placed a Barbie doll alongside an image of Bruce Jenner from the Olympics.
Offensive as these displays are, the origin of the problem can be traced to the event’s organizers. According to the ABC affiliate, KGO, they invited schools, businesses and non-profit organizations to “bring awareness to issues or causes they care about.”
There are those who, unlike the well-meaning people of San Jose, intentionally create faux competition with Christmas so as to neuter its essence.
For example, Freedom From Religion Foundation, a militant atheist anti-Christian group from Madison, Wisconsin, released a statement saying it would provide “free secular displays to erect in public forums.”
Why? “One reason to counter religious displays on public property is to ensure your point is represented at this time of the year.” In other words, the purpose is to “counter” Christmas displays. It is not an oversight that the atheists could care less about countering Hanukkah—it’s Christians they really hate.
City in the Park organizers need to get back to their roots, lest their goodwill be exploited by those with their own agenda. This event started in the 1950s with a nativity scene built by Don Lima in front of his family mortuary—it did not start with an invitation to promote any issue or cause that the public fancied.
There are plenty of opportunities to advance all sorts of political, economic, social, and cultural causes. They should not be held coterminously with Christmas celebrations.
Christmas is for Christians, who celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ! And for all those who also truly love and appreciate our beliefs and customs! San Jose should limit their lovely annual Christmas in the Park celebrations, to just celebrating authentic Christmas– everyne else should be told, to go somewhere else, and celebrate whatever you like! But RESPECT CHRISTIANITY, and RESPECT CHRISTMAS!! I know of people of other faiths- Jews, Muslims, etc.– who love Christmas, and appreciate our authentic beliefs and customs! Some even want a Christmas tree in their homes, with gifts for their children, too!
this is such a disgrace that it is allowed to begin with…we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ! our redeemer and our salvation…if people want to celebrate HELL…do it some where else…followers of Jesus…where are you??
As Father Andrew Greeley once remarked: anti- Catholic prejudice is one of the ugly little secrets in modern American culture. This prejudice has now morphed to anti-Christian.
This whole debate is not about Christmas trees. It is about destroying the true meaning of Christmas and what it is really about. Jesus is the reason for the season. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus Christ King of Kings Lord of Lords True God and True Man. Nothing these groups say or do will ever change the true meaning of Christmas. Brothers and Sisters in Christ proclaim our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ to the entire world. And yes have a merry Christmas and a happy new year. Pray America Pray! Pray Pray Pray!
Christmas is celebrated as a secular holiday by many people. Some people see it as a time for family; some for a time of generosity and giving. All good comes from God.
As a second-generation native of San Jose (and one whose father served this once fine city as a firefighter for 30 years), I find it so sad to see what has become of my home town. Saint Joseph, pray for us!
Ah…progressive narcissists. Even mirrors must be getting sick of them…
I agree that people who want to celebrate something not related to Christmas , do it somewhere else. Halloween don’t come in the same month as Christmas. As water and oil don’t mixed.