Nothing can ever go off without a twist of irony in this city, can it? It seems that there is some issue with the tree lighting ceremony scheduled for this Thursday night at the Boston Common. For the last 63 years, the city of Boston has lit a big Christmas tree in the city and for the last 34 years, the white spruce has been sent as a gift from our friends in Nova Scotia. It seems we helped them out on December 6, 1917 when a fire broke out in Halifax Harbor; we sent them help right away and since then, we’ve gotten a free tree out it. (A pretty good deal considering the current price of trees.) So this Thursday, Mayor Menino will be hitting the switch to illuminate the tree, as well as the rest of the Common and the Public Gardens, at 6:30p.m. There will be the usual events: a children’s choir, a canned food drive, and performances by Jordan Knight and Jon Secada (yes, you read that correctly…two major stars will be performing!)
So, what’s the problem, you ask dear reader? It seems that the City of Boston website is referring to the event as “Boston’s 64th Official Holiday Tree Lighting” and Jerry Falwell’s Christian organization isn’t happy with the “holiday tree” replacing the “Christmas tree” and have voiced their complaints. Menino is quoted in the Herald as saying he’ll be lighting, “a Christmas tree, and is going to stay a Christmas tree as long as I’m mayor.” Are those fighting words, Mr. Mayor? The City Park Commissioner, Antonia Pollak, is of course on the other side of political correctness. “A lot of people celebrate various religious holidays but also enjoy the lights, and we’re trying to be inclusive.”
So it seems it’s a game of “he said, she said” and we’re wondering what this decorated shrub is going to be called on Thursday night. The most ironic part is that no one has mentioned that Menino is throwing the switch with none other than Santa Claus himself. If this is supposed to be holiday neutral, should St. Nick really be there? The biggest question is: will Jordan Knight be singing any of the classics from the New Kids’ 1989 “Merry, Merry Christmas” album?
Photo courtesy of Urban Outfitters. Yes, you can buy your own "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree" this year.
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That tree RULES!
I was born on the fourth of July. Does this now mean that we should stop celebrating the birth of our nation? The idea of taking Christmas out of Christmas sounds just as rediculous. Our country was founded on faith and it is this fact and this fact only that we base our country. The next step will be to take out all religions and pray in your own home with the doors locked. We need, as a nation to get back to basics and re-read the declaration of independance.
Backgamon Super :)