At this time of year, inclusivity is the secret language for holiday celebrations. One favored ritual is the Memory Tree, placed on village greens and town hall lawns lit in lieu of a Christmas tree.

Evidently, the Christmas tree is exclusionary at best, bigoted at worst in this merry time of year and that we cannot have and fulfill the goal of diversity both far and near.

Examine the Memory Tree concept; see how insidiously it works.
Children sing holiday carols such as “Jingle Bells,” “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer,” and “Frosty the Snowman” while parents snap pictures and make videos for posterity. The Memory Tree lights flare brightly, a siren wails and Mr. and Mrs. Claus enter to wish holiday cheer.

Probably one should go to the tree lighting and observe the religious inclusivity commemorating the event the Memory Tree epitomizes.
There won’t be any Muslims, they celebrate Ramadan and besides, they consider us infidels. Jews have a delightful holiday, Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, so lighting a tree is far down on the to do list.
Animists, I don’t think so, nor Buddhists, Taoists, New Agers, or Zoroasters. One might find the odd druid or Wiccan but the date is wrong. Perhaps a couple Atheists who wandered out just to see how cold they can get but that’s it.

So, who is left, Kwanzaa shoppers or totem carvers hunting for a last minute gewgaw? Of course, must be them!

So, this is diversity; care to explain how this works? Perhaps an elucidation of just who are the bigots is in order.

Lighting a Memory Tree avoids outraging those religions that don’t show up and affronts the religion that celebrates this season. This Memory Tree charade is looking extremely bigoted. The only religion proscribed from celebrating is the one, which celebrates the season.
Let the pagans have the tree.

Christians, light the Nativity Crèche. The season is about Christ, so honor that. Sing “Silent Night,” “O Come all Ye Faithful” and other carols that cause the godless to foul their shorts.
Let the Jews put up the Menorah, I think that is a great symbol that goes with a remarkable story and should be celebrated because it is desired, not from some idiot’s sense of “fairness.”

Definitely, there is a place for the Memory Tree; it should be in the shape of the dollar sign. For celebration, June 25th is available and is quite apropos. Light the tree then.

Archived in: Atheism, Diversity, Religion