Pirate's Cove

Way to go, Speaker Hastert!

House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert has told federal officials that the lighted, decorated tree on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol — known in recent years as the "Holiday Tree" — should be renamed the "Capitol Christmas Tree," as it was called until the late 1990s.

The Capitol’s senior landscape architect confirmed the name switch yesterday for The Washington Times.

  "It was known as the ‘Holiday Tree’ for several years and just recently was changed back to the ‘Capitol Christmas Tree.’ This was a directive from the speaker," said Capitol architect Matthew Evans.

"The speaker believes a Christmas tree is a Christmas tree, and it is as simple as that," said Ron Bonjean, spokesman for the Illinois Republican.

That’s right, it is a Christmas Tree. It is not a "Holiday Tree." It has nothing to do with Kwanzza and Hanukka. This is a nation founded on Christian principles, and we celebrate Christmas. Always have, and, as long as we keep the Libs in check, always will. Folks from other religions are more then welcome to put up their symbols, or request that of the government. But the tree is a symbol of Christmas, not the "Holidays." It has nothing to do with New Years, which is part of the holiday season.

In Annapolis, the city’s annual "Hanging of the Greens" — the decorating of public buildings, shops and streets with live greens and ribbons — and the lighting of the "holiday tree" this weekend are purposely named so as to not favor one belief over another.

"It’s a sensitivity for people of different faiths," said city spokeswoman Jan Hardesty. "We celebrate a lot of different customs — not necessarily just a religious one."

Why? Where is their sensitivity to OUR religion? Either do it right, or do not do it at all. If you want to put up other decorations for the holidays, OK. But the tree is the CHRISTmas Tree. Period.

Fortunately, here in Raleigh, and in North Carolina, we haven’t had to deal with most of the "sensitivity" idiocy yet.