O Holiday tree, O Holiday tree, of all the trees most lovely.
O Holiday tree, O Holiday tree, why won’t the mayor’s office call you a Christmas tree in Philly?
It’s December again in the United States, and that can mean only one thing: Philadelphia Democrats’ resumption of the war on Christmas.
That’s right! Widely recognized as the “most wonderful time of the year,” December in Philadelphia means the removal of the word “Christmas” from the city’s annual tree lighting ceremonies — multiple annual tree lighting ceremonies. With the holiday season upon us, the Philadelphia political party that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in spirit turns to uniformity, inequity, and exclusion in practice. Mind you, there’s no rhyme or reason for this. Literally everyone in attendance at the ceremony knew it was a Christmas tree. Santa and Mrs. Claus were even among the guests of honor.
And yet, Philadelphia government officials refused to call it a Christmas tree.
“Welcome to our mayor’s annual holiday tree lighting program, here at City Hall,” said Jazelle Jones, the city of Philadelphia’s city representative and director of special events.
Not the Christmas tree lighting program, which it actually is. But rather, it is insistently called a holiday tree.
It’s as if the Democrats running the city fear there will be some sort of left-wing uprising if the Christmas tree is actually acknowledged and referred to as a Christmas tree. It’s indicative of the toxic corrosiveness of contemporary left-wing politicians, administrators, officials, and government executives. It is absolutely senseless and completely illogical. I know it’s a Christmas tree. They know it’s a Christmas tree. Everyone in attendance knows it’s a Christmas tree.
It reminds me of the quote by George Orwell, except with a contemporary twist: “There are some ideas so absurd that only a government official from Philadelphia could believe them.”
To make matters worse, Jones essentially ignored Christmas in her speech, only briefly acknowledging it while mentioning other holidays such as Hanukkah and Kwanza. But you know what Jones did mention? Philadelphia’s “diversity.”
“In a city as beautifully diverse as ours, this celebration honors everyone,” Jones said. “Whether you observe Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the festival of the three kings, or other traditions, this is for you.”
Um, no. The only commonality between Christmas and diversity is the letter “i” used in each word.
Lighted evergreen trees are a custom of Christmas, not Hanukkah, not Kwanzaa, but Christmas. It’s the reason why people gathered to watch the tree lighting ceremony. It’s the reason for the season. It’s a sentiment echoed by Philadelphia political talk show host Nick Kayal.
“I have no problem being ‘inclusive’ if you want to be a part of America and all it offers,” Kayal told me. “I believe in equality, not ‘equity.’ This is how we do it in the United States. It’s called a Christmas tree.”
“You can celebrate it and what it stands for, or don’t,” Kayal added. “I couldn’t care less. But we shouldn’t ever change what we do so others feel better about it. Do you see Christian Americans calling other religions’ holidays’ something different over feelings? No. Apparently, Mayor [Cherelle] Parker didn’t get the memo. It’s not 2020-2024 anymore.”
CHRISTMAS TREES AND THE NATIONAL ITALIAN AMERICAN FOUNDATION’S DEVOTION TO HERITAGE
Other December holidays are celebrated with ceremonial events in Philadelphia, such as the lighting of a Menorah for Hanukkah and the lighting of the Umoja candle and six other candles as part of the tradition for Kwanzaa’s kinara. Yet, none of those holiday traditions suffered from the omission of the actual holiday name, even with a city government-sanctioned rebranding. Christmas was sacrificed because Democrats seek to minimize Christianity and gradually remove it from society. No other religion must constantly endure such cultural slights and government-sanctioned discrimination as Christians.
Moreover, for this to occur in the city of Philadelphia is embarrassing. In a city rife with significant historical events that are paramount to the nation and its cherished liberties — including the freedom of religion — the purposeful omission of Christmas was a betrayal of the ideals and principles on which the country was founded. For the city’s mayor and elected officials to partake in this is quite shameful, embarrassing, utterly offensive, and, honestly, Christophobic.
