Another Victory in the War on Christmas

If one Christian complains about anything does anyone in power listen or care? Generally not, but if one person with any other affiliation complains about something, the powers that be get moving. Such was the case at Missouri State University when one Jewish staff member complained about a Christmas tree and the school took it down. However (and I know it's hard to believe) somehow sanity was restored and the tree is back where it belongs:

SPRINGFIELD – Missouri State University administrators decided Thursday morning to put a Christmas tree back in the lobby of Strong Hall, along with other religious holiday symbols. A department head removed the 20-foot tree on Monday after a faculty member who is Jewish complained that it was insensitive to other religions.

After learning about the complaint and the removal of the tree, administrators scheduled a meeting for Friday afternoon to discuss appropriate holiday decorations at the school. That meeting is now canceled.
“We decided this is the right thing to do, and I am glad there was widespread agreement about it,” President Mike. Nietzel said in a news release. “Missouri State is an institution at which many different religions are represented, and we try to be sensitive to the many views people hold.

“After having had a chance to air this out a bit more and consider the various perspectives of our campus community, I am happy that the Christmas tree will be back up along with the many others that were already on campus.”

The tree was back up by 11 a.m. and university employees were decorating it.

Courts have ruled Christmas trees are secular symbols if they do not bear religious decorations. The department head who put the tree up said she didn't use any religious symbols on it.

On a prominent corner near where I live there are four religious displays that go up each year at this time. There's a nativity scene (horrors!!), a giant dreidel for those of Jewish persuasion, and signs of greetings from both the B'hai faith and the local Moslems (some photos here from a couple of years ago). There's also a Santa's Workshop on one corner and several large pine trees full of lights and Christmas decorations on another.

A few years ago the religious displays were banned because some idiot complained about the nativity scene, but that was all worked out and now everyone has a chance to pitch their particular faith. We can all get along if we try.