RI Republican

Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee

Here we go again! For the second year in a row, we have controversy over what to call the tree on display in the Rhode Island State House. Last year, Governor Lincoln Chafee called it a “Holiday Tree,” rather than a Christmas Tree, which led to a great deal of criticism. According to Chafee, he’s merely following recent tradition:

“Well last year I said to the staff what did the previous governor do, whatever the previous governor did let’s do that and that’s what I did last year. Somehow that erupted into controversy and so the same is true this year. The tradition has been in recent years to call it a holiday tree and I am keeping with that tradition.”

I wasn’t aware that former Governor Don Carcieri referred to the tree as a “Holiday Tree.” If that is true, then I disagree with both of them on their decision to drop the word Christmas. We’re at a time of the year when there are many holidays celebrated by people of different backgrounds. The tree isn’t associated with all of these holidays, only one: Christmas. Continue reading →