>>>>I understand Tamar's point about public funds being used to put up religious content in public schools - though I still say a Christmas tree with lights is harmless. I have three small ones in my office - for the simple reason that I think they're cool to look at.
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>>I'd agree there's no need to establish new overtly religious official behaviors in 2013. But a street festival during which the Madonna is carried between 2 churches that has happened every year since 1907, a school song first sung in 1886... once everything else is sorted out, I guess it's OK to homogenize this sort of history. Biggest problem is that once you get rid of these things you never can get them back and often they're replaced by something short-term and crass. Or nothing. In which case the Judgment of Solomon should apply.
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>I'd shudder to think of a replacement for a Christmas Tree - yes, I'll bet it would be crass.
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>For someone who has never believed in God, I sometimes get rather traditionalist. I find references to God on money and courtroom oaths to be harmless (unless someone would claim that my sworn testimony is meaningless because I don't believe)
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>Last night I spent some time reading about the history of Christmas trees, something I'd never done before. Are they part of pagan rituals or a symbol of religion? Really hard to say. I guess everyone sees what they see based partly on their history. I've always loved Christmas, but in non-religious terms. To me, a tree with lights is like an Easter basket at Easter, a Turkey at Thanksgiving, and Fireworks on the 4th of July. It seems 100% secular. If there's religious promotion in a Christmas tree, I don't see it.
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>Granted, my view is probably influenced by the fact that I know non-Christians who love Christmas. Then again, I've never received hateful reactions (the way Tamar described). If I had dealt with the kind of garbage she experienced, maybe my perspective would be very different.

As you may or may not know, my mother's parents died in Auschwitz, so the swastika was a particularly hateful thing to do.

On a much lighter note, you've probably never had this conversation either:

Other Person: So what are you doing for Christmas?
Me: I don't celebrate Christmas.
OP: You mean you don't go to church? But where are you having Christmas dinner?
Me: I'm not. I don't celebrate Christmas.
OP: But surely you have a tree?
Me: No, I don't celebrate Christmas.
OP: There are presents, right?
Me: No, I don't celebrate Christmas.

I find the ignorance of some Christians in this multi-cultural country troubling. I have no problem with the people who have never encountered a Jew and ask honest questions about differences. But the folks who can't see that not everyone does things their way annoy me a lot.

Tamar