Ah, it's that time of year.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.
"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.
You can watch more HERE.
KY3's version of the story got picked up by the Drudge Report, (scroll down, it's on the right), which means it is getting a record amount of hits. (Well, heck I might as well milk some hits out of it.)
And now, the Governor has jumped into the fray.
The Blunt administration released an e-mail saying the Governor was "deeply troubled" by the "Tree takedown."
“I was deeply troubled by MSU’s decision to take down a campus Christmas tree. President Nietzel’s reversal of this outrageous decision by University bureaucrats was the only proper decision and I thank him for it. The historical underpinnings and meaning of Christmas cannot be ignored because some university office received a complaint," Gov. Blunt said in a statement.
“Today, I issued a directive to state agencies that no state employee will be reprimanded, cautioned or disciplined for saying ‘Merry Christmas’ to others. I strongly recommend that MSU as well as all other taxpayer supported institutions adopt my policy," Blunt added.
“Today, I issued a directive to state agencies that no state employee will be reprimanded, cautioned or disciplined for saying ‘Merry Christmas’ to others. I strongly recommend that MSU as well as all other taxpayer supported institutions adopt my policy," Blunt added.
It's too bad for us mediatypes that they put the tree back up so soon . . . this could've been milked for days! Ah heck, maybe it will be anyway.
Like MSU needed any more bad press. Geeesh.
Merry Culture Wars!
1 comment:
How can a tree be "insensitive to other religions"? I understand how a manger scene could be construed to be insensitive. As well, where is the inalienable right, in the Constitution or elsewhere, not to be offended? There may be displays that offend my sensibilities on government property but what would it profit to pursue any action? It wouldn't, because I'm not guaranteed to go through life unoffended.
Still, tell me how a tree, or Judge Roy Moore's 10 Commandments monument "establishes a religion""? How can a tree or a rock compel obedience to any form of religion?
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