Community Corner

Holiday Tree vs. Christmas Tree, Rd. 2

Gov. Lincoln Chafee is planning to hold a tree lighting at the State House, following his predecessor's practice of naming the state's evergreen a "holiday tree."


There will be a tree-lighting ceremony this year, after all. Gov. Lincoln Chafee's top press aide said Tuesday that she spoke in error when she previously announced that there would be no tree lighting ceremony. 

"There will be an official tree lighting ceremony at the State House with the Governor in attendance," said Christine Hunsinger in an email statement, adding that no date has been set.

Now, the question is, will protesters turn up again as they did last year, when Gov. Lincoln Chafee referred to the large evergreen in the middle of the State House rotonda as a "holiday tree" instead of a Christmas tree?

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This year's tree was erected Monday.

Last December, Chafee was lambasted by GOP lawmakers, some talk show hosts, and the Roman Catholic Bishop Tobin for his decision to use the term "holiday tree."

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As pointed out in a story by the Providence Journal Tuesday, former Gov. Donald Carcieri also did not use the term Christmas tree in 2010, his last year in office.

Chafee staffers showed an ornament from the 2010 ceremony that commemorates the "holiday tree," the Journal reported.

JohnstonPatch asks you: Does it matter what the tree at the State House is called? Do you think Gov. Chafee was unfairly criticized, knowing that former Gov. Carcieri also termed it a "holiday tree?"

Sound off in the comments below.


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