The Oakland Post

“Holiday” tree lighting gets my bulbs burning

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By COLLEEN J. MILLER

Editor in Chief

The tree lighting in Detroit’s Campus Martius park this Friday reportedly didn’t light up as planned. If you read this week’s editorial in The Oakland Post, you might think that the editorial board had something to do with that. No, of course we didn’t, but I couldn’t help but laugh when I heard about it.

I’m not opposed to lighting up trees and gutters in celebration of the season. I just think it’s ridiculous that we go to so much extent to use so many lights when there are things of more importance we can be making a difference about this time of year. Sure, it’s unseasonably warm and so we aren’t getting the news reports quite yet this year about people freezing to death outside. But there are still people out there not able to pay their utilities. Like with the Big Bright Light Show in Rochester, shouldn’t we be encouraging these companies and individuals footing the bill to support locals who are desperately struggling right now? Isn’t that more important than keeping the “holiday” cheer and driving sales? At least the Detroit lighting was also a fundraiser for the needy.

If you missed The Post It Notes Radio Show yesterday from noon to 1 p.m. on 88.3 FM WXOU, we touched on the political correctness of these lighting ceremonies. Dan Simons, Mouthing Off editor, talked about how it’s a slap in the face that they’re calling it a “holiday tree,” because so many other religions symbolize trees for their holy celebrations. Why are we even bothering with being PC when there’s going be a Santa there?

Maybe it’s just the next step in the whole melting pot thing. Holiday trees and fat men in St. Nick suits wearing cotton ball beards will probably eventually lose their original meaning and come to represent a secular celebration of snow days and frivolous spending on junky gifts for people we don’t like. That is, if they haven’t already.