Trino letter: Statehouse Christmas tree
This is just a comment on Ethan Schweitzer-Gaslin’s recent letter regarding the Christmas tree on Idaho Statehouse steps. I don’t know how old Ethan is but I am a very old lady. I have seen things come and go and there are a lot of things that disturb me like the burkas, Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the U.S., oh they go on and on, but life is too short to deny anyone their right as long as it isn’t dangerous to anyone else.
The Christmas tree has nothing to do with Christianity; it is a pagan symbol. It’s pretty, it’s fun — who cares? I had very dear practicing Jewish friends who had Christmas trees in their houses every year. They also had all the Hanukkah symbols as well. When I hear Klezmer music on the car radio, I just grin and listen or change the station.
Ethan, dear man, become a part of the solution, not the problem. Stop whining. How does that Christmas tree damage you? Put a smile on your face and lighten up. You will be the better man for it. Hope you are not too old to learn.
Carolyn Trino, McCall
This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 6:05 PM with the headline "Trino letter: Statehouse Christmas tree."