Bushes Send Out Christmas-Themed Hannukah Card

The New York Post reports:

Merry Hanukkah from the White House!

The president and the first lady invited leaders of America's Jewish community for a Hanukkah reception at the White House next month - but raised more than a few eyebrows by putting a picture of a Christmas tree on the invitation.

DCist adds that the First Lady's spokesperson apologized on Laura Bush's behalf.

Comments

[darthdarcy]

That's why they get paid the big bucks, knowing the effect of culture upon religion..­.!

You can't make this stuff up..

[UnstuckInTime]

Hey DarDar. Did you see that they just caught Ann Pressley's moiderer? Um, do you think he was motivated by the McCain-Palin "campaign of h8te" as you postulated in your comment on 10/21/08? Turns out that you are the one who finds it incredibly easy to "make this stuff up". I'm ready for your retraction, but I won't hold my breath.

[slaxx]

i think it just shows ignorance/apathy toward other people's religions.

maybe we should all send bush merry christmas cards with menorahs on them? i'm sure he won't mind...

[instagladiator]

"Don't Open It! It's contaminated with s t u f f!!!!"

[shespeaks]

Isn't there even someone on the White House STAFF with a brain?Oh right, everyone got their education at Bob Jones. Fits with both the incompetence theory, and the Merry-Chri­stmas-in-y­our-face conspiracy theorists.

[slaxx]

i wouldn't be surprised if these people didn't even know that christianity came from judaism. it's just lack of respect.

[poster1122]

Here's a rule of thumb that I've found to have served me well: When someone gives you good wishes, take it in the spirit in which it's given. Don't complain.

So, if a Hindu wishes you a happy Divali, a Jew wishes you a happy Hannukah, a Muslim wishes peace be upon you--or yes, a Christian wishes you a Merry Christmas, just say thank you and pass on the good will in whatever form suits your sensibilities. As the adage goes, it's the thought that counts.

If you want something to get worked up about, take a look at what's happening in Mumbai, or Darfur instead. It's petty to nitpick someone's expression of goodwill.

In any event, happy Thanksgiving, a very happy Kwanzaa all!

[instagladiator]

Surely you jest? "The thought" HAS to come from the heart to be of any merit. You figure it out.

[daedelus]

How sanctimonious of you.

[Pragman]

No, how sanctimonious of YOU.

[dwillisno1]

How piss n moanius of you!

[ObserverinVancouver]

The world would be a better place if more people thought like you. There are couple of replies to your comment that sound kind of negative but I'm baffled as to what their problem is. Season's Greeting to everyone.

[illinidem]

you got the idea on the money sir/ma'am!!

[bungalow]

Bushes are tone deaf as usual. But please spell Hanukkah correctly on the title, and this piece would be even smarter. Thanks.

[BobSF94117]

So many folks seem to think "no big deal" and "get over it" as though this was just a thoughtless slip on Dubya's or Laura's part. THINK, people! This is the official White House card. A COMMITTEE probably picked this one after reviewing and considering dozens of others. Discussions were held. It's absurd to think that no one considered the content.

The tree was no mistake.

[instagladiator]

Now that I can agree with.. Thank you.

[jhink465]

Oh please. Do you really believe they all sat around figuring how they could piss off jews. Really?

[Steamboater]

This was no mistake. That Christmas tree on that card is just part of the Bush agenda to instill their kind of rancid Christianity on the nation and on those not conformed to their religion. It's been going on for 8 years so no one should be surprised at this.

[tiradintim]

Some people still do not understand that a Christmas tree is NOT religious.

[BlueStateMan]

It IS CULTURAL, though... a symbol of CHRISTmas.

[DivergentMary]

That's not the point. This card was specifically designated for people of the Jewish faith, not for people of any other faith (including Christianity) or people with no religious faith.

So even though the Christmas tree is not religious, it also has nothing to do with Hanukkah, which was the purpose for the card.

[harriettubman]

I believe it was a mistake, pure and simple. There are some like you with an anti-religious agenda no matter what the cause is. Good grief!

[illinidem]

i know plenty of jews, muslims, hindus that have christmas trees in their houses... i dont think they're betraying their religion..­. like someone else said... the evergreen is one of the few trees that can survive dc weather this time of year...

[avocats]

Bush has a lot to apologize for, but not this---really--get over yourselves! That's a classic symbol of winter feasting, from time immemorial, not an exclusively "Christian" symbol. We're agnostics, and have a tree in December as a seasonal symbol. There are some important issues to be addressed, nation--let's get on with it.

[Debru]

It's not a symbol of winter feasting to Jews, and never has been. We never have a tree because it's something that has nothing to do with our holiday and beliefs.

If this had been a general greeting sent to everybody, no big deal. But it was sent specifically as a Hannukah greeting. Just plain dumb. Especially after all the bellyaching over people saying "Seasons Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas.­"

[Travis2008]

Your comment doesn't address the specific purpose of this card, which was as an invitation to a specific Hanukkah celebration. As such, the tree is an inappropriate symbol to use.

That is the discussion.

[Finchy13]

And we still have 58 days of George W. Bush and his stupidity and ignorance to tolerate..­........

Definitely the bywords of his administration - stupidity and ignorance - I forgot to add, arrogance, incompetence, apathy, impulsiveness, self-rightousness, self-worship, egocentric, -

He makes me so mad and disgusted, I can't even put all the arrogance into words.....­..........­..........­..

[Finchy13]

And we can't have decorations in our schools, churches, and malls that have a religious theme of any kind for fear we will insult each other????

And our president and his wife can insult all of us equally - and it doesn't matter???????

Something wrong with this picture here......­..........­.

[Blurp]

Abraham is the Reason for the Season!

[slaxx]

lol..thank you.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Actually, Commerce is the Reason for the Season.

[yappnmutt]

both religions, as does the other member of this group, leave a lot to be desired. this sort of thing just shows why.

[magen]

Completely oblivious, disrespectful and insulting.

Classic W.

Would anyone expect less?? (More?)

I am thankful our long national nightmare is almost over.

[imusintheevening]

Dear Friends,

Just in case you had any d0ubt let this card convince y0u in my last chance to demonstrate that I am an arr0 gant, d/s.respec­tful m0r0n.

Yuurs Truly,

W

[poster1122]

Um, the Christmas tree is hardly a symbol of Christianity. It's not mentioned anywhere in the religion. In fact, it used to be pilloried regularly because of its pagan roots. Oliver Cromwell, among others, called it a "heathen tradition" (though there's evidence that it actually started in the 16th century in Germany as decorations outside of buildings).

Lighten up people. Next thing, you'll be decrying Rudolph and Jack Frost...

[pakaal]

The Christmas tree did not start out as a Christian symbol, but it certainly is one now, at least in America. The Bushes might as well have put Rudolph on the card too, it would have been just as inappropriate.

[poster1122]

But just as the Christians coopted the Christmas tree as a symbol from the pagans that preceded them, I'd suggest that commercialism has coopted it for purely secular purposes. And that has been the case for decades, if the for the last century.

The Christmas tree if anything symbolizes gift giving, or put less tactfully, it's about consumer spending. That's why the big story about Christmas this year isn't peace on earth, good will to man, the birth of Christ, or any of that stuff.

The big story is about whether people will spend enough to keep the economy from cratering.

[mfalino]

You're kidding, right? While the Christmas tree is specifically of Pagan origin--like the whole concept of Christmas other than the whole Jesus thing--it is absolutely a symbol of Christmas in modern times. No other religion uses Christmas trees in their winter celebrations. It was perhaps just another example of how so many ultra-religious folks like Bush tend to see other religions as quaint and worth patronizing. You're telling me he, or his advisers, or whomever actually handled the invitations didn't think to maybe put a menorah on the card instead of a very classic image of horses pulling a Christmas tree on a sleigh?

I bet you think blindly saying Merry Christmas to people who don't celebrate it is the same as saying "happy winter".

[poster1122]

Oh please! The tree is associated with the Christmas season. But I'd suggest that Christmas is as much a secular holiday as it is a religious one in modern times. The commercialism alone associated with it proves as much.

Case in point: What is everyone worried about for this Christmas season? Piece on earth the birth of Christ? I think not.

I'd suggest the foremost question on the country's mind when we think of Christmas this year is probably whether people will be spending enough this year to blunt the economic downturn!

Yeah, Christmas is totally about religion..­.

[avocats]

Sorry, but lots of people in earth-based religions do use the tree--it's where it started-- as do the millions of us in this country who have no religious identification or interest. (This kind of carping is a good example why we have no interest.)

[yappnmutt]

you would be right if you were japanese in japan where christmas is celebrated for what is really is. in japan christmas has absolutely no meaning other than an opportunity to celebrate life with over the top multi media decorations, including christmas trees, with beethovens joy to the world as the theme totally absent of any religious relevance.

[DivergentMary]

Beethoven's "Joy to the World?" Sorry. The music was by Handel; the words by Isaac Watts. Perhaps you are thinking of Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" ~~~ from the final movement of his 9th Symphony?

[MajorKong]

It also has absolutely nothing to do with Jewish tradition. They might as well have put an Easter Bunny on the card.

I don't think it's offensive but it makes me scratch my head and go "What the heck were these people thinking?"

[avocats]

The real question is why the President is sending out cards to specific religious groups in the first place. The card is beautiful and could have been a perfect greeting for the season to all citizens. Sad that it brings out all the special interest groups whining about their own religious symbols instead. This country needs to start thinking as a whole for a change.