Officials from Gov. Steve Beshear's office have issued a statement saying that the tree on the capital grounds shall be referred to as a Christmas tree.
“The 'holiday' tree is just something that was a title used in the press release we were using to solicit a tree to be donated to stand on capital grounds during the holidays,” said Director of Communications for the State Finance and Administrations Cabinet Cindy Lanham. “It's just a misunderstanding more than anything. A lot of people got really offended by the 'holiday' tree but it's whatever the tree represents to you. The most important message is being overlooked here is that the holidays are for family and for giving to the needy. Once again the Beshears are Christians and they celebrate Christmas.”
The confusion may have occurred after the Finance and Administrations office spokesperson told The Morehead News in the Tuesday, Nov. 3 edition that:
“For the tree that stands on the capital it will be referred to as a holiday tree,” Lanham said. “It is not new terminology and it's not meant to offend anyone or exclude anyone but meant to include everyone. It's meant to unite Kentucky not divide it.”
“But the Beshears also realize that other beliefs make up citizens of the state and this one is the Commonwealth's tree and is on state property.”
According to state officials the tree on the state grounds was never called a holiday tree but confusion was the result of a press release in which the holiday tree terminology was used.
“People got so caught up on the tree to say that Christ is being taken out of Christmas because of what a tree is called,” Lanham said.
“I commend Gov. Beshear regarding the reversal of his earlier decision to rename the capital Christmas tree a holiday tree,” Slaty Point Baptist Church Pastor Rusty Hedrick said. “It is good to see our politicians realize the level of 'political correctness' in our society has gotten out of hand.”
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