Brussels Bans ‘Offensive’ Christmas Tree For Muslims

Originally posted by Movhisattva

This is just about Electrabel having a deal with the city - money and lobby.

None of the traditional symbols are banned, only that the electricity company now makes a good deal with the city.

Shameless.
But nothing to do with offending muslims or not.

I'm Belgian, I know what I talk about here.

I'm glad to hear that.

reply to post by ollncasino

Europe and the West has much to be proud of.

Yeah, the big problem is putting that in their minds, with exception of a very few ones.

Reassuring people that the festivities will be just as authentic, president of Brussels Tourism Philippe Close said: “Let’s be clear, there’ll be a Christmas tree and a nativity scene. Christmas traditions will be respected.

“The theme this year is “winter pleasures” at the huge Christmas market that has a worldwide reputation. We wanted to emphasize culture and modernity, so asked artists to reinvent the Christmas tree, which is actually a pagan symbol,” he explained.

Many are not fans of Brussels’ modern art Christmas tree

Brussels Christmas Market A centerpiece of Christmas in Brussels is the Christmas Market, which features 240 exhibitors from all over Europe who sell wares from wooden chalets around the Grand Place and in Place St. Catherine. You'll find all kinds of handmade crafts, Christmas ornaments and other gift items. You'll also find good things to eat including pots of moules (mussels), Belgian frites (fries) and yummy Belgian waffles, seasonal croustillons (sugar doughnuts), and Belgium's world famous chocolates and beer.

Celebrate Christmas in Brussels in 2012

Looks like it's full steam ahead for the Polar Express to Christmas in Brussels!! I hope those kids have been good enough to get their presents and Santa isn't annoyed by the 'modern art' Christmas tree.

Originally posted by hououinkyouma

Exactly, now it`s hard to get that back. The blain wash really worked out for someone.

A good place to start in working out why Europe has lost pride in its own culture would be to ponder who controls the media.

Another issue is super rich people who live in Europe but feel no real allegiance to any country. Being super rich they have the money and power to truly be international. They have the money and the motive to manipulate society to their own advantage.

Image if you and a few mates were worth a few billion each. How many politicians and journalists could you buy off?

This doesn't concern me in any way. I don't find it important to anything in the world and think it's petty but I want to point something out.

Muslims are not often offended by Jesus, they revere Jesus. If they are offended by Christmas themes it's because Christmas is a fake holiday and any sensible Christian would agree that Christmas seldom represents Christianity so you need to set this idea of "Christmas" over there on one side and the set the idea of "Christianity" way way way over there somewhere because you are merging the two... and as a Christian I find it offensive that you associate Christianity with a tree.

Secondly, for all we know from this article, it could have been decided against because it was messy.... because if you'll pay attention, they still get a Christmas decoration to represent the holiday itself so maybe you need to pay attention to the fact that other officials said this was NOT to placate Muslims.... and that the whole article is simply what this person assumes. It says that is it what she "believes" more than once.

So this is basically just this person's interpretation.

Yeah, well... who cares.

I think someone just thought the other exhibit was cooler and wanted to replace a tree.

There's nothing really Christian about cutting down a tree and putting lights all over it. Quite frankly I think cutting down Christmas trees is a stupid and wasteful practice and my family has always used fake trees. I don't put up a tree at all because yeah, it's pretty but whoever says "You have to have a CHRISTMAS TREE" is some kind of person indeed! OH MY GOD WE'LL ALL DIE IF CHRISTMAS DOESN'T LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME EVERY YEAR AND THERE ARE DEAD DECORATED TREES EVERYWHERE. WHERE'S MY PRESENTS?

What in the world is wrong with people?

The most important thing about Christmas is that people get time off to spend with their families and if you believe Jesus was born on that day.

Yeah, I like presents. Sure, I think St Nick is cool and yeah I LOVE Christmas cartoons but sitting around bitching about a tree isn't helping to make MY Christmas experience any cooler or more original. I personally want to experience a virtual winter wonderland flying around with frosty the snowman without being cold and standing outside in the cold staring at dead trees people hang lights on isn't doing it for me.

Christmas started as a pagan holiday, and these days it is a consumer driven nightmare of a holiday. Was never about jesus.

Who says that this - or any of the other frequently cited cases - are done to 'appease muslims'? Not those doing it. Not muslims. Just those who deliberately or through ignorance are trying to stir up hatred against muslims.

As an aside, I had a chat a few weeks back in which Christmas came up in conversation this year for the first time. The guy I was talking to, in his early 20s, was telling me how he was already looking forward to Christmas. And seeing the decorations in the High St.

He also mentioned that he was pleased Ramadan had just finished so he could eat through the day again.

Yes, he was a (British) muslim.

Originally posted by AndyMayhew
As an aside, I had a chat a few weeks back in which Christmas came up in conversation this year for the first time. The guy I was talking to, in his early 20s, was telling me how he was already looking forward to Christmas. And seeing the decorations in the High St.

He also mentioned that he was pleased Ramadan had just finished so he could eat through the day again.

Yes, he was a (British) muslim.

To be fair, most people of any religion are fine, although it does depend where they hail from.

Clearly however there is a growing perception in Europe that politicians, the police and the courts are unfairly favoring Muslims out of some fear of offending them.

People like the two recently elected Muslim councilors who promised to establish an Islamic state in Belgium based on Sharia law are not exactly doing the wider public's perception of the Muslim community any favors either.

Muslim Candidates Vow Islamic State After Belgium Win

Note that these two councilors are not two extremists who don't represent the local community. They were elected by the local Muslims.

reply to post by AndyMayhew

You're right Andy, it is not.
Read my post here, it's merely economic interests. In this case, abused to blame muslims indeed.

There is a problem.. called pandering. The avg muslim is just a person among many.. but its the oversensitivity thats annoying as hell and its from the NON muslims. Take our footbath in the public school. Koran on the library shelves at school. All girl muslim Prom. Gee.. the few measly xtians wanted to use the cafeteria for a before school prayer in their little 5 person prayer group and folks went ballistic. Hmm pandering...

Originally posted by DarkKnight21
This is ridiculous. And its not even a nativity set, its a freakin decorative tree.

Yes and the funny thing is there will be a nativity scene or christmas crib at the same place.
dutch article
Fancy tree, right.

I would say, why not ban christmas itself and any other religious, commerce festivity.

Those are supposed to be days of peace,... they say...

Link isn't working properly i will add the full one
www.standaard.be...

This is part of the trend to eliminate anything Christian and replace with secular images. Secular humanism in the guise of not offending people of other religions.

reply to post by hououinkyouma

Here in Japan there are almost no christians, but no problems with christmas or something like that.

And in China, only about one percent of people are Christians. We do have Christmas Tree.



And so few Christians.

Originally posted by darrylss

****SINCE WHEN DID MUSLIM BELIEFS OUT WEIGH CHRISTIAN BELIEFS, and WESTERN CULTURE???

Since they began to scream bloody murder every time a woman tries to shake their hand, a homosexual rents a house nearby, a police officer arrests one of theirs, a comedian tells a joke, a history book puts them in bad light, someone in the bus next to them eats a ham sandwich

It's gotten so bad in my country as they are known to attack ambulance workers who come to rescue a family member of theirs. Maybe it's time we, the others, try and whine about everything, it worked for them ??

reply to post by ollncasino


Now what about offending the millions of Christians?

Oh they don't matter. I forgot!

Originally posted by ollncasino

What is interesting here is that City councilwoman Bianca Debaets has stated that the decision was made to prevent Muslims being offended rather than Muslim pressure actually pushing for the removal of the Xmas tree.

good point. maybe there is something more sinister at hand. a bigger puppeteer moving the strings this time.

there was no pressure from any muslim groups to remove the tree. and if you ask any muslim in the western and free world if they had a problem with Christmas tree in public, they'd look at you crazy or even insulted that you are questioning their faith and commitment to islam.

ask yourself, what is the most likely effect this would have on an average non-muslim.

it could be from rage to hate at islam for taking the Christmas tree away. even though it was this bianca debaets that actually took the tree.

but everybody will blame muslims. keeping the hate and the war on terror on track.

What gets me about all this is how liberals NEVER deem muslim public symbols offensive or intolerant, only christian/western/american ones. That tells you that their agenda has nothing to do with tolerance or political correctness but that something more sinister is going on.

well, we could go back to the roots of the traditions and offend everyone...

www.atlanteanconspiracy.com...

seriously, there is more pagan in the traditions surrounding christmas add to the the great consumer spending orgy, well, it's like the christian church decided to just add the idea that chirst was born on this day since no one was gonna give up the tradition.

reply to post by ollncasino


Nothing much to say really except this is kinda ridiculous!

Xmas is and has always been around.... trees, lights & decorations have always been on the high street... I don't see why this should offend anyone...

Should have decorations up all year round... makes the streets look more appealing!!

But would cost a great deal in Electricity!!

Originally posted by Rockpuck
reply to post by ollncasino

 

Now what about offending the millions of Christians?

Oh they don't matter. I forgot!

Really, there is no making them happy. You can have the ten commandments posted on signs at every intersection and they still wouldn't be happy.

Seriously, it's hard not to offend people that demand everyone use their symbols and phrases during holiday periods. It still amazes me how people get offended by "Happy Holidays". It's not like they are saying "Christianity is a false religion, would you like fries with that".