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What would Brian Boitano do?

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by Badger Herald Editorial Board

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Last week a group of lawmakers penned a letter to Governor Jim Doyle, asking him to change the name of the Capitol's evergreen from "Capitol Holiday Tree" to "Wisconsin State Christmas Tree. This action is part of a larger campaign to put a halt to the supposed "War on Christmas."

We feel this is an immense waste of time on the part of the legislators.

Time is something nobody has enough of, yet many state politicians seem bent on spending it obsessing over putting the Christ back in Christmas, rather than working on meaningful legislation. Does it truly matter if the tree has a Christian or a secular name? Individuals passing the Capitol are free to call it whatever they please, and if Rep. Scott Suder wants to think of it as a Christmas tree he certainly can. And Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, has every right to see it as a holiday tree.

This board does not fancy one name over the other; in fact, we are wholly unconcerned with the issue. It could be called the "Brett Favre December Tree" for all we care.

The sad truth is that right now we have 46 state representatives attempting to raise all kinds of hell over the official name of a tree.

Let's forget the state is in the midst of an epic budget deficit, let's forget the University of Wisconsin could raise tuition again next year and let's forget about Wisconsin losing millions of federal dollars for not having a working voter registration list. These and many other issues certainly are trumped by the colossal ramifications that will undoubtedly ensue if we fail to change the name of a single tree.

State legislators chose to champion an inconsequential cause that will likely be forgotten on the morning of December 26th, and in doing so they are ignoring issues that deserve to be brought to the forefront. Rather than tackling a problem that actually concerns those in Wisconsin, the legislature has picked a schoolyard fight that should have been broken up before it started.

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Anonymous (December 13, 2005 @ 4:45am):

I agree, the legislature should concentrate on more important things. Like making sure Doyle doesn't reneg on his campaign promises and raise property taxes. OH wait!! He already did. Thanks for looking out for us property tax payers guys.

Anonymous (December 13, 2005 @ 7:36am):

That's because other than "values" issues, tax cuts, and slobbering over the knob of various business interests, the "party of ideas" has no actual domestic agenda. If you can't create an agenda, you can at least pound the table.

Anonymous (December 13, 2005 @ 9:13am):

Rep. Suder demands that the governor "put the Christ back in Christmas." Isn't that why the tree's name was changed in the first place? Is it really the state's job to make a holiday more holy? In addition, while I understand that it really is a Christmas tree, the name Holiday Tree is more than just semantics. The tree (at least the year I worked at the capitol) was decorated with ornaments reflecting a variety of different faith and cultures. I realize that being multicultural is no longer in vogue, but what about the Christmas spirit requires polticians to say, "we want our way and we want it now, DAMN IT!"?

Anonymous (December 13, 2005 @ 10:55am):

Amen, editorial board. It's just ridiculous what passes as "important issues" anymore. And as far as this whole Religious Right "Put Christ Back in Christmas" thing, if they're really that concerned about getting back to the holiday's roots we'd al be celebrating the 25th by roasting wild boar, getting drunk on mead, and worshipping our pagan gods (of course, some of us are a step or two ahead on this one). Christmas was not originally a Christian holiday, and it would be nice if the Right would shut up and just let everybody enjoy the season however they choose to.

Anonymous (December 13, 2005 @ 1:50pm):

Well said. The editorial board has been impressive lately.

Anonymous (December 13, 2005 @ 1:51pm):

But it wasn't a waste of time when liberal legislators worked to have it changed to a "holliday" tree.

Anonymous (December 13, 2005 @ 2:49pm):

I think we all know what Brian Boitano would do, which is about to be condemned by our state constitution.
Bravo Wisconsin
Bravo

Anonymous (December 13, 2005 @ 3:53pm):

What would Brian Boitano do
If he was here right now?
He'd make a plan
And he'd follow through,
That's what Brian Boitano'd do.

When Brian Boitano was in the olympics
Skating for the gold,
He did two salchows and a triple lutz
While wearing a blind fold.

When Brian Boitano was in the alps
Fighting grizzly bears,
He used his magical fire breath,
And saved the maidens fair.

So what would Brian Boitano do
If he were here today?
I'm sure he'd kick an ass or two,
That's what Brian Boitano'd do.

I want this V-chip out of me,
It has stunted my vo-ca-bu-lar-y.

And I just want my Mom
To stop fighting everyone.

For Wendy I'll be an activist, too,
Cuz that's what Brian Boitano would do.

And what would Brian Boitano do?
He'd call all the kids in town,
And tell them to unite for truth!
That's what Brian Boitano would do.

When Brian Boitano travelled through time
To the year 3010,
He fought the evil robot king
And saved the human race again.

And when Brian Boitano built the pyramids,
He beat up Kublia Khan
Cuz Brian Boitano doesn't take shit from an-y-body!

So lets all get together,
And unite to stop our Mom's.
And we'll save Terrance and Phillip too,
Cuz that's what Brian Boitano do.

And we'll save Terrance and Phillip too,
Cuz that's what Brian Boitano dooooooo,
That's what Brian Boitano do.