Post by Graveyardbride on Nov 27, 2023 15:30:51 GMT -5
Outrage over Satanic, Gender Dysphoria Trees for Children
The annual Christmas Tree Festival held at the National Railroad Museum is intended for children, primarily those in preschool through 2nd grade. Unfortunately, because one of the trees is decorated in honor of Satan and another celebrates gender dysphoria, a raging controversy has developed.
Among those expressing disappointment over the Satanic tree is Congressman Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin. “It’s impossible to overstate how offensive this is to Christians,” the Republican declared. “It would be, in quite a literal sense, the same thing as waving a Hamas flag inside of a synagogue. It’s just absolutely crazy that we would allow this to happen.”
The Satanic tree is adorned with red lights and beads, pentagrams and various ornaments, one of which reads, “Hail Santa,” an apparent play off “Hail Satan,” the word “Santa” being an anagram of “Satan.”
The tree belonging to the Bay Area Council on Gender Diversity includes pink and blue trans flags and ornaments with gay messages such as “Protect Trans Kids.”
Luke Farwell, a Presbyterian minister in De Pere, Wisconsin, questioned the National Railroad Museum’s decision to include the Satanic and gender dysphoria trees at an event geared toward children 8-years-of age and younger. “It seemed a little bizarre to me that someone, based on that, would think it was appropriate to have a Satanic Temple Christmas tree – or tree, I should say. I won’t dignify it by calling it a Christmas tree.
“What I think Christians need to do more is exercise their ability to allow these venues to have the freedom – such as the National Railroad Museum – to host different ideologies and different groups that have different viewpoints, but recognize that Christians find these things to be offensive or definitely targeting them in terms of belittling their faith or how they celebrate the holidays,” he continued.
“Christmas is a time when we celebrate and really rejoice in the fact that God loves this world that we live in and God cares for us. But it also reminds us that we, as adults and parents, remember the Good Shepherd. The shepherd has two voices – one for his sheep and the other for the wolves. And we need to exert that voice,” Farwell explained.
Museum CEO Jacqueline Frank, in an attempt to defuse the situation, claimed the organization was following its own guidelines in allowing the inclusion of the two controversial trees among the 66 on display. “There was no hesitation,” she said. “We’re not a religious organization. We focus on trains. And honestly, the Christmas tree is used by so many different secular and religious organizations. All we’re doing is putting up decorations in that room.”
But are Satanic and gender-bender trees appropriate for young children? Social media comments seem to indicate they aren’t.
Many of those commenting questioned why such trees were displayed at a “family friendly event,” with one individual writing: “Why is WI looking like Commiefornia??? We used to be wholesome and safe ….”
“I won’t be taking my kids to the display,” another wrote. “It would be like taking them to Sodom and Gomorrah!”
Sources: Brandon Gillespie, Fox News, November 26, 2023; Ryan King, The New York Post, November 26, 2023, and The National Railroad Museum.
