Oh no!11! The war on Christmas has spread to Belgium.

[progressoid]

Brussels' abstract Christmas tree sparks controversy

The debut of an abstract electronic Christmas tree in Brussels, Belgium is creating controversy, with some calling it an attack on Christmas, values and traditions.

On November 30th, Brussels debuted the 24 meter (78 feet) tall steel electronic Christmas tree. The tree, named 'Xmas 3', is described as a "contemporary and artistic Christmas tree" by the Brussels city website. The tree is displayed at the Grand-Place as part of the city's Winter Wonders. The tree's sound and light show will be on display every evening through December 30th.
The crowd gathered to witness the unveiling appeared to be excited about the change. According to a BBC report, the light show that accompanied the debut was met with applause and "plenty of oohs and aahs". Miryam Oostling, who was visiting from Leeuwarden, Netherlands, told the BBC:

"I quite like the tree. It's a piece of modern art. It's cosy!"

Others however are not as pleased, launching an online petition, calling for respect of “values and traditions”. The petition has drawn more than 25,000 signatures thus far.

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/338306#ixzz2Ey0MpsAV

[Buns_of_Fire]

1. Quick! Activate the BillO-Signal! nt

[yellowcanine]

3. Bill O is too busy flogging his fake Lincoln assassination book with the Oval Office which didn't

exist until the 20th century.

[progressoid]

4. Yeah. I saw this on BBC and the one person they interviewed that didn't like it was an American.

[yellowcanine]

2. People are so ignorant. The Christmas tree is a pagan tradition associated with winter solstice

celebrations in Northern Europe. It probably was incorporated into Christmas celebrations to make the transition from paganism to Christianity more palatable. If anything, the Christmas tree detracts from the Christmas story by putting the emphasis on decorations and gift giving rather than the birth of Jesus. And the exhibit may be abstract but it is clearly recognizable as a Christmas tree so wtf is the problem anyway?

[progressoid]

5. Here's the site of the designers.

http://www.1024architecture.net/en/2010/10/xmas-tree/

[Arugula Latte]

6. Very cool. I like the contrast with the traditional old buildings.

People need to get over themselves.

[jody]

7. If there is a war on Christmas, then Christmas seems to be winning. nt

[progressoid]

8. According to a couple a websites I saw, this is leftists buckling under to the Islamists.

Not kidding.

[Coyotl]

9. I like the video.