Happy Easter!

I just read an article that I found mildly disturbing. Apparently, a school in Rhode Island changed the name of the Easter Bunny to Peter Rabbit in an effort to please all religions and people.

First of all, since when is the Easter Bunny a religious symbol? What did the Easter Bunny ever do that was so special? Did he die and rise to heaven three days later? No. That was someone else. The Easter Bunny is nothing more than a bunny. He happens to be connected to a religious holiday, but that doesn't make him holy.

Second, since when do people get to rename religious traditions? That would be like re-naming Santa Claus Nick Smith. There are some traditions that are connected to religion. That is just a fact of life, and those who don't participate in that faith should have nothing to say about it! If you don't like to celebrate Easter, that is your personal choice. But don't attack the Easter Bunny for it. Nobody is trying to rename Jewish traditions or Muslim traditions. So leave the Christian ones alone too!

Then there is the ever so controversial topic of 'seperation of church and state'. Is there really such a thing in the US? How come George W. gets to talk about religion, and little school kids do not? And what's even worse, Goerge W. used religion to help him start a war... remember when we went to war, Bush said it was a difficult decision and he was praying to make the right one? The president of the United States openly gets to involve religion in politics, but some little kids in Rhode Island don't get to take a picture with the Easter Bunny?

And then the article stated a little side note that had nothing to do with Easter.... Sasha Cohen (the Figure Skater, not Borat) performed at a Christmas show one year where a choir was scheduled to sing Christmas carols. And because Ms. Cohen is half Jewish, the choir was asked not to sing the carols. What?? She isn't even religious enough to choose a full religion! She is HALF Jewish. Clearly she doesn't believe in her religion 100%, so why does she get to be offended by Christmas Carols?

And here is the last one... The city of Chicago asked the Christkindl Market not to promote the movie 'The Nativity Story' for fear it might offend someone. It's a Christkindl Market! Even if you don't know what the word Christkindl means... it implies that it is religious, and has to do with Christ and Christmas, and that's exactly what it is. (Christkindl is the German equivalent of Santa - meaning not by looks, but by the fact that this is who brings kids their presents on Christmas). If you are going to a Christkindl Market, you are entering religous CHRISTIAN territory. You don't get to be offended about anything Christian you see there! If you are, then don't go there.

I think religious activism, or rather anti-religious activism has been taken a little far here. There are certain traditions that different religions have, and they shouldn't be changed, no matter what religion it is. I thank you - Richard Singleton from R.I. - for introducting the "Easter Bunny Act" to help protect the Bunny's good name! This bill would stop all local minicipalities from changing the name of popular religions and secular symbols.

I am by no means religious, but come on!! Isn't it enough yet? Can't we all just get along and learn to live with the fact that there are more religions out there than just our own, and respect them for what they are?