Woke Wisconsin council tells employees no Christmas decorations
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A woke Wisconsin city council has discouraged its employees from putting up “religious decorations” in public buildings over the holidays.
The colours red and green are also frowned upon and, instead, it was suggested that “more neutral and inclusive” decor be used as Christmas approaches.
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The suggestions were emailed to employees by Wauwatosa Deputy City Administrator Melissa Cantarero Weiss and approved under the instruction of City Administrator James Archambo, Wisconsin Right Now reported.
The email noted Christmas decorations are currently “prevalent” at the community’s city hall and other public buildings, before saying not everyone celebrates Christmas and it is “crucial to be considerate” with the decorations in the city’s “ongoing efforts to foster a more equitable and inclusive community.”
The message urged departments to “refrain from using religious decorations” or anything associated with Christmas “such as red and green colours.”
It continued: “Instead, we encourage you to opt for more neutral and inclusive decorations that celebrate the season without favouring any particular faith belief system.”
Their recommendations include a “winter wonderland” full of “snowflakes, snow people and other non-religious symbols associated with winter.”
Holiday lights “can create a warm and welcoming atmosphere without specific religious connotations,” or draw inspiration from the Aurora Borealis, so blue, green and purple are OK, Weiss suggested.
Social media was outraged, with many questioning just how “inclusive” the guidelines are.
“How is taking religion out of our religious holidays inclusive?” one person asked. “It’s literally excluding the people the holiday is for.”
A second wrote: “So, she wants Christmas to be wholly entertaining and secular instead of Holy.”
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Wauwatosa — about 11 kilometres west of Milwaukee — has just over 48,000 residents.
Weiss states in her email that December is city hall’s busiest month, as many residents pay their property tax bills in person.
She concluded the message by thanking employees for their cooperation.
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