U of Maine bans Santa Claus, 'trees with presents,' candy canes, and menorahs - cites 'diversity'

Ah, college. The "hallowed halls of academia." Bastions of higher learning are - if you believe the boilerplate PR in the catalog - epicenters of diversity. They are, supposedly, the one place where ALL viewpoints are valued, all beliefs are treated as valid, and every culture is of equal worth.

Of course, we know that's a bunch of crap-ola. In recent years, American universities have proven to be some of the least tolerant places in the country. If you're not one of the left's "chosen special interest groups," you're probably some kind of oppressor. You're going to sit down, shut up, and learn that you are guilty of your ancestors' vile crimes - whether they actually committed them or not. Oh, and you might have a math class or something. The University of Maine is, apparently, desperate to make sure you understand that unimportant religious holidays do not meet the standard by which they value diversity. If you celebrate worthless rites like Christmas and Hanukkah, you're going to be out of luck. They've just issued an edict banning the symbols of your faith. University of Maine's staff recently received the following email:

Good Afternoon Everyone, Just wanted to remind everyone that Aux Services is not to decorate any public areas with Christmas or any other religious themed decorations. Winter holiday decorations are fine but we need to not display any decoration [sic] that could be perceived as religious. This includes, xmas trees, wreaths, xmas presents, menorahs, candy canes, etc.

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What is allowed our [sic] winter themes, plain trees without presents underneath, decorative lights, but not on trees, snow flakes, etc. If you are unsure, best not to use or ask me for clarifications. Two things: 1. The idiots at U of Maine have decided that "Candy Canes" are religious symbols - they aren't. 2. This wasn't a pro-active decision. It seems that some decorations were already up, but the anti-holiday goons pulled them all down. As WABI TV5 reports:

“I noticed that there is a lack of decorations around campus which kind of is unfortunate because it looks nice. It’s the season of greetings and everyone is festive,” says Senior, Matthew Tarsetti. Just this week, wreaths, Christmas trees and Santas adorned the Memorial Union– now they’re gone. Our trees had gotten taken down I know ATO was having a really nice event to raise food and coats,” says Alyson Binette a Sophomore. We sit here and we talk about how we’re a university that’s about welcoming all different types of people, all walks of life, we have all these different groups like the LGBT, we have up the flag for that…why can’t we support every religion and hang up decorations for every religion?,” says Graduate Student, Meghan Blackford."

The school's bookstore has also been instructed that the phrase "Merry Christmas" has been banned along with the decorations. As if to mock the concerns of their student body, the University of Main released a statement which included the following. We're told this was serious, and was not intended as some sort of ironic comedy bit:

“…the university makes every effort to ensure that all members – students, employees, alumni and the public – feel included and welcome on campus. Decorations on the UMaine campus are therefore reflective of the diversity found in our community.”

If I were the kind of person who uses the horrific phrase "teachable moment" I'd say that we've found one. Since I'm not some left-wing sheep who embraces that sort of lingo, all I'll say is this: Students at the University of Maine have an opportunity to learn a valuable lesson about intolerance. ...In this case, it's the inarguable fact that the American leftist political culture - which thrives on American college campuses - despises the nation's prevailing beliefs. They look with derision upon the foundations of this country's legal and moral codes, and they seek to diminish majority-held traditions and replace them with their own. In short, they're some of the least "tolerant" people on Earth and their version of "diversity" is the elimination of anything that makes people different from one another. When we're all part of one grey, amorphous blob that worships nothing but the state? Then they'll be satisfied. UPDATE: University of Maine spokesman, Dan Demeritt, responded to WABI saying Christmas is “alive and welcome” on campus.

Demeritt also forwarded TV-5 an email from Connor Scott, identified as a brother of The Beta Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Tau Omega and University of Maine Board of Trustees Student Representative. It says, “the trees were taken down, as they are every other year, when the philanthropy ended. This year it was this past Sunday, the 7th. This is something that happens every year – though the dates may change a little year to year – and shouldn’t be a surprise to the campus.”

If this is just business as usual, why ban the bookstore employees from saying Merry Christmas? Why the initial email about not allowing secular imagery with, at best, flimsy religious connections?