Rhode Island chooses plastic

Whether Rhode Island has a real or fake Christmas tree does not affect its citizens’ lives in any profound way.

But it somehow seems a metaphor for the state’s oft-struggling government that, unlike its New England neighbors, Rhode Island cannot even handle a Christmas tree without generating headlines.

The state has had Christmas tree issues for years, as Journal Political Writer Katherine Gregg reported (“Artificial tree to spruce up State House,” news, Dec. 2).

In 2005, State House workers aimed commercial fans at an 18-foot Colorado blue spruce to dry it out, and sprayed it with a fire-retardant chemical, causing it to lose its needles. Gov. Donald Carcieri thought about buying an artificial tree the following year, but decided to stick with the real thing.

In 2011, Gov. Lincoln Chafee ignited a national debate over the role of Christmas in American culture by insisting the tree be called a “holiday tree.”

Two years ago, most of the needles on the state Christmas tree fell off. “This is the saddest state Christmas tree,” the New York Post wrote in a headline.

Rather than find out why Rhode Island’s State House seems to have a unique ability to dry out Christmas trees — how do other states handle this better? — Gov. Gina Raimondo effectively gave up and moved on.

She used $6,500 in money that had been raised for the National Governors Association’s 2017 shindig in Providence to purchase an 18-foot artificial tree that can be used year after year.

Problem solved.

Except there’s something special about a real Christmas tree, with its piney smell and its connection to the natural world. The Christmas season, after all, employs that natural world — the December solstice — as a powerful symbol of turning from darkness into the light through kindness and love.

And the State House is not just a building. It is a work of beautiful classical architecture for a reason; it makes a statement that this is an important place, one that is supposed to stand for all of us.

To be sure, charitable efforts and other symbols of the season are far more important than whether a tree is real or plastic.

Still, some of us who grew up with the TV special “A Charlie Brown Christmas” could not help but be amused by the sense that we have been here before.

Charlie Brown decides to purchase a Christmas tree for the school play. “Hey, perhaps a tree. A great big shiny aluminum Christmas tree! That’s it! Get the biggest aluminum tree you can find. Maybe paint it pink!” Lucy declares.

Finding a real tree at a garish lot, Linus muses, “Gee, do they still make wooden Christmas trees?”

Charlie Brown returns with a scraggly tree, one constantly dropping needles, which prompts mockery and disdain from his peers.

But by wrapping the tree in his beloved “security blanket,” Linus manages to revive it. “I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love,” he said.

There are many special things in life that need a little love, attention and effort. That’s what makes them special.