One would think that Seattle of all places, would celebrate diversity in trees--some are tall, some are short, some are wide, some are skinny. But today, we were standing outside Westlake Center working on another story when people started coming up to us and asking, what's wrong with the tree? Do we all have some preconceived notions of what a holiday tree should be? And aren't we willing to withhold judgment until the tree is decorated? Isn't it possible a tree with fewer branches will be better equipped to survive a windstorm?
Play the streaming video by clicking above, then tell us what you think on this pressing issue.
Ok...Seattle is in the Pacific Northwest...LAND OF TREES!!!!! Every year the tree at Westlake gets more and more pathetic! I work 3 blocks away and can clearly see that they made a big mistake this year!
I think it's fine, I personally don't mind. I think it's a reminder of global warming awareness for us NW people, although we have a lot of trees here, that why we need to protect them since there are not so many of them left.
One large light at the bottom of the Westlake Christmas tree would make it a sight to behold. Might I suggest a Duraflame.
Why hasn't someone suggested that we plant a new tree at Westlake, watch it grow each year. . . and add something back to the environment?
So what's wrong with a Charlie Brown tree? That's all I ever have! That's probably what the Three Wise Men had! Give me a break....
I agree with Chris. Why can't we actually have a REAL tree growing there. Portland has a real tree in Pioneer Plaza that they light. And you can't get any more "sustainably grown" than that!
Is this really an issue for the great people of Seattle? Seriously? I feel the need to remind each of you that this tree is a gift from nature, by way of Weyerhaeuser. For that we should all be thankful... that is, after all, what the holiday season is still about right? This tree provides an opportunity to introduce your children to sustainable forestry and the opportunity to teach the importance of protecting the environment for future generations. It is time for the city of Seattle to adopt an environmentally friendly holiday display strategy that features LED lighting, renewable energy (micro wind turbines powering the holiday lighting?) and reusable or recycleable decorations. It is time to transform Seattle's holiday display from excess to progress. Happy Holidays!
Hey, a Charlie Brown tree is not all bad...but I do agree that a live tree would be awesome. Why kill a huge tree every year?
I'm betting that a good number of the 'critical' responses are from people who, visually, are also less-than-stellar? Should we discard them as well?
Considering the tree would probably rather be alive-and-well in a forest somewhere, perhaps we should all give it a great big hug and thank it for its sacrifice?
The Holiday Tree at Westlake is like the city in which it stands, pathetic.
Are we certain Borat did not advise the city on the tree selection.
This anemic growth is an example of how not to grow trees. No doubt the wizards of conservatioin at Weyerhauser got this beauty off of one of their reforestation plots.
Can't we find a better tree than that to kick off our annual orgy of consumerism?
What kills me is that King5 is the annual media sponsor for the tree lighting and this story goes to show that it's willing to sacrifice its own efforts for the sake of a worthless story. I guess there isn't anything else in this city that deserves attention. Here's an idea; how about a story of masochistic news sources trying to poo-poo an event that's meant to draw the people of Seattle together.
I believe that this tree is an anomaly like other aspects of life in Seattle. We are surrounded by gorgeous second growth forests... and we get a scrawny tree.
We have one of the most educated populations in the free world, and our schools are sub par
We are one of the most green conscious populations in the country, and after voting in rail several times, we are still without rail to major commuting areas.
Perhaps we can use this tree to ponder how we can make Seattle reflect more clearly who we are.
Now, now children this is no way to act toward tis thee season...need I remind you how humble you all should be?
Of course, we all know it is a CHRISTMAS tree, not a holiday tree. The citizens call it a CHRISTMAS tree and just have to tolorate the political idiots who try to call it something else because the citizens think there is nothing they can do about it. How about an initiative to decide what to call it once and for all. Even Sea-Tac airport would have to live by the results. Tim Eyman, where are you? Lets do it.
For a CHRISTMAS tree, it is an absolute eyesore. However, it is exactly what the Greenies, Goreboils, and Do-gooders of Seattle deserve. We are American people who are entitled to CHRISTMAS, nobody has the right to steal it from us. My CHRISTMAS list will not be filled in Seattle. If they do not respect CHRISTMAS, they certainly do not deserve the revenue derived from it. So HO HO HO and a MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
Maybe that tree represents the millions of people struggling just to put food on the table and clothes on their backs.
All the nay-sayers of the tree really make me laugh.
Go watch "a charlie brown christmas" and learn to see the true value.
Im sure all of you can afford a nice, full Christmas tree to put in your home.
I like the Christmas tree. It has character, something a lot of people can only dream of having.
:] Merry Christmas!
Oh MY GOD! Did someone actually say that the 3 wise men had an Xmas tree? (5 comments from top)
The whole concept of the "Nativity Scene" was invented by St. Francis of Assisi in Italy as a marketing ploy to increase attendance at local churches. This is fact. I learned this at the cathedral of St. Francis while I was in Italy a couple years ago. There is NOTHING authentic at the heart of Christmas. The nativity scene is a sham. The date was stolen to take a holiday away from Pagans. Jesus, if he existed, was not born on that day. Jesus, if he existed, was not the son of God because: There is no God. It's just a pile of BS upon BS upon BS. Like a set of Russian nesting dolls, the more you look inside, the less there is. I did like the Charlie Brown Xmas special though. It teaches an important lesson about judging things based on their outward aesthetics, which is a good lesson regardless of the spurious religious message.