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--> --> Eugene to allow Christmas trees in city offices EUGENE (AP) - The Christmas tree appears headed for a comeback in Eugene city offices this holiday season after City Manager Jim Johnson reversed himself and ruled it a secular, not a religious, symbol. City employees will be allowed to put up Christmas trees in shared office spaces but before they do, they must discuss among themselves the display of the tree and get the approval of their department head. Decorations of a religious nature still are prohibited in city work spaces generally open to the public. Last year, Eugene firefighters were given two days to put up Christmas trees inside the city's 10 fire stations, celebrate, then take the trees down again. This year, they'll have two weeks under a tentative agreement between city officials and the union representing firefighters. "We just think it's inappropriate to have overt religious symbols on government property in view of the public," Johnson said. The new city view of Christmas trees as secular is in line with a conclusion of the U.S. Supreme Court. "Knowing there was so much division in the community and statewide, nationally and internationally, I looked for as many references as I could about whether the Christmas tree is a secular or a religious symbol," Johnson said Thursday. "I was persuaded by the arguments of the secular nature, the cultural nature of the tree," Johnson said. Last November, the city told employees that Christmas trees were religious symbols and could not be displayed in shared work spaces or areas open to the public. Public reaction was swift and fierce. Critics bombarded the city, and Johnson in particular, with angry letters and phone calls. Many saw the policy as evidence of political correctness run amok even in politically correct Eugene. As news of the controversy spread across the country, people thought the city had banned Christmas trees in all public places, or had outlawed the holiday altogether. Johnson said the fuss allowed city officials to hear debate and a wide range of opinion about the symbolic nature of the Christmas tree. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing