| Apr 8, 2007 @ 9:49 AM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit'
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Laidback742
Posts: 4,679
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ABC News
(April 7) -- A Rhode Island public school has decided the Easter bunny is too Christian and renamed him Peter Rabbit, and a state legislator is so hopping mad he has introduced an "Easter Bunny Act" to save the bunny's good name.
"Like many Rhode Islanders I'm quite frustrated … by people trying to change traditions that we've held in this country for 150 years, like the Easter bunny," Rhode Island State Rep. Richard Singleton told "Good Morning America Weekend Edition."
The Easter bunny was scheduled to make an appearance at a craft fair on Saturday at Tiverton Middle School in Tiverton, R.I.
But the district's schools Superintendent William Rearick told event organizers to change the bunny's name to Peter Rabbit in "an attempt to be conscious of other people's backgrounds and traditions."
Singleton struck back this week by proposing a bill, nicknamed the "Easter Bunny Act," to stop all local municipalities from changing the name of popular religious and secular symbols like the Easter bunny.
"The underlying theme here is serious," he said. "I don't think a superintendent of schools should have the authority to change something we've held so deeply for 150 years."
Not everyone in Rhode Island, however, believes the Easter bunny is worth fighting for.
"As a Christian symbol, I would say [the Easter bunny] is not one of those that I would go to the barricades to defend," Rev. Bernard Healy, the Catholic Diocese of Providence, R.I., said in a statement.
Singleton, however, said the perceived religious symbolism versus its actual religious significance is why it shouldn't be banned.
"The Easter bunny is not a religious symbol," he said. "Why it's being banned doesn't make sense."
The American Civil Liberties Union has also spoken out the issue.
"Public schools should not be promoting Easter celebrations, and to the extent that the school districts try to avoid that problem they are to be commended," Steve Brown, the executive director of the ACLU Rhode Island affiliate, said in a statement.
Singleton, however, dismissed the ACLU's comments.
"I don't pay a lot of attention to what the ACLU says quite frankly," he said. This is "political correctness gone wild. 'It's crazy."
Singleton said the bill is meant to protect all traditional and religious symbols for example, if someone wanted to change "the name of the menorah to the candelabra."
The politician isn't positive that Peter Rabbit would have been the right replacement anyway.
"By the way, Peter Rabbit stole cabbages and that's not a good role model for our kids," he joked.
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| Apr 8, 2007 @ 9:55 AM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit' |
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spongebob777
Posts: 7,904
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Leave us alone. 
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| Apr 8, 2007 @ 10:58 AM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit'
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Loreli
Posts: 25,410
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I saw this.
It made me hopping mad.
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| Apr 8, 2007 @ 1:42 PM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit' |
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ravensday
Posts: 388
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Does that Bunny really lay those eggs?? And just how does he get them colored? 
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| Apr 8, 2007 @ 2:16 PM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit'
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Blondino
Posts: 4,553
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Well thats sounds ridiculous to the extreme to rename a Bunny .... its like someone is trying to be PC but not quite grasped the concept ....
I believe we should respect the Relgious Holiday of others ... we can congratulate them etc ... does not mean we are changing our beliefs. If we show a good exapmple to our young .. they would be the same.
I wish everyone a Happy Easter even though I dont beleive
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| Apr 8, 2007 @ 2:42 PM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit' |
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ravensday
Posts: 388
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I called all my friends and wished them happy Easter. Even my Muslim friends. They have no concept of Easter however they wished me a happy one also. They respect our culture and I respect thiers. I call them on thier religous holidays and wish them well. Even respect for each others beliefs does not mean that we have to change our beliefs to not offend. We just have to be accepting.
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| Apr 8, 2007 @ 2:51 PM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit'
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uab_5
Posts: 4,759
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Funny...the Easter Bunny, Easter eggs, the name "Easter" all derive from pagan, not Christian, tradition.
Next thing will is Santa Clause will be renamed "Father Winter" like the Soviets did. 
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| Apr 8, 2007 @ 2:58 PM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit' |
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Blondino
Posts: 4,553
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and Santa Clause was born in southern Turkey not far from Anatalya .. in a place called Demre ...
Thousands of tourists from all over the world flock to Demre (formerly Myra) searching for the roots of Saint Nicholas. They come as pilgrims, especially from Russia—up to sixty bus loads a day during the peak season—where Saint Nicholas is revered as patron and a father of Orthodox faith. The beautiful beaches and warm weather along the Mediterranean coast also draw visitors here from both Eastern and Western Europe. They may come to Demre as pilgrims, or, out of curiosity, wondering about the origin of Santa Claus, who is called Noel Baba or Father Christmas in Turkey.
Its a mixed up old world Santa Nicholaus was a Turk 
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| Apr 8, 2007 @ 6:18 PM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit'
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ToucherinSparks
Posts: 6,699
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Hasn't the Easter Bunny been called Peter Cottontail for decades? There is even an old song about him:
Here comes Peter Cottontail
Hopping down the bunny trail
etc.
Oh, and since there is nothing about rabbits laying or delivering eggs in the Bible, the Easter Bunny must be a secular symbol, and anyone claiming a rabbit has religous symbolism has been taking too much LSD and seeing white rabbits.
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| Apr 8, 2007 @ 6:34 PM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit' |
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uab_5
Posts: 4,759
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has been taking too much LSD and seeing white rabbits
LOL Okay Jefferson's Airplane 
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| Apr 8, 2007 @ 8:35 PM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit'
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Bobbelieu
Posts: 137
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Funny...the Easter Bunny, Easter eggs, the name "Easter" all derive from pagan, not Christian, tradition.
You're right...but there's more to the story.
Originally, Christians and pagans got along pretty well. In fact, early Christians brought in a lot of the pagan's symbols for their holidays. When the early church decided to hold particular holidays they "borrowed" from the pagans rather liberally.
They didn't know exactly when Christ was born so they chose a day that symbolized rebirth for the pagans. So now we celebrate Christmas at about the time the pagans celebrated Mithras...and I'm not sure about the spelling. It celebrated the day when the sun started hanging a little longer in the sky. Anyway, they'd bring in evergreens (symbolizing life even in the dead of winter) and put apples on them, symbolizing the fruit of knowledge. They eventually morphed into those glass balls we use today.
Easter...is a little different. Since the church also wasn't sure when the Passion played out they selected another pagan holiday that celebrated new life. I'm pretty sure that Christ died on only one day, but since they decided to usurp the pagan holiday we now have to compute when Easter is.
It can happen any time in a six week window. The first Sunday after the first day of spring after the first full moon....unless that day falls on a Sunday. Then it's the following Sunday.
These things were originally done to make Christianity more attractive to the pagans. You know, to try and bring them into the fold since they really enjoyed those holidays.
I'm sure there's also a lot more to the story but that's the short version.
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| Apr 8, 2007 @ 9:20 PM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit' |
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,629
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You're right...but there's more to the story.
http://www.jewfaq.org/holidaya.htm
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| Apr 8, 2007 @ 9:46 PM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit'
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irish20835
Posts: 1,224
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bunny has nothing to do with the Resserection of Jesus Christ ....therefore I don't see how it can be called a religious thing
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| Apr 8, 2007 @ 11:54 PM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit' |
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Bobbelieu
Posts: 137
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bunny has nothing to do with the Resserection of Jesus Christ ....therefore I don't see how it can be called a religious thing
It's the 'new life' aspect of Easter. That's why it has all the reproductive symbolism that goes along with the holiday.
It's just a tradition. Roll with it, chief. 
B~
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| Apr 9, 2007 @ 12:01 AM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit'
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,629
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Bobb is right. The Easter bunny has nothing to do with the religious part of Easter.
The egg and candy thing is just the games and fun.
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| Apr 9, 2007 @ 4:19 AM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit' |
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atropos9119
Posts: 178
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Now we don't want to go establishing no religion in no schools .
Bunny worship included.
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| Apr 9, 2007 @ 7:21 AM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit'
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eastham
Posts: 7,913
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This smacks of the same hubbub over the "war on Christmas." Of course, those culture warriors fighting his alledged battle always seem to focus on the consumer versus religious aspects of the holiday. A big old bunny makes things nice and cute for kids, but has nothing to do with the religious aspects of the holiday. Does this legislative knight in shining armour own a candy store or a greeting cards store?
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| Apr 9, 2007 @ 8:11 AM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit' |
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Martin666
Posts: 2,195
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" The Easter bunny has its origin in pre-Christian fertility lore. The Hare and the Rabbit were the most fertile animals known and they served as symbols of the new life during the Spring season.
The bunny as an Easter symbol seems to have it's origins in Germany, where it was first mentioned in German writings in the 1500s. The first edible Easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800s. And were made of pastry and sugar
The Easter bunny was introduced to American folklore by the German settlers who arrived in the Pennsylvania Dutch country during the 1700s. The arrival of the "Oschter Haws" was considered "childhood's greatest pleasure" next to a visit from Christ-Kindel on Christmas Eve. The children believed that if they were good the "Oschter Haws" would lay a nest of colored eggs.
The children would build their nest in a secluded place in the home, the barn or the garden. Boys would use their caps and girls their bonnets to make the nests . The use of elaborate Easter baskets would come later as the tradition of the Easter bunny spread through out the country."
Be true to the day---have sex several times!!
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| Apr 9, 2007 @ 8:23 AM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit'
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Kirkish
Posts: 168
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It's good to hear the roots of things, thanks folks.
I've been saying "Happy Easter" all weekend, and I'm not really conventionally religious.
Peter Cottontail? *chuckling!!* and his initials are PC!! Are we being politically correct yet? 
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| Apr 9, 2007 @ 11:02 AM |
School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit' |
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juzhey
Posts: 565
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Nuckin Futs! Peter Rabbit is a character from children's books. Not the same as the Easter Bunny. Seems that if the author was still alive, they would have a lawsuit pending.
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