LAUGHTER, STILL THE BEST MEDICINE.

It's the Festive Season, which brings with it the sort of conscience-cowboy who is of the view that you demonstrate your inclusiveness by excluding Christmas.

The City of Wauwatosa’s deputy city administrator has instructed city workers that they should avoid using red and green in public spaces to celebrate Christmas. Instead, top city officials are urging them to decorate counters with purple and blue and “snow people,” what the administrator appears to be calling snow men.

Initially, I flagged a hilarious quote from the instruction as a Friday short take: “In our ongoing efforts to foster a more equitable and inclusive community, we believe it is crucial to be considerate of how we decorate public spaces during this season. Refrain from using religious decorations or solely associated with Christmas (such as red and green colors) when decorating public spaces within city buildings.” By excluding, we include, dontcha see? “Our goal is to foster inclusivity and respect.”

Somewhere, Orwell looks on and cries.

The good news is that the deputy city administrator couldn't take the teasing.  "City Administrator Jim Archambo sent the new email to city employees on November 13, 2023."  In Proper Bureaucratic Fashion, he sought to "add clarity."  Because, of course, bureaucrats exist to add clarity, don't they?  “After considering others, making employees aware that they are free to decorate in the manner they have historically decorated or alter their decoration to be more inclusive at their direction.”

Among other things, that original electronic mail message was "not a policy directive."

Go to the link to see how much more clarity is involved.  Your tax dollars at work.