Easter Bunny Too Christian Renamed Peter Rabbit

[las47032]

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.

Source: Top News- School Renames Easter Bunny 'Peter Rabbit' - AOL News

[Woodmonkey]

First off, there is nothing even remotely religious about the Easter bunny. Second, Beatrix Potter wrote The Tale of Peter Rabbit which has nothing to do with the Easter bunny.

This is a link to the story - The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter

[leobold1]

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."

So what other weekend would "Peter" show up at a craft fair?

ITS EASTER WEEKEND!

[m60-gunner]

When the newest Mall opened in Des Moines Iowa a couple years ago in December I never really paid attention to the signs that said Happy Winter Festival, then the following spring I noticed a man in a large rabbit suit. I carried my granddaughter closer and a women walked up to me. She asked if I would like a ticket to allow my granddaughter to visit the Spring Bunny on this Spring Festival. I asked where the Easter Bunny was. She told me that would be demeaning and unfair to the families that wasn't Christian.
Nice Mall, but I hav,et been back since.

[PLUMB50]

Easter bunny ,Religious . DON'T REMEMBER READING THAT IN THE BIBLE. WHAT IS WORLD COMING TO??????????????????

[drywall]

the name Peter DOES appear in the bible, so we can't name him that. Let me think.........how about John?? Nope nope, thats can't be used either.......uh...........Mark? Dang, can't use that either. I know. I know .......Luke........what? Not that name either? This is getting tough.........Matthew? I don't think so.............help me out here folks........

[Woodmonkey]

How about naming him the Easter bunny, John, since he only appears then?