The War on Christmas

Sunday Paper - December 21st, 2008

Introduction

With each year that passes it seems as though people are less certain about how to speak of December 25th.  The day is observed as a Federal holiday, therefore we know it holds major significance in American society.  Is it still okay for us to refer to this special day as Christmas?  There are all sorts of fabricated synonyms.  We see and hear things like, “happy holidays,” “holiday season,” “the festive season,” and the most appalling, “Merry Xmas.”  One has to examine what is happening with an inquisitive mind. 

The Opponents

Creditors, the retail industry, and the media are playing a large role in the destruction of Christmas.  They bombard us with messages of spend, spend, spend.  Are any of you buying your spouse a brand new Lexus for Christmas?  If so be sure to wrap it up, put it under the tree, and place a large red bow on the top.  It seems as though Christmas time is no more than a “money grab” with all their talk of same store sales and quarterly earnings. 

The headlines also tell us how it might not be such a great Christmas (or whatever the choice of words) given the nation’s current financial woes, as if the quality of your family’s Christmas celebration is directly proportional to the amount of money you spend on your children’s gifts.   In many instances, they have also begun to refrain from using the word Christmas in favor of the “less offensive” terms.

This anti-Christmas campaign has already infiltrated our children’s books and schools.  Just last night I was reading my 2 and 1/2 year old son Tyler a new book I bought him.  The book was entitled Thomas’ Christmas Delivery from Random House’s Thomas the Train franchise.  As I read to him, I was surprised to come across the term “Father Christmas.”  I had never heard of “Father Christmas” and I was lost as I tried to replace that phrase with the correct terminology.  “Father Christmas,” hmm, let’s see.  I’ve heard of God, is that God?  I’ve heard of Jesus, is that Jesus?  My final determination was that they were speaking of Santa Claus, since “Father Christmas” was going to be upset if the delivery wasn’t made on time.  Now, if anyone is offensive, we know that Santa Claus is. 

On Thursday, Glenn Beck discussed a winter concert at an elementary school on his radio show.  With large candy canes as a back drop, the elementary school students sang not a Christmas carol but a “global warming” song.  I am guessing that not too many parents were singing along.  The way the public school system tries to indoctrinate our children with their radical, leftist ideology is disgraceful.

Organizations like Planned Parenthood have been instrumental in eliminating Christian values and hence morality from American culture.   Their clinics in Illinois and Indiana have rolled out “gift” certificates just in time for Christmas.  They have used Bible scripture in their promotions, but have replaced the phrase “peace on earth” with the words, “choice on earth.”  After all, I can think of no better way to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, than by going out and getting an abortion.

The Atheist Movement

What’s disturbing is how successful our opponents have been in eradicating faith from the lives of so many Americans.  A recent survey (conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press) of 18-25 year olds in the U.S., showed that the number of young people who define themselves as atheist, agnostic, or non religious has roughly doubled from around 11% in 1986 to nearly 20% at the end of 2006. 

Atheists have been battling with Christians in Washington State over the decorating of the Capitol building in Olympia.  The Atheists cite the Constitution’s First Amendment as justification for the removal of Christmas decorations and language from government buildings and organizations.  However, Atheists are incorrect in their assertion as they misinterpret the Constitution as having specified a separation of church and state.

The First Amendment reads “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”   The First Amendment was passed to fulfill two purposes.  First, it prevents government from running the church but ensures the Christian principles will always remain in government (as you know our founding fathers were Christians).  Second,  it states in no uncertain terms that government should not interfere with nor impede the freedom to practice religion.  Thereby, protecting the Church from a disestablishment.

Conclusion

Why is their such a need for “political correctness” in discussing Christmas when, according to the Central Intelligence Agency, 78.5% of Americans describe themselves as Christians?  Is it really that common that one might offend a non-Christian by saying Merry Christmas?  Well, we would need to know what percent of the 21.5% non-Christian Americans truly take offense to seeing and/or hearing the words Merry Christmas.  I have lived in the South Florida area, where there is a large Jewish population, for the last 13 years.  My friends and business associates who are Jewish and know that I am a Christian, say Merry Christmas to me.  I’m sure if they found it offensive, they wouldn’t say it.

I contest that what is really fueling this movement is the liberal, left-wing, socialist agenda to remove God from our society.  For we know that one of the major pillars of communism is atheism.  Communism follows socialism, which is establishing its roots here in America as we speak.  Communism eliminates individuals’ inalienable rights.  When the rights of an individual do not come from God, then they are seen as being given by the government.  The problem then is that what the state “giveth”, the state “taketh” away.  Eradicating the celebration of Christmas, one of America’s most sacredly held traditions, would certainly be a major step towards implementing a God-less society here in The United States.

As conservatives, we need to stand up to those who want to neuter Christianity in America.  Celebrate the joy and freedom in Jesus Christ this Christmas season.  Do so unabashedly.  Please encourage others to act in the same manner.  Remember, that Christmas is not about “political correctness” nor is it about accumulating material possessions.  We are celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  If good is to prevail over evil in America, and the rest of the world, we need to exercise our First Amendment right, our inalienable right from God to worship as we see fit without any prohibitions.  Do not tolerate the intolerant, let the oppostion know that eight out of ten of us still say “Merry Christmas.”

Please view the video and listen to my favorite “Christmas carol.”

(WARNING: video contains graphic content)

For further reading:

This from SouthCoastToday.com - December 19th, 2008

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081219/OPINION/812190317

This from OpinionEditorials.com - December 4th, 2008

http://www.opinioneditorials.com/guestcontributors/jbell_20081204.html

This from FOXNews.com - December 4th, 2008

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,462127,00.html

This from WorldNetDaily - November 26th, 2008

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=82069

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