Merry Kwanukkahmasadan!


THE RIDICULOUS CHRISTMAS DEBATE

Time to "wade in" to the Christmas culture war. Can’t we just stop this whole Christmas vs. holiday nonsense? The article in today’s DR about how local schools handle Christmas made me want to hurl.

Let me show you how absurd it is. Did you hear about the Christmas tree fiasco at the Seattle Airport? The Seattle airport has had Christmas trees in the terminals at Christmas time for years. Now a Rabbi complained saying he wanted a menorah on display or else he was going to sue. The airport removed the trees. They put them back after a public outcry.

Religious folks are claiming it as a victory for religious Christmas celebrations because the trees are back. Excuse me, it’s a victory for secular Christmas. A Rabbi wanted to include a religious item alongside secular Christmas trees.

We’ve got school principals who get nervous when a parent shows up dressed as Santa Claus? Why? Perhaps he or she is worried about violating the separation of Claus and state. I’m no bible scholar but I don’t recall coming across the fat fella in the good book. Since when is Santa a Christian icon?

I think everyone is confused over this political correctness and dogma. True story, I went to Wal-Mart the other day and an employee said, “Happy Christmas” to me as I was leaving. This whole war on Christmas has gotten everyone tongue tied and confused. What’s next? “Merry holidays.”

Do we even know what’s religious and what’s secular anymore? Allow me to educate the confused. There was this Jewish guy born in a manger who grew up to be this fat old man with white hair in a red suit who flies all over the world in a red sleigh pulled by eight tiny flying angels. “On Gabriel, on Michael…”

And he met a terrible end which was dramatized in Mel Gibson’s epic, “The Passion of the Claus.”

OK, maybe not.

There’s this very nice Christian woman who runs the daycare my girlfriend’s grandson attends. I’m so tempted to say “Happy holidays” to her and ask her if she has a “holiday tree” just to rile her. Look, she referred to Halloween as fhe “harvest festival.” If you’re altering the name of Halloween like some Christians do because they consider the holiday to be “satanic”, then how can you be mad that someone does the same to Christmas?

But finally, come on. Who is offended by Christmas? Who are we being politically correct for? Why would other religions be offended by Christmas? Who is offended by Ramadan or Hanukkah?

In the article in the DR, there were plenty of people talking about being inclusive and celebrating different cultures and all. But if you’re watering down or censoring Christmas, how are you celebrating diversity?

How does a school featuring Christmas trees, Santa Claus and gifts violate the establishment clause in the First Amendment? Explain that one to me.

Everyone chill and enjoy this Christmas season without fear. One thing I know the First Amendment doesn’t protect you from is being offended.

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