Defending Christmas

It's "Merry Christmas," not "Happy Holidays"

Dec 11, 2006

It's that time of year again - the buildup to the holiday whose name so many people are afraid to say.

"Merry Christmas." Why do these two words offend so many people? Why is this greeting such a big problem? Why are their retail stores that insist their employees say "Happy Holidays"? Of course, some have even dropped the 's', and wish people a "Happy Holiday." What holiday are they talking about? Why can't they just say it!?

Why are there so many offices that are afraid to have a "Christmas" party? Why are public schools forbidden to utter the word "Christmas" and, in some cases, not allowed to even have red and green decorations or visits from Santa Claus? What's the problem with Christmas?

In truth, there should be NO problem with Christmas - and there should be no problem , thankfully, some retail stores like Wal-Mart are wising up to this fact.

While the United States is officially and culturally committed to religious freedom, the overwhelming majority of the American people respect Christmas as it has traditionally been understood and observed. Here are some facts to prove this:

According to the well-known polling firm Zogby, 95% of Americans are NOT offended when they hear "Merry Christmas" and over half are "bothered" by the greeting "Happy Holidays."
A FOXNEWS poll in 2005 suggests that 95% of Americans celebrate Christmas - that's "Christmas" specifically as in the holiday on December 25
Another FOXNEWS poll that same year said that 83% of respondents believed nativity scenes were appropriate for public property
A 2004 Newsweek poll revealed that 79% of Americans believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ as depicted in the Bible
Ninety percent of respondents to a 2000 Gallup poll affirmed the birth of Jesus Christ as the purpose of Christmas

The people of the United States of America overwhelmingly respect Christian beliefs and traditions - and that extends obviously to Christmas. Why then must this overwhelming majority shove Christmas into the closet?

Why have we allowed such a small (5 to 10 percent of Americans at best - if recent polls are to be believed) - but vocal minority to convince so many of us that Christmas should only be celebrated in homes and churches? Why have we bought the idea that Christmas is not appropriate to celebrate in businesses, retail establishments, or the public square?

Are there some parts of the country - particularly rural parts of the country or areas along the "Bible Belt" or through the Midwest - that haven't yet experienced this "War on Christmas"? Of course, there are. Is Christmas in any real danger of being expunged from the federal law books? Of course not. Is there a war on Christmas in terms of people calling on the authorities to raid people's homes to steal presents and Christmas trees? Of course not. The word "war," in fact, may be overstating what is happening with Christmas.

But make no mistake. There is a campaign (whether it be by concert or by coincidental effect is a matter for some debate) on the part of several individuals and groups to push Christmas off Main Street and out of the public square. A few specific examples out of MANY such instances:

The city of Chicago asked the organizers of their annual Christmas festival to disallow the makers of The Nativity Story (a movie about...well...Christmas) from sponsoring the festival (and thus promoting their film)
Barnes & Noble has reportedly told its employees not to say "Merry Christmas" and barred any Christmas trees at its retail store locations
Best Buy has decided against allowing its employees to say "Merry Christmas," for fear of offending that 5-10% portion of the American public
Lowes has likewise discouraged employees from saying "Merry Christmas"
K-Mart is selling "Holiday Trees" and "Holiday Wreaths" - no mention of Christmas
A Westfield, MA high school Bible study club was barred by school officials from handing out candy canes with a note attached about the Christian origins of the candy cane.
A Plano, Texas school has told students not to wear red and green colors this holiday season as those colors are traditionally associated with Christmas
In 2004, the Kensington, Maryland Town Council eliminated Santa Claus from their annual tree lighting ceremony. Why? Because two families in the town were uncomfortable with Santa Claus - he being a Christmas symbol and all
In 2004, a New Jersey school district banned any Christmas music from its "winter concert," including instrumental songs that might have originally had Christmas-oriented lyrics
In 2000, the Newton County (Georgia) School Board was coerced (under threat of a lawsuit) by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to drop plans to reinsert the name "Christmas" into the annual school calendar.

The above examples barely scratch the surface. There are hundreds of such cases. Christmas is taboo in virtually every public school, most public buildings, and many businesses and retail establishments. Why? Not because of the majority, but because of a vocal minority that claims to be offended or uncomfortable at any celebration of or even an acknowledgment of Christmas.

This author will grant that it's unethical and socially wrong to deliberately provoke and offend someone who is of a different faith. But this does not mean - nor should it mean - that we have to censor out any public, visible displays of Christmas for the comfort of the few who might be offended. The First Amendment guarantees the free exercise of religion. It does NOT - and read this carefully - it does NOT guarantee one the right to NOT be offended. It does NOT guarantee the right of one to be free of any social discomfort.

It is shameful and indefensible that we have caved and allowed Christmas to be rolled back. It's time that we stand up and be counted. The vast majority of Americans have no problem with Christmas. Those that do should frankly just get over it. No one is forcing them to put up Christmas decorations in their home or on their property. No one is forcing them to sing Christmas songs or anything of the sort - and certainly no one should. But if they have to hear some Christmas songs, see some Christmas decorations, or be present at a function in which others (perhaps most) in attendance are openly celebrating Christmas - well, then, so be it.

Merry Christmas everyone.

The copyright of the article Defending Christmas in Protestantism is owned by Brian Tubbs. Permission to republish Defending Christmas must be granted by the author in writing.

Comments

Dec 11, 2006 11:15 AM

Pink :

.
Who are those people who are most offended by public displays relating to Christianity and Christmas?
.
How long have you been around to notice?
.
A major airport, today, decided to take down its Christmas Tree because a Jewish Rabbi threatened to sue the facility if it didn't put up an 8' Menorah. Rather than get into a dispute, the facility took the Christmas Tree down. How many Christmas Trees will be sold in Israel this Christmas Season? As though a Christmas Tree carried the same amount of religious impact a Menorah carries.
.
Will my merely making this post give someone reason to accuse me of being anti-semite?
.

Dec 11, 2006 11:38 AM

Brian Tubbs :

I think it's quite obvious that many objections toward public displays of Christmas come from Jewish quarters.

What I find ridiculous is that many of these folks object to any TRACE of Christmas? What's next? Are they going to go after Easter egg hunts and the Easter bunny too now - because those are associated with Easter?

I'm with you on this, Pink. You're right about the menorah and Christmas tree controversy. Had the airport put up a nativity scene, I would see the rabbi's point. But that was not the case. It's very frustrating.

Dec 11, 2006 12:48 PM

Pink :

.
Actually, it makes a very important point. It's an issue that ought to be on the table in every church as well as handled as an issue on the nightly news programs. It will be interesting to see how the media handles the Rabbi and the Airport Christmas Tree story. It's high time we we hear some plain talk on the issue.
.
Here's a link from Fox.
.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,235772,00.html

Dec 11, 2006 1:11 PM

Naomi Rockler-Gladen :

Brian, I am sorry this issue upsets you so much. As a Jew, this is a sensitive subject for me as well. I am not offended by Christmas displays, and i think most non-Christians are not either. I do, however, very much *appreciate* it when someone wishes me a Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas, and I appreciate efforts to tone down Christmas in the public sphere. In stores and other privately owned spaces, I have no problem at all with Christmas or any of the decisions that store owners care to make about this issue. It's a private store. But on university campuses, courthouses, and other shared public spaces, I appreciate it very much when Christmas is toned down. I have no desire for all Christmas symbols to be eliminated. However, I appeal to your sense of empathy to imagine what it must feel like to not be Christian this time of year. This is the time when we feel like guests in our own country, where we don't fully belong and are not fully welcome. Efforts to tone down (not eliminate, just tone down) Christmas in *public* places make people feel more included. When the "for everybody" spaces are really "for everybody," we feel more included. Again, I'm not offended when someone wishes me a Merry Christmas or when secular Christmas images are displayed in public spaces, but it makes this country a more euqitable place when people are more sensitive to these kinds of issues.

Here's my blog article about this recently:

http://collegeuniversity.suite101.com/blogs.cfm?start=11#christmas_on_college_campuses

Peace to you!

Dec 11, 2006 1:40 PM

Pink :

.
"However, I appeal to your sense of empathy to imagine what it must feel like to not be Christian this time of year."
.
That's plain bull roar, Naomi.
.
Tone down. Curtail. Reduce. Abridge. Censor. All Bull Roar.
.
You hear and read no uproar at all regarding the holy days of Judaism or any other religion in America--only Christmas. You can practice your religious holidays all you like and you can invite everyone into your synagogues and open your celebrations to all others no matter what faith, Christians or Muslims. I often see the Menorah symbolized in public places during the winter holidays--AND by Christians. But, in my long life, no one has ever asked me to visit a synagogue; although I might like that. I have an idea I wouldn't be welcome. I dare say you can't say you have never been invited to attend a church. Don't lecture me about not feeling good about Christmas.
..
All Jews should be ashamed of Mr. Elazar Bogomilsky who plays the Grinch and has got a nerve. This IS, after all, America, where we practice free speech.
.
Happy Hanukah and a prosperous New Year, Naomi.
.

Dec 11, 2006 3:48 PM

Naomi Rockler-Gladen :

That post was so mean spirited that I am highly tempted to go away and not reply, but I will reply nonetheless. I have no idea why you feel you are qualified to call an expression of my feelings "bull roar." That doesn't seem very Christian to me.

Nobody rejects Christian symbols. We want fewer of them in PUBLIC places that are taxpayer funded, like state universities. I don't want Jewish symbols in public places either, or any other religious symbol (or limited amounts of these, along with limited numbers of Christian symbols).

As for your comments about not being welcome in synagogues, how do you know if you have never been in one? My husband is not Jewish and he has attended synagogue with me many times. At most Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, non-Jewish friends are routinely invited to the service and the party.

Dec 11, 2006 3:59 PM

Pink :

.
You are the mean spirited one. I never asked you to tone down your Jewishness, did I?
.
No.
.
I don't know if I wouldn't be welcome; but, I never see a welcome to all sign out in front of the Synagogue I pass by almost every day. And, it is common to see a welcome sign out in front of almost any Christian church. Very common.
.
If the Rabbi in Seattle wasn't rejecting the Christmas Tree as a symbol of Christianity, what was he doing? I can imagine what his kids get for Christmas. Is he the guy who put the x in Christmas? Fell free not to respond.
.
A tree with red ribbons on it is a symbol of Christianity? Give me a break. A cross, yes; but, a Christmas Tree? No way. How does that apply?
.
Wake up.
.
By the way, I'm not a very Christian person. You can ask anyone about that.
.
Happy Chanukah.
.
Here's a link for all to see:
.
http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday7.htm

Dec 11, 2006 5:02 PM

Brian Tubbs :

I appreciate your coming by and making these comments. It's good to hear your perspective. I did read your blog (which you linked as well).

Let's just say that I agree with your point about private retail establishments and private businesses. They can do what they want, but I think people who celebrate Christmas should be factored into their decision as much as those who don't. But I consider that a separate matter from public property, so I'll set that to the side for now.

Regarding PUBLIC property, I disagree STRONGLY with the rabbi who threatened to sue the airport over Christmas trees. If the airport had a nativity scene, then I would understand his point better. A nativity is an overtly religious symbol associated with Christmas, but a Christmas tree is NOT. There may be some indirect, subtle association with Christmas - which is, in its western traditions, yadda, yadda. But, surely you can see how distant a Christmas tree or a Christmas wreath or Santa Claus is from any religious connotation to the Christmas holiday.

Secular Christmas symbols - the warm, fuzzy stuff (Santa, reindeer, red and green colors, etc.) - should NOT be an issue for anybody. And the courts should stay out of it. If public places wish to put these very non-threatening, secular symbols of Christmas up (like an airport putting up Christmas trees), let them.

If a public place wishes to put up a nativity scene, then - at THAT point - I think that public place should strive to accommodate other religious groups who come forward. If you're going to have a nativity scene, put up a menorah then as well. Have a display that respects the multicultural character of the community. I'm all for that. But...the secular symbols of Christmas should not apply to that. There should be no problem with those.

Dec 11, 2006 5:20 PM

Brian Tubbs :

Naomi,

I think this discussion has raised a related issue, and it's one I would like to discuss with you. While I wouldn't go so far as Pink has to call your comments "bull roar," I do understand his frustration with this issue.

It really does appear sometimes that minority groups (and I mean that more in a religious, philosophical sense than a racial one) get a lot of concessions from the rest of society on issues like these. And there's frustration building because of it.

It becomes a VERY sensitive issue - as you mentioned in your blog. And voices get raised, verbal shots are fired, etc., etc. And, honestly, I don't think it helps in the areas of reconciliation.

I think political correctness and censorship (of majority beliefs and traditions) is helping to increase anger, frustration, etc. The rabbi didn't do any favors for how Americans feel toward Jews. I can promise you that. It just got people angrier. I don't think that's a good thing. I think the rabbi should've thought through what he did - thought more of the Big Picture.

Dec 11, 2006 5:53 PM

Pink :

.
Making a federal case of your religious intolerance and prejudice by taking the issues to court in order to protest Christmas decorations in public is more of a religious statement in public than is Christmas in and of itself. The rabbi needs to apologize for his anti-christian behavior.
.
Think about it.
.

Page:

24 Comments