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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 in print or online 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_col
lege_campuses
Peace to you!
Dec 11, 2006 1:40 PM
Pink :
.
<i>"However, I appeal to your sense of empathy to imagine
what it must feel like to not be Christian this time of
year."</i>
.
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--<b>AND</b> 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<b> IS</b>, 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.
.
Dec 11, 2006 6:00 PM
Brian Tubbs :
First, it's yet another example of how excessively litigious our society
has gotten.
Second, virtually ALL the people who pass by a
Christmas tree display at a store, public place, or airport never stop to
consider any religious connotation or symbolism. The rabbi brought religion
to the forefront with his publicity stunt. I wish the Port of Seattle
would've stood up to him. There are plenty of groups out there that
would've defended them pro bono.
Dec 11, 2006 6:21 PM
Pink :
.
The tide is changing.
.
Dec 11, 2006 6:40 PM
Kim Jeremy Sheil :
<i>Who are those people who are most offended by public displays
relating to Christianity and Christmas?</i>
In Australia,
it's mainly the Muslems and the Atheists. However, it's only a few of these
people who complain. Most Muslems and Atheists Down Under are very tolerent
and rather happy too celebrate Christmas their own way. It's just a pity
that the media only focus's on the Grinches. In 2004 there was an uproar
because a Sydney Take Away shop had a Nativity scene on display and the
owners of the shop were forced to remove it because one (that's right, ONE)
Muslem got offended by it, and last year an Atheist family forced a school
principle to make a public apology because she mentioned the word
"Christmas" in a flyer for a school disco.
And then,
as I said in another post, there are Christians out there rallying people
against Old Saint Nick.
<i>Will my merely making this
post give someone reason to accuse me of being anti-semite?</i>
Nope, I see no reason. You're just making a point, which I find
rather fair. If this Rabbi is free to say what he wants, then you should
too, after all, freedom is a 2-way street.:)
Dec 12, 2006 5:23 AM
Pink :
.
The airport management has decided to put the 14 Christmas Trees
back up.
.
A national poll has shown that 54% of Americans want
the trees back up with <b>NO</b> Menorah.
.
Dec 12, 2006 1:23 PM
Brian Tubbs :
In fairness to the rabbi, I have no problem with his asking the airport to
put a menorah up. He (along with any member of the community) should be
welcome to make such suggestions, requests, etc.
My problem was
his initial "If you don't do what I want...I'll sue you"
attitude.
And my next problem was Sea-Tac's caving in so
quickly.
But now he's backed off his lawsuit threat. So, I give
him credit for that, although he shouldn't have made the threat to begin
with. And he should've known the firestorm he would've created.
Dec 12, 2006 2:13 PM
Pink :
.
He stepped in dog doodoo big time.
.
Even a year ago,
everyone would have bent over backwards to please the rabbi.
.
But, something has changed. Standing up against a rabbi of such power as
this guy has takes some courage.
.
The issue is on the table.
I'll bet there's a lot more on the way.
.
Dec 12, 2006 3:07 PM
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen :
I'm still thinking about Pink's words: "The rabbi needs to apologize
for his anti-christian behavior." I like that sentence! At first it
doesn't seem to make sense, but then it falls into place.
Is it
just me, or is Christmas becoming more controversial every year? I once
thought it was becoming more commercialized each year, but now I believe
I'm just growing up :-) and seeing what the main forces behind Christmas
seem to be (shopping, parties, decorations, Christmas trees, politically
correct words).
I just spent the afternoon answering letters on
behalf of Santa Claus (my work hosts a Breakfast with Santa every year;
kids write to Santa, who responds personally). I'm glad these kids are
still immersed in the wonder and magic of Christmas. It's a very special
feeling. I remember it well.
Dec 13, 2006 7:08 AM
Pink :
.
The rabbi seems obsessed with his anti-christian bias on life.
Obvious? He's a rabbi, isn't he?
.
Otherwise, why would his see a
Christmas Tree as a symbol needing to be counteracted by one of his
religionist ideas on life?
.
That's like the rabbi walking down
the street and passing a Catholic Church and making demands that the
dicocese build a Jewish Synagogue next to it or be sued.
.
Dec 13, 2006 7:36 AM
Pink :
.
This statement is a little confusing: <i>"Otherwise, why
would his see a Christmas Tree as a symbol needing to be counteracted by
one of his religionist ideas on life?"</i>
.
Let me
reword it.
.
Otherwise, why does he see the christmas tree
display as symbolic of the Christian religion that requires some sort of an
off set by a Jewish display?
.
Do we boycott our local
supermarket because they sell kosher pickles?
.
Dec 20, 2006 7:24 AM
Pink :
.
The front page of our local newspaper, The Kalamazoop Gazette,
carried an article, Defending Christmas.
.
Naturally, I was
curious because of your use of the same wording in this thread. I wondered
if it is a prhase that is going around in evangelical circles. Apparently,
yes. The article explained the bountious fund raising efforts being made
selling lapel pins and bumper stickers in a few different campaigns.
.
'Interesting.'
.
Dec 20, 2006 7:37 AM
Brian Tubbs :
Well.....I didn't hear the 'title' or phrase in evangelical circles. But
it's such a straightforward phrase/title that I expect dozens if not
hundreds of writers will use it.
Dec 24, 2006 1:02 PM
Kim Jeremy Sheil :
It's not just Christians who are nutters when it comes to religious
protests. The secularists can be just as insane:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BRF_MAN_ON_FIRE?SITE=FLTAM
Jan 13, 2007 11:20 PM
Minnie Yamashita :
I just read your well-written article and the discussion. I hear some very
good points and I think that some very basic issues are involved.
One was already wisely mentioned. We are fortunate to have freedom of
speech and freedom of beliefs in this country.
I don't know of
any other religions that celebrate during the Christmas season as Hanukah,
but the menorrah really should not be offensive at all to us Christians.
"Every design given to Moses by God represented a foresight of
profound spiritual significance. The spiritual significance is it's true
meaning can only be seen in [Yeshua] Christ" is from
http://goodnewsandprophecy.org/footnote_mosaic-mennorah.htm
Another article gives more details on how the Rabbi got involved. At
http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/newscontent.php3?artid=13397 it says that
airport officials wanted "secular with no hint of Christian, Jewish or
any other faith."
A belated Merry Christmas and Happy
Chanukah to all of you! Shalom! :)
Jan 14, 2007 8:40 AM
Pink :
.
Hello!
.
How are you?
.
I'm sure I'm not the
only one who misses your bright face and sweet smile around here.
.
Happy New Year!
.
And Shalom to you.
.
24 Comments
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