Opposing Views: OPINION:Annual War on Christmas Already Begun

Annual War on Christmas Already Begun

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Catholic League president Bill Donohue notes that the 2009 war on Christmas has begun.

For almost three decades, there has been a Christmas parade in Amelia, Ohio, a village outside Cincinnati. But this year there will be none. That’s because one person complained, village solicitor Laura Abrams. Her complaint: the word “Christmas.” In response, the village changed the name to the “Holiday Parade,” though it did not say what holiday was being celebrated. Understandably, this dishonest scheme created a furor, the result being—just to play it safe—there will be no parade.

There will be no Christmas tree this year on the Capitol lawn in Frankfort, Kentucky. The word “Christmas” was deemed offensive. Instead, there will be a “Holiday Tree.” The official line is that the “Holiday Tree” is inclusive of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s, though no one has ever heard of a “Thanksgiving Tree,” “Hanukkah Tree” or “New Year’s Tree.”

When World War II ended, a local resident from Warren, Michigan decided to erect a nativity scene on a public median; the same family has privately maintained this tradition ever since. But there won’t be one this year because a lawsuit argues it is discriminatory.

In Olympia, Washington, religious displays have been banned inside municipal buildings. But outside the buildings, it is okay. Well, not really—atheists are already protesting that decision.

Arizona is supplying this year’s Christmas Tree in the nation’s Capitol. Attempts to bar students from making religious ornaments were defeated, but only because of a threatened lawsuit.

Make no mistake about it: The declared enemy of these cultural fascists is religious speech, and they will stop at nothing to censor it. Stay tuned—we’re only in early November.

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OPINION:Annual War on Christmas Already Begun

You mean...

You mean the "Christian Right's Annual War to Demolish the Separation of Church and State, and Declare Themselves Victims," don't you?

When was the last time someone stopped you from personally practicing your religion , celebrating your holiday, or wishing anyone anything that you please? Come on.

- Babaroni November 3, 2009 9:06PM

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Question

Why should public resources and/or taxpayer dollars be used to facilitate or maintain holiday decorations religious or otherwise?

Public owned property and resources are for conducting public business. There's no good reason to deck town hall with boughs of holly, pumpkins, turkeys or green tinted saints. You want that kind of stuff, hit the local mall where its done commercially for profit, not at taxpayer expense.

The most obnoxious thing I see from the "freedom of religion " crowd is the view that somehow freedom of religion establishes a right to cram the various mythologies, of various whacked out cults, down the throats of everyone they come in contact with. IT DOES NOT.

As Will Rogers so beautifully put it, "Your right to swing your fist stops where my nose begins.".

It is, in fact, the religious fascists that are the violators of rights. As much as the wannabe dictators from the Catholic League would like it to be otherwise, we do not have a state sponsored religion in America. There's a good reason for this. While you might think it's just grand to have a Christmas tree in every place of government business, you would certainly feel otherwise if you found a Mohamadmas tree in every place of public of business.

Or maybe inverted crosses with animal sacrifices nailed to them at the nearest department of licensing? Would that make you happy?

After all, if the state should be obligated to allow your religious artifacts to be scattered about public places, surely your view of " religious freedom " would obligate the state to provide for the religious artifacts of others. So, by all means, let's carve a pentagram on the courthouse lawn and erect a statue of Buddha at the entrance of every state capital building. We can name public parks after Set and Odin, and observe black masses and pagan rites on their holy days.

Or better yet, we can separate church and state and let everyone go about their private affairs unmolested.

- Don Earl November 3, 2009 9:44PM

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Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's

Christ exasperated the militants by separating church and state . He knew that worldly victories were meaningless and had no part in his mission.

He dared to give us a new commandment: "Love one another." There is no room for militancy here, no compromise, no political component.

You can't claim to love people while fighting culture wars with them. Include them, embrace them, appreciate their concerns. Show a little humility.

As Gandhi once said, "you'll find there's room enough for all of us".

Now that's Christianity!

- imvho November 4, 2009 5:13AM

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christmas poem

What xmas meas to me

Merry Christmas Happy Holidays
The holiday shoppers are there at the store
They're pushing and shoving,900 or more.
The doors finally open
get out of the way
They need to buy presents for their savior's
birthday.

The store clerk that bravely opened the door
lies bleeding and trampled and dead on the
floor.
The crowd rushes onward filled with holiday
joy
To make sure their kids get the latest new
toy.

Merry Christmas Happy Holiday
This really is fun then one of the shoppers
pulls out a gun.
The bullets start flying with holiday cheer
I feel one bullet fly by my ear.

Merry Christmas Happy Holiday
Holiday shopping is hard I nearly got
killed for this lousy gift card

This season of peace just comes once a
The next time I go shopping will be in
full combat gear.

Merry christmas Happy Holiday
Call me a grinch or a jerk
Christmas for me is just a day off of work.

TA DA

- bug November 11, 2009 4:06PM

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