No Christmas Presents for the Obama Kids this Year
In yesterday’s New York Times, there was an article about White House social secretary Desirée Rogers. In it, reporter Sheryl Gay Stolberg wrote: “When former social secretaries gave a luncheon to welcome Ms. Rogers earlier this year, one participant said, she surprised them by suggesting the Obamas were planning a ‘non-religious Christmas….’”
This same participant said that “the Obamas did not intend to put the manger scene on display” (this was confirmed by the White House). Indeed, as Stolberg wrote, “there had been internal discussions about making Christmas more inclusive and whether to display the crèche.”
Catholic League president Bill Donohue addressed this issue today:
Unlike almost all Americans—including atheists—the Obamas do not give their children Christmas gifts. We know this because Barack bragged about this last year to People magazine. So it should come as no big surprise that he and his wife would like to neuter Christmas in the White House. That’s their natural step—to ban the public display of Christian symbols. Have any doubts?
Last April, Georgetown University was ordered to put a drape over the name of Jesus as a condition of the president speaking there.
If the Obamas want to deprive their children of celebrating Christmas, that is their business. It is the business of the public to hold them accountable for the way they celebrate Christmas in the White House. We know one thing for sure: no other administration ever entertained internal discussions on whether to display a nativity scene in the White House.
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I don't see what all the fuss is about. Who gives a damn about how the Obamas chose to celebrate (or not celebrate) Christmas, or any other holiday for that matter?
People should not be persecuted
for their beliefs, however
strange they may be.
But why do you ignore the many
atrocities of the Christian churches throughout history?
There has never been a major
religion that didn't break into pieces. R.I.P.
Are we really debating church and state over the beliefs of the obamas ? I know families that don't buy their kids presents either, instead the kids go shopping for poor families. How the Obamas celebrate is their business. If you're going to put up CHRIST-mas decorations be honest about what you're doing. And if you want to be inclusive put up a menorah (or however it may be spilled) and other holiday decorations of various faiths. If the president wants to make a statement about religion it should be in acknowledging its existence and how it shapes America, not ignoring it.
a President who has read the Constitution regarding separation of Church and State. We DID elect the right man !!! Thank you, Mr. President Obama.
My understanding of the separation of church and state was intended to prevent a 'state church ' where one was mandated to attend and all others were either discriminated against or simply forbidden. The USA certainly doesnt have a 'state church'. However, there are those that would misinterpret the Constitution to remove ALL religion from ANY state function/state building/state-employed person.
If the Obamas decide to have a presentless Christmas, that is their choice. If others decide to celebrate in their own way, whether it be a Manger Scene, Hannukah, or the holy month of Ramadan, so be it. The only responsibility of government is to see to it that such religions do not become 'state religions' such as in Iran.
Just remember...the Roman empire tried to stamp out Christianity, killing hundreds of Christians in the process. The Roman empire is no longer around. Christianity is.
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. If anyone wishes to display christian symbols for Christmas - they should be able to without all the little ankle biting snakes coming out to shout "I am offended" Well those of us who celebrate Christmas because of our belief in Jesus Christ are offended. If you don't like it, FINE - but shut up and get over it. You really portray yourselves as nitpicky little creeps with nothing better to do but criticize every darn thing you don't like.
that in the 21st century bigotry and hatred within the US is still alive and well. I am sorry but there is no war on Christmas. People are more open about expressing their religious beliefs. The celebration of Christmas was started by what is now the Catholic Church, at one point in time it was the only church , to incorporate pagan rituals to bring pagans into the church. Islam is not about preaching hate any more than Christianity is, however, one could look and site plenty examples of how religion is used to preach hate by extremists and fanatics.
As for Christianity in general there are so many flavors now that all claim to be the true religion and only their bible is correct. Most use the King James Bible. So named because King James I of England had the bible as it had been translated at that time written to control the lower classes, primarily the serfs.
Everyone is entitled to their own belief. Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech are our rights under the constitution as long as a person or people's choices do not infringe on those very same rights for others. You can espouse whatever you want, so can I and so can anyone else living in this country. However, you cannot stand, sit, type or tell someone that there is only one way to believe or think.
I think that if the nativity scene is to be displayed then maybe a pagan scene celebrating Yule should be as well, as well as symbols of Hanukkah, winter solstice, etc. Why limit to one belief?
Keep in mind we are not a democracy , we are a republic, the people always have been and still are limited in their voting privileges. We have a socialist economy , in a true capitalist economy the government is not involved in how companies are run or their finances. Communism did not work as a form of government because it is not a form of government it is an economic policy. Socialism is an economic policy not a form of government.
Fear of differences is what keeps us fighting within our own borders. Fear of change is what keeps us fighting within our own borders. Fear that there is another belief other than our own is what breeds ideas like the war on Christmas. Fear is more our own enemy than any one person. An intangible emotion that allows someone in a place of power, such as the presidency or religious leadership, that can be used against people to keep them in line and control their thoughts.
The primary function of religions began as a way to explain natural phenomenon. It progressed as a way to keep general populations in a subservient position so that those who are in power can control them.
Fighting over religious beliefs is a way to keep people's heads turned while those who are in power do what they want with little to no interference. If we are busy fighting about whose god is the right one, whose beliefs are correct, etc. then we are not paying attention to anything else going on.
If we as American citizens want to have more control over our government then we need to set aside our personal beliefs and really look at what is going on. If the general public could truly unite as one, regardless of differences, the powers that be would tremble. However, the bickering here is yet another example of why it was stated in "The Federalist Papers" that the general public is too ignorant to actually rule themselves. An interesting book to read written by Thomas Payne, Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Yep our founding fathers thought that we the people were too ignorant to be able to rule ourselves. So far they have yet to be proven incorrect.
If they don't want to celebrate Christmas it is their loss. They can do what they want, as long as they don't try to stop me from celebrating Christmas.
Most of these posts seem to debate religious issues which isn't really the point despite "political correctness" viewpoints to the contrary. First of all, this country began with European religious (Christian) people seeking a place where they could live and practice their faith without the persecution that existed in their former homelands. This is historical fact despite in recent times "political correctness" trying to distance us from that history. The White House exists as much as the official/symbolic home of our country and our president as it represents the 200+ history of this country. People talk about "separation of church and state " and this phrase has its genesis in those first Christian people who fled the persecutions in Europe to found a country where they could express their faith without the fear of "official" (as in government sanctioned) or cultural bigotry. It is sad that today this phrase has become twisted to mean that the country/government must be free of all religious references because that is not what this country was founded on or for. A White House that celebrates or acknowledges Christmas would be doing so in the long tradition of doing so as the predominantly Christian country we have historically been.
As for whether the Obamas themselves celebrate Christmas in a traditional fashion, that is not the point. There is the private Obamas and the Obama that is president that is representing this country and the office to which he was elected. We seem to forget there is a difference. If the official Obama determines that the White House itself will not celebrate Christmas, then that is breaking with a long tradition and, I'd say, refuting the history of our country and those who fled persecution to establish this great country. As for their own personal celebrations, that is their own choice to determine how the private Obamas live their lives.
You say it indirectly very well. It's clear to me that everything IS about the personal Obamas because they think they come first, whereas the American people and representing us proudly comes 2nd, if that.