Merry….Happy…..Seasons……I give up
Merry Christmas! There, I said it. The annual
discussion of what to say to someone or put on our cards has begun. I
don’t get it. Why is it offensive to say Merry Christmas? I
celebrate it and I am wishing a Merry Christmas to someone else who celebrates it,
but it’s offensive. Since when has Christianity become such an offensive
topic? We can no longer have Christmas Trees or Easter Eggs, they have
been replaced by Holiday Trees and Spring Spheres. True story.
discussion of what to say to someone or put on our cards has begun. I
don’t get it. Why is it offensive to say Merry Christmas? I
celebrate it and I am wishing a Merry Christmas to someone else who celebrates it,
but it’s offensive. Since when has Christianity become such an offensive
topic? We can no longer have Christmas Trees or Easter Eggs, they have
been replaced by Holiday Trees and Spring Spheres. True story.
Last month Lincoln
Chafee, the Governor of Rhode Island totally embarrassed himself by fumbling the lighting of the Chris….err, Holiday…..err tree, in the Rhode
Island State House. After many protests from both sides he did a super-secret
tree lighting in the middle of the afternoon and with only a thirty minute
warning to State House employees by e-mail. Last year, the North Andover
Fire Department was forced to take down their Christmas lights that spelled out
“Merry Christmas”, a time honored tradition in that town. Also
last year the Massachusetts State House had a Holiday Tree lighting and a
Menorah lighting, huh?
Chafee, the Governor of Rhode Island totally embarrassed himself by fumbling the lighting of the Chris….err, Holiday…..err tree, in the Rhode
Island State House. After many protests from both sides he did a super-secret
tree lighting in the middle of the afternoon and with only a thirty minute
warning to State House employees by e-mail. Last year, the North Andover
Fire Department was forced to take down their Christmas lights that spelled out
“Merry Christmas”, a time honored tradition in that town. Also
last year the Massachusetts State House had a Holiday Tree lighting and a
Menorah lighting, huh?
So, why do we need
to call them Holiday Trees? What Holiday other than Christmas has a tree
as its symbol? Judaism? Nope. They have a Menorah for Hanukkah,
the “Festival of Lights” which celebrates and eight day festival
ordered by Judas Maccabeus after rededicating the Temple that had been
destroyed. That’s what the protesters must be offended by. Since
Judaism does not worship false idols, I highly doubt it. So what other
Holiday can we celebrate the tree? Kwanzaa? Since Kwanzaa is not a
holiday but rather a celebration of African-American Heritage, I would assume
that true Kwanzaa advocates don’t have a problem with the tree, they also may
be Christian and have a tree in their home as well.
to call them Holiday Trees? What Holiday other than Christmas has a tree
as its symbol? Judaism? Nope. They have a Menorah for Hanukkah,
the “Festival of Lights” which celebrates and eight day festival
ordered by Judas Maccabeus after rededicating the Temple that had been
destroyed. That’s what the protesters must be offended by. Since
Judaism does not worship false idols, I highly doubt it. So what other
Holiday can we celebrate the tree? Kwanzaa? Since Kwanzaa is not a
holiday but rather a celebration of African-American Heritage, I would assume
that true Kwanzaa advocates don’t have a problem with the tree, they also may
be Christian and have a tree in their home as well.
I guess the
discussion now comes to the First Amendment argument. Congress shall
make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof. So the State Houses are not requiring everyone to put up
a Christmas Tree. I will take it a step further in that the Christmas
Tree is not even a true symbol of Christmas in its natural sense. There
was no tree in the manger with baby Jesus. I will take even one step
further with the question to the people that are so offended by the tree, do
they approach their bosses and tell them that they want to work on Christmas
Day? Of course not. If Christmas is so offensive then take it all
the way. Don’t be a coward and just attack the symbols.
discussion now comes to the First Amendment argument. Congress shall
make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof. So the State Houses are not requiring everyone to put up
a Christmas Tree. I will take it a step further in that the Christmas
Tree is not even a true symbol of Christmas in its natural sense. There
was no tree in the manger with baby Jesus. I will take even one step
further with the question to the people that are so offended by the tree, do
they approach their bosses and tell them that they want to work on Christmas
Day? Of course not. If Christmas is so offensive then take it all
the way. Don’t be a coward and just attack the symbols.
According to 2012
Census data Christians make up almost seventy five percent of the United States
population. So why is Christianity constantly under attack no matter the
holiday? No other Holiday comes under attack more than Christmas.
When the Muslims celebrate Ramadan, I don’t hear anything. When the
Jewish celebrate Rosh Hashanah, nothing. Why? Because Christians
don’t care what other religions do and that is how it should be for Christian
Holidays. The First Amendment also gives people the freedom to protest,
so it is unfortunately something we will need to live with. But leave my
Christmas Tree alone.
Census data Christians make up almost seventy five percent of the United States
population. So why is Christianity constantly under attack no matter the
holiday? No other Holiday comes under attack more than Christmas.
When the Muslims celebrate Ramadan, I don’t hear anything. When the
Jewish celebrate Rosh Hashanah, nothing. Why? Because Christians
don’t care what other religions do and that is how it should be for Christian
Holidays. The First Amendment also gives people the freedom to protest,
so it is unfortunately something we will need to live with. But leave my
Christmas Tree alone.
Merry Christmas,
Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year
Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year
3D
If you don’t take
it from me, ask my wife.
it from me, ask my wife.