Friday, November 30, 2007

I suppose it was inevitable


Ed Stein, of the Rocky Mountain News published this





A Christian lawyer weighs in

Todd Juris' excellent blog has a great balance of law and faith as he goes through law school.

He said this:

"I find it more offensive that stores are commercializing such an important Christian holiday... I mean, how does spending so much money to get consumers to spend theirs get across the Gospel? That and forbidding employees from saying "Merry Christmas" is what bothers me."

and he weighs in on the tree issue

"WHO CARES if it's called a "Christmas tree" or a "holiday tree"? Once again, we miss the real debate. Let's say a public school has a "Winter Festival." A young man wears a shirt that says, "Jesus is the reason for the season." Said young man is expelled. That's where the issue, in my opinion lies. Or try another, probably more true, hypothetical. Say the state Capitol has a Menorah, but says "Bah Humbug!" to a Christmas tree or Nativity scene. That's showing a preference towards religion. Is the title of a tree really going to ruin our holidays and bemoan the downfall of Christmas? If a Christmas tree has special meaning to you, let it mean that in your home; let it mean that when you pass the "holiday" tree; let it mean that when you pass an evergreen forest. Just don't lose your witness over the name of a tree!

Good point brother.

In this greatest nation, we should be free to worship any way we choose. Far too many worship a holiday that is just a spending spree.

On the other hand, our beliefs that "behold, a King has come" should not be mocked or minimized.

Let the pagans have their holiday -- and I'll have mine!

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Now the trees are offensive

Missouri State University decided to remove a Christmas tree from their atrium at Strong Hall.

Now, thanks to widespread protests, it's back up.

The school president, Michael T. Nietzel, said this. "We decided this is the right thing to do. Missouri State is an institution at which many different religions are represented, and we try to be sensitive to the many views people hold."

It sounds like he got right.

A faculty member was the original complaintant, saying that tree showed "a lack of sensitivity" to those of other religions.

I didnt know trees could show any emotions, let alone sensitivity!

In case you are wondering, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that a Christmas trees are secular symbols, as are menorahs.

I would never argue that a Christmas tree is part of my faith -- and thus it is silly for those of the anti-Christmas to be offended by this supposed display of religion. It's not. It's cultural. So leave them up.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

It's okay to wish me a Merry Christmas


A note from a new friend:




"Thank you for your efforts on your Christmas blog - keep up the good work! My wife and I would like to send you our "It's okay to wish me a Merry Christmas" button to wear. We started doing WishMeChristmas in 2005 as a means to stopping some from taking away Christmas. Our website, www.wishmechristmas.com, encourages folks to wish someone a Merry Christmas and keep Christ in Christmas.



Thank you and God bless.
Regards,Dean Dzurilla

Friday, November 23, 2007

Even Santa reminds city of Christmas

The Redding, CA, Record Searchlight reports that the local Tehama county has banned all reminders of Christmas from their offices. And not just the overtly 'religious' symbols.

Apparently, even Santa has to take a hike too.

County Social Services Director Christine Applegate says "Santa's origins are Christian," so he's inappropriate for a government office.

What are they going to do with Valentine's Day,after all it is named after the dreaded "Saint Valentine." And don't even get them started on the Easter Bunny.

I bet they still have the day off.

"We're bringing Christmas back to Long Island"

MSNBC reports that the Village of Patchogue has its own man who is keeping Christmas in vogue -- Phil Butler.

Tired of hearing "Christmas" replaced by the politically correct "holidays" since moving to the village two years ago, Butler urged local officals to rename its end-of-year boat parade to a "Christmas" parade.

Next, Butler got the local garden club to rename its "holiday house tour" to "the Christmas house tour."

Go Phil!!

The village wouldnt allow him to put up a Nativity scene on the public grounds -- so he leased and empty lot downtown and put up his own.

And if anyone would be offended by celebration of the birth of Jesus, whom His followers call "the Christ," it would be the Jews.

But the local Rabbi, Joel Levinson, of Temple Beth El in the village, said he hadn't heard of Butler's plans, but said he "respected any religious celebration."


Jeff Koterba, Omaha World Herald, NE

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Where's the offense?

Michael Stelzner's blog reports on a couple of polls from last year. Zogby American Consumer report found that 95 percent of folks are NOT offended when they hear the words “Merry Christmas.”

That same report said that 1 in 3 are actually very offended when the words “Happy Holidays” push out the phrase “Merry Christmas.”

This should not come as a big surprise because another poll by Fox News/Opinion Dynamics showed that 95 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas.

So where's the offense?

Twas the night before a winter holiday

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
How the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas - no one could say
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings,
the teachers would say December 25th is just a "Holiday".
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas;
it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton,
Wolf Blitzen On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word,
as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Happy Holidays -- what a crock!

This year, we are beginning to see the worn-out phrase, "Happy Holidays."

What in the world does this mean? It's too much to say "Christmas," because somebody, somewhere might be offended.

And yet we scurry around to parties, buying gifts, hanging lights and whistling tunes to some conglomerate of holidays? No -- It's Christmas. Say so say it already!

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Colored lights just too festive for Colorado town

The city of Ft. Collins, CO started the holiday season off with a bang.

A special task force in this Colorado city recommended banning red and green lights at the Christmas holiday because they felt the lights would remind people of the actual Christmas holiday -- and that is something government "shouldn't do."

In case this might be misconstrued, Seth Anthony, a spokesman for the committee, made it crystal clear.

"Even though the Supreme Court has declared that in many contexts they are secular symbols, often still send a message to some members of the community that they and their traditions are not valued and not wanted,"

"We don't want to send that message," said Anthony.

So Seth, just exactly what kind of message ARE you sending?
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