Is This the End of Christmas in America?

Covenant News ^ | 12/18/01 | Chuck Baldwin

[truthandlife]

All across America, Christmas is being expunged. In spite of the events of three months ago, there is little room for Christmas in America's public life. In fact, Christmas seems to be losing ground even faster than in the past.

School districts across the country are forbidding students from passing out personal Christmas cards. In Minnesota, two middle school students were disciplined for wearing red and green scarves. In Massachusetts, ninth grade students were warned to refrain from wishing friends "Merry Christmas." In Illinois, a teacher was instructed by her principal to not read a story about Christmas to her second graders. In Georgia, a school removed the word "Christmas" from its calendar after threats from the A.C.L.U.

Throughout the United States, nativity scenes and Christmas trees have been removed. In one South Florida veterans hospital, even a Christmas angel was taken down. In most public places today, all references to Christmas have been obliterated. Taking its place is the politically correct, "non-offensive," multicultural, full-of-diversity greeting, "Happy Holidays." What is with all this lunacy? It's as if "Scrooge" has been institutionalized. It is not hyperbole to observe that in many (if not most) American homes, Harry Potter is more popular than the Christ-child is.

America's Founding Fathers must be rolling over in their graves! In their wildest dreams, they could never have imagined such a display of religious intolerance happening in the land "founded by Christians on the Gospel of Jesus Christ" (Patrick Henry).

The longest-living Founding Father was John Quincy Adams. As such, he was a much sought after speaker for patriotic events. On July 4, 1837, he made a very astute observation. He said, "Why is it that, next to the birthday of the Savior of the world, your most joyous and most venerated festival returns on this day? Is it not that, in the chain of human events, the birthday of the nation is indissolubly linked with the birthday of the Savior? That it forms a leading event in the Progress of the Gospel dispensation? Is it not that the Declaration of Independence first organized the social compact on the foundation of the Redeemer's mission upon earth? That it laid the cornerstone of human government upon the first precepts of Christianity and gave to the world the first irrevocable pledge of the fulfillment of the prophecies announced directly from Heaven at the birth of the Savior and predicted by the greatest of the Hebrew prophets 600 years before?"

Adams' sentiments seem quite out of fashion today, don't they? His penchant for Christian liberty is as popular these days as limited government is. Then again, I remember a time when children prayed and read the Bible in public schools. That day is gone for good, and it appears that the public celebration of Christmas is nearing its end, also. However, people should not fret. In the new socialist Amerika now under construction, Ramadan and Kwanzaa are perfectly acceptable.

[Poohbah]

I would like to see some evidence for the "red and green scarves" bit.

[NC Conservative]

As I stated in another post, one that I was told I was crazy, Christianity IS being swept aside just as the Bible said it would in the end times! Look at Muslims, Buddhists, etc. They are all welcome with open arms because we don't want to "offend". This is the United States of the Offended.

[B Knotts]

Yep. The leftists are trying to do away with anything to do with Christ. The question is: will we let them?

[jgrubbs]

Postal employees have to greet customers with "Happy Holidays" because "Merry Christmas" could be offensive. I'm sick of everyone being so PC, when did all of this PC junk start?

[goliath]

Maryland Company Strikes Gold with Santa Christ Doll -- It's a politically charged issue in towns across the country: how to maintain separation of church and state and still allow for seasonal celebration. The Kensington Toy Company of Pee Sea, Maryland responded with the Santa Christ doll, to be used by all governmental entities including schools. (Full Story)

[TomGuy]

"Happy Days" won't work.

"Happy" might offend those with depression.
"Days" might offend those who primarily work nights.

[Mercat]

This has been going on for years. In 1990, I switched my kids from Catholic parochial school to public schools [before you start on me about that, I still think it was the thing to do - there's a sick clickishness in this community in the parochial schools and was beating my boys down and an inflexibility that was harming my daughter] anyway, back on topic, it was a shock that although Halloween was a big deal, Christmas was not allowed. The difference is that this year, people are noticing which is due to the combination of 9/11 and having a openly Christian man in the White House. Alleluia.

[Wolfie]

Christmas is alive and well. The retail sector depends on it.

[Bommer]

As long as we idlely sit by and let one or two individuals dictate how its going to be, it won't be just Christmas that'll be impacted! If 2 peaople can complain and get Santa banned, its gotta make you wonder why the rest of the 35,000 stood by and did not raise hell that those 2 people offended them and should be thrown out of town.

[stars & stripes forever]

Unless we Christians stand up and be salt and light to the country and world, it is no wonder that our religious traditions are being swept aside. Christmas is a good time to reflect on how each of us have furthered God's Kingdom. We must not let the shining light of Truth go out in America.

[stuartcr]

Of course not, there's too much money involved. Lots more than Easter, and see what happened to that holiday season?

[Wallace T.]

Where are the American Center for Law and Justice, the Rutherford Institute, and others that have fought for the rights of Christians in the public arena? I wonder if many conservative Christians, disheartened by setbacks in the political arena over the last five to six years, have retreated back to the "ghetto" of churches, private and home schools, and Christian media.

[apollo11]

Well, if you want flexibility for your daughter, then public school is the place to be. It never ceases to amaze me that people are shocked! shocked! to find that Catholic schools have rules that students must follow. We have a word for it--discipline.

[PFC]

I don't need the government's approval or sanction to celebrate my faith. I don't see people putting up fewer lights or nativity scenes on private property so my guess is that Christmas is plenty safe no matter what the government does.

[alex]

It seems to me that one of the ways to fight back is to make life without God extremely uncomfortable for leftists.

It is supposed that attack on Christmas is going under church vs state banners. So, all places where God is out state has to be in and in a full force.

Any organization, which does not allow God in should provide at least 5 diplays of US statehood: American Flag, Great Seal of United States, text of the Pledge of Allegence, 3x5 pictures of the president and vice-president, congressional delegation, governor and luetenant governor. All employees must start the work day by reciting the Pledege of Allegence and singing natioanl anthem. All meetings should be started from reciting the pledge of allegence.

[VRWCmember]

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all . . .

and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2002, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great, (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "AMERICA" in the western hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference of the wishee.

(By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.)

****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ****** ******

[Heartlander]

Definition:

Christ·mas [krísm ss ] (plural Christ·mas·es) noun

1. Christmas Christian festival celebrating birth of Jesus Christ: an annual Christian festival on December 25, celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Also called Christmas Day

2. secular holiday on December 25: a secular holiday on December 25 when people traditionally exchange presents and greetings. It is a public holiday in many countries. Also called Christmas Day

3. Christmas period: the period around December 25, or the church season extending from December 24 to January 6. Also called Christmastime

4. quarter day: in England, Wales, and Ireland, one of the four quarter days, falling on December 25

[Old English Cristes mæsse , literally "mass of Christ"]

I hope we don’t decide to change the definition of Christmas because some might find it offensive. What if Christians came out and said they found X-mas offensive?

Christ = love

X = unknown

I know what Christ means to me – I am wondering what X means to non-Christians?

posted last night...

[kjam22]

LOL!