Posted on 12/25/2011 10:29:25 AM PST by loveliberty2
Sean Hannity's use this week of President Reagan's Christmas Message may have noted the stark difference between the content of that message with those of last year and this year.
The contrast we may not have been able to draw, however, is the contrast between the current President's messages and the words and celebrations of Presidents throughout the past 200 years.
Without reviewing them all, however, and especially for young people who may visit FR, may I suggest that visitors here also visit the web site of Wallbuilders.com where such information has been collected and referenced.
Democrats and others who may think differently about such words and reverence for the real meaning of Christmas coming from the White House (because of so-called "separation of church and state" and PC foisted upon them), might be especially shocked to read about FDR's White House traditions and Christmas messages.
The excerpts below come from Wallbuilders, where complete citations are included:
- FDR, December 24th, 1935:
"Around the Manger of the Babe of Bethlehem “all Nations and kindreds and tongues” [Revelation 7:9] find unity. . . . The spirit of Christmas breathes an eternal message of peace and good-will to all men. We pause, therefore, on this Holy Night and . . . rejoice that nineteen hundred years ago, heralded by angels, there came into the world One whose message was of peace, who gave to all mankind a new commandment of love. In that message of love and of peace we find the true meaning of Christmas. And so I greet you with the greeting of the Angels on that first Christmas at Bethlehem which, resounding through centuries, still rings out with its eternal message: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will to men.”
- FDR, December 24th, 1939
"In the happiness of this Eve of the most blessed day in the year, I give to all of my countrymen the old, old greeting – “Merry Christmas – Happy Christmas.” . . . Let us rather pray that we may be given strength to live for others – to live more closely to the words of the Sermon on the Mount and to pray that peoples in the nations which are at war may also read, learn and inwardly digest these deathless words. May their import reach into the hearts of all men and of all nations. I offer them as my Christmas message:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
- FDR, December 24th, 1941 (Following Pearl Harbor)
"There are many men and women in America – sincere and faithful men and women – who are asking themselves this Christmas. . . . How can we meet and worship with love and with uplifted spirit and heart in a world at war, a world of fighting and suffering and death? . . . How can we put the world aside . . . to rejoice in the birth of Christ? . . . And even as we ask these questions, we know the answer. There is another preparation demanded of this Nation beyond and beside the preparation of weapons and materials of war. There is demanded also of us the preparation of our hearts – the arming of our hearts. And when we make ready our hearts for the labor and the suffering and the ultimate victory which lie ahead, then we observe Christmas Day – with all of its memories and all of its meanings – as we should. Looking into the days to come, I have set aside a day of prayer."
- FDR, December 24th, 1944 (Following D-Day)
"Here, at home, we will celebrate this Christmas Day in our traditional American way – because of its deep spiritual meaning to us; because the teachings of Christ are fundamental in our lives; and because we want our youngest generation to grow up knowing the significance of this tradition and the story of the coming of the immortal Prince of Peace and Good Will. [He then led in a prayer for the troops] We pray that with victory will come a new day of peace on earth in which all the Nations of the earth will join together for all time. That is the spirit of Christmas, the holy day. May that spirit live and grow throughout the world in all the years to come."
I really enjoyed when David Barton was on Glenn Beck’s show. Probably the best part of his shows. It was like the best history lesson(s) we were never taught in public schools. The rest of his shows got a little too doom and gloom for me but loved David Barton segments.
The list, Ping
Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list
Thanks, Impy. Good link to a really good find.
Oh, yes, we could go to Coolidge, Reagan, all the way back to Washington, and the others--but the reason for including FDR here is that when we talk about Reagan or Coolidge, we often reach only the "choir."
If we are ever to make headway in turning around the minds of individuals who have been propagandized by the so-called "progressives." Many have been persuaded into thinking that Presidents and other elected officials cannot and should not discuss Jesus or God, or any of the philosophy of Jesus, such as that in the Beatitudes quoted by FDR.
It is those individuals and voters who must be "enlightened" into understanding that it is the ACLU and the so-called "living constitution" crowd who have censored the Founders' ideas of religious liberty from our textbooks and public places.
Even the Democrat FDR understood that there was no constitutional limitation or restriction to prevent directing the attention of the nation to God, as well as to the scriptures which contain the words of Jesus.
Perhaps a few present-day Democrats may read these messages of FDR and pause to contemplate whether it is FDR who understood the constitution best, or is it the current Administration and its supporters.
You’re welcome. Hope you had a Merry Christmas.
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