It’s that “wondrous and mystical ” time of year again. It’s Christmas time, and it’s time for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to engage in it’s annual practice of attempting to force public entities to remove any vestige of Christmas by means of fear, intimidation, disinformation and threats of lawsuits (which, as I will explain later, is totally unfounded and probably an act of legal malpractice and fraud).
This year the ACLU is really outdoing itself. It’s sending out letters to school superintendants, under the guise of wishing them a “Happy” Holidays”. They are citing US Supreme Court legal cases that are either inapplicable or have been overruled, to subtly threaten school administrators to NOT allow any religious or traditional Christmas symbols or celebrations. This is a quote from one of the ACLU letters to school superintendants:
“We believe, however, that holiday celebrations that focus primarily on one religious holiday can result in indoctrination as well as a sense within students who do not share that religion of being outsiders to the school. Similarly, we welcome holiday celebrations that share secular symbols such as Santa Claus or dreidels but we believe that holiday celebrations that focus on religious symbols can likewise result in indoctrination and the exclusion of students. The families of your students trust that you will work to ensure that this does not happen.”
Please follow this link for the whole story on ACLU actions:
http://www.adfmedia.org/News/PRDetail/4463
This year the ACLU is really outdoing itself. It’s sending out letters to school superintendants, under the guise of wishing them a “Happy” Holidays”. They are citing US Supreme Court legal cases that are either inapplicable or have been overruled, to subtly threaten school administrators to NOT allow any religious or traditional Christmas symbols or celebrations. This is a quote from one of the ACLU letters to school superintendants:
“We believe, however, that holiday celebrations that focus primarily on one religious holiday can result in indoctrination as well as a sense within students who do not share that religion of being outsiders to the school. Similarly, we welcome holiday celebrations that share secular symbols such as Santa Claus or dreidels but we believe that holiday celebrations that focus on religious symbols can likewise result in indoctrination and the exclusion of students. The families of your students trust that you will work to ensure that this does not happen.”
Please follow this link for the whole story on ACLU actions:
http://www.adfmedia.org/News/PRDetail/4463
This year the ACLU has been joined in this “New Christmas tradition” by other organizations such as the American Atheists and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The American Atheists have spent $20,000 to erect a billboard next to the heavily travelled Lincoln Tunnel between New York and New Jersey attacking Christmas as being "unreasonable" and a "myth". Of course this is America, and all people have the right to express their religion or lack of religion in any way they desire. However, true Americans are also known for their tolerance. Can you imagine if Christians started posting billboards stating that Mohammed or Buddah, were myths, or unreasonable; or Muslims or scientology proponents started posting billboards stating that Jesus is a myth? American society would probably degrade very quickly into street level warfare (similar to what we have in many Middle Eastern countries). Quite simply the actions of the American Atheists are un-American, to say the least.
Please follow this link for the whole story about the American Atheists:
http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2010/12/atheists_anti-christmas_billbo.html
Just as one neighborhood resident won’t allow himself to be outdone by another neighbor’s massive Christmas light display, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) refuses to be outdone by the ACLU or the American Atheists. Earlier this month the FFRF sent out it’s own intimidating and threatening letter to the County Commissioners and Brookville Town Council, in Franklin County, IN demanding that a nativity scene on the lawn of the Franklin County Courthouse be removed immediately. As in the ACLU letters, the FFRF letter takes quotes from US Supreme Court Cases out of context to intimidate government officials to remove any vestige of Christmas from the public forum. It’s also interesting to note that the FFRF, which is located in Madison, WI was not responding to any specific complaint from residents of Franklin County, IN. Similarly the ACLU (even though stating “The families of your students trust that you will work to ensure that this does not happen.”) was not responding to any specific complaints from families of students attending the schools to which they sent their threatening letters.
Please follow this link for the whole story about the FFRF:
http://www.ffrf.org/news/releases/foundation-opposes-religious-display-in-franklin-county-ind/
Unethical actions such as these have had a chilling effect and left many government and school officials, and even attorneys, confused as to what is legal and illegal as far as secular and religious Christmas decorations and celebrations. Consequently many of these officials and attorneys have decided to be safe rather than sorry and have completely replaced any vestige of traditional Christmas with secular symbols only.
Some examples of government and school officials taking actions to replace Christmas displays with purely secular displays or to completely eliminate traditional Christmas celebrations (usually against the wishes of the community and often without any complaints having been received from community members) are as follows:
Officials of the Borough of Canonsburg, PA, outside of Pittsburgh, forced the Knights of Columbus to remove a nativity scene from in front of the borough building based upon one complaint from an alleged Satan worshiping citizen. It has been a borough tradition for 57 years for the Knights of Columbus to provide this nativity display. Town officials stated that they didn’t want to move the nativity scene but were legally obligated to do so (they obviously didn’t understand the law).
Thankfully the Knights of Columbus moved the nativity scene to nearby private property.
The link to the original story is here:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/pa-town-removes-57-year-old-nativity-scene-from-govt-building-after-complaint/- old-nativity-scene-from-govt-building-after-complaint/
Update: After a national outcry against removing the nativity scene and after being counseled on the US Supreme Court holdings permitting the display of nativity scenes, Canonsburg, PA borough officials permitted the nativity display to be returned to the front of the public borough building:
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/12/pennsylvania_town_restores_nat.html
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2010/12/pennsylvania_town_restores_nat.html
The Young Men’s “CHRISTIAN” Association (YMCA) of West Village, NY has banned Santa Claus from their Christmas celebration and replaced him with Frosty the Snowman because they believe Frosty will “appeal to a broader number of kids”.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/12/12/new-york-city-ymca-gives-santa-boot/
The City Managers of Boca Raton, FL refuse to allow the display of a manger in a Christmas display that included items from a non Christian religion and other secular Christmas items (if the city managers understood the US Supreme Court holdings in this area they would probably rethink their actions).
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/12/11/religious-group-protests-holiday-display-florida/
As evidence that even secular Christmas displays are being eliminated we have this ridiculous story from an Ashland, OR school district stating that the Christmas tree is a Christian symbol and cannot be legally displayed unless surrounded by other Winter decorations and/or symbols of other religions (If these teachers would do their homework they’d know that the Christmas tree derives more from pagan traditions than from Christianity).
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101215/NEWS07/12150347/-1/NEWSMAP
I recently read a blog where the author stated that “America is no longer a predominately Christian nation" and, therefore, Christian displays should not be permitted during the Christmas season. Unfortunately, this is a common misperception shared by the politically liberal and the atheists, and is evidence that the ACLU is winning the Christmas Wars.
The fact of the matter is that Americans overwhelmingly self identify as Christian. Depending upon what survey you trust (see examples below), 76% to 83% of Americans identify themselves as Christian. This would make America the most Christian nation on earth given the fact that only 33% of the world is Christian.
Furthermore, even though only 76-83% identify as Christian, a whooping 96% of Americans state that they celebrate Christmas (Fox News/Opinion Dynamics 2003)
90% of Americans recognize Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ (Gallup 2000)
And 88% of Americans say it’s OK to wish someone Merry Christmas (CNN/USA Today/ Gallup 2004).
All This is not surprising given the fact that many non Christians in foreign countries also state that they celebrate Christmas (albeit, more from a materialistic aspect rather than from a religious aspect).
I have listed below just a few of the surveys of predominant religions in America:
PEW Research Survey
http://religions.pewforum.org/reports
I have listed below just a few of the surveys of predominant religions in America:
PEW Research Survey
http://religions.pewforum.org/reports
CNN Survey
http://articles.cnn.com/2009-03-09/living/us.religion.less.christian_1_american-religious-identification-survey-christian-nation-evangelical?_s=PM:LIVING
ARIS Survey
http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html#religions
Now, I have mentioned several times that government and school officials refuse to allow Christmas decorations and or celebrations because they are ignorant of the law. Well what is the law? That could be the subject of a whole other lengthy article. In the interest of brevity I will defer to a summary of the applicable law by the Alliance Defense Fund which states:
http://articles.cnn.com/2009-03-09/living/us.religion.less.christian_1_american-religious-identification-survey-christian-nation-evangelical?_s=PM:LIVING
ARIS Survey
http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html#religions
Now, I have mentioned several times that government and school officials refuse to allow Christmas decorations and or celebrations because they are ignorant of the law. Well what is the law? That could be the subject of a whole other lengthy article. In the interest of brevity I will defer to a summary of the applicable law by the Alliance Defense Fund which states:
"Although the overall (religious) display must not convey a message endorsing a particular religion's view, Christmas displays are not banned as some people believe. Simply put, the courts ask, 'Is the municipality celebrating the holiday or promoting religion?"
The ADF also provides this summary of the Holdings of the US Supreme Court in this area:
The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled that public schools must ban the singing of religious Christmas carols or prohibit the distribution of candy canes or Christmas cards.
School officials may refer to a school break in December as "Christmas Vacation" or as a holiday without offending the Constitution.
School officials do not violate the Constitution by closing on religious holidays such as Christmas and Good Friday.
No court has ever held that celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas as religious holidays requires recognition of all other religious holidays.
The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled that Christmas trees or Santa Clauses are religious symbols.
The "Three Reindeer Rule" used by the courts requires a municipality to place a sufficient number of secular objects in close enough proximity to the Christmas item (such as a crèche) to render the overall display sufficiently secular. Although the overall display must not convey a message endorsing a particular religion's view, Christmas displays are not banned as some people believe. Simply put, the courts ask, "Is the municipality celebrating the holiday or promoting religion?"
All these US Supreme Court cases dealt with government entities placing religious displays on public property, however the most recent US Supreme Court case states that it IS constitutional when churches, community groups, civic organizations, or private individuals privately display nativity scenes or other religious symbols on property which is considered to be open for the use of the public, such as public squares where other displays are permitted. Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board v. Pinette, ____ U.S. ____, 115 S.Ct. 2440, 132 L.Ed.2d 650 (1995).
I have included some links to extensive analyses of the law here:
Religious Tolerance – US Supreme Court Case Analysis
http://www.religioustolerance.org/sep_c_s1.htm
The ADF also provides this summary of the Holdings of the US Supreme Court in this area:
The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled that public schools must ban the singing of religious Christmas carols or prohibit the distribution of candy canes or Christmas cards.
School officials may refer to a school break in December as "Christmas Vacation" or as a holiday without offending the Constitution.
School officials do not violate the Constitution by closing on religious holidays such as Christmas and Good Friday.
No court has ever held that celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas as religious holidays requires recognition of all other religious holidays.
The U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled that Christmas trees or Santa Clauses are religious symbols.
The "Three Reindeer Rule" used by the courts requires a municipality to place a sufficient number of secular objects in close enough proximity to the Christmas item (such as a crèche) to render the overall display sufficiently secular. Although the overall display must not convey a message endorsing a particular religion's view, Christmas displays are not banned as some people believe. Simply put, the courts ask, "Is the municipality celebrating the holiday or promoting religion?"
All these US Supreme Court cases dealt with government entities placing religious displays on public property, however the most recent US Supreme Court case states that it IS constitutional when churches, community groups, civic organizations, or private individuals privately display nativity scenes or other religious symbols on property which is considered to be open for the use of the public, such as public squares where other displays are permitted. Capitol Square Review and Advisory Board v. Pinette, ____ U.S. ____, 115 S.Ct. 2440, 132 L.Ed.2d 650 (1995).
I have included some links to extensive analyses of the law here:
Religious Tolerance – US Supreme Court Case Analysis
http://www.religioustolerance.org/sep_c_s1.htm
ACLJ - US Supreme Court Case Analysis:
http://www.aclj.org/Issues/Resources/Document.aspx?ID=692
http://www.aclj.org/Issues/Resources/Document.aspx?ID=692
ADF – US Supreme Court Analysis:
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/Home/ADFContent?cid=3579
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/Home/ADFContent?cid=3579
A reading of the applicable US Supreme Court cases makes it clear that secular items such as Christmas trees and Santa Clauses are not religious items and that if a government entity or private individual truly wanted to display a religious symbol such as a nativity scene or a Jewish Menorah on public property they may do so as long as they follow certain legal guidelines that will satisfy alleged constitutional requirements.
In the final analysis; the ACLU and it’s proponents claim that the celebration of Christmas within the public schools and in the public forums produces “divisive conflicts” and constitutes “indoctrination,” “coercion,” and “censorship.” I maintain that the only people promoting divisive conflict, indoctrination, coercion and censorship are senior members of the ACLU, The American Atheists, the Freedom From Religion Foundation and other similar organizations.
I come from a rather international background, having attended college and graduate school in a non Christian country (Japan) and having lived in several other different countries with their own culturally specific holidays and celebrations. In stark contrast to the ACLU proposition, I have found that I felt more welcomed and more included in foreign cultures when I participated in their local customs and holidays, whether Christian or not. I also believe it created a trust that allowed an open two-way communication about my religious beliefs and an understanding of my host country’s religions, holidays and cultural history. I never once felt that I was being indoctrinated into Buddhism when I practiced meditation at a Buddhist Temple or happily participated in Buddhist and Shinto celebrations in Japan. I only felt more accepted by the Japanese, and more included in their celebration of life.
The end effect of the actions of the ACLU and their proponents is to erase a Christian heritage that has been a primary component of America’s strength and success for more than 200 years and to divide America and turn American against American based upon religious beliefs. Regardless of religious persuasion, Christmas is one of the most beautiful holidays in America and around the world. Christmas used to mean coming together in peace and solitude to promote mutual understanding, but opponents are now trying to turn it into chaos and conflict; Satan would be very pleased.
For a different prospective on this issue I have included this link:
Don’t Let The Grinch Steal Christmas
http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Dont-Let-the-Grinch-Steal-Christmas.html
And this one:
I'm Keeping CHRIST in CHRISTmas ..... Who's with me?
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