Merry Christmas to all. I hope I have not offended you by wishing you a Merry Christmas. As you know, it is no longer politically correct to use the term “Christmas” to describe Christmas. We are taught today to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” The war against Christmas is part of a larger war against Christianity. Although the large majority of Americans identify themselves as Christians, it seems that it is no longer acceptable to talk about anything that has to do with Christianity in public. It is just another example of how some liberals want to silence anyone who disagrees with them.
I have great respect and tolerance for all religions. I do not believe Christians have a monopoly on God’s love. I know many Jews and other non-Christians who live exemplary lives and who have the highest moral and ethical standards. If I were speaking to a non-Christian, I would probably say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” But I do not believe any of my friends who are not Christians would be offended if I said “Merry Christmas” to them. I am certainly not offended when they say “Happy Holidays” or “Happy Chanukah” to me.
There are many examples of how Christmas is under attack. A recent example occurred last week in Washington, D.C. when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who is one of the most liberal members of Congress, attended a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol. The ceremony included the lighting of a 70 foot tall Christmas tree and traditional Christmas carols. At the ceremony, Speaker Pelosi referred to “all the gifts God has given us and how blessed we are.”
It is hard for me to believe anyone would take offense at the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony or at the remarks made by Speaker Pelosi. It was all very innocuous and simply part of the spirit of the season. But Speaker Pelosi later said she had been “mugged” and paid a serious political price for allowing the ceremony to take place and for participating in it.
After the ceremony, the Rev. Rob Schenck, President of Faith and Action, was quoted by Catholic Online as saying, “The fact that Nancy Pelosi said she was assailed for allowing a Christmas observance at the U.S. Capitol confirms the war against Christmas is not a figment of the so-called religious right’s imagination. If one of the most liberal, arguably left-wing political leaders in our country, the woman third in succession to the presidency, is getting pummeled for lighting a Christmas tree and allowing Christmas carols on the lawn of the Capitol, that would qualify as a war against Christmas.”
About three years ago, Ben Stein, a respected writer and columnist for a number of publications, appeared on the CBS Sunday Morning news program about a week before Christmas. Mr. Stein provided a commentary entitled “Confessions for the Holidays.” The commentary has been widely quoted but deserves to be repeated. Here is what Mr. Stein had to say in part:
“I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu.
“If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
“I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period.
“I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.”
From my perspective, Mr. Stein hit the nail on the head. I wish every non-Christian shared his attitude.
My hope and prayer for this Christmas is that we all show more tolerance and respect for each other and that we allow Christians and non-Christians alike to observe their religions without intimidation and without attempting to silence those who do not share our own beliefs.
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