Let's keep 'Christ' in Christmas

By: Seth Hancock

Posted: 12/5/05

Early last week, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (R-Ill., 14th) made a recommendation to call the Capitol Christmas Tree a Christmas tree rather than a holiday tree. This led to some harsh criticism from his Democrat counterparts.

The tree had always been called the Capitol Christmas Tree until the1990s when, for no reason at all, people started referring to it as the Capitol Holiday Tree.

Hastert wrote, "I strongly urge that we return to this tradition and join the White House, countless other public institutions and millions of American families in celebrating the holiday season with a Christmas tree."

This whole conversation symbolizes the absolute insanity of some members on the left who say the mere statement of Christmas is offensive. It has become laughable in a sense, but in the end, it is quite scary to know that I must worry about whom I wish a Merry Christmas to.

Jeff Jacoby, townhall.com columnist, wrote, "the annual effort to neuter Christmas, to insist in the name of 'inclusiveness' and 'sensitivity' that a Christian holiday celebrated by something like 90 percent of Americans not be called by its proper name or referred to in religious terms," has begun in full force.

According to Jacoby, in New York City it is policy that a Christian nativity scene cannot be displayed on public school grounds but a Jewish menorah or a Muslim star and crescent are allowed.

"School districts in New Jersey and Florida ban Christmas carols. The mayor of Somerville, Mass., apologizes for 'mistakenly' referring to the town's 'holiday party' as a 'Christmas party,'" wrote conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer.

A vast majority of Americans are Christians, yet we have to be silent so we don't offend anyone. Well, if you talk to most Christians they will probably tell you the idea of taking Christmas away is offensive.

Some parents want Christmas carols banned from their kids' school because it might make them feel "different from their peers" because they had to hear a Christian song. I feel sorry for the religious insecurity these children are growing up with when they have to feel threatened by Christmas carols.

This whole situation is absurd. How can one feel a holiday that symbolizes hope for humanity and a holiday that brings out the very best in people is offensive?

Christmas has already been secularized by the media. All you see is "Santa this" and "presents that." We worry more about getting the right gifts rather than celebrating the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ.

Alan Sears, Alliance Defense Fund president, said the left "continues in legal terrorism by raging war against 96 percent of Americans who want to celebrate Christmas."

That term "legal terrorism" is right on the mark. These attacks on Christmas is not about one being offended by the word. It's about a hatred for Christianity. It's about a hatred for the people who want to bring morality back to America.

Christmas may be under attack right now, but in the end, the majority will win and Christmas will remain. God bless you all and Merry Christmas.