As part of their campaign to depict themselves and fellow Christianists as constant victims of persecution, the lunatic far right have in recent years whined about the secularization of Christmas and the efforts of retailers to not offend non-Christians during the Christmas holidays. The professional victim set care nothing for the religious freedom of other Americans and would prefer to force all citizens regardless of the religious faith to have to give obeisance to Christian traditions. With the Christianists, it is ALWAYS all about them and to Hell with everyone else. If these whiners spent half as much time engaging in Christian charity work with no desire for reward, Christianity would have a far better image in the USA. CNN looks at this concocted faux war that has one purpose: to line the pockets of the professional Christians with money. Here are some highlights: *
Americans are in a war that pits the politically correct against Christmas carolers, some say. They say it's a battle that plays out in the halls of Congress, retail stores and public schools across the country, and it's one that's been raging for years. Republican Rep. Henry Brown of South Carolina introduced a resolution this month asking that the House express support for the use of Christmas symbols and traditions and frown on any attempt to ban references to the holiday. So far, the resolution has one Democrat and 72 Republicans as co-sponsors. The House hasn't taken it up, but the chamber adopted similar resolutions in the past.
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Barry Lynn, an ordained minister and executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, isn't keen on the prospect of congressional action. "Resolutions like this come up because there is this bizarre view by some members of Congress that there is a war on Christmas and that they have to be the generals in some responding army," he said. "My advice to the lawmakers would be promote any religion you have through your private acts, and don't try to 'help' the baby Jesus by passing a resolution on his behalf. It is arrogant and ridiculous at the same time," Lynn said.
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In California, Tea Party activist Merry Hyatt is trying to get support for a ballot initiative that would require that public schools give their students an opportunity to hear Christmas songs. (Parents could opt out for their children).Lynn said the move violates the principles of church-state separation. "It's not being anti-Christmas to recognize that most Christmas carols are really hymns, and a hymn is a prayer set to music."
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In Washington, Republicans have taken up the war on Christmas as their own battle. "Republicans and conservatives have definitely gained a lot of political points by pointing out some of the silliest and more extreme examples of political correctness," said Tom Smith, director of the General Social Survey at the National Opinion Research Center.
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But Republicans also should worry about pushing it too far, he added, because the American people believe in "good liberal thoughts" like "diversity and different people all being treated the same." It's OK to attack political correctness, he said, but the GOP must be careful not to come off as "anti-minority or against diversity." The attack can backfire as well if voters think their representative is more committed to protecting Christmas than protecting jobs or economic stability, Smith said.
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Barry Lynn, an ordained minister and executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, isn't keen on the prospect of congressional action. "Resolutions like this come up because there is this bizarre view by some members of Congress that there is a war on Christmas and that they have to be the generals in some responding army," he said. "My advice to the lawmakers would be promote any religion you have through your private acts, and don't try to 'help' the baby Jesus by passing a resolution on his behalf. It is arrogant and ridiculous at the same time," Lynn said.
*
In California, Tea Party activist Merry Hyatt is trying to get support for a ballot initiative that would require that public schools give their students an opportunity to hear Christmas songs. (Parents could opt out for their children).Lynn said the move violates the principles of church-state separation. "It's not being anti-Christmas to recognize that most Christmas carols are really hymns, and a hymn is a prayer set to music."
*
In Washington, Republicans have taken up the war on Christmas as their own battle. "Republicans and conservatives have definitely gained a lot of political points by pointing out some of the silliest and more extreme examples of political correctness," said Tom Smith, director of the General Social Survey at the National Opinion Research Center.
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But Republicans also should worry about pushing it too far, he added, because the American people believe in "good liberal thoughts" like "diversity and different people all being treated the same." It's OK to attack political correctness, he said, but the GOP must be careful not to come off as "anti-minority or against diversity." The attack can backfire as well if voters think their representative is more committed to protecting Christmas than protecting jobs or economic stability, Smith said.
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The reality, of course, is that the GOP IS against minorities and diversity. Increasingly, if one isn't a white Bible thumper typically from the South, the GOP wants nothing to do with you.
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