Christmas getting Kicked Out

By: Krista M. Knoblauch

New Rochelle, NY
In the midst of trimming the tree and hanging the lights watch out for all of the attacks on the word “Christmas” during the holiday season.
In recent weeks there have been plethora of public domain that has been changed not to include the word “Christmas,” some of them include a billboard, holiday sign, and renaming the Christmas Tree.

On the New Jersey side of the Lincoln Tunnel there is a billboard that states “You KNOW it’s a Myth.” This was put up by the American Atheists.
Without reading the billboard it looks as if it is a Christmas advertisement depicting the three wise men walking toward a manger. That is until you read it. This advertisement is an attack on Christian people and the things they believe and celebrate to be true.

Responding to the news coverage of this topic David Silverman, the president of the American Atheist wrote in a blog post the three reasons he has for why the advertisement is good and should stay up.

“1) To address those atheists who “go along to get along”, and to encourage them to come out of their closets
2) To attack the myth that Christianity owns the solstice season
3) To raise the awareness of the organization and the movement.”

Gretchen Carlson of FOX News stated on Fox and Friends the mornings show, “What
about religious tolerance? Shouldn’t that be true for all people?”
The two issues at hand are that Christians is being attacked or is freedom of speech being attacked when groups can’t put up whatever they choose.

In response to the negative billboard the Catholic League responded by putting up a billboard that affirmed, “You know it’s real. This Season, Celebrate Jesus.”
Both of the advertisements were successful. The blog post on the Atheist website received over a hundred comments. This was not the only debate between people whom have different beliefs that has arisen this season.

In Philadelphia, PA there is a “Christmas Village” every year in the city. People are welcomed in by a huge sign. This year the lit up sign no longer read “Christmas Village,” rather is said “Holiday Village.” It was taken down because of complaints that it was religiously insensitive.

"If we are to be a truly diverse and inclusive community, we must certainly be respectful of all the various celebrations that occur during this time of year," the Archdiocese of Philadelphia said in a statement. "Christmas deserves its rightful place among those."

After national news coverage and three days of protesting the sign was restored to its original form. Mayor Nutter responded to the recent controversy, “"In a big, bustling city like Philadelphia, we all experience moments of joy and discord," he said "Big cities can get hectic, and the last couple days have proven that."

He also emphasized the fact that the city was built on religious freedom and those rights should be respected by all. "Almost a century before those momentous events, it was in Philadelphia where William Penn established a colony dedicated to a revolutionary principle - that each person must have freedom of conscience, the right to his or her own religious views, and that civil government must not abridge that right in any way," he said.

Although the season and decorations are not meant to offend other religious groups, many view it as a slap in the face that it is a season for the Christians alone. One person whom is not offended by decorations or the holiday cheer is Ben Stein. Ben is a famous actor and a member of the Jewish faith. He said in an interview about the controversy in 2005, “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 crèche, 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.”

Since the time of this interview he has appeared on several television and radio programs expressing his views.

The argument remains, is it a Christmas Tree or Holiday tree, is it a Christmas Village or Holiday Village? While there is no clear explanation or answer freedom of speech and religion allows for both, and both should be respected equally.


Further your knowledge:
Philadelphia Inquirer
Philyest Blog