Recently there has been a lot of debate on whether or not public schools should celebrate or even acknowledge Christmas. Dr. Jerry Falwell, president of the Faith and Values Coalition, in an interview with CNN commented that he had a list of 40 areas where “other holidays may be talked about, such as Kwanza or Hanukah, et cetera, but Christmas has be berated.” He agreed that discussing the other holy holidays was appropriate but felt that leaving Christmas out was not only morally but constitutionally wrong.
Those who fight Christmas claim they are doing so for those minorities that have different beliefs and may be offended by the Christian holiday of Christmas. Yet in the United States about 77% of Americans profess to be Christian. Statistics also show that 90% of Americans celebrate Christmas, even if they don’t believe in Christ. So some organizations are trying to remove Christmas from public schools and places for the 10% of people that don’t celebrate Christmas. What about the 90% who do? Why should the minority’s rights be more important than the majority’s?
This year Dr. Falwell’s organization in conjunction with the Liberty Council “informed all the school districts in America that the Constitution and the courts allow for the observance of Christmas, the singing of Christmas carols, et cetera, as long as all the other religions are honored and the secular holidays likewise are honored.”
Even with this information there are over 100 cases in court where schools and public areas are trying to ban religious Christmas songs. Dr. Falwell cited a school in Wisconsin where the words to Silent Night had been changed to “cold in the night.”
He argues that if you are banning Christmas then you are being “hostile towards Christianity.” Literally banning the majority’s freedoms in behalf of the minority. Because “when you tell somebody they can’t sing a Christmas carol that mentions Christ or religion, then you’re telling them your faith should not be allowed equal footing with all the other faiths.”
Along with Christmas carols schools are banning the words “Merry Christmas.” Schools in Ohio and North Carolina told their teachers they cannot tell their students “Merry Christmas” or display anything with the word “Christmas” on it. Likewise in Wisconsin a high school is not allowing any decorations with religious symbols or wording relating to Christmas.
Personally I find it sad and alarming that the traditions, values, and beliefs that have existed since the founding of our country are slowly being discarded, including Christmas.
For example in Chicago the city told organizers of a festival that they could not show clips from the newly released movie The Nativity Story because the film “may be insensitive to the many people of different faiths who come to enjoy the market.” What about all the Christians that come to the market? Mathew D. Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, commented: “Only political correctness gone mad can conceive of booting a film about the birth of Christ from a Christmas celebration. We honor mothers on Mothers’ Day, but in Chicago we can’t acknowledge Christ at Christmas?”
I want my children to be able to celebrate the holidays, traditions, and beliefs in school that I celebrated as a child, especially Christmas. I don’t want my children to have to feel ashamed because they believe in Christ and celebrate Christmas. Just as the Jewish child or African-American child should have their beliefs acknowledged and holy holidays celebrated in schools. Christmas is about the birth of Christ. But since 77% of the people in the United States agree with that statement why is Christmas being banned?
What do you think, should Christmas be celebrated in schools and public places?
See this related blog:
Helping Your Child Put Christ Back In Christmas