Ammunition in the "War" on Xmas

[skepticscott]

The next time you hear someone complain about the secular “war on Christmas”, ask them these questions:

Do you feel that our children are doing so well in school that they have time to waste decorating Christmas trees and singing “Joy to the World”? Shouldn’t their school time be put to the purpose for which it is intended?

Do you feel that workers in our cash-strapped local governments should be spending their time and your tax dollars putting up manger scenes and reindeer on the lawn of every city hall and town square in the country, or should they concentrate on the necessary tasks that they are being paid for?

Do you feel like you and your family are not getting enough of the secular and commercial side of Christmas? Are you not hearing enough Christmas carols, not getting to watch enough Christmas specials on TV, not seeing enough Christmas decorations or toy sales? If so, come back to planet Earth immediately.

Do you feel like you and your family are not getting enough of the religious side of Christmas? In that case, feel free to expand the religious observance in your home or to request of your priest or pastor that the same be done at your church. Feel free to speak out against the obscene commercialization of what you claim should be a sacred holiday.

Has the ACLU or any agent of government ever come into your home or your house of worship and told you that your particular religious observance of Christmas wasn’t allowed? If not, stop whining and don’t even think of using the word persecution when you have no clue what that really means.

[uberllama42]

1. All excellent points

I don't think I'll ever understand why some Christians feel that the government should pay obeisance to their religion. Is Jesus really so weak that he will be somehow diminished if the state doesn't acknowledge the date of his supposed birth?

These right-wingers have a fragile god, indeed.

[skepticscott]

3. Either that

or a monumental sense of entitlement

[uberllama42]

7. They're not mutually exclusive by any means

I suspect it's both.

[ChazII]

2. ACLU never came

but in the late 80's no holidays were celebrated in my school district here in Arizona. If the superintendent came to the building and saw any decorations (hearts for Valentine's Day, turkeys at Thanksgiving, menorahs for Hanukkah or trees for Christmas) that teacher was on an immediate plan of improvement.

Even though that superintendent has gone on to another job, we don't have time to do holiday stuff.

[elocs]

4. You know, I could go into the guns forum and post a lot about gun control

to get the people who post there all stirred up, but they might consider me to be a troll. Indeed, I would certainly appear to be one. My guess is that not too many at DU regularly read the Religion/Theology forum so when this is off the DU front page it will sink like a rock.

I work in my local public school system and there is no singing of religious Christmas songs or putting up Christmas trees. I am sure that other public schools may do that, but since nobody knows how many do or how widespread it may be, then the OP presents a strawman that many DUers delight in knocking down.

[cosmik debris]

5. That's sort of absurd.

"...since nobody knows how many do or how widespread it may be..."

Are you saying that we should only address problems for which we know with certainty the full extent? So we should identify all victims of disease before we begin treatment? Really?

And speaking of straw men, "...not too many at DU regularly read the Religion/Theology forum so when this is off the DU front page it will sink like a rock." Set up and knocked down in the same sentence.

Thanks for playing.

[skepticscott]

6. If you think that

it's a strawman to claim that the religious right goes ballistic every year over the so-called "war on Christmas" then you haven't been paying attention.