The "War" on Christmas

Perhaps this could be more broadly titled "The 'War' on Christians." Anybody who happened to watch Fox News this past Christmas season certainly was exposed to the argument that there is some sort of "war" on Christmas, and specifically on the Christian theme of Christmas.

Leading the charge seemed to be Fox News pundit John Gibson, who authored a book titled "The War On Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday is Worse Than You Thought." I haven't read the book. I have, however, listened to Gibson's radio show, in which he devoted hours, if not days, to this supposed "war."

Boiled down, however, is that the "War on Christmas" has two elements: First, there are the wacko school-boards, city councils, etc. who have, in fits of leftist apoloxy, have banned the Christian elements of Christmas. Some have banned the singing of traditional Christmas carols, such as Silent Night. In 2000, the city of Eugene, OR banned Christmas trees from city property.

Second, several "big box" retailers use the phrase "Happy Holidays" in their advertising. I'll deal with that last.

Notably, for every crackpot school or city manager who is scared by the threat of a lawsuit into taking stupid actions (all of which, by the way, end up being temporary - no permanent ban on carols or trees has ever occurred so far as I can ascertain - and I'm sure if there was the Christian right would have let us all know), there are several more false stories that the Right tries to use to fuel its argument.

For example, Fox News talking head Bill O'Reilly accused the Plano, TX school district of banning red and green clothing. Turns out, however, that it never happened. Likewise, the World Net Daily, a Christian-right website that is likewise sounding the alarm, accused the Glendale-Rivers School District in Glendale, WI of banning Christmas carols, but permitting Hanukkah songs because they are "cultural" rather than "religious." That story relied, exclusively, on a press-release from a Christian-right "law firm." Specifically, the school district is accused of keeping out religious-themed songs:

"The intent of the school district's policy is clear – 'Frosty the Snowman' is in, 'My Dreidel' is in, 'Silent Night' is out," said Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel president and general counsel.

However, that is, not surprisingly, not true. The first-grade class at Parkway Elementary School (which is in the Glendale-Rivers School District), sang "Angels We Have Heard on High," and everybody sang "Let There Be Peace on Earth."

It would be belief that, if there was a "war" on Christmas, somebody would tell me where I cannot say "Merry Christmas." If there was a "war" on Christmas, where are the battle lines? Where are the casualties? The occasional temporary misguided order from a school in a town I've never heard of is hardly a sign of "war." Rather, it is the exact opposite. The very nature of these debacles - i.e. temporary and occassional, indicate that, if there is a "war," it is going very poorly for whomever is waging it.

Instead, this is a fabricated battlefield with a less obvious but still clear agenda - there is a growing backlash against the Christian Right in this country. The past several years have seen a rapid rise in prominence of the Christian Right, as it did toward the end of the Regan-Bush era. However, the Clinton years saw the decline of that element in its ability to influence public policy on a broad and, specifically, federal level.

Today's leaders of the Christian Right have learned the lesson there - all glory is fleeting. Consequently, they have pushed harder than ever to create permanent inroads. However, like any cause that has taken center stage for too long, they have started to wear out their welcome. Just like people got tired of seeing the Chicago Bulls in the NBA finals year after freakin' year, now they are tired of seeing these bible-thumping megalomanics bastardize the Christian faith for their own grab at power.

As a result, there is a growing backlash, and a growing sentiment that enough is enough. This is not anti Christian - it is merely an attempt to return the country to a "status quo" where Christianity has a smaller, but still visible, place in the public-policy arena. The Christian Right has realized this, however, and thus fabricated the "War on Christmas" in order to rally the troops and keep hold of the territory they've gained in the past five or six years. That, of course, would also explain the reliance on rumor and falsehoods. There is no real "war" of any consequence actually taking place, so one has to be made up.

Finally, the retailer issue. I was unaware that the Christian element of Christmas relied on Wal-Mart and Target to convey the message. I thought that's what church was for. Silly me. But seriously, I am pretty certain that those stores (1) cater to non-Christians, and (2) want shoppers to come in and shop from Thanksgiving to post-New Year - i.e. the Holiday Season.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - belated.