War on Christmas

[TheLionPrince]

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEEEEAAAAR (and another round of this "War on Christmas")

The term, War on Christmas, is popularly used around the Christmas holiday in the government, media, advertising, and various secular environments mostly in western societies. The modern-day controversy originates from the growing use of the term, usually "holiday(s)", instead of saying Christmas by name in the last decades, and the banning of the use of the Nativity scene in public.

Just wondering, what are your thoughts on this? Do you believe this war on Christmas exists or not? What is your solution to the controversy? Also, try to refrain from becoming a debate about religion.

[TheBlackCatCrossing]

In Los Angeles, there was a ban on the Nativity scenes. They have to be 'private' now.

[Regulus]

What's Christmas?

[DGFone]

There's a reason why atheism and secularism are faster and faster getting labeled as the last tolerant of all religions.

Last time I checked, your front yard is still private property, and you can do what you want with it. Nativity scene or not.

[Carl]

There's a reason why atheism and secularism are faster and faster getting labeled as the last tolerant of all religions.

Last time I checked, your front yard is still private property, and you can do what you want with it. Nativity scene or not.

No atheists I know have a problem with anyone doing whatever they want in their front yard. I for one like Christmas, and even though I'm not a Christian, I don't have a problem with nativity scenes.

(This not necessarily directed at anyone in particular.) I do have a problem with people refusing to acknowledge that other people celebrate different holidays around this time of year, too. Is there something wrong with saying "Merry Christmas" to people you know celebrate it? No. Is there something wrong with saying "Happy Holidays" to someone if you don't know what they celebrate? I don't think there should be. There's no "War on Christmas." The holiday itself has done nothing wrong, and doesn't even have Christian origins. I think the only thing people are "warring" against in this regard is the people who refuse to acknowledge the differing beliefs of others.

[Regulus]

Allow me to elaborate on my original point:

You cannot declare a war on Christmas without first defining Christmas.

I dunno about anyone else, but I consider Christmas to be a holiday, and nothing more than a holiday, so I really don't give a flip.

[SlayerOfLight]

Even though I'm a christian, I am totally NOT fond with Christmas and neither do I even believe that Jesus was born in december (I have my own reasons for this). But what I dislike the most about Christmas besides the music and stupid christmas movies on TV, is the fact that I can't even walk into a normal store whitout seeing anything related to that annoying fat individual known as ''Santa Claus'' and his meaningless ''Ho-ho-ho'' jabbering.

[TheLionPrince]

If you ask me, I believe there is a "War on Christmas". Just as I defined the controversy, it is the growing use of the term, usually "holiday(s)", instead of saying Christmas by name. Just recently, Brietbart Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee called the evergreen tree in the Rhode Island State House a "holiday" tree and not a "Christmas" tree. Chafee acknowledged he is doing so in tradition of his precessdors. However, the evergreen tree has been acknowledged as a "Christmas" tree since 18th century Germany. The term, "holiday tree", is too generic, and needs to be specific about which holiday it is being used for.

So, yes, I believe a "War on Christmas" does exist.

[Regulus]

So, yes, I believe a "War on Christmas" does exist.

I don't.

The term, "holiday tree", is too generic, and needs to be specific about which holiday it is being used for.

Because I totally disagree with this.

[TheLionPrince]

So, yes, I believe a "War on Christmas" does exist.

I don't.

The term, "holiday tree", is too generic, and needs to be specific about which holiday it is being used for.

Because I totally disagree with this.

You disagree with everything I say. So, I'm not surprised.

It's actually not a war on Christmas. It's just people realizing it's another stolen holiday along many. The pagans of northern Europe celebrated (and continue to celebrate) Yule at that time, long before Jesus was born and most of present-day Christmas customs, including carols, Christmas tree etc. have, beyond any doubt, origins in Celtic or Germanic winter solstice customs. The same goes for the ancient Roman-Pagan festival of Saturnalia. It wasn’t until 350 CE that the Church of Rome declared December 25 as the day of “Christ’s” birth, in order to ease the process of converting pagans to this new religion.

Correct a mundo!

Do we have a war on Saturnalia, or a war on Yule? No, so why do people think a (copied) Christian holiday IS being fought? I'm gonna be honest with everyone: It's one big piece of Christian butthurtness.

Because more often than not, groups like he American Civil Liberties Union have started court cases to have images and other material referring to Christmas removed from public property. One case such as ACLU of New Jersey v. Schundler (1999) appealed to have the a menorah (although a symbol of Hanukkah), a creche, and a Christmas tree at New Jersey City Hall removed. Although a site from ACLU.com states the government being used to promote religious beliefs is unconstitutional, it is mentioned the City Hall also had large plastic figures of Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman, a red sled, and Kwanzaa symbols. With symbols of Christianized Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and secular symbols (Santa Claus, Frosty the Snow man) all being allowed on the City Hall, the City Hall is not establishing a singular religious holiday customs, but all religious and secular symbols. So, why does the ACLU just go after mainly the Christmas symbols?