It’s Official: It’s “Merry Christmas” After All
Despite what the secularists, liberal media and politically correct authoritarians claim, shove at us and demand, an overwhelming amount of Americans, from all political backgrounds, prefer to say and be greeted with “Merry Christmas” rather than the offensive “happy holidays.” In fact, in a recent poll by Opinion Dynamics for Fox News (see here), most people are offended when others offer the “happy holidays” greeting, despite the years-long attempt by the above culprits to indoctrinate the public and dilute the culture with the “appropriateness” of using that slogan, so as to not “offend” anyone.
As it turns out, it does offend people — the vast majority who understand that this holiday is a Holy Day and who have never bought into the secular left propaganda that has tried to strip it of its meaning (see this short blog post from Wilson Research Strategies). Overall, 77 percent of the public prefers “Merry Christmas,” the same number as independents, while Republicans prefer it by 87 percent and Democrats by 69 percent. So, where’s the basis for the “you will offend people by saying ‘Merry Christmas’ hogwash”?
It has always been a cheap canard and always will be. Now, in perhaps the most politically left age of the Republic, we still see people holding on to their core religious values. So much for the secularists.
The secularists you refer to are often Christians themselves. Your buddy James Dobson and his Focus on the Family, your policy partner, states that “The Supreme Court’s imposition of the doctrine of separation of church and state distorts the Founding Fathers recognition of our unequivocally Christian nation and the protection of religious freedom for all faiths.” That is an oxymoron. First of all, how can you profess to have an “unequivocally Christian nation” and at the same time foster a climate conducive for religious freedom for all faiths? Second, even if this was the United Christian States of America the reality is Christians don’t speak with one voice on issues or values any more than Jews or Muslems do. You describe yourselves as “values voters” in part because you believe in the sanctity of life and don’t believe in equal rights for homosexuals. “Values voters” can also vote their Christian conscience when they don’t believe in pre-emptive war or the death penalty and believe in granting legal marriage rights rights to homosexuals because we should do unto them as we would have them do unto us. Ironically, on issues such as the death penalty and homosexuality many conservative Christians would more likely find themselves in agreement with the Taliban than many of their fellow Christians. Even within the Christian faith there are many denominations and splits within denominations due not only to Biblical interpretation, but also to what parts of the Bible should be emphasized. Also, while we all hold the Constitution of the United States in high regard, it too is subject to interpretation. Hence the need for a Supreme Court to render decisions based on their collective interpretation. Attempting to amend the Constitution to bring it within “God’s standards” as candidate Huckabee advocated on the campaign trail is an absolute fallacy and presumes that all Christians are on the same page. Even if you proponents of a Christian theocracy got your wish, implementing it would result in a debacle and public backlash so powerful that it would no doubt propel us right back to the more secular society we need to be.
Mark – Most people say “Happy Holidays” in privately owned retail stores. Where is the church/state involvement? Who suggested forcing anyone to say anything?
The fact is that most Christians share largely the same faith. The Bible used by most Christians is virtually the same. Considering it was compiled over thousands of years and written by about 40 authors, that itself is miraculous. Most Christians use very similar translations and agree on the Apostle’s Creed. Are there doctrinal disagreements. Yes. So what? Since when have all men agreed about anything? Is this division a sign of weakness in man or Christianity? Is it even a true weakness?
The United States was settled and formed by Christians. Our nation’s laws are derived from Christian morality. That includes the belief in freedom of religion. Virtually no Christians have advocated a theocracy in well over two hundred years. That is why we do not have a theocracy, and that is why we allow disagreements. When Christians believe God allows each of us a free choice, why would Christians believe they have the right to take that choice away?
What many Christians get upset about is the number of people who want to push religion out of the public sphere in the name of secularism. If it is wrong to force people say Merry Christmas in the name Christianity, then it is equally wrong to force people to say Happy Holidays in the name of secularism. The eradication of religion violates freedom of religion just as much as the establishment of religion.
Is “Happy Holidays” used instead of “Merry Christmas” for the sake of secularism? That’s what you people try to claim just so you can keep “Christians” who think like you afraid of the liberals and secularists. Its more likely “Happy Holidays” is used simply to cover the entire holiday period, not just Christmas. Get a grip. When you say Christians get upset, well, non of the Christians I know get upset.
Mark, if you are saying that our nation is not a Christian nation, then why does the ACLU have so much to do nowadays? How did the Bible verses get on the monuments in D.C. and in our courthouses around the country? Why were our public school students praying in school until a few years ago?
This WAS a Christian nation, but we are losing that status, and it will be to the detriment of all, even non-believers.
Tell me, what is the significance of this being a “Christian nation” when the religious right’s views on many issues, for example the death penalty and homosexuality, are more in line with Muslem countries like Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Iran than it is with many of their fellow Christians both here AND in Western Europe?
I can’t answer a question based on false premises. Muslim countries execute homosexuals. The USA never has and won’t. It says alot about your belief system when you have to make outrageous comparisions in order to criticize Christians effectively.
Can I count you in solidarity with Peter Singer of Princeton who not only advocates abortion, but also thinks it should be permissable to kill handicapped children up to 2 years old? How about the child molesters, NAMBLA? I am sure they want homosexuality accepted as normal. Do you, as a homosexual rights advocate, identify with them?
”I do not think it is always wrong to kill an innocent human being,” Professor Singer told the rapt audience in Harold Helm Auditorium. ”Simply killing an infant is never equivalent to killing a person.”
New York Times
By PAUL ZIELBAUER
Published: October 13, 1999
This is what results when God is rejected by a society.
The point I was making and continue to make non of you has addressed. A “Christian” nation? Again, what is the significance of that when the views of many Christians on many issues are often at opposite ends of the spectrum from Christian conservatives. You and the FF frequently say Christians want this and Christians want that and Christians are being persecuted and/or maginalized. That is the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever heard. There’s a church on virtually every street block in the USA, every one of which enjoys tax exempt status and Christians feel persecuted? Give me a break!! Fortunately, the FF does not speak for the majority of Christians. To the contrary, they are far and away the minority. The only Christians that feel persecuted and marginalized are extremeists. Extremeists in every society feel persecuted because they’re frustrated that they can’t impose their twisted doctrine on everyone else. Christian country huh? Enjoy your fantasy.
I ask that you explain your side.
Why is my belief (Christian fundamentalist) twisted?
Be specific.
What is your belief and why is it the right one?
Don’t pass up this chance to get your ideas out there.