Here Comes Christmas: Let the Debate Begin

[edi...@mymerrychristmas.com]

It is introduced as the first signs of seasonal decorating appear. When
the Christmas decorations are sold side-by-side with the Halloween
candy the snide comments begin. As the snow just begins to fly some
city official somewhere will suggest "we can't do that this year",
causing an uproar sure to be picked up and debated loudly in the media.
Eventually, someone files a lawsuit. A season promoted with a theme of
peace and joy is sure to become an acrimonious argument with
church-and-state undertones.

It is Christmas -- a public controversy and traditional debate. It
would be easy to say it never used to be that way. But that is not
true. From puritan humbugs that outlawed the day more than 400 years
ago to modern-day Grinches who protest the very utterance of the word
"Christmas" in public schools it has been and will remain a source of
heated and passionate debate.

Christmas 2004 was typical.

In what has become as traditional as Christmas trees the argument was
renewed with great passion. Target Stores kicked it off by banning the
Salvation Army in front of their stores in 2004. Macy's declined to say
Merry Christmas to shoppers. A school in New Jersey wouldn't even let
the band play instrumental arrangements of Christmas carols. And the
City of Denver took the stage over public displays of decorations at
Christmastime. Christmas 2004 was traditional in every way. We decked
the halls and then decked each other debating it.

This article is being written in the middle of October 2005. I bring it
up because the Controversy of Christmas 2005 has not yet begun. But it
is going to happen. Mark my words. Christmas will once again fan the
flames of yuletide debate.

Read this whole article at
http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/xmasdebate.shtml