By By Amanda DeCamp
Mathew Staver, president and general counsel of Liberty Counsel, recently spoke with the Washington Times regarding the debate on whether to call a Christmas tree a Christma¬s tree, or a holiday tree. The debate sparked when a tree was brought to the Boston Common for the annual lighting and was referred to as a holiday tree, as it has been since the late 1990s. “The Boston Christmas tree situation is symbolic of what’s happening…around the country,” Staver explained “Government officials, either because of misinformation or private retailers, for politically correct reasons, are trying to secularize Christmas.”
Before the recent far leftist lunacy, the Rockefeller Plaza tree, the Boston tree and the White House tree were all lit as the commencement of the coming of Christ’s birthday without complaints. Somewhere in the turn of the century, groups of Americans, namely the American Civil Liberties Union, began to feel incredibly offended and affected by the fact that their fellow citizens called a Christmas tree by its rightful name. Luckily, thanks to House Speaker Dennis Hastert, the tree displayed in Washington is now officially called the “Capital Christmas Tree.” If you have been to Macy’s or any other department store lately, you might realize that they too are joining in wishing customers a “Merry Christmas.” After all, at this time of year, nearly all sales are due to Dec. 25.
America is a land of opportunity. Our ancestors came here to find a place where they could speak freely and practice their beliefs and religions without persecution. Glenn Tinder, contributor for the Atlantic Monthly, wrote in an article entitled, “Can We Be Good without God,” that there is a clear difference between the “freedom of religion,” as stated in our Constitution and the “freedom from religion.” In the recent past, religious tolerance became the complete absence of religion. The pledge of allegiance was eliminated from some schools, nativity scenes were removed from town displays and Christmas trees became just a generic holiday tree. How can we be tolerant of others and their beliefs when religion no longer exists in the public? If we eliminate all spirituality, then we are not tolerating it, instead we are ignoring and brushing it off as insignificant. In the new millenium people are tolerant of nearly everything but religion; somehow a Christmas tree became offensive to certain “liberal” overly sensitive Scrooge-like cynics.
If it must happen, the holiday can be secularized. Christmas is not just a religious holiday-it is also a state of mind. One does not have to believe Jesus is the Son of God to celebrate the season. It is a season of giving; a season of helping, acceptance and of remembering the birth of a strong, courageous figure who stood up for what he believed in despite what the rest of the world thought or did. He was a man who washed the feet of his disciples, visited the lepers and fed the hungry. Jesus, therefore, was a man to be honored, whether you believe in his divinity or not. Just as you do not have to be Hindu to know that Mahatma Ghandi was a great human, you do not have to be a Christian to celebrate Jesus. Just like Americans celebrate Martin Luther King Day or honor George Washington or Abe Lincoln on their birthdays, so should people everywhere remember the day that a selfless, honorable man was brought into the world. If they do not believe that he is the Messiah, then they should respect or tolerate that others do.
It can also be a day to remember those who followed in the path of Jesus. The late Pat Tillman turned down a multi-million dollar football contract in order to fight for his country in Afghanistan. He is one hero, among thousands, who have died in the current war for freedom and to preserve America’s safety. Celebrate Christmas by remembering them and those who are still overseas, away from their loved ones. Celebrate it for the victims of Katrina who have lost everything but hope. Celebrate Christmas for you. Not only is it the birth of Christ, but the birth of a new year. Become a greater you and be a Christ-like figure in 2006.
Staver said, “To rename a Christmas tree as a holiday tree is as offensive as renaming a Jewish menorah a candlestick.” Just as there is tradition and meaning behind a menorah, there is significance in the blue spruce that goes up in my living room every year. Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, and perhaps instead of blowing out candles on a cake, his candles are the lights that flicker on my tree. Do not blow out his candles, instead light them up for all to see, and finally, Merry Christmas to all…yes, to all.