Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Open Season on Christians
According to Andy Williams, it is supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year." As Christians, we celebrate the miracle birth of our Savior, the Son of God. It's the Christ part of Christmas. One wouldn't know that these days, however.
Kay R. Daly: It is the only religious holiday I am aware of that the meaning, history and significance is discussed only in hushed whispers for fear of offending somebody somewhere.
School children everywhere spend several classroom hours discussing Kwanza, Hannakah and Ramadan, but heaven help the teacher who discusses Christmas, teaches Christmas songs for a Christmas pageant that mention the baby Jesus, or even whisper the words "Merry Christmas."
Instead of nativity plays at school with sweet renditions of "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger", there are "Winter Pageants" with secular themes or religious themes celebrating every religion except Christianity. Nary a chorus of "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" to be found today.
From school auditoriums kicking baby Jesus out of the manger to Macy's embracing only the innocuous "Seasons Greeting" message to ripping the Ten Commandments off of any visible surface, it is a short jump to the judicial confirmation battle.
People of faith who are nominated to the federal bench are subjected to a kind of purgatory, persecuted simply because of their beliefs. When Senators Chuck Schumer or Ted Kennedy demand that President Bush nominate judges who are "in the mainstream", what they really mean are judges who agree with them.
That so-called liberal tolerance seems to cover all bases but the Christian ones.
The secularization of America has been going on for quite some time and it would seem that the persecution of Christians will continue until we are forced to meet in secret talking hushed whispers and drawing the sign of the fish as a signal to other Christians. Oh wait, we've already been there, done that.
So what's next? Feeding us to lions? No, that's been done too.
According to Andy Williams, it is supposed to be "the most wonderful time of the year." As Christians, we celebrate the miracle birth of our Savior, the Son of God. It's the Christ part of Christmas. One wouldn't know that these days, however.
Kay R. Daly: It is the only religious holiday I am aware of that the meaning, history and significance is discussed only in hushed whispers for fear of offending somebody somewhere.
School children everywhere spend several classroom hours discussing Kwanza, Hannakah and Ramadan, but heaven help the teacher who discusses Christmas, teaches Christmas songs for a Christmas pageant that mention the baby Jesus, or even whisper the words "Merry Christmas."
Instead of nativity plays at school with sweet renditions of "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger", there are "Winter Pageants" with secular themes or religious themes celebrating every religion except Christianity. Nary a chorus of "Oh Come All Ye Faithful" to be found today.
From school auditoriums kicking baby Jesus out of the manger to Macy's embracing only the innocuous "Seasons Greeting" message to ripping the Ten Commandments off of any visible surface, it is a short jump to the judicial confirmation battle.
People of faith who are nominated to the federal bench are subjected to a kind of purgatory, persecuted simply because of their beliefs. When Senators Chuck Schumer or Ted Kennedy demand that President Bush nominate judges who are "in the mainstream", what they really mean are judges who agree with them.
That so-called liberal tolerance seems to cover all bases but the Christian ones.
The secularization of America has been going on for quite some time and it would seem that the persecution of Christians will continue until we are forced to meet in secret talking hushed whispers and drawing the sign of the fish as a signal to other Christians. Oh wait, we've already been there, done that.
So what's next? Feeding us to lions? No, that's been done too.
