Let's call a Christmas tree a Christmas tree...

by Ed Morrissey

I’m not a big believer in a “war on Christmas,” but there has been a major battle between common sense and political correctness. Of course it’s a Christmas tree in the school office at Christmastime; what other holiday tradition has us decorate trees? Not even Arbor Day has us doing that, for Pete’s sake. What does it do to a school’s credibility with its students to see them denying reality so baldly?

No wonder young people have lessened respect for institutions and authority. In this case, it’s warranted.


This proposed law would allow schools to use tradiaional holiday greetings like "Merry Christma" and "Happy Hanukkah" and display things like Christmas trees and Menorahs without facing a law suit.

http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2012/12/24/video-texas-lawmaker-introduces-merry-christmas-bill-to-protect-school-displays/

The War on Christmas

by David Sessions

According to the American Family Association, 80 percent of the ­retailers the group profiled for its inaugural “naughty and nice” list in 2005 used religion-neutral terminology like “holidays” in their advertising and store signs. Now an overwhelming majority have ­reverted back to using the word “Christmas.” ­Randy Sharp, a spokesman for the AFA, says that “there has been a correction.” Retailers, he says, realized “people weren’t offended by being wished a ‘Merry Christmas,’ but those of us who celebrate the historical significance of the birth of Christ are offended when you downplay that.”

Bill Donohue, the president of the conservative Catholic League, which has skirmished with atheist groups over Christmas displays, said his organization has received far fewer reports of alleged discrimination against Christmas this year.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/12/09/the-war-on-christmas-is-over.html

So does that mean that we won, and that a celebration of the gift of Jesus Christ can stay alive in our holiday giving?   Or just that the term "Christmas" has been downgraded in the American vocabulary to mean just a season of materialistic spending spree?