[re-edited 2/2013 ... often write these late, late at night, so they are frought w/spelling, grammar errors and poor wording.]
I seriously have to wonder these days: have we forgotten our hard won freedoms and the high price that was paid in order to obtain them? Or have we just become so complacent, so callous(?) that we no longer care anymore about these freedoms and the impact they have on our society today? Believe it, or not, our Founding Fathers, along with the brave men and women who fought to establish this wonderful nation we now live in, fought for the right of each and
everyone of us to be able to express ourselves, to have our own beliefs and traditions and to have the right to be able worship freely as we, each and every one of us, see fit to do so. These brave men and women were NOT fighting for a secular nation! They were fighting for our right to have "Freedom of Expression", not to have our government suppress expression under the guise of secularism, as we are seeing today.
Having the freedom to express ourselves, the freedom to have our own beliefs and traditions, while being able to worship freely is the very thing that makes our nation so dynamic, diverse and strong! The suppression of the latter in order to obtain a false sense of a homogeneous, politically correct facade is NOT what our forefathers were fighting for by any means! If you personally desire the appearance of a homogeneous nation: then go live in a fascist country somewhere and make "secularism" your state sponsored line.
Last night on the news, I heard the governor of the State of Washington had allowed (without further court appeal or challenge) a court ruling which said atheists could put a sign in the state capital building spelling out the atheist take on the "Holiday Season" -- just as the Christians have been allowed, in years past, to put up a nativity scene in the State Capitol. Not surprisingly, many people were up in arms because the atheist sign wound up being placed right next the nativity scene in the Washington capitol. These objectors felt strongly that the Aetheists' sign should have been placed off on its own or even displayed at a different time from the nativity scene altogether. They were angry that the governor of Washington did nothing further to pursue any of the latter options for displaying the countering viewpoint sign or to even appeal the court's initial ruling.
Well I say: ENOUGH ALREADY! Let the atheists put up their sign! Let them express themselves! As long as the Christians get to express themselves as well. I may not agree with the Athiests' beliefs, or the way they go choose to go about expressing them, but they do have a right to express themselves and their point of view. Furthermore, other groups should also be allowed to express themselves during the "Holiday Season." If African-Americans want to put up a "Kwanzaa" sign: more power to them. Same with the Jews, if they want to put up a menorah: go for it.
I'd rather have everyone allowed to express themselves than see a wash of plain, white, secularism everywhere. And speaking as a Christian, I don't think Jesus will mind sharing the attention. Jesus was first and foremost a humble and tolerant individual, and as Christians we should also strive to be the same.
Bottom-line: I am sick and tired of secularism and "political correctness" running the show in this country! All of this bickering and complaining produces the net result of taking the JOY out of the Holiday Season (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or whatever you happen to celebrate).
Wish me a "Merry Christmas", a "Happy Kwanzaa", or a "Happy Hanukkah"! You won't hurt my feelings or upset me. I can share in your joy, even if I don't personally share your belief system. So lets stop all of the quibbling! We're missing the point: Share the joy! And be happy that we live in a country where we have the FREEDOM to express ourselves! So many on this rapidly spinning blue planet do not have the freedom to do so, even today.
If by chance you happen to be a part of the elitist, secular movement promoting this white-washed, politically correct agenda: I sincerely urge you to go back and READ THE HISTORY OF YOUR COUNTRY once again! You are truly, truly, misguided if you believe that our founding fathers were fighting for the right to establish a secular nation. Furthermore, your efforts to secularize our nation are actually hurting us, by attempting to stifle the unique and dynamic diversity that has historically made us such a creative, adaptable, productive and strong nation.
Let us, once again, look to the hope and promise of our children as they play with children of different faiths and beliefs on the school playgrounds and in neighborhoods across America. Watch and learn from the inherent innocence and wisdom of our youth as they learn, with open hearts and minds, about "Christmas Around the World," "Hanukkah" and "Kwanzaa", "Chinese New Year" and "Islamic New Year" in their classrooms together, side by side with children of many faiths. God bless the children and ALL OF US this Holiday Season. Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Happy Kwanzaa and Hanukkah too!
P.S. A message for Bill O'Reilly: calm down already! Let the atheists put up their sign. It lets Christians know who they need to pray the hardest for and it may just be a lightening rod for some divine intervention.
