Dec. 15, 2004 - For the past few years, as we approach Christmas it seems we've been hearing stories about how Christmas is being removed from our culture. Kids can't sing carols in school, schools now have "Winter break" instead of Christmas break. Funny how that happens at the the beginning of Winter. A true "Winter break" should occur in the middle of Winter, say early February. Anyway, back to the gradual removal of the use of the word "Christmas." Certain groups say we need to be tolerant of others but it seems the groups we need to be tolerant of are not required to return the favor.

What irks me is that it seems those pushing for the abandonment of the word Christmas are not the people we should be tolerant of - they are people who fall in the majority - Christians. This is indicative of a major social problem we have now. Too many Christians are saying "oh, it's not fair that we use the word "Christmas;" we should remove it so others feel included." This kind of thinking is dangerous, for if other small groups did the same, they would dissolve quickly. Christians are a majority in this country. Feeling bad for others and bestowing a double standard is both arrogant and detrimental. What gives the majority the right to say "we'll remove our identify in order for you to further yours?" That is a subsidy. Subsidies do not make their benefactors stronger and better but rather relegate them to constant inferior standing and furthers dependency. This is like saying "we have the power, you don't, so we'll purge what makes us us in order for you to establish a footing. You don't have to earn anything because we'll give it to you." This is not healthy for society.

These "make everyone feel good" sympathizers will not stop at Christmas. Already, attacks have been made against the Pledge of Allegiance and even the Declaration of Independence. Why? Because "God" is referenced. The 5% or so people who don't believe in God are getting support from a lot of people who do. Those who want to remove "God" and "Christmas" from our society should do what our ancestors did - leave their homeland for another in order to find religious freedom or, more specifically, a society free of religion.

Now, I am not a very religious person. For the past 15 years or so I've considered myself more agnostic than atheist. I believe in evolution and I believe Christ existed. Our Founding Fathers based our nation on Christian beliefs. Modeling one's behavior after Christian principles is a wise thing to do. They teach self-discipline. They teach respect for others. They teach that parenting is important. They teach charity. If people want to eliminate references to a religion that teaches us those traits then we will soon lose our identity and that bond we have with the principles on which this nation was founded.