Article did not bash Christians, or Christmas
Toolbox
Published: January 28, 2007
The Rev. Ralph W. Howe, in his Dec. 31 letter to the Sunday Rutland Herald and Times Argus "At your newspaper, it's open season on Christians," claims that, in the previous issue of the newspaper, there was "published a lengthy article about people who bash Christmas and Christians" in America. I reread that article and I could not find any bashing by anyone. Instead, I learned from several people why they are not Christians and why they celebrate, or do not celebrate, around that time of the year.
The Rev. Howe states that Christians "are up for an open season of pot shots and snide attacks" and that it has become "socially acceptable to attack, deride and caricature Christians and the faith of Jesus, the Christ." However, he offers no specific examples. It is true that many conservative Christians believe that religious minorities are pushing them around and depriving them of their rights. However, Christians are entirely free to sing Christmas carols, decorate Christmas trees, and exchange Christmas presents in their homes and churches. They can put up nativity scenes and "Keep Christ in Christmas" signs on their own or their church's property. To be sure, they live in a country where they have numerous opportunities to spread their message. To say that Christmas needs to be "saved" from anything is absurd.
Public schools and, for that matter, all governmental buildings serve Christians and non-Christians alike and have an obligation to make all families in the community feel welcome. The places for celebrating Christmas as a holy day are homes and churches. There have, however, been many attempts by some Christians to force public schools to have Christmas concerts with sacred Christian songs. Evidently, they either cannot understand or do not care that parents, who are not Christians, might not want to have their children sing carols like "Silent Night," with its chorus of "Christ the Savior is born."
In the past the Christian majority enjoyed a period of dominance and privileges that included the releasing of students from public schools during class hours for religious education, compulsory teacher-led Christian prayers, Bible-reading during the school day, and school-sanctioned prayer at public school graduations. These are clear examples of the government establishing a religion, which is not allowed by the First Amendment of the Constitution. In addition, various Christian groups and governmental bodies discriminated against minority religions. Most Christians today agree with the decisions made by the Supreme Court that helped to eliminate this discrimination. However, some do not appear to comprehend that majority status does not imply preferential treatment because they complain that such equality is intolerable. They demand not equal treatment, but special treatment. They want their beliefs to be singled out, both legally and culturally, for extra deference. They expect to be treated as if their version of Christianity is superior to all other religions.
The Rev. Howe is saddened by the removal of the comic strip "B.C." from the Times Argus. Its creator, Johnny Hart, is a self-professed, conservative, evangelical Christian. His religious views are more than "occasionally" promoted in his strips. Hart made it very clear in his Dec. 24 posting that he finds it offensive when store personnel wish Christians "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." However, I doubt that any store employee is capable of recognizing which customers are Christians and which are not simply by looking at and conversing with them. Because many businesses know that their customers come from many faiths, or none at all, they realize that it is more appropriate to use an inclusive greeting. I also doubt that an employee would be chastised for wishing a customer "Merry Christmas" if he/she knew for a fact that the customer is a Christian.
I think that there should be a day when we gather with family and loved ones to enjoy each other's company and to celebrate the good things life has to offer. There is no better time to do this than in the deep of winter when the early darkness and the chill of ice and snow drives us indoors. Also, it is fitting that there be a day when we remind ourselves to have compassion for those who have little. We need to understand that the only good we can ever expect to accomplish is to help our fellow human beings who are suffering and in want. In truth, there should be 365 such days each year. However, it may be overly optimistic to expect that much from humanity at this time in our moral development. Nevertheless, one such day is far better than none.
John Klimenok Jr
Barre
22