The ACLU, Democracy And Christmas Trees

 

Tis' the season once again. It is that traditional time of year for the ACLU to propose that the Christmas tree either be renamed or removed from government buildings. This is usually followed by requests beseeching me to join in and stomp on the ACLU.

 

I don't support the ACLU in all their actions. I do not intend to be an advocate of the ACLU specifically. I do believe in freedom of speech and the freedom to legally participate in the American social and political scheme of things.

 

At the core of the ACLU doctrine is equality and justice for all. Once actions begin to move away from the ideas and ideals found at the core of any organization, content and purpose get distorted. The farther from the core the grander the distortion. An example of my point is this: The ACLU's proposal to remove the word "God" from the pledge of allegiance in public schools. This is a concept very close to the core of the ACLU, and I believe has a great deal of merit. Of course the simple solution is to schedule a moment of silence before school activities. Removing the word "God" from all public discourse because it may offend non-believers of God is a concept far from the core of the ACLU and therefore, in my view, frankly a dumb-ass notion, poorly thought out and completely ludicrous. The constitutional and reasonable solution is to let people freely speak in public. If you disagree with or are offended by what you are hearing you have legal options as a citizen that are not available to students in the public school system.

 

The ACLU operates within the scope of the laws of this country. My concern is with the myriad of schemes proposed to counter the ACLU and their actions. These schemes, I have found, are most often misguided and too frequently off-point. I am not against opposing the ACLU. I am against disrespectfully, immorally and sometimes illegally opposing the ACLU.

 

This year the subject of discord is the Christmas tree. The ACLU wants it banned from all public government locations because it represents only one faith, thus discriminating against all other forms of faith--or lack thereof. The Christians want the Christmas tree displayed, claiming they would be denied their expression of faith if this symbol is banned. 

 

Are you #*!$%*#& kidding me?"

 

This is a typical example highlighting the deterioration of the art of debate in America. Both sides in this contentious discourse have built their arguments on a false premise. Both the ACLU and the Christians are claiming the Christmas tree to be a symbolic representation of Christian beliefs.

 

The Christmas tree, depending on your point of view, was either an act of accommodation or flat out placating the Druid's pagan worship of trees in the good old days. The Christians, wanting to convert the Druids, allowed them to have their trees, on the condition that the Druids would allow the Christians to adopt a more Christian mystique for their coveted evergreen.

 

The spiritual symbols for Christmas found in the Christian Bible are angels, stars, songs, mangers, family, wise men and gifts which acknowledge the Christ as King, Prophet and Healer. Evergreen trees, strands of lights, Santa Claus and reindeer, HO HO HO and Tickle Me Elmo are purely decorative, only serving the $pirits of Vanity and Capitalism.

 

If the ACLU was dedicated to inclusive concepts, instead of the exclusive concept of their banning mentality, they would serve us all better by insisting that all the symbols of all the diverse people and faiths of America be represented proudly at every possible opportunity. The Christians fare no better in the ill-thought-out planning department. When did shouting down, shutting down and stifling the opposition become an intelligent, morally acceptable and ethically sustainable substitute for respectful, thoughtful debate? When did we, who are Christians, become so insecure in our beliefs that we can ill afford to listen to any voice presenting a different view point?

 

Government buildings are built and maintained through tax revenues. Taxes are mandated by law to be extracted from incomes regardless of the religious affiliation of the taxpayer. If Christmas trees are to be bought with tax dollars and then displayed publicly, shouldn't the entire spectrum of religious and non-religious symbols representing all Americans be purchased and displayed as well? As Christians commanded to love and serve God while loving our neighbors as ourselves,  shouldn't we be equally offended that all other religions are rarely, if ever, represented in these same government buildings? Where are the offended Christian cries of injustice over the absence of the displayed symbols of all the other religions prevalent in America?

 

A very Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season to us all. May the end of this old year bring an end to all that is troublesome to each of us. May this new year coming bring a new sense of compassion, enlightenment and prosperity to our hearts, minds and homes.

 

Peace on Earth, good will to all.

 

and if that don't work for ya....at least fight nice, kids.