For non-Christians: at Christmas time...?

Question

Is it really offensive to see Christmas trees or wreaths in public places? Is Santa Claus offensive? Do you think that the ACLU has made way too much of all this or are they right in their actions?

Just want some perspective here. I am more than delighted to see Menorahs or any other spiritual symbols and can't help but think others aren't as outraged at our symbols as some legal groups would have us think. Comments?

Answer 1

When you can have a Christmas tree next to a menorah without _anyone_ blinking an eye, with a pentacle and a kwanzaa candleabra alongside them, then we won't need the ACLU to interfere. (My apologies for not knowing what symbols for Ramadan would be used in a display like this...)

It's when those who say "my religion is being oppressed" are they are themselves oppressing other religions that the ACLU needs to step in.

This isn't "Animal Farm". The modified law on the barn wall doesn't read "All religions are equal, but some are more equal than others."

Answer 2

Neither a tree nor a wreath is a religious symbol, and I have no problem with them in any way.
They're both symbols of the coming rebirth of the earth at springtime, and have nothing to do with religion.

I also have no problem with any *private* place putting up whatever they want to any time of the year. Stores, malls, etc. can do whatever they want, it's their property.

I *do* have a problem with any GOVERNMENT money, time, or labor being spent on ANY religious symbols -- that includes crosses, nativity scenes, menorahs, or anything else. If the government does it, it's helping to establish that particular religion, which is unconstitutional.
And what does the ACLU have to do with trees and wreaths in public places? They have NEVER -- not once, not ever -- done anything to prevent either of those being put in a public place.
I think you need to check your facts, my friend.

Answer 3

Most of the items you list are not Christian. I guess maybe they are associated with Christmas, but Christmas is simply the celebration of Christ's birth. Other than the occasional Nativity scene or some Christmas carols, there is nothing Christian about it. As a matter of fact the tree, hanging wreaths, colored lights and yule log are all pagan--mostly Celtic. Santa Claus is the combination of St Nicholas and pagan symbols.

Nope...doesn't bother me at all.

Answer 4

You can put up religious symbols on your property. There is no question about that. What is different is when a government agency promotes a religion by putting up its symbols. A department store can have a christian display, a jewish display, or even a wiccan display if they wanted to. However, a courthouse cannot because it would be a violation of the first amendment. The ACLU has helped in cases regarding this, but they have never attacked a person's rights to have religious symbols on private property. In fact, I would bet they have gone to court to protect a person's right to have symbols on their property.

People have been attacking the ACLU saying that they are attacking christmas and trying to have it outlawed. This is not true.

http://www.aclu.org/religion/index.html

Answer 5

I am non-Christian and I do not find Santa, wreaths, trees, etc to be offensive in the least. What does offend me is when Christians insist that Christmas belongs to them only and no one else has any right whatsoever to celebrate.

Answer 6

Strangely enough, most of the aggravation seems to occur not because non-Christians complain about Christmas decorations, but because Christians complain bitterly about any OTHER religion's symbols being included.

The attitude of "Christmas is OUR holiday--everyone else should just back off!", when catered to by local governments, is very much a violation of the establishment clause, and should be contested, but Christians and non-Christians alike.

Answer 7

Well, as a pagan I have no problem with it - the Christians borrowed those symbols from us. Santa Claus has a rather dubious connection to the Christian religion as well. It's when people start talking about Jesus being the "reason for the season" that I start rolling my eyes, and calling me a godless heathen for not wanting to go to church on Christmas morning does not exactly endear them to me either.

Answer 8

No it's not offensive. But just as long as Christians don't mind seeing non-Christian symbols in public. I'm Muslim and when the "Eid Mubarak" stamp commemorating the Muslim holiday Eid, many Christians complained to the post office that they should not honor a Muslim holiday. This seems hypocritical. Would you be offended if Muslim symbols (the crescent) were placed in public places?

Answer 9

I don't find it the least bit offensive to see Christmas or Hanukkah displays around town. The ACLU is a tool of those few who want to have everything their way. So what if someone doesn't like seeing something... is it infringing on their pursuit of happiness to see a Christmas tree in the town square? It's not written in the Constitution that you are guaranteed to be happy all the time.

Answer 10

I don't care one way or another. Everyone should be able to celebrate anything they want as long as it doesn't hurt others (by this I mean physically hurt or socially degrade them--being offended by someone else's celebration isn't degradation). I celebrate Christmas because my family does and because it is a great way to teach kids the joy of giving. For us, the focus on kindness is the most important part of the holiday. It's something we look forward to throughout the year.