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Group wants end to 'Happy Holidays'
Maine Today ^ | December 04, 2004 | GARY REMAL

Posted on 12/04/2004 12:13:54 PM PST by yonif

AUGUSTA -- "Happy holidays!"

Bah humbug, says Maine Christian Civic League Executive Director Michael Health.

It's "Merry Christmas," says Heath, who recently kicked off a campaign in Maine to bolster traditional greetings in lieu of more politically correct salutations.

"Tired of the secularist scrooges who are taking over Maine's cultural landscape? So are we," Heath wrote in a recent message to league members. "That is why we are teaming up with the Alliance Defense Fund to fight Scrooge-like secular intolerance this Christmas season."

Heath said he wrote the message as his part of the national Christian group's campaign. The Alliance Defense Fund is looking for cases to test in court and Heath asked his members for examples.

"There is increasing hostility toward Christians that is expressed outside the church publicly. It's something that seems to be increasing, and increasingly American people are being asked to push expressions of Christ to the margins or out of view, and this is part of that," Heath said. "Our point is, people can say 'Merry Christmas' in schools or wherever."

Heath said Friday that he received a complaint from a member alleging a teacher -- at a school he declined to identify -- had instructed students not to use "Merry Christmas," suggesting "happy holidays" instead. He said he was sending that information to alliance lawyers.

The issue has struck a nerve among Christian Civic League members, judging from their reaction to a new Alliance Defense Fund lapel pin which says: "Merry Christmas Believe It. Say It."

"They gave us 500 pins and we handed them all out in just two days without any advertising on our part, so there's a lot of concern about this," Heath said.

Some of Heath's past campaigns have been controversial. In the past year, he was criticized for suggesting Gov. John Baldacci may have "one of those imaginary gay genes" and was suspended for a month when he began an effort to identify gay legislators and state officials.

"We've got to represent diversity and be tolerant of everything except, I guess, Jesus at Christmastime," Heath said. "I see it as the opposite of that; they're being tolerant of everything except Christianity or Christ."

The Christian Civic League director said legal challenges by the American Civil Liberties Union and others over use of religious symbols in public places are the most visible assaults on Christian Christmas. And he said Christians feel increasing pressure to avoid symbols of their faith.

"Over time, they've been radicalizing this. We started with freedom of religion. Now we're to the point where the default is you keep quiet about your deeply held beliefs," Heath said.

"They need to back off and the ACLU needs to back off and stop pushing so hard against anything that includes Christmas carols and those kinds of things, just like a scrooge."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Maine
KEYWORDS: christmas; morality
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To: RoseofTexas

Good for you !

~ MERRY CHRISTMAS ONE AND ALL ~


61 posted on 12/04/2004 10:16:14 PM PST by Selkie
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To: yonif

Good for them, Im sending Maine Christian Civic League a nice little donation as a show of support.

http://www.cclmaine.org/


62 posted on 12/04/2004 10:19:37 PM PST by Selkie
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To: little jeremiah

CE=Common Era.


63 posted on 12/04/2004 10:38:13 PM PST by Melas
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To: MisterRepublican

Merry Christmas to you too!

And may I remind everyone when you go buy stamps at the post office, demand the Christmas stamps. I had a big altercation last year and the police had to be called in, but I got my Christmas stamps. They do have the Christmas stamps (Madonna and Child, Christmas Tree) but they're hiding them in the back room.

Don't use the dispensing machines to buy stamps. Ask for them and check them out before you leave the post office.

Don't leave your post office without your Christmas stamps!


64 posted on 12/04/2004 11:01:51 PM PST by Baraonda (Demographic changes has consequences.)
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To: NYer

Brother Night, please add me to your Catholic Ping List.

Thank you.

And, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES.


65 posted on 12/04/2004 11:04:22 PM PST by Baraonda (Demographic changes has consequences.)
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To: Baraonda

Brother Night = Brother Knight.

(The mind is beginning to fail me)


66 posted on 12/04/2004 11:06:26 PM PST by Baraonda (Demographic changes has consequences.)
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To: MisterRepublican

MERRY CHRISTMAS, MisterRepublican! He's the reason for the season.


67 posted on 12/04/2004 11:11:51 PM PST by ETERNAL WARMING (He is faithful!)
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To: yonif

The PC Christmas cards really get me going. I look through all of the selection so that I can purchase only cards that specifically use the word "Christmas".


68 posted on 12/04/2004 11:52:36 PM PST by dstarr (Proud widow of a Vietnam War and Korean War veteran)
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To: dstarr

I refuse to buy a card that says "Season's Greetings" (ugh) or "Happy Holidays." (I can still hear my father saying, "Happy holiday? What holiday are you talking about? Arbor Day?") The card has to have the word "Christmas" on it. It's my own little rebellion against this P.C. garbage, but I think it does have an effect. The last couple of years I've had a much easier time finding the kinds of cards I like.


69 posted on 12/05/2004 12:31:25 AM PST by Rainbow Rising (Red Stater at heart)
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To: HIDEK6

There is a difference between an individual using "Happy Holidays" as a genuine wish of goodwill versus its systematic replacement of "Merry Christmas" by institutions for no reason other than to appease the gods of diversity and political correctness.

The vast majority of people in this nation celebrate Christmas in some manner. Anyone who gets offended by seeing the phrase "Merry Christmas" at the local dept store is the type of person who goes out just looking to get offended by something. They are they type who can't stand it that their warped sensibilites are offended by a display on behalf of the majority. They are contemptible. But its most likely the case that most people who don't celebrate Christmas or believe in Jesus probably don't think twice about seeing displays of the word that signifies the entire meaning of the season, w/o which there would be no holiday season. Therefore, there is no reason for this insanity as Macy's was in no danger of losing business if non-believers were subjected to the horror of having to actually see the word "Christmas" displayed.


70 posted on 12/05/2004 11:38:39 AM PST by Aetius
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To: loboinok

Which is why I corrected it almost immediately!


71 posted on 12/05/2004 11:40:49 AM PST by Aetius
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To: Aetius

Sorry...didn't see the correction!
Have a good one.


72 posted on 12/05/2004 2:31:21 PM PST by loboinok (GUN CONTROL IS HITTING WHAT YOU AIM AT.)
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To: PatriotGirl827

Yes, the pins do look great! I, too, plan to order some to wear and pass out to family and friends.


73 posted on 12/05/2004 2:50:04 PM PST by EdReform (Free Republic - helping to keep our country a free republic. Thank you for your financial support!)
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To: PatriotGirl827

You're welcome! I currently support the ADF, ACLJ, and TMLC.

Merry Christmas to you, too!


74 posted on 12/05/2004 2:55:25 PM PST by EdReform (Free Republic - helping to keep our country a free republic. Thank you for your financial support!)
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To: Grampa Dave

Bump! I agree, Dave.

The ACLU is skating on some very thin ice. They damn well better back off.


75 posted on 12/05/2004 3:10:29 PM PST by EdReform (Free Republic - helping to keep our country a free republic. Thank you for your financial support!)
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To: Lindykim; Grampa Dave; MeekOneGOP

You're welcome! I am ordering some pins, too. We must support the organizations that are listed in reply 10 above.


76 posted on 12/05/2004 3:14:08 PM PST by EdReform (Free Republic - helping to keep our country a free republic. Thank you for your financial support!)
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To: Baraonda

Bumping good advice!


77 posted on 12/05/2004 3:16:20 PM PST by EdReform (Free Republic - helping to keep our country a free republic. Thank you for your financial support!)
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To: little jeremiah; All

But Jesus' Birthday? A favorite day! I think I'll make a huge banner and put it on my fence (replacing the Bush/Cheney sign) - "Merry Christmas"!!


Jesus is the reason for the season!


"Happy Birthday, Jesus" by Donald Arey, Sr.

I had a birthday party, most everybody came.

They danced and ate and had a ball, But no one spoke My name.

They gave each other presents, as nice as they could be.

People came from far and near, But no one mentioned Me.

The stores were filled with shoppers, The restaurants crowded out,

But no one seemed to really know what the party was about.

They talked about a reindeer. I think Rudolph was his name.

Then someone mentioned "Jesus", And they hung their heads in shame.

You see, it was My birthday. They didn't even know.

That is why from heaven My heart is grieving so.

I came to earth from heaven on that first Christmas day--

Born in a lowly manger From sin to show the way.

I died one day on Calvary, on a cruel Roman cross

To save a world of sinners from a life of awful loss.

When you next have a party, with presents, friends and tree,

Remember Me, your Savior, whose birth has set you free.

-- Jesus

PS: I am coming again soon.

78 posted on 12/05/2004 3:23:03 PM PST by EdReform (Free Republic - helping to keep our country a free republic. Thank you for your financial support!)
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To: Aetius

Well said!


79 posted on 12/05/2004 3:26:59 PM PST by EdReform (Free Republic - helping to keep our country a free republic. Thank you for your financial support!)
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To: yonif

BTTT


80 posted on 12/05/2004 4:16:25 PM PST by EdReform (Free Republic - helping to keep our country a free republic. Thank you for your financial support!)
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