How the secular humanist grinch didn't steal Christmas ; There is NO WAR ON CHRISTMAS (Barf Alert)

The right-wing crusade against the liberal "war on Christmas" is great for rallying the troops. Too bad the war doesn't exist.

In 1959, the recently formed John Birch Society issued an urgent alert: Christmas was under attack. In a JBS pamphlet titled "There Goes Christmas?!" a writer named Hubert Kregeloh warned, "One of the techniques now being applied by the Reds to weaken the pillar of religion in our country is the drive to take Christ out of Christmas -- to denude the event of its religious meaning." The central front in this perfidious assault was American department stores, where the "Godless UN" was scheming to replace religious decorations with internationalist celebrations of universal brotherhood.

"The UN fanatics launched their assault on Christmas in 1958, but too late to get very far before the holy day was at hand," the pamphlet explained. "They are already busy, however, at this very moment, on efforts to poison the 1959 Christmas season with their high-pressure propaganda. What they now want to put over on the American people is simply this: Department stores throughout the country are to utilize UN symbols and emblems as Christmas decorations."

According to the JBS, this assault on yuletide iconography was "part of a much broader plan, not only to promote the UN, but to destroy all religious beliefs and customs." The pamphlet called on all Americans to fight back by informing department stores that those with improper ornamentation wouldn't be getting their business.

At the time, the campaign to save Christmas was not widely treated as a matter of great national import. The John Birch Society was generally regarded as a crank, far-right outfit whose paranoid conspiracy theories (it believed fluoridated water was part of an evil communist plot to poison America's brains) put it outside the pale of reasonable discourse. Staffers on the ultra-right 1964 Barry Goldwater campaign tried to prevent Birchers from volunteering because they carried the taint of extremism. The John Birch Society didn't have access to a major television network. But a lot has changed since then.

Last December, warnings about a war on Christmas -- a war whose central front was the nation's department stores -- once against emanated from the right, but this time, they were on national TV and talk radio. Fox News' Bill O'Reilly began running a regular segment called "Christmas Under Siege." "All over the country, Christmas is taking flak," O'Reilly declared on Dec. 7. "In Denver this past weekend, no religious floats were permitted in the holiday parade there. In New York City, Mayor [Michael] Bloomberg unveiled the 'holiday tree,' and no Christian Christmas symbols are allowed in the public schools. Federated Department Stores -- that's Macy's -- have done away with the Christmas greeting 'Merry Christmas.'" Instead, Macy's was using the malign phrase "Happy Holidays." Noting this, Pat Buchanan wrote, "What we are witnessing here are hate crimes against Christianity."

This year the war on Christmas canard has come early, and with it the latest opportunity for religious conservatives to cast themselves as the oppressed victims of secular tyrants. In October, Fox News anchor John Gibson published a book titled "The War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought," which envisions a vast conspiracy with tentacles reaching into many aspects of American life. "The plot to ban Christmas itself is anything but secret," writes Gibson. "It is embedded in the secular 'Humanist Manifesto' (in its three iterations from the American Humanist Association), in the philosophy of teaching of John Dewey, in the legal opinions of Laurence Tribe, in the rulings of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on which sits the most liberal jurist in the land, Stephen Reinhardt, who is married to Ramona Ripston, the southern California ACLU executive director and the national group's most liberal and effective leader."

As the holidays approach, the right is making ever more fevered preparations to thwart this ostensible conspiracy. Last week, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights launched a short-lived boycott of Wal-Mart, charging the megastore with "insulting Christians by effectively banning Christmas." The American Family Association called for a Thanksgiving-weekend boycott of Target because of the chain's purported refusal to use the phrase "Merry Christmas" in its advertising. (Target denies having such a policy.) A few days later, Jerry Falwell announced he was joining with the Christian right legal group Liberty Counsel's "Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign," which intends to sue officials who try to curb religious Christmas celebrations in schools or other public places. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, "The 8,000 members of the Christian Educators Association International will be the campaign's 'eyes and ears' in the nation's public schools. They'll be reporting to 750 Liberty Counsel lawyers who are ready to pounce if, for example, a teacher is muzzled from leading the third-graders in 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.'" Meanwhile, the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian right legal outfit co-founded by James Dobson, has ramped up its three-year-old "Christmas project," organizing over 800 lawyers to defend the sacred holiday. "It's a sad day in America when you have to retain a lawyer to wish someone a merry Christmas," says Mike Johnson, senior legal counsel for ADF.

Despite Johnson's lamentations, one can in fact offer Christmas greetings without legal counsel. Christmas trees are permitted in public schools. (They're considered secular symbols.) Nativity scenes are allowed on public property, although if the government erects one, it has to be part of a larger display that also includes other, secular signs of the holiday season, or displays referring to other religions. (The operative Supreme Court precedent is 1984's Lynch v. Donnelly, where the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that a city-sponsored Christmas display including a crèche, reindeer, a Christmas tree, candy-striped poles and a banner that read "Seasons Greetings" was permissible. "The display is sponsored by the city to celebrate the Holiday and to depict the origins of that Holiday," the majority wrote. "These are legitimate secular purposes.") Students are allowed to distribute religious holiday cards and literature in school. If the administration tries to stop them, the ACLU will step in to defend the students' free-speech rights, as they did in 2003 when teenagers in Massachusetts were suspended for passing out candy canes with Christian messages.

In fact, there is no war on Christmas. What there is, rather, is a burgeoning myth of a war on Christmas, assembled out of old reactionary tropes, urban legends, exaggerated anecdotes and increasingly organized hostility to the American Civil Liberties Union. It's a myth that can be self-fulfilling, as school board members and local politicians believe the false conservative claim that they can't celebrate Christmas without getting sued by the ACLU and thus jettison beloved traditions, enraging citizens and perpetuating a potent culture-war meme. This in turn furthers the myth of an anti-Christmas conspiracy.

"You have a dynamic here, where you have the Christian right hysterically overrepresenting the problem, and then anecdotally you have some towns where lawyers restrict any kind of display or representation of religion, which is equally absurd," says Chip Berlet, a senior analyst at Political Research Associates and one of the foremost experts on the religious right. "It's a closed loop. In that dynamic, neither the secular humanists or the ACLU are playing a role."

ON THE INTERNET:

HOT AIR.com - blog (TIMES OF LONDON): "DISGRACE: AHMADINEJAD TO DELIVER 'ALTERNATIVE' CHRISTMAS MESSAGE ON BRITISH TV" (December 24, 2008, 1:14 pm)

CNS NEWS.com: Nazareth - "MUSLIMS ERECT 'Allah Has No Son' BANNER IN NAZARETH" by Julie Stahl (December 24, 2008)

BBC NEWS: "CRIB MOSQUES ANGER ITALIAN PARTY" (Page last updated December 24, 2008, 19:56 GMT)

TOWNHALL.com: "JACKING JESUS" - Column by Chuck Norris (December 23, 2008)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: Bethlehem - "OUR CLOSE BRUSH WITH DEATH IN BETHLEHEM" by Dan Wooding (December 21, 2008)

LC.org - LIBERTY COUNSEL: Hattiesburg, MS - "SIXTH-GRADER PENALIZED FOR MENTIONING JESUS IN HIS CHRISTMAS PAPER AT SCHOOL" (December 18, 2008)

ONE NEWS NOW.com: "MULTICULTURAL DISPLAYS 'NEUTERING' CHRISTMAS" by Charlie Butts (December 18, 2008)

ONE NEWS NOW.com: "ANTI-FAITH 'RANT' WILL STAY, SAYS WASHINGTON GOVERNOR" by Charlie Butts (December 15, 2008)

DAILY MAIL.co.uk: "MOTHER TOLD TO TAKE DOWN HER CHRISTMAS LIGHTS... in case they offend her non-Christian neighbors" (Last updated December 15, 2008)

TELEGRAPH.co.uk: "VICAR BANS CHRISTMAS CAROL O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM" by Ben Leach (Last updated December 12, 2008, 11:12 am GMT)

LC.org - LIBERTY COUNSEL: "WASHINGTON GOVERNOR APPROVES ANTI-FAITH SIGN" (December 9, 2008)

EUROPE NEWS.dk: "ITALY: PLOT TO BLOW UP MILAN CATHEDRAL" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Two Moroccans arrested in Italy yesterday wanted to blow up the Milan Cathedral on Christmas." ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The two belonged to an Islamic terror cell...") (December 4, 2008)

TELEGRAPH.co.uk: "SCHOOL CANCELS CHRISTMAS NATIVITY IN FAVOUR OF MUSLIM EID CELEBRATIONS" by Nick Britten (Last updated December 3, 2008, 2:30 pm GMT)

LC.org - LIBERTY COUNSEL LAUNCHES SIXTH ANNUAL 'FRIEND OR FOE CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN'" (November 11, 2008)

ONE NEWS NOW.com: "MICHIGAN STUDENT CENSORED OVER CANDY CANES" by Allie Martin (February 6, 2008)

SWOSU.edu - News Release: "UPDATE: NO BAN ON CHRISTMAS" (December 21, 2007)

CNS NEWS.com: "NUMEROUS NATIVITY SCENES VANDALIZED NATIONWIDE" by Randy Hall (December 20, 2007)

ONE NEWS NOW.com: "GEORGIA TOWN THREATENED WITH LAWSUIT OVER NATIVITY SCENE" by Allie Martin (December 20, 2007)

ONE NEWS NOW.com: "CITY CHANGES 'CHRISTMAS' FESTIVAL TO 'HOLIDAY' FESTIVAL" by Rusty Pugh (December 10, 2007)

SayChristmas.org - ADF (ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND) CHRISTMAS PROJECT: "ATTACKS ON CHRISTMAS"

CHICAGO TRIBUNE.com: "MAN IS DRAGGED BY CAR AFTER DEFENDING CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS FROM VANDALS 'There was about 7 or 8 boys, just absolutely destroying our Christmas decorations,' Hoffman Estates man says" by Jeff Long (December 2, 2007, 7:47 PM CST)

LIBERTY COUNSEL - News Release: "CITY REJECTS ABSURD RECOMMENDATIONS TO BAN RED AND GREEN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS" (November 26, 2007)

LC.org - LIBERTY COUNSEL: Ft. Collins, CO - "CITY CONSIDERS BANNING RED AND GREEN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AND CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS" (November 16, 2007)

ONE NEWS NOW: "ASSISTED-LIVING SENIORS CAN GIVE CHRISTMAS TREES THEIR ANGELS" (November 13, 2007)

LC.org - LIBERTY COUNSEL: "FLORIDA SENIOR LIVING FACILITY BANS RELIGIOUS CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS BASED ON ERRONEOUS ADVICE" (November 9, 2007)

AFA.net: "FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TELLS 85-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER NOT TO PUT AN ANGEL ON CHRISTMAS TREE" (Note: url may expire.)

LIBERTY COUNSEL: "LIBERTY COUNSEL LAUNCHES FIFTH ANNUAL FRIEND OR FOE CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN" (October 30, 2007)

BREIBART.com (AP): Richmond, Calif. - "POLICE: MAN SETS FIRE TO NATIVITY SCENE" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "A man walked into a church, doused a nativity scene with a flammable liquid and set it ablaze in front of a practicing choir, police said.") (January 6, 2006, 11:51 PM)

WorldNetDaily.com: "BETWEEN THE LINES" -Column by Joseph Farah (December 30, 2006)

LittleGreenFootballs.com - weblog: "VEILED CHRISTMAS ADDRESS DELIVERED BY EXTREMIST CONVERT" (December 30, 2006)

LIFE SITE News: "VANDALS STORM CRECHES NATIONWIDE - BABY JESUS SMASHED, DISMEMBERED, DESECRATED" (December 21, 2006)

AGAPE PRESS: "IS THERE A WAR ON CHRISTMAS? YOU BETCHA!" - Guest Commentary by Tim Wildmon (December 19, 2006)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "MERRY CHRISTMAS, INFIDEL" by Robert Spencer (December 19, 2006)

HOTAIR.com - blog: "BETHLEHEM NO LONGER SAFE FOR CHRISTIANS" (December 17, 2006, 2:36 pm)

ASSIST NEWS.net: "O, MUSLIM TOWN OF BETHLEHEM" by Dan Wooding (December 16, 2006)

A translation and discussion of a RADIOFARDA.COM article on FREEREPUBLIC.com: "EX-MUSLIMS ARRESTED IN IRAN (Christians arrested for performing XMAS activities)" (December 17, 2006)

"www.radiofarda.com/Article/2006/12/17/f4_christian_arresting_iran.htm"

WESTERN RESISTANCE.com - blog: "UK: VEILED MUSLIM WITH NO CHRISTMAS MESSAGE" (December 16, 2006)

BBC NEWS: "VEILED WOMAN TO GIVE C4's SPEECH" (Last updated December 5, 2006, 13:51 GMT)

LIFE SITE.net: Witchita - "NATIVITY SCENE STOLEN BY ABORTION CLINIC WORKER RETURNED BY POLICE" (December 15, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "BECAUSE OF THE CHRIST CHILD THERE CAN ALWAYS BE A CHRISTMAS" by Bill Ellis (December 13, 2006)

CNS NEWS.com: "PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL: JESUS IS THE 'REASON FOR THE SEASON'" by Nathan Burchfiel (December 8, 2006)

AGAPE PRESS: "COALITION CALLS FOR NATIONWIDE PUSH ON PUBLIC NATIVITY SCENES" by Allie Martin and Jody Brown (December 8, 2006)

WorldNetDaily.com: "PAGAN CHRISTMAS RITUAL PRESSED ON YOUNG KIDS" by Bob Unruh (December 8, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "THE WAR ON 'X-MAS'" by Kristin Cole (December 6, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "OFFENDING AND BEING OFFENDED BY CHRISTMAS" by Bill Ellis (December 5, 2006)

SEATTLE PI.com - SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER: 1 St. Albans, W. Virginia - "TOWN RESTORES JESUS TO NATIVITY SCENE" (Last updated December 4, 2006, 7:11 p.m. PT)

SEATTLE PI.COM - SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER (AP): St. Albans, W. Virginia - "W. VIRGINIA CITY'S XMAS SCENE HAS NO JESUS" (Last updated December 1, 2006, 12:42 p.m. PT)

TOWNHALL.com: "THE ACLU TARGETS CHRISTIANS" - Column by Jay Sekulow (November 28, 2006)

FOX NEWS.com (AP): "CHICAGO CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL NIXED 'NATIVITY STORY' ADS OVER FEARS OF OFFENDING NON-CHRISTIANS" (November 28, 2006)

THOMAS MORE LAW CENTER: "BERKLEY, MICHIGAN CITY COUNCIL CAVES IN TO ACLU THREAT AND REMOVES DECADES-OLD NATIVITY DISPLAY" (November 21, 2006)

FreeRepublic.com (LAYMAN ONLINE): "KINGSPORT (TN) CHURCHES BEAT CITY HALL" (November 21, 2006)

AGAPE PRESS: "LEGAL GROUPS ADVISE ON CONSTITUTIONALITY OF CHRISTMAS OBSERVANCES" by Jeff Johnson (November 15, 2006)

CNS NEWS.com: "TOYS FOR TOTS SAYS YES TO TALKING JESUS DOLLS AFTER ALL" (November 15, 2006)

MOVIE: "The Nativity Story"

CNS NEWS.com: "APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS NATIVITY BAN IN NYC SCHOOLS" by Susan Jones (February 3, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: China - "CHRISTMAS ARRESTS HIGHLIGHT CAMPAIGN AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN XINJIANG, CHINA" by Michael Ireland (January 4, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE DISRUPTED BY MOB IN SRI LANKA" by Jeremy Reynalds (January 3, 2006)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "LAOTIAN MISSIONARY FOUND MURDERED AFTER CHRISTMAS SERVICE" by Michael Ireland (December 30, 2005)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "MONTAGNARD DEGAR CHRISTIANS TORTURED IN VIETNAM DURING CHRISTMAS SEASON" by Jeremy Reynalds (December 24, 2005)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AP): "CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM INDONESIA 'Indonesia Under High Risk of Terror Attack'" (December 22, 2005)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "BEING A CHRISTIAN CAN BE DEADLY IN THE REAL WAR ON CHRISTMAS" by Michael Ireland (December 20, 2005)

AGAPE PRESS: "O COME, LET US IGNORE HIM" -Commentary by Rev. Mark H. Creech (December 16, 2005)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "A CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CHRISTIANS" by Abraham H. Miller (December 16, 2005)

WorldNetDaily.com: "HOUSING OFFICIALS 'CANCEL' CHRISTMAS Federally fund facilities tell residents not to sing carols, decorate" (December 15, 2005)

TOWNHALL.com: "MATTHEW 10:32-34 -Column by Mike S. Adams (December 14, 2005)

AGAPE PRESS: "SOME CHURCHES TAKING HEAT FOR CLOSING DOORS CHRISTMAS SUNDAY" by Allie Martin and Jenni Parker (December 14, 2005)

CNS NEWS.com: "CHRISTMAS TERROR WARNING FOR INDONESIA" by Patrick Goodenough (December 13, 2005)

AGAPE PRESS: "HAPPY HOLIDAYS...OR, WHY CHRISTMAS IS FADING" by Matt Friedeman (December 12, 2005)

AmericanThinker.com: "CHRISTMAS: SING ALLELUIAH! by J. James Estrada (December 12, 2005)

FRONTPAGE MAGAZINE.com: "JEWS FOR CHRISTMAS" by Sharon Hughes (December 9, 2005)

TOWNHALL.com: "THE JEWISH GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS" -by Burt Prelutsky (December 8, 2005)

FREE CONGRESS FOUNDATION: "SILENCING SILENT NIGHT" by E. Ralph Hostetter (December 8, 2005)

AGAPE PRESS: "ANTI-CHRISTIAN HOSTILITY DRIVING 'WAR ON CHRISTMAS,' ATTORNEY SAYS" by Jim Brown (December 7, 2005)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding an OTTAWA CITIZEN article by Jenny Jackson: "CHRIST GETS CANADA POST'S STAMP OF APPROVAL" (December 7, 2005)

WorldNetDaily.com: "HOLY FAMILY, MAGI NIXED FROM NATIVITY Library says figures would be 'inappropriate,' action leaves just farm animals, shepherd boy" (December 7, 2005)

AGAPE PRESS: "LAW FIRM HELPS MICHIGAN FAMILY WIN FIGHT OVER YARD NATIVITY SCENE" by Allie Martin (December 5, 2005)

WorldNetDaily.com: "ANOTHER SCHOOL CENSORING CHRISTMAS?" (November 30, 2005)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AsiaNews): "INDONESIA: JIHADIST WAS PLANNING CHRISTMAS ATTACKS AGAINST CHURCHES" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: Jakarta - "Azahari bin Husin and his terrorist group were preparing a series of bomb attacks against churches in Malang to coincide with the Christmas festivities, this according to police sources." (November 11, 2005)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AKI): Rome - "ITALY DOWNPLAYS CHRISTMAS THREAT" (November 7, 2005)

AGAPE PRESS: "LEGAL ADVICE TO U.S. SCHOOLS: DON'T BE A GRINCH ABOUT CHRISTMAS" by Jim Brown (October 25, 2005)

LC.org - News Release: Washington, D.C. - "CONSERVATIVE LEGAL AND EDUCATOR GROUPS LAUNCH JOINT CHRISTMAS PROJECT" (October 17, 2005)

MichNews.com: "CHRISTIANS PUSH FOR 'CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS' IN PUBLIC PLACES" by J. Grant Swank, Jr. (August 17, 2005)

WorldNetDaily.com: "COURT: 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' ACLU Rejects Suit by Woman Claiming Holiday Display was Offensive" (July 8, 2005)

AGAPE PRESS (AFA JOURNAL): "BACKLASH GREETS EFFORTS TO SCRAP CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS" (February 21, 2005)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding a CHICAGO SUN-TIMES Article: "WOMAN REFUSES TO TAKE CHRIST OUT OF CHRISTMAS WINDOW" (December 30, 2004)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: Baghdad, Iraq - "NO CHRISTMAS IN BAGHDAD" (December 24, 2004)

JIHAD WATCH.org (AAP): "INDONESIA; MACHETE GANG ATTACKS PREACHER" (December 24, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "CHRISTMAS AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY CELEBRATED" -Column by David Sisler (December 23, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "CHRISTIAN LEADERS: CHRISTMAS CONSTITUTIONAL, ACLU THREATS TOOTHLESS As Christmas Wars Rage, Schools Advised to Side With First Amendment and Religious Freedom" (December 23, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "JUDGE ORDERS FLORIDA TOWN TO ALLOW PUBLIC NATIVITY DISPLAY" by Allie Martin (December 21, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "NEW ENGLAND NATIVITY NIXED BY ACLU LAWSUIT" by Jim Brown (December 21, 2004)

WorldNetDaily.com: "ANTI-CHRISTMAS DISTRICT HIT WITH FEDERAL LAWSUIT School Officials Banned Carols, Even for Instrumental Groups" (December 20, 2004)

CNS NEWS.com: "ACLU STEALS MUCH MORE THAN CHRISTMAS" -Commentary by Christopher G. Adamo (December 17, 2004)

WorldNetDaily.com: "JUDGE RULES AGAINST SCHOOL DISTRICT" (December 16, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "ORDERS FOR 'WHITE CHRISTMAS' IN PLANO SCHOOLS PRODUCE LAWSUIT, DOJ INVESTIGATION" by Jody Brown (December 16, 2004)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding "A CHRISTMAS GREETING" by Danny Calhoun (December 16, 2004)

WorldNetDaily.com: "SCHOOL DISTRICT BACKS DOWN, WILL ALLOW CHRISTMAS CARDS" (December 14, 2004)

WorldNetDaily.com: "THE IMPENDING DEATH OF CHRISTMAS? - Part 2" -Commentary by Rev. Jerry Falwell (December 13, 2004)

WorldNetDaily.com: "THE IMPENDING DEATH OF CHRISTMAS?" -Commentary by Rev. Jerry Falwell (December 11, 2004)

TOWNHALL.com: "CHRISTMAS CENSORS" -Column by John Leo (December 13, 2004)

WATE.com: "CHURCH STATUE VANDALISM NOT CLASSIFIED AS HATE CRIME" (December 13, 2004)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding a CATHOLIC LEAGUE article: "NATIVITY SCENES VANDALIZED NATIONWIDE" (December 12, 2004)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com: "TIRED OF THE PC HOLIDAY SEASON? HOW ABOUT SOME GUERILLA CAROLLING? - GaelWolf" (December 12, 2004)

users.rcn.com: "HOLIDAY DISCRIMINATION" by Pastor Richard Bucher

WASHINGTON TIMES.com: "U.S. COMMUNITIES FAIL TO KEEP 'CHRIST' IN CHRISTMAS" by Jennifer Harper (December 9, 2004)

FOX NEWS.com: "NATIVITY SCENE CONTROVERSY IN S. FLORIDA" (December 8, 2004)

ACLJ.org: "READ THE ACLJ's POSITION IN OUR RELIGIOUS HOLIDAY DISPLAYS INFORMATION LETTER - AMERICAN CENTER FOR LAW AND JUSTICE - Jay Alan Sekulow Chief Counsel"

CNS NEWS.com: "'NONTHEISTS' ADD 'WINTER SOLSTICE' SIGN TO RELIGIOUS DISPLAYS" by Susan Jones (December 8, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "LEGAL EXPERT: SCHOOLS SECULARIZING CHRISTMAS VIOLATE STUDENTS' RIGHTS" by Jim Brown (December 7, 2004)

ABC NEWS.go.com: Maplewood, New Jersey - "DEBATING CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS IN PUBLIC PLACES" (December 7, 2004)

ReligionNewsBlog.com (REUTERS via YAHOO!): Rome: "JESUS BANNED FROM CHRISTMAS CAROL" (December 7, 2004)

FOX NEWS.com: "CHRISTMAS UNDER SIEGE: THE BIG PICTURE" -Column by Bill O'Reilly (December 7, 2004)

RUTHERFORD.org - THE RUTHERFORD INSTITUTE: "THE TWELVE RULES OF CHRISTMAS" by John W. Whitehead (December 6, 2004)

WorldNetDaily.com: "GROUP TO SING CAROLS IN FRONT OF ACLU OFFICE Hopes Spirit of Christmas will Persuade Lawyers to Embrace Moral Values" (December 4, 2004)

WorldNetDaily.com: "CHURCH LEADERS THREATENS TARGET BOYCOTT Seeks Meeting with CEO over Ban on Salvation Army Ringers" (December 4, 2004)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding a MAINE TODAY.com article: "GROUP WANTS END TO 'HAPPY HOLIDAYS'" (December 4, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "'TRIVIAL' MATTER LANDS FLORIDA COMMUNITY IN DEEP LEGAL WATERS" by Jody Brown (December 3, 2004)

CNS NEWS.com: "CHRISTIANS SEE CHRISTMAS UNDER PC ATTACK IN AUSTRALIA" by Patrick Goodenough (December 3, 2004)

WorldNetDaily.com: "CHRISTMASTIME EVENT IS NO-CHRISTIAN ZONE Santa, 'holy homosexuals' OK for parade, but no floats with direct religious themes" by Joe Kovacs (December 2, 2004)

RAMBLINGS' JOURNAL: "A LUMP OF COAL IN DENVER'S STOCKING" (December 2, 2004)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding this topic: "DENVER MAYOR TO LIGHT COMMUNITY MENORAH (He's the 'Merry Christmas' censor") (December 2, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "PRO-LIFE ADVOCATE: HOLIDAY CARDS EXPOSE PLANNED PARENTHOOD'S 'ANTI-GOD NATURE'" by Jody Brown and Bill Fancher (December 1, 2004)

A Discussion on FREEREPUBLIC.com regarding a RockyMountatinNews.com article: "PARADE PROHIBITION PUZZLES PREACHER" (December 1, 2004)

HUMAN EVENTS Online.com: "POST OFFICE TREATS CHRISTMAS STAMP LIKE PORNOGRAPHY; SELLS IT FROM 'UNDER THE COUNTER'" by Mike Thompson (November 30, 2004)

CNS NEWS.com: "SCHOOL'S CAROL RULE FOR THE GRINCH?" (November 30, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "CHRISTMAS CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT RELIGIOUS LIBERTY LAUNCHES AGAIN" by Allie Martin and Jenni Parker (November 29, 2004)

WASHINGTON TIMES.com - OpEd by Burt Prelutsky: "ACLU AND HOLIDAY SPIRIT" (November 23, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "CHRISTIAN HOLIDAY DISPLAYS AT RI CITY HALL RULED CONSTITUTIONAL" by Allie Martin (November 18, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "INDONESIAN CAROLERS ATTACKED NEAR POLICE HQ" by Allie Martin (January 5, 2004)

AGAPE PRESS: "NO ROOM FOR JESUS" -Column by Rev. Mark H. Creech (December 23, 2003)

COVENANT NEWS.com: "'HAPPY HOLIDAYS' --- BAH! HUMBUG!" -Commentary by Chuck Baldwin (December 23, 2003) (Read More...)

CNS NEWS.com: "NYC SCHOOLS GIVEN LUMPS OF COAL FOR BANNING NATIVITY SCENES" by Melanie Hunter (December 24, 2003)

ASSIST NEWS SERVICE: "PAKISTAN CHRISTIANS' LIVES THREATENED THIS CHRISTMAS Some In Hiding Amid Increasing Muslim Violence, Reports Say" by Stefan J. Bos (December 24, 2003) (Read More...)

JIHAD WATCH.org: "THREATS OF CHRISTMAS TERROR" (December 23, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "TOWN REFUSES DISPLAY OF NATIVITY" (December 23, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "CHRISTMAS CD BANNED FOR MENTIONING JESUS 'It could cause offense to those who are not Christian'" (December 22, 2003)

NY DAILY NEWS.com: "THE HOLY WARS" -Column by John Leo (December 20, 2003)

AGAPE PRESS: "MOM GOES TO BAT FOR SON'S 'MANGER' DRAWING IN SCHOOL'S HOLIDAY DISPLAY" by Jim Brown (December 17, 2003)

CNS NEWS.com: "PALM BEACH ACCUSED OF HOSTILITY TOWARD CHRISTIANS" by Susan Jones (December 16, 2003)

AGAPE PRESS: "PRO-FAMILY LEGAL GROUP PRESSURES SCHOOL TO LIFT SALVATION ARMY BAN" by Jim Brown and Jenni Parker (December 15, 2003)

CNS NEWS.com: "INDONESIAN CHRISTIANS ONCE AGAIN LIVING IN FEAR" by Patrick Goodenough (December 11, 2003)

NewsMax.com: "THE ANTI-CHRISTMAS ACLU" -Column by Mike Gallagher (December 10, 2003)

CNS NEWS.com: "OHIO SCHOOLS' TEN COMMANDMENT'S DISPLAY CHALLENGED" by Melanie Hunter (December 8, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "OFFICIALS BOOT 'GOD' FROM PATRIOTIC SONG" (December 7, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "TEACHER TAKES 'CHRISTMAS' OUT OF CAROL" (December 6, 2003)

AGAPE PRESS: "CHRISTIAN LAW FIRM WANTS TO STOP SECULARIST 'GRINCHES' FROM STEALING CHRISTMAS" by Allie Martin (December 5, 2003)

FOX NEWS.com: "MOM SUES SCHOOL TO ALLOW NATIVITY SCENE" by David Lee Miller (December 5, 2003)

TOWNHALL.com: "THE 'OFFENSIVENESS' OF CHRISTIANITY" -Column by David Limbaugh (December 5, 2003)

AGAPE PRESS: "PRO-FAITH FIRM SUES CITY FOR VIOLATING SENIORS' RELIGIOUS FREEDOM" by Allie Martin (December 4, 2003)

CNS NEWS.com: "EXPRESS YOUR FAITH THIS CHRISTMAS, GOVERNMENT MINISTER URGES" by Patrick Goodenough (December 3, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "'CHOICE ON EARTH' RETURNS FOR ENCORE Planned Parenthood Says Criticism of Christmas Card Boosted Sales" (December 3, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "STUDENTS THREATENED BY CHRISTMAS? ACLU Warns of Lawsuit Unless Principal Censors Celebration" (November 21, 2003)

WorldNetDaily.com: "'NO CHRISTIAN SYMBOLS AT CHRISTMAS' Red Cross stores bar religious decor fearing it might be offensive" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "Fearing they might offend someone, Red Cross stores in Britain have taken the Christian out of Christmas this year, banning any display of overtly religious decorations.") (November 18, 2003)

stepping back in time...WorldNetDaily.com: "CHRISTMAS IN AMERICA BECOMES BATTLEGROUND As holiday traditions draw national controversy, believers, pagans grapple over Jesus' inclusion" (December 14, 2002)

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