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It's Okay To Say "Merry Christmas!"....Another Homerun For Freedom Of Religion
Alliance Defense Fund ^ | Nov. 15, 2004 | Alan Sear

Posted on 11/16/2004 9:06:20 AM PST by Lindykim

For the Catawba County (North Carolina) School District, it was three strikes and you're out. River Bend Middle School had allowed school supporters – such as tire dealers, security companies, and other churches to purchase advertising space on the school's athletic field.  When the Oxford Baptist Church asked to display a sign with the Bible verse: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God," (1 Corinthians 10:31), their request was denied. When negotiations were fruitless, ADF attorney Gary McCaleb sued the school district in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina for violating the church and its members First Liberty – religious freedom.  After a lot of hard work – thanks be to God – the school district has finally given up and agreed to settle.

Gary says: "We're thankful.  The school district is paying the legal costs, and both sides now agree on the legal principles that regulate equal access to school property for community groups.  It is important that school boards recognize the First Amendment applies equally.  Government officials may not exclude a church from these types of programs merely because the group speaks from a religious viewpoint."

Thank you making another victory – and one that would have probably been lost by default in the past – possible because of your faithful prayers and support.

"It's OK to Say Merry Christmas!" On Friday, November 5th, ADF sent letters to every state board of education and National Education Association (NEA) chapter, explaining what current law allows regarding the celebration of Christmas in public schools.

The letter was also sent to the Department of Education and the national NEA office.  It is our hope that the letters will be helpful in educating school officials that "it's OK to say Merry Christmas."

For more information on ADF's legal effort to defend and protect the public celebration of Christmas, please visit our website: www.telladf.org.

Thank You, Mr. Attorney General… Last week, Attorney General John Ashcroft stepped down from his post after four years of dedicated service.  The attorney general is a man who loves his country very much and is devoted to God's righteousness.  In his resignation memo to his employees, he concluded: "As I take my leave of this privileged post, I know that our efforts have not been in vain.  The Builder of our city and the Author of our freedom has stood beside us.  He stands beside us still."   Amen.  God bless you, Mr. Attorney General


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Philosophy; US: North Carolina
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; adf; catawbacounty; christmas; claremontnc; nc; nceducation; ncpubliceducation; ncschools; nea
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That we need to fight for the right to wish someone a "Merry Christmas" speaks to the obscene intolerance of secular atheists and their God-hating cohorts.
1 posted on 11/16/2004 9:06:20 AM PST by Lindykim
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To: ItsOurTimeNow

ping


2 posted on 11/16/2004 9:06:50 AM PST by Lindykim
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To: Lindykim

Amen!


3 posted on 11/16/2004 9:20:56 AM PST by EnigmaticAnomaly ("Islam: The Religion Of Pieces")
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To: TaxRelief; Constitution Day; Helms
The school district is paying the legal costs ...

Your tax dollars at work, if you live in Catawba County, NC ... paying for both sides of a lawsuit over whether a church can put a Bible verse on an advertising sign for which it's paid.

I wonder how I would find out whether there's any litigation of this sort in my county?

4 posted on 11/16/2004 9:24:03 AM PST by Tax-chick (The whole world has gone crazy. Their beebers are stuned and there's no turning back.)
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To: Lindykim

God Bless America!!


5 posted on 11/16/2004 9:32:35 AM PST by vpintheak (Liberal = The antithesis of Freedom and Patriotism)
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To: Lindykim

God Bless the ADF. The anti-ACLLU.


6 posted on 11/16/2004 9:37:31 AM PST by Texas_Jarhead
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To: Tax-chick

The cost of these lawsuits should be deducted from the pension fund for public workers.


7 posted on 11/16/2004 9:38:47 AM PST by henderson field
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To: Howlin

Pings to a NC FRiend.


8 posted on 11/16/2004 9:39:24 AM PST by upchuck (Pajamas? I don' need no steenking pajamas!!)
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To: Lindykim

***That we need to fight for the right to wish someone a "Merry Christmas" speaks to the obscene intolerance of secular atheists and their God-hating cohorts.***

Time to start your Christmas shopping, and in every instance wish the clerk MERRY CHRISTMAS. Time to reclaim your right to do so.


9 posted on 11/16/2004 9:40:48 AM PST by kitkat
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To: Lindykim
BTTT.........

.....(Romans 10:17)

10 posted on 11/16/2004 9:41:23 AM PST by maestro
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To: Lindykim

Well, I'm one of those atheists, and I have no problem with a church advertising on the field, as long as others are allowed to do the same.

Being an atheist does not necessarily mean you are opposed to what others believe. For me, someone else's beliefs are their right, just as my disbelief is my right.

If your church wants to buy an ad on the ball field, next to the ad for someone's car dealership, I can see no reason why that shouldn't be OK.


11 posted on 11/16/2004 9:47:14 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: kitkat

"Time to start your Christmas shopping, and in every instance wish the clerk MERRY CHRISTMAS. Time to reclaim your right to do so.
"

When did you not have that right? I don't remember ever hearing of any customer being in trouble for wishing a store employee a Merry Christmas.

The only trouble I can see is if you insist that the clerk wish YOU a Merry Christmas. That's going too far. But please feel free to wish me, an atheist, a Merry Christmas. I'll respond with my usual Happy Holiday!


12 posted on 11/16/2004 9:49:42 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: MineralMan

Exactly.

I never stopped saying Merry Christmas.
I never will.

I also send out Christmas Cards depicting the nativity of the Holy Family. I don't care who the recipient is.

Peace and Merry Christmas to all...


13 posted on 11/16/2004 9:54:40 AM PST by OriginalChristian (The Moral Values/Pro-Life vote was the difference...)
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To: Tax-chick

Aw, c'mon, TC. You live in Mecklenberg, right? Don't the moonbats run the Charlotte-Mecklenberg school system?

I suspect the CMS are celebrating Ramadamalingadingdong and Kwanzaa, but not Christmas or Hanukkah.

}:-)4


14 posted on 11/16/2004 10:00:22 AM PST by Moose4 (I'm not white trash. I'm Caucasian recyclables.)
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To: Lindykim
"Merry Christmas" from an Old Testament fundamentalist.

And fight to have the Cross restored to the LA Couny seal.

15 posted on 11/16/2004 10:02:21 AM PST by onedoug
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To: MineralMan
That's going too far. But please feel free to wish me, an atheist, a Merry Christmas.

I don't know why anyone would feel moved to wish a non Christian a merry Christmas. How about, "have an nice day".

16 posted on 11/16/2004 10:07:39 AM PST by Protagoras (No wonder we have problems, big tents have lots of clowns inside)
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To: Protagoras

"That's going too far. But please feel free to wish me, an atheist, a Merry Christmas.
I don't know why anyone would feel moved to wish a non Christian a merry Christmas. How about, "have an nice day".

How would you know I was an atheist if I was working in some store somewhere. I think you should wish people a Merry Christmas if that's the winter holiday you celebrate. I certainly won't be offended. If you're Jewish, you could wish me a Happy Chanukah. Same reaction from me.

When I wish you a Happy Holiday, I'm hoping you enjoy the holiday you celebrate, whatever it might be. There's certainly no disrespect meant.


17 posted on 11/16/2004 10:10:55 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: Lindykim

"Hey, who's this 'Christ' guy that keeps getting mentioned...you're saying he's the reason for the holiday? I thought it was all about Santa Claus..." LOL

(look at the schedule for Di$ney Channel over the next 6 weeks and find anything about Jesus....

Syndie talk host Howie Carr (nicknamed "Father Kwanzaa"
by some tongue-in-cheek listeners) always talks about this and greets listeners with a hearty "Happy Hhhhhhhholiday..." After all, we can't say Christmas
anymore and when kids sing Christmas Carols--excuse me,
Winter Solstice Songs, they're not allowed to do
"Away in a Manger", "Joy to the World", "We Three Kings".
Nope, it's "All I Want For Christmas", "Here Comes
Santa Claus"...

From Stan Freberg's "Green Chri$tma$":
CRATCHET: Well, I guess you fellows will never change.
SCROOGE: Why should we? Christmas has two s's in it, and they're both dollar signs.
CRATCHET: Yeah, but they weren't there to begin with.
SCROOGE: Eh?
CRATCHET: The people keep hoping you'll remember. But you never do.
SCROOGE: Remember what?

CRATCHET: Whose birthday we're celebrating.
SCROOGE: Well, ....... don't get me wrong. The story of Christmas, in its simplicity, is a good thing - I'll buy that. It's just that we know a good thing when we see it.
CRATCHET: But don't you realize Christmas has a significance, a meaning.
SCROOGE: A sales curve! Wake up, Cratchet, it's later than you think.
CRATCHET: I know, Mr. Scrooge, I know.


18 posted on 11/16/2004 10:14:29 AM PST by raccoonradio (Raccoon News Channel: Fur and Balanced)
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To: MineralMan
How would you know I was an atheist if I was working in some store somewhere.

I wouldn't, and I wouldn't here either if you didn't feel compelled to inject it.

I think you should wish people a Merry Christmas if that's the winter holiday you celebrate.

I don't. Why would I assume they care about my holiday?

I certainly won't be offended.

Good for you, but you wouldn't have a chance for me to offend you because I feel no need to ask what your beliefs are or assume you care what mine are.

If you're Jewish, you could wish me a Happy Chanukah.

Same reason, why would I do that? On the other hand, if I knew YOU were Jewish, I might offer my greeting to you on YOUR holiday. That makes sense.

When I wish you a Happy Holiday, I'm hoping you enjoy the holiday you celebrate, whatever it might be.

Thank you.

There's certainly no disrespect meant.

None taken. But I wonder why you feel compelled to only greet me at a certain time of year. How about a "have a nice day" every time you see a person, that makes more sense.

19 posted on 11/16/2004 10:21:55 AM PST by Protagoras (No wonder we have problems, big tents have lots of clowns inside)
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To: Protagoras

"None taken. But I wonder why you feel compelled to only greet me at a certain time of year. How about a "have a nice day" every time you see a person, that makes more sense."

I don't. But I use different greetings at different times. If it's the holiday season, I use holiday greetings, whether it's Christmas, Halloween, or Thanksgiving. I don't do Easter greetings. The rest of the year, I might just say "Hello, how are you?" or wish you a good day. But, I promise, if I encounter you in a situation where we would normally interact, I'll greet you pleasantly. That's my habit.


20 posted on 11/16/2004 10:34:16 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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