A neighbor friend of mine, who shares my faith, lamented that our sons' holiday choral concert had no Christmas songs. "It's a shame that the kids can't sing in celebration," she said.
I, too, enjoy Christmas music. This post will review the Clauses (not Mr. & Mrs.) and why they are hard to find in our public schools. At the same time, the times, they may be a changing the holiday season. Reflect this season, if that would be a good thing.
The poll-leading Republican presidential candidate in Iowa, Mike Huckabee, is running this Christmas ad as he plays directly to his base. If that base gets him the nomination and eventually the presidency, will we be back to Christmas Days of old?
Just another reminder that "All Politics is Local," and you have to cater your message to different groups, Huckabee earlier in the campaign used his supporter, Chuck Norris, to gain strength in the polls. (Thanks to Mike Whitt for this link)
The Christmas Ad and my neighbors comments, though, make it clear at this holiday time, we should reflect on the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of the First Amendment. This post from the 2 Regular Guys at CBS2School.com:
Diversity is one of our American strengths, except when certain holidays come around. Our motto, E Pluribus Unum, is printed on our coins but not always on our hearts.
This holiday season we again hear the loud trumpets of those who feel the government is taking away the real meaning of the season. Today's school pageants, public decorations and other festivities, some argue, have caved in to political correctness. The greatest story ever told, some worry, is being forgotten.
One story worth retelling this time of year is found in our First Amendment. There are two particular clauses worth reviewing this season.
They are the free exercise clause and the establishment clause. Both deal with religion in the public square.
The free exercise clause gives us the freedom to worship who and what we want.
The establishment clause prevents the government from favoring one religion over another.
The government, the Courts have ruled, need not be hostile to matters of faith. Rather they cannot establish one religion by giving it preference. Certain accommodations are allowed.
We may wish preferences but be careful what you wish for. That which is favored one year could be unfavored the next. Neutrality, however, protects our conscience and our habits. No democracy in history has maintained such fervent devotion to religious practice as here in the United States. Most would agree it is not because of government help but the contrary. Our faithfulness endures because the government has stayed out.
The wise men of old, due to an overly oppressive government, returned to their country by another route. Nevertheless, the story they told changed lives. Good stories always do. We do not need government to help us. On the contrary, the story remains strong because we too have taken a different route then most. The gift of our liberties is a great story.
2 comments:
Thanks to the First Amendment, we don't have to worry about Unexpected Inquisitions! One thing I should add is that a number of non-Christians celebrate Christmas anyway, so don't get too concerned about saying "Merry Christmas." By the way, I would like to wish my Muslim classmates a happy Eid!
I think it's really sad that schools have taken Christmas music out of their winter programs. Not because I want to force my beliefs on anybody or something like that, but because much of it is just plain good music. Most of the music in the world today, especially when it comes to choral music, comes from Christian beginnings because the church was one of the first major advocates of music. It is good to show diversity in such programs like throwing in a song for other religions, such as one relating the Jewish religion (I remember learning Dreidle, Dreidle in elementary school along with Christmas music). I'm really glad nobody has ever tried extremely hard to changing such "Christian" aspects about our Prism concert because I believe most patrons to the concerts realize it to be good music that is performed well and that's what matters.
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