It’s OK To Say “MERRY CHRISTMAS”
Alliance Defense Fund Stands Ready to Defend Christmas

By Jim Jenkins

The Grinch didn’t steal Christmas, Christians gave it away. We gave it away to the secularists, and we laid it on the altar of political correctness, where it has been slowly silenced and maligned. Where Christmas was perhaps the most celebrated spiritual holidays of the Christian world, and respected by Christians and non-Christians alike, in America it has now, by and large, been relegated to a “season” or “holiday” for the frenzied purchase of unneeded merchandise, to be distributed by Santa Claus. And the sad fact is that Christians are more responsible for this sad turn of events than even atheists.

No more. It’s time to take back our holy day, not “holiday” and celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, and let the country know it! And the first place to start is to greet one and all during this holy season with “MERRY CHRISTMAS.” Be gone “Seasons’ Greetings” and “Happy Holidays.” It’s time to proclaim our Christian heritage, and it’s time to stand up for the constitutional rights we and our children, have to celebrate Christmas.

All over America many public schools and municipalities will attempt to censor Christmas using as a reason the misused theory of “separation of church and state.” This phrase is NOT in the U.S. Constitution. But it has been used as a hammer of intimidation and fear by groups like the ACLU and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, to spread misinformation to public officials, public school administrators and teachers in an attempt to silence Christian religious expression.

In public school classrooms across America decorations depicting reindeer, snowmen, and Santa Claus will be present, but no angels or nativity scene. In a New Jersey school, a third grade teacher canceled a class field trip to see the Broadway play “A Christmas Carol” because the ACLU contended that the play excluded certain aspects of the community. No kidding! Some schools have mandated that the common greeting “Merry Christmas” is prohibited and that teachers and students are directed to merely say “Happy Holidays.” The traditional “Christmas Vacation” has been replaced by “Winter Break” or “Sparkle Season.” Some school administrators have even banned students from distributing religiously-themed cards and gifts, and the singing of Christmas carols. It is time to say “MERRY CHRISTMAS.”

There are many misconceptions about the constitutional rights of public school students regarding religious expression, and in particular expression regarding Christmas. Here are some facts, not myths:

Schools can permit the singing of Christmas carols.

Schools cannot ban teachers and students from saying “Merry Christmas.”

Public school students have the right to distribute religious material, including Christmas cards containing Bible verses.

Public Schools can refer to a school break as a “Christmas Vacation.”

Public schools may display religious symbols such as a crèche or nativity scene without offending the Constitution if they have an educational reason for doing so.

Public schools may have students study the religious origins of Christmas and read the biblical account of the birth of Christ.

These and many more rights of religious expression are protected by the Constitution. No court has ever ruled that the Constitution demands public school officials to censor Christmas, eliminate all references to Christmas, or silence those who celebrate Christmas.

However, many school officials have fallen prey to the new “tradition” of secularizing all religious expression, and in doing so violate the constitutional rights of students and teachers to seasonal religious expression within public schools. But there is a way to combat this erosion of our Christian culture.

This year the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), a not-for-profit public law and educational group, and its over 700 trained volunteer attorneys, and allied religious liberty defense groups, will be ready nationwide to combat any attempts to censor the celebration of Christmas in our public schools. ADF has as its purpose to educate the public, and especially Christians, and the government and especially public school officials, about important constitutional rights, particularly in the context of religious expression. Moreover, ADF is prepared, and will, defend these constitutional rights in courts, as and when necessary, without charge.

ADF has prepared a free informational pamphlet titled “The Truth about Religious Expression at Christmastime” and also an informational letter which can be sent to school officials regarding the law and Christmas expression. To obtain copies of the pamphlet and/or letter call 1-800 TELL-ADF (1-800-835-5233). If attempted censorship of Christmas religious expression occurs in your public school call ADF’s Midwest Regional Service Center at 1-913-829-7755.

On December 24, 1944, while we were still fighting World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (a Democrat, and not usually remembered as a conservative, right wing, religious zealot) spoke to the nation saying, “Here at home, we will celebrate Christmas Day in our traditional American way because of its deep spiritual meaning to us; because the teachings of Christ are fundamental in our lives; and because we want our youngest generation to grow up knowing the significance of this tradition and the story of the immortal Prince of Peace and Good Will.” The only response to that message is AMEN.

This Christmas it is most important to tell our children that it isn’t Santa Claus coming down the chimney with toys on Christmas Eve that should give them joy, but the birth of a baby long ago in Bethlehem. And we should shout it from the roof tops. Christmas is our holy day, and let no one, no public school official, no ACLU lawyer, or the political correct establishment, hold it hostage. Not any more. Not on our watch.

IT’S OK TO SAY MERRY CHRISTMAS! Believe it and Say it with pride.

James M. Jenkins is Senior Legal Counsel of the Alliance Defense Fund in its Midwest Regional Service Center. He can be reached at 913-829-7755 or jjenkins@alliancedefensefund.org.