It’s OK to Say Merry Christmas

By Jim Jenkins

Why would any rational person even think that saying “Merry Christmas” is offensive? After all, 96% of all Americans celebrate Christmas; 90% recognize Christmas as the birthday of Jesus Christ; and 88% of Americans say it’s OK for people to wish them a Merry Christmas. But many in our secularized, religiously sanitized, and easily offended society are trying to disenfranchise Christmas, and are primarily using our public schools as the tool. It’s bad enough that the major retailers, like Kohl’s, Sears, Target, K-Mart and Wal-Mart (among others) who depend significantly on patronage by Christians during the Christmas season, refuse to use “Merry Christmas” as their customer greeting, but enough is enough when it comes to our public schools.

It has become absurd. Some schools have banned the wearing of red and green; some have barred Christmas carols, even if only instrumental in nature; others have prohibited the exchange of religious Christmas cards, and some prohibit Christmas cards altogether; candy canes are off limits; teachers and students in many public schools are forbidden to say “Merry Christmas.” It has become so extreme that many public schools don’t even permit images or references to Santa Claus (ole St. Nick don’t forget), or other secular Christmas icons.

Why? Because some public school administrators are ignorant of the law, some are hostile to Christianity, but mostly because of continuous threats of lawsuits by the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), on the misused and abused theory of “separation of church and state.” But three years ago the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) launched its Christmas Project, designed to educate the public schools on the constitutional right of Christian students to religious expression, especially religious expression about Christmas.

To date thousands of public schools have received this information and many have responded with gratitude to find that they need not be intimidated by the fringe secularists led by the ACLU. In those instances where public schools have still refused to recognize the right of Christian students to say “Merry Christmas,” or exchange religious Christmas cards, or sing Christmas carols, we politely, but firmly, let them know that they are violating the students’ constitutional rights, and if they still don’t yield we file suit.

We have been highly successful in defending protected religious expression. For those parents who have students in public schools, let your children know of their constitutional rights to religious expression this Christmas, and to stand firm for their religious beliefs.

If anyone wants a free informational pamphlet titled The Truth about Religious Expression at Christmastime to send to your school call 1-877-TELL-ADF (1-877-835-5233) and ADF will send it to the school or you. If there is discrimination in your school over Christmas expression let our local Midwest Regional Service Center know by calling (913) 829-7755. We will respond and the service is free.

It is vitally necessary that we protect our religious heritage, and one of the most sacred is the birth of Jesus Christ. Be proud of our heritage and traditions, and remember: It’s OK to say “Merry Christmas!”

Jim Jenkins is Senior Legal Counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, Midwest Regional Service Center and may be reached by writing to: Alliance Defense Fund, 15660 West 135th Street, Olathe, KA 66062 or by calling (913) 829-7755.