Rep. Davis wants to protect symbols of Christmas

[Amelia]

Rep. Davis wants to protect symbols of Christmas

The Gloucester Republican introduces a House resolution that would show support for expressions of the Christian celebration.

BY DAVID LERMAN

December 15 2005

The Daily Press

WASHINGTON -- Saying Christmas is under attack, Virginia Rep. Jo Ann Davis sought passage Wednesday night of a resolution expressing support for "the symbols and traditions of Christmas."

The largely symbolic resolution, scheduled for a House vote as early as today, triggered a partisan culture clash in the House chamber. Conservative Republicans applauded the measure, but many Democrats criticized it as religiously insensitive.

Davis, an outspoken Christian conservative from Gloucester, said she was spurred to act after seeing news reports of retailers telling their employees to wish customers a "happy holiday," instead of "Merry Christmas," and schools forbidding everything from Christmas plays to Santa Claus.

"Christmas has been declared politically incorrect," Davis told colleagues on the House floor. "Any sign or even mention of Christmas in public can lead to complaints, litigation, protests and threats. America's favorite holiday is being twisted beyond recognition."

Her resolution, if adopted, would put the House on record as supporting the use of Christmas symbols and traditions, while opposing "attempts to ban references to Christmas."

"It was just something that was burning inside me," Davis said in an earlier interview.

"At what point did Christmas become so offensive?"

But many Democrats protested the resolution, saying that Congress has no business praising one religious holiday over others.

"I'm offended by this," said Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., who's Jewish. "You've drawn me out. Why not protect my symbols?"

Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y, asked Davis to amend her resolution to include symbols of other holidays, such as Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, but Davis refused.

"The attack has not been on the menorah or any symbols of the other religions," Davis said, referring to the Jewish candelabrum used to celebrate Hanukkah.

"I will leave it as the resolution stands."

The divisive public battle appeared to surprise Davis, a Republican and member of the Assembly of God church.

"I didn't realize there would be some opposition, but apparently, there is," she said before the House floor debate.

An amended version of her resolution, which expressed support for Christmas symbols "for those who celebrate Christmas," did little to dampen the opposition.

"You can always tell when the right wing is in trouble," said Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., who's Presbyterian. "They invariably cook up some kind of culture war."

U.S. Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, D-Newport News, opposed Davis' resolution as a largely meaningless exercise.

He said it masked what he suggested were immoral decisions by Congress to cut food stamps and Medicaid for the poor while cutting taxes for the wealthy.

"What really needs to be protected is not the symbols of Christmas but the spirit of Christmas," Scott said.

"We ought to express our passion for Christmas through deeds, not words."

Conservatives insisted that the measure was needed to combat what they described as a growing assault on religious free speech. "There is a war against Christmas," said Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Fla., who's Catholic.

"Our children can't sing Christmas carols. They can only sing holiday tunes."

But the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said, "This is possibly the silliest bill ever presented to the United States Congress.

"If they honestly think there's some kind of war against Santa Claus or the baby Jesus, they are just not getting out enough."

[Neil D]

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"What really needs to be protected is not the symbols of Christmas but the spirit of Christmas," Scott said.

"We ought to express our passion for Christmas through deeds, not words."

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This is probably the most sensible thing that has been said over this....

And you know that this is the "last straw" over the reaction to all the publicized litigation of atheists over city halls putting up the manger scenes.

Let's face it...of all the "holiday seasons", Jesus is the reason for the season...All the rest are reactions to Christmas...

[Dr. Shane]

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Rep. Anthony Weiner, D-N.Y, asked Davis to amend her resolution to include symbols of other holidays, such as Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, but Davis refused.

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Bad politician. Politics is all about compromise and Jewish holidays deserve as much protection as Christian holidays. Imagine what would happen if a store like Target forbid their employees from saying "Happy Hanukkah"?

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He said it masked what he suggested were immoral decisions by Congress to cut food stamps and Medicaid for the poor while cutting taxes for the wealthy.

"What really needs to be protected is not the symbols of Christmas but the spirit of Christmas," Scott said.

"We ought to express our passion for Christmas through deeds, not words."

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Here is an example of a little political grandstanding. If the government wants to foster the "spirit" of Christmas why not allow people that do not itemize on their tax return to deduct charitable contributions given during the month of December? That would allow the PEOPLE to decide what to do with their money instead of the GOVERNMENT.

[Neil D]

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Bad politician. Politics is all about compromise and Jewish holidays deserve as much protection as Christian holidays. Imagine what would happen if a store like Target forbid their employees from saying "Happy Hanukkah"?

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That is why I think all this hubabaloo is bogus. Happy holidays is a positive affirmation of the whole holiday season. But to say Merry Christmas is a generic affirmation of the holiday season, as well. It is not exclusively Christian,persae...but a general well wishing. One tends to be more politically correct than the other, but nevertheless, they are all positive affirmations.

What is dismaying is that we are argueing over which is more positively politically correct....Who gives a knat's eyebrow for that type of arguement????? Only the overly sensitive who are on the recieving end of the compliment.

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If the government wants to foster the "spirit" of Christmas why not allow people that do not itemize on their tax return to deduct charitable contributions given during the month of December? That would allow the PEOPLE to decide what to do with their money instead of the GOVERNMENT

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I thought the issue was on holiday greetings...not taxes...

You are making an issue out of something that wasn't there origionally.

[Dr. Shane]

What has caused the issue is that some retail stores have stopped allowing the Salvation Army to ring their bell in front of their stores and some have forbidden their employees from saying "Merry Christmas". Many schools have stopped playing Christmas music during the season and stopped having Christmas plays. This has made some Christians feel like their holiday is under attack. Which it may be.

What is happening is the Christian majority that once dominated the nation has become much smaller. They have redefined what it means to be Christian. When we hear the statistic that 80% of Americans are Christian that doesn't mean that 80% of Americans attend a Christian church on a regular basis or even have a membership with a Christian church. However that was once the case in America. It simply means that 80% of Americans profess to believe in Christ.

I do not see the government is needed to defend Christmas. If it is going to do so, it would be appropriate to defend other religious holidays as well. I think what Bill O'Reilly and some evangelical groups are doing is the right course of action. If Christmas is to be defended, it should be done by the consumers. Christian consumers can boycott stores and resteruants that they believe do not celebrate Christmas. The media and religious groups can tell "the folks" which establishment these are. That is freedom of speech, freedom of press and capitalism all combined.

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You are making an issue out of something that wasn't there origionally.

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That was my point about U.S. Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott. I was commenting on his comment which was not the issue at hand.