What we Really Need

        In response to an ongoing discussion regarding the church-state separation and the "war" on Christmas, so favored by Faux News as an example of liberal decay and decadence.

       Those who dance around the "separation" issue with protestations and interpretations of and about  what a group of 30 something well to do men may have intended about 230 years ago are a constant source of amusement and amazement.  As do many rabid religionists, many seem to suffer from a case of "we're right, you're not."  I would be the last to ever claim Christian scriptural interpretations to have validity, but since that is the rule book for many of the loudest protesters:

          Public prayer was decried by Jesus as inappropriate , so why before every school sporting event, town meeting, end zone pass completion, etc, is there an insistence on prayer by so many? (Matthew 6.6 ""When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you."  It is the age old story of "we're right, you're wrong" and we want to proudly and publically proclaim our belief while being highly offended if you should choose to do the same. Take one step outside the Judaeo- Christian arena in a public display and the truth of this statement becomes obvious.  I once  had a fellow teacher in my former High School get offended because I allowed a Muslim female student to use my room alone at lunch during Ramadan to pray. It was a short conversation. 

        I use the public prayer analogy because of the similarity with Christmas displays. I have never heard of a church or private entity being harassed or criticized for Christmas displays, yet we have, according to Bill O'Reilly, a "war on Christmas."  As a Catholic, of course O'Reilly would be fine with public spending on religious displays and activities, as long as they are Christian in nature. He simply would deny the right of non-believers to eschew their portion of such public funding. I would suggest, people with this mindset visit a true theocracy to see why instituting any mandated religious structure is an execrable idea.

        The song says "we need a little Christmas......", but what we truly need is a song that addresses the entire calendar and scope of human interaction  entitled "We need a little tolerance..."