The war on Christmas
December 6, 2005| By The Heritage Foundation
Fox News host John Gibson speaks to The Heritage Foundation about liberals' secular attacks on the celebration of Christmas.
Speaking in The Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium this afternoon, Fox News host John Gibson described the secular left's attacks on the celebration of Christmas.
The Founding Fathers did not intend for Americans to hide their religious faith when they ratified the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." But that is exactly what liberals tell us the First Amendment means. They tell us that any public celebration of Christmas is a violation of the separation of church and state.
This ban on Christmas, according to Gibson, is often imposed by liberal judges or by bullying activists who scare private citizens and public officials alike into compliance. Government employees have been banned from saying "Merry Christmas," and students may no longer play Christmas music in school. American traditions are being stripped away by secularists who deny the meaning of religion.
But Americans are beginning to fight back against this political correctness run amuck. For example, just last week, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert insisted that the Christmas tree on the Capitol grounds be called a Christmas tree — not a "holiday tree."
Gibson has written a new book on the topic: The War on Christmas.
About this event
Relevant Heritage research
- Joseph Loconte, "Why Religious Values Support American Values," September 26, 2005
- Matthew Spalding , “Giving Thanks to God ,” November 26, 2003