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Is there a constitutional issue here?
Much as one might want to avoid an annual freshet of legalism, it is very hard to argue that there is not. I have no idea how many churches and synagogues there are in the United States (there seem to be quite a number, many of them tax-exempt), but if the "holy days" were only celebrated on these premises, or on boards and signs visible from them, the effect would already be very impressive. The same is true if we limit the effect to the number of believers whose homes display candles, lights, symbols, Scandinavian wildlife and vegetation and whatever else the spirit moves them to exhibit.
But what is all this clutter doing on the White House lawn or in the public rooms of the executive mansion, or on public property and in public schools? Quite apart from the clear stipulations of the First Amendment, this seems to me to violate the Tocquevillian principle that American religion is strictly based on the voluntary principle and neither requires nor deserves any taxpayer-funded endorsement.
Christopher Hitchens on Forced Merriment, the True Spirit of Christmas - previously unpublished - WSJ.com
Article Source: Wall Street Journal
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- Public Discussion (4)
It also offends—by being so much in my face, without my having requested it and in spite of polite entreaties to desist—another celebrated precept about the right to be let alone. A manger on your lawn makes me yawn. A reindeer that strays from your lawn to mine is a nuisance at any time of year. Angels and menorahs on the White House lawn are an infraction of the Establishment Clause, which is as much designed to prevent religion from being corrupted by the state as it is to protect the public square from clerical encroachment.
The "wall of separation" has to be patrolled in small things as well as big ones. When President Jefferson wrote his famous letter to the Baptists of Danbury, Conn., assuring them of the protection of this very wall, it was because they had written to him, afraid of persecution by the Congregationalists of Danbury, Conn. This now seems as remote to us as a Calvinist anti-Christmas protest outside a Catholic Church in Manhattan. But it is only remote because such scruple and consistency were employed to defend the principle in matters great and small.
At this time of year, Mr. Jefferson would close his correspondence in words dry enough to be characteristic of him, yet somehow convivial enough to be thinkable in the mouth of Mr. Pickwick. "With the compliments of the season." I wouldn't want to be tempted any further than that.
I love Christopher Hitchens, I love this article; I don't have a problem with Santa however.
So..... Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Wonderful Solstice. May your days be long and happy.
- 4 votes
#1 - Sat Dec 24, 2011 4:45 PM ESTThanks so much for seeding this article. Normally I pass on the seeds, as I enjoy original material from other writers. But this caught my eye and it was well worth the read.
Nice to meet you, KD, Kara.
PS Wow I see that there may actually be a group on Chris Hitchens...........have to check that out!!
- 1 vote
Hitch was awesome. I think he's spot on about Christmas. Some of us enjoy it, but how many times have we heard someone say after dinner 'Man, I'm glad it's over for another year" and others shake their head in agreement.
- 4 votes
#2 - Sat Dec 24, 2011 5:15 PM ESTHitch was awesome
agreed, Grisham. I'm OK w/Christmas and other religious holidays, but having to listen to the music and see the decorations out before Halloween just seems, well...........wrong.
Let the kids have their Christmas, it's for the little ones. But, not at the expense of their parents being nagged to death to get them presents. It also separates out the families who cannot afford to participate financially. And, that's REALLY wrong in my book. It's downright immoral!
- 1 vote
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