The War Against Christmas

Tom Piatak:

Gibson knows that the First Amendment is not the driving force behind the War Against Christmas, which afflicts both private entities outside the scope of the First Amendment and other countries that have no separation of church and state. Gibson also recognizes that this is a war against Christianity, not religious expression generally, noting that "Expressions of Judaism and Islam and Hinduism are regarded as inoffensive and merely cultural." Gibson also observes that when "a Jewish organization like the Anti-Defamation League . . . object[s] to a Jewish religious practice that is carried out under public auspices . . . the objection is lodged only to maintain the rhetorical standing to object to Christian practices." The target of the War Against Christmas is Christianity, and the Western culture Christianity created, not religion generally.

Gibson also provides a useful numerical framework for understanding the War Against Christmas. As Gibson notes, in 2002, 84% of Americans claimed to be Christians, as opposed to 1.3% who professed Judaism, with less than 1.0% professing Islam. But last year, 96% of Americans told pollsters they celebrated Christmas.

As these polls show, the number of Americans disaffected by Christmas is minute. More significantly, a lack of belief in Christ is no obstacle to enjoying Christmas, as shown by the millions of non-Christians who tell pollsters that they celebrate the holiday commemorating the birth of Christ. Only those unable to tolerate the Christian origins of the holiday will not find something to enjoy in the multifaceted celebration of Christmas that has developed in America.

Indeed, one of the people highlighted by Gibson, who wanted to restore the "winter break" in Covington, Georgia to its former name of "Christmas break," was not a regular churchgoer and was motivated by his belief that Christmas "was something that was, in a way, uniquely American" and was "recognized to one extent or another by people of different faiths, people of no faith."

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