The “War on Christmas” is a myth. It is a phrase created by those who believe in government support for Christianity, which contradicts the United States Constitution and the separation of church and state. Those who shun the term “Merry Christmas” often do so to promote ambiguity about holiday celebrations during the winter season in hopes of being inclusive to all religions, and not promote Christianity over another faith.
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Therefore, freedom of religion and freedom of speech allow individuals and companies to say almost whatever they want regarding Christmas and the holidays. The government’s “establishment of religion” is disallowed by the Constitution, so representatives of government agencies have far less freedom, and cannot endorse Christmas. People complaining about this movement toward a more inclusive winter greeting are fighting for Christmas being valued more than other religions — but they need to get it through their heads: there is nothing posing a threat to Christmas.
People speaking out against the phrase “Merry Christmas” are exercising free speech and government officials are complying with the Constitution that compels them to separate church and state. There is no doubt that the “War on Christmas” argument is partly promoted by people who feel like old traditions are being lost, but to them I say — Christmas is not being delegitimized, it is simply being asked to make room for other holidays.
Individuals and companies can freely promote Christmas over other holidays. This is protected by the First Amendment, which concerns freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Many people make an effort to respect others’ religions by saying “Happy Holidays!” rather than “Merry Christmas!” Those who believe that there is some “War on Christmas,” should understand that they can keep their values, and other individuals and companies can keep theirs. Nobody is trying to push their Christmas away; in true American fashion, people are trying to ensure that the twenty-five million Americans who don’t celebrate Christmas don’t feel alienated around the holidays. This isn’t political correctness — it’s simply public politeness.
There is no doubt that many companies have begun to be more accommodating during the holiday season, yet some people complain about Christmas not being promoted over other holidays. For example, in 2015, Starbucks released a red holiday cup, without the ornaments featured in the design the previous year. This was an effort to be inclusive of everyone. Joshua Feuerstein, a well-known Internet Evangelical Christian from Arizona, complained about this in a famous YouTube video, saying that, “we’ve become so open-minded, our brains have literally fallen out of our heads.” He believed that this was part of a coordinated attack. In actuality, Feuerstein was fighting against a group of people who never picked a fight.
Another battle in this so-called “War on Christmas” unfolded in the October of 2014 when the American Humanist Association sent a letter to the Cherokee county courthouse in Texas. The organization requested that county officials remove a Nativity scene outside of the courthouse. Greg Abbott, former Texas Attorney General, said that the courthouse had no legal obligation to remove the decorations, but many people disagreed. Monica Miller, an attorney at the Appignani Humanist Legal Center, said, “This conveys the unmistakable message of governmental endorsement of religion, and Christianity specifically, in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.” Ultimately, the Nativity scene remained outside the courthouse, but it continued to spark conversations about what is an “American tradition” and what the limits of the separation of church and state are.
Individuals and companies are free to say almost whatever they want about Christmas, but government officials and government employees are rightfully held to a different standard. There is a fine, but important, line between upholding traditions, upholding the First Amendment, and upholding the separation of church and state.
The citizens and government of this nation should aspire to create a land where no one feels alienated, especially during the holiday season. Those who promote the idea of a “War on Christmas” have an important role in creating unity. This war will end when they lay down their weapons, cease their divisive rhetoric, pick up a cup of Starbucks, and welcome the spirit of inclusion during this great and historic winter season.
