Date: 2005-12-14
Speaker: JO ANN DAVIS (republican)
Chamber: H
State: Virginia

Madam Speaker. I rise today in support of my resolution. H. Res. 579. as amended. expressing the sense of Congress that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected for those who celebrate Christmas and that references to Christmas should be supported. This measure simply states congressional support for traditional references to Christmas that I believe are being eradicated from the public dialogue. Madam Speaker. this is a very busy week in Congress. and we areworking on some very important measures that impact our Nation. So with that said. some may question the importance of this resolution in light of other national priorities that we are addressing this week. but this resolution is important because it defends the traditions of Christmas for those who celebrate Christmas. It is unfortunate that a congressional resolution is even needed to do this. It is unfortunate that we have had to come to this point. Christmas has been declared politically incorrect. Any sign or even mention of Christmas in public can lead to complaints. litigation. protest. and threats. Americas favorite holiday is being twisted beyond recognition. The push towards a neutered "holiday" season is stronger than ever so that no one can be even the slightest bit offended. Madam Speaker. overzealous civil liberties lawyers are making their list and checking it twice. Change the Christmas tree to a Friendship tree. check. Change "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" to "We Wish You a Happy Holiday." check. Remove the colors green and red. check. Get rid of Christmas music. even instrumental. check. When did wishing someone a Merry Christmas show insensitivity? According to a recent poll. 96 percent of Americans celebrate Christmas. In an effort to create a generic holiday starting at Thanksgiving and ending at New Years. what are we exactly celebrating? The purpose of -celebrating "the Fourth of July is to celebrate our Nations independence. Why is it not reasonable to say that celebrating Christmas is 4 celebration of Christs birth? This is a selective assault on religious free speech which is a fundamental right. The Founders did not view celebrating Christmas as an issue of church versus State. It is cele*brating a holiday that has for thousands of years been celebrated. The framers intended that the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States would prohibit the establishment of religion. not prohibit any mention of religion or reference to God in civic dialogue. From Madison Avenue to Wall Street. from activists and lawyers to politicians. educators and the media. a culture is being created that shames people for saying Merry Christmas. Ironically. many retailers. the same group who flood our mailboxes with. catalogs and advertisements urging us to purchase gifts for Christmas. have done away with the Christmas greeting Merry Christmas in their stores. Employees have been told not to say Merry Christmas to customers. This is political correctness run amok. The attack on Christmas. while not new. has now shifted its focus from overtly religious symbols. like the nativity. to symbols regarded by most Americans. including the Supreme Court. to be secular symbols of Christmas. a federally recognized holiday. Now these innocent secular symbols are causing concerns of insensitivity. Santa Claus. Christmas trees. candy canes. Christmas carols. even the colors red and green. they have been place on the endangered list. They say to boil a frog you have to do it gradually because if you throw it into boiling water. it will jump out. but if you put the frog in cold water and gradually turn up the heat. the frog will never know he is being boiled until it is too late. and I am afraid that is what is happening to us with our Christmas holiday. Madam Speaker. the transition to replace Christmas with this vague "holiday season" is a gradual process that over the past few years has reached a new crescendo. Let us protect the symbols and traditions of Christmas for those who celebrate Christmas. or before we know it. we will be looking at a holiday season that represents nothing and celebrates anything. I for one do not want to surrender and let retailers. overzealous civil liberty lawyers. and the media make me feel guilty for wishing someone a Merry Christmas. For. generations. Christmas has been a public expression of the celebration of the birth of Christ. I hope we can say that for many more years to come. With. that. Madam Speaker. I wish you a Merry Christmas.