Bill O'Reilly's latest article

[Guest bob_barron]

Somewhere Santa is Weeping

By: Bill O'Reilly for BillOReilly.com

Wednesday, Dec 04, 2002

 

It's time we all found out just who is being naughty this Christmas season and I am here to tell you. The American Civil Liberties Union has put the fear of God, uh pardon me, the fear of "a higher power that may or may not exist" into schools and town all across America.

 

If you get involved with this Christmas thing, the ACLU might sue you.

 

At the South Orange Middle School in New Jersey, a sixth grade class was all set to see the play "A Christmas Carol" written by that well known religious zealot Charles Dickens. But according to the Associated Press, school officials cancelled an outing to see the play and replaced it with a show called "The Great Railroad Race.?

 

The school's principal, Kirk Smith, told the AP "there is a great sensitivity to putting students in awkward situations." Apparently, some parents complained about "A Christmas Carol" because they thought it had something to do with Christmas and we can't have that in public school, can we?

 

Even though Christmas is a federal holiday, we can?t really be discussing the meaning of the day because of sensitivity concerns. Is this insane or what?

 

The reason that the South Orange Middle School and many other places across the country are so frightened of a day that is designed to promote generosity and peace on earth is that Jesus Christ is involved.

 

Jesus, you see, is not acceptable in the public discourse according to the ACLU and other misguided groups.

 

Never mind the fact that Jesus was a great philosopher and many of his tenets influenced the founding fathers in their construction of our Constitution. Never mind the fact that President Grant declared Christmas a public, secular holiday in 1870 to celebrate a philosophy of "good will toward men."

 

No, now we in America have to live in fear of being sued by organizations that seek to suppress any kind of religious display in the public arena. For two hundred years, the United States celebrated Christmas without any intrusion by the courts.

 

Was anyone harmed?

 

Were anybody's rights trampled?

 

All that happened was happiness for millions of American children.

 

Here's how ridiculous this whole thing is: In Covington, Georgia the school board removed the word "Christmas" from the school calendar.

 

In St. Paul, Minnesota, red poinsettias were banned from a display at the country courthouse. And in hundreds of towns across the country, nativity scenes have been banned on public property.

 

But a constitutional loophole exists that has the ACLU in a panic. According to a Supreme Court decision in the case of Lynch versus Donnelly, any kind of Christmas religious scene can be displayed on public property if a secular symbol is also in sight.

 

So you can have a nativity scene if you have one of the wise men carrying a candy cane. I'm not kidding.

 

The Supreme Court has found a way to get around the hammer that the concept of church and state separation has become in the hands of Americans that are offended by public religious depictions.

 

But my question is, where have all the wise men gone? These days we in America are reduced to finding loopholes in the Constitution in order to celebrate a federal holiday, the birthday of a man, Jesus, who believed that all men should love one another.

 

So this Christmas season while you are out shopping, stop for a moment and think about why we the people have given the store away to special interest groups that are attacking cherished traditions and legal holidays in the name of freedom.

 

Somewhere Santa Claus is weeping.

 

But if he's on public property, I hope the ACLU doesn't get him for trespass.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

Don't know about everywhere else in the country, but here they label it "Winter Break," not Christmas Break.

 

I think it's fine and I can understand the issues. When I was young, I went to private Christian schools (I'm suspecting my parents did it more for the education than the religion, although I know my Mom honestly believes in higher powers and stuff) and thus grew up unaware that there were some people who don't celebrate Christmas.

 

One of them was a good friend of mine, so when Christmas came around and I got to show off my bundle of toys and asked, "what did you get?" He sort of shied up, and kind of embarassed said "Uh.. Not much." This scene happened over several years and I never recognized the spot I was putting him into until I was in my teens.

 

Still, "A Christmas Carol" is nowhere near as likely to offend someone as a nativity play or something. I personally still celebrate Christmas because I see it as a family holiday even when you remove Jeebus and keep Santa. Although I can see how some may still object.

[Guest bob_barron]

I think the Christmas Carol thing is absolutely ridicilous.

 

I celebrate Channukah and Christmas so I have no problem with any religious stuff.

 

BTW- My school called Xmas Break- 'Winter Recess'

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Can you imagine a school taking down a Kwanzaa mural or display?

[Guest Choken One]

Jesus Tap Dancing Christ. That's it...The world sucks...We can't celebrate xmas...Fuck you. My brother in law is Jewish and he doesn't not show up for Family Xmas...Me and my wife went to his family one night this week...Great xprience...I certaintly respect all relgions (I am not affliated with any) but I celebrate Xmas as Family Togetherness Holiday and well, fuck, Why refuse free presents?

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Even more P.C. drivel.

 

 

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,71856,00.html

 

 

Why can't Santa come to the school. It's not like kids who aren't Christian can't get a gift or whatever it is he gives to the kids.

[Guest Choken One]

Santa never even claims to be Christian...He is just a fat jolly closet Child Molester who enjoys spending time with green elves and sneaking into little boys bedrooms and giving presents.

[Guest bob_barron]

I agree- my dad who is Christian celebrates Hannukah with my mom's family and my mom who is Jewish celebrates XMas with us.

 

What the fuck is the big deal?

[Guest MrRant]

I would love for someone to take down a Kwanzaa display just so we can see the hypocrisy that exists in today's culture.

[Guest DrTom]

Ridiculous, simply ridiculous. I look at myself as something of a litmus test for religious things, as I'm a former Catholic, turned devout atheist. I have no problems with nativity scenes and the like, and if the atheist doesn't have a problem with something, then it should be ok. Unfortunately, I'm not an imbecile with a theatrically overdeveloped martyr complex, so I don't compare to the serial whiners who complain about things like this.

[Guest J*ingus]

Although Santa Claus is derived from the maybe-mythical Christian Saint Nicholas, he's far enough removed from any religion to make him (and A Christmas Carol) thoroughly secular. What's the problem?

[Guest Brian]

Although are image of Santa is driven by Coca Cola.

[Guest Ozymandias]

See next post.

[Guest Ozymandias]

Fuck Bill O'Reilly.

What a clown, trying to use the bottomless stupidity and timidness of the American people to attack a civil liberties group that exists solely to promote and protect the ideals of the "Jesus-influenced" Constitution. Douchebag.

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

If we can agree that the people who ban Santa Claus from classrooms and stuff for religious reasons are just as stupid as the people who bemoan that Christmas is about Jesus and Santa Claus detracts from it all are equally stupid, then we can all get along.

[Guest MrRant]

Fuck Bill O'Reilly.

What a clown, trying to use the bottomless stupidity and timidness of the American people to attack a civil liberties group that exists solely to promote and protect the ideals of the "Jesus-influenced" Constitution. Douchebag.

I like it when they are attacked. And I'm not religous.

[Guest bob_barron]

Ozymandias-

So you don't think parents complaining about seeing the Christmas Carol is a wee bit stupid?

 

Jobber of the Week-

I think I can get along with you

[Guest Ozymandias]

If we can agree that the people who ban Santa Claus from classrooms and stuff for religious reasons are just as stupid as the people who bemoan that Christmas is about Jesus and Santa Claus detracts from it all are equally stupid, then we can all get along.

I'll drink to that....

[Guest Ozymandias]

Bob: Of course it is. It's fucking mind-boggling. But it's disgusting to see BOR (what a wonderful acronym for him) use that as an oppurtunity to bash the ACLU who generally do good work. They aren't the ones complaining about Santa, it's regular stupid people.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

If we can agree that the people who ban Santa Claus from classrooms and stuff for religious reasons are just as stupid as the people who bemoan that Christmas is about Jesus and Santa Claus detracts from it all are equally stupid, then we can all get along.

'Tis the Season. Santa's nice for the tots, I just remember the real reason I celebrate Christmas.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

A Christmas Carol isn't even religious! That's the thing about it that gets me. It's about an old codger who gets visited by fucking GHOSTS, who show him his miserable life and what's in store, and he decides to change his ways. Where does Jesus even enter into it? That play is about generosity, and helping the less fortunate if you can, as opposed to sitting around counting your riches while Tiny Tim down the street starves. Is the beef with the line "God bless us, every one." or what?

 

I find the fact that they're banning a timeless holiday classic much MUCH more offensive than celebrating christmas, and I'm about as far from religious as a person can get.

 

For what it's worth, it's still called Christmas Break around here.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Tiny Tim goes to Church. That would be enough for the pc crowd.

[Guest Ozymandias]

At least they aren't upset about a goddamn Christmas card, eh?

[Guest Jobber of the Week]

But it's disgusting to see BOR (what a wonderful acronym for him)

LOL!

 

I've read one of Mr. O's books, plan to read the other. He comes across as a decent guy in the books, although he reaches a bit too much into the Dr. Phil barrel when he tells you how to live your life (for instance, in one chapter he's awfully heavy-handed telling the reader to drop any grudges they may have against their parents.) But once he's on TV, I just can't stand the guy.

 

This is why I only watch Fox News until about 2PM (Pacific) or so. They have some decent live news going on from the morning through the lunch hours, but go find something else to watch and avoid their evening "reporting," just absolute garbage.

[Guest SP-1]

The real thing is that even if it were a religious production, what's the problem with exposing children to views in different forms of artistic medium? Are we supposed to promote respecting culture to our children while at the same time making them go watch a play about a railroad instead of something that shows them that, YES, people have different beliefs around the world?

 

I am insulted, not becaust I'm a Christian but because I am an artist. It is a disservice to children to keep them void of cultural beliefs in the name of not offending someone. Children also need to learn that you get insulted and at times demeaned in life. You have to deal with THAT, too.

 

*sigh*

 

SP

[Guest Vern Gagne]

Why doesn't the school change the name of the play.The story maybe mentions chrisitanity 2 to 3 times. So the play isn't going to be affected if a few lines are changed to appease the p.c. crowd.

[Guest Agent of Oblivion]

Call it "Scrooge" or something.

[Guest Samurai_Goat]

Eh, I don't know what's the problem. My parents are former christians turned wiccans. We've always done the christmas thing. Know what it is for us? "Hey, everbody buy stuff for everyone else, so that, on the 25th of December, we can mess around with all our brand new stuff!" For us, religion has nothign to do with it, it's pretty much a celebration of our fruits of capitalism.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

What is a Wiccan?

[Secret Agent 0]

Witchcraft basically. You know like Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.