Local Governments Threatened Over Christmas Expression

The American
Civil Liberties Union, or ACLU, contends that expressions of Christmas violate
the First Amendment. On Friday, the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF) and allied
attorneys sent letters to the local governments encouraging them not to give in
to the ACLU’s threats. The letters explain that stifling Christmas expression
is instead a violation of First Amendment protected rights.

“It’s ridiculous
that people have to think twice about whether it’s OK to publicly celebrate
Christmas. An overwhelming majority of Americans celebrate Christmas and
are opposed to any kind of censorship of it,” says ADF
Senior Counsel David Cortman. “The misguided attacks on Christmas by
the ACLU and its allies expose an even larger, more aggressive attack on
anything and everything Christian.”

Virgin
Valley High School in Mesquite, Nev., was
among those threatened. The school subsequently entered into an “agreement”
with the ACLU to prohibit teachers and staff from saying “merry Christmas” and
engaging in other Christmas activities. Teachers are reportedly not
allowed to post any religious Christmas decorations and are only permitted to
say “happy holidays.” Christmas trees must instead be called “holiday
trees.”

Meanwhile, the Freedom From Religion Foundation threatened Franklin
County, Ind., for displaying a 50-year-old nativity scene on county property
near a Christmas tree and three reindeer. ADF Senior Legal
Counsel Bryan Beauman says, “This display is clearly constitutional as
displayed, and the county should not give in to the Freedom From Religion
Foundation’s threats, which have no basis in the law.”

A 2008 Gallup poll found that 93 percent of Americans
celebrate Christmas. A 2009 Rasmussen poll found that 83 percent of
American adults believe public schools should celebrate religious holidays, and
76 percent believe religious symbols, such as Christmas nativity scenes, should
be allowed on public land.