For some time, I've suspected that the so-called "Christmas wars", i.e. public fights over whether or not religious symbols can be displayed, are fueled by journalists, who are looking for examples of outrageous behavior. Their stories scare public officials who then behave outrageously giving the journalists more stories. Here is townhall columnist Maggie Gallagher on How the Grinch stole Hanukkah
Frank Greenhall, the superintendent of the Warwick (NJ) public schools, is not feeling the joy yet. Parents are grumbling that his new winter wonderland strategy of inclusion is "anti-Santa": "Maybe the Gingerbread Man is insulting to someone. Then you have to say Gingerbread Person. If you don't like the Gingerbread Person in the picture, get a picture with the winter scene. I'm not pushing any one agenda," an exasperated Greenhall sputtered, "I just look forward to when this is over." In Yorktown, interim superintendent Vincent Ziccolella is singing the same tune: "I would really like to get busy and do some education issues instead of ... creches," he told a local reporter.
The Christmas wars are not about ideology, in other words, but bureaucracy: Busy officials have better things to do than negotiate the hurt feelings of an increasingly fired-up (also lawyered-up) public. It would be easier to just ban everything.
You can't help but sympathize. You also can't help but pause and give thanks to God that we share a country where religious wars consist of fights about what Breakfast With Santa will be called this year.
Exactly.
Ma
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