News Item:
Santa Claus deemed too religious for school fundraiser
Every year, during this season, in some pulpit, in some church, a sermon is given about the true meaning of Christmas. The point is always made that there is too much emphasis on Santa Clause, and that the day should be a celebration of the birth of Christ. The sermon is standard fare for the religious right. Now the liberal left is on the old guy's case too.
Breakfast with Santa was to be a fundraising program held at a school in Warwick, New York. A Winter Wonderland Breakfast is what it's being called now, with Frosty the Snowman at center stage instead. Why did Santa lose top billing? He's too much a 'religious' figure, according to a parent that protested the program. The woman's gripe? Plain and simple, discrimination.
In a letter to the school board she wrote that Santa is too closely tied to Christmas, which is a Christian holiday, and by law, a public school cannot promote a religion. The PTA proposed weaving elements into the program which would celebrate other religions as well, a move that probably only added fuel to the fire. It seems the only thing worse than celebrating one religion, is celebrating a whole bunch of them at the same time.
Lawyers got involved, and the program was changed to avoid any chance of litigation. It would have been, of course, a First Amendment case, based on an all-encompassing Free Speech interpretation. The majority, once again, bowed to a vocal minority, who found a fat guy in a red suit to be offensive.
Full Story: CNS News
Cartoon from Sid in the City
