Or, is this another one of those deals like where the left labels the Swiftboat Vets as liars even though nothing they asserted was disproved?

An attempt to be respectful of the diverse religious population at Southwestern Oklahoma State University has been misinterpreted as an attempt to ban Christmas on the Weatherford campus.

And:

The university attempted to prevent the appearance as a state agency of endorsing any particular religion.

As the press release said, they released a policy asking all employees to refrain from using the word “Christmas” in any form.

The spin they are trying to put on it is trying to argue that for state employees to say “Merry Christmas” or to refer to Christmas constituted the appearance that they were endorsing a religion.

Do you agree with them?

http://www.swosu.edu/news/releases/2007/2007-12-20c.asp

This is why it’s impossible to debate such an issue. No one banned the use of the word Christmas on the campus. How can we have a serious discussion based on lies. It took me several hours to get a straight answer. Someone lied to and issued a press release obviously without checking the facts with SWOSU. Right wing websites picked up the press release without bothering to verify the facts. And you ran with it.

Does truth mean anything to the right wing? This is one example. Then there’s Romney’s lie about his father marching with Martin Luther King Jr. And of course the college student who beat himself up to play martyr as a conservative.

If you are going to present lies as facts, it is impossible to have a discussion. How many other lies have you passed off as true concerning this “war on Christmas”. Shame on you.

http://www.swosu.edu/news/releases/2007/2007-12-11a.asp

But I’m suspicious. Do I need to check Snopes on this? I can’t imagine this is true. And if it is, then I can’t wait for the idiots responsible to be fired.

BTW, I assume you are equally outraged at President Bush for hosting a White House “Holiday Party” this year instead of a Christmas Party?

It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you’ve forgotten that I wasn’t actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate My birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival. Although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don’t care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let Me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn’t allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn’t be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15: 1 - 8.

If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:

1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell Me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don’t have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.

3. Instead of writing George complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don’t you write and tell him that you’ll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.

4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can’t afford and they don’t need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.

6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don’t know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.

7. Instead of nit picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren’t allowed to wish you a “Merry Christmas” that doesn’t keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn’t make so much money on that day they’d close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families

8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary– especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My name.

9. Here’s a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no “Christmas” tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don’t know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me and they will make the delivery for you.

10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don’t do things in secret that you wouldn’t do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine.

Don’t forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do. I’ll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I’ll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember : I LOVE YOU, JESUS

Far left fringe?

It’s hardly a war. An annoyance to some, I’m sure. But a compromise could easily have been reached except that extremists on both sides want to keep the issue alive so they can each feel vicitmized by the other. We live in a pluralistic society and it’s really not that hard to acknowledge that other people have different views and beliefs. And people secure in their beliefs don’t need the government to put up tacky holiday displays nor shop clerks pandering to their religious belief to get them to spend more money to deepen their faith.

Laying out documented examples that illustrate a pattern of behavior, and then demonstrating that the pattern of behavior is consistent with a particular political agenda is an impossible way to argue?

I guess “feelings” are the only way to legitimize an argument in your book.

It’s impossible to argue this way.

What I was trying to do was throw a little levity into the debate since for the most part I find it rather silly. No one can rob you of what is in your heart. But I sense that a lot of “Christians” are more concerned with outward displays than genuine spirituality. They are like the Pharisees that Jesus denounces in the gospels. Making a big show of religion is not following in the path of Christ.

BTW, my “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” remark was a reference to “A Tuna Christmas”. A very funny play (sequel to Greater Tuna) set in a small town in Texas. It’s hilarious and I had assumed at least one reader would have recognized it. I guess not.

You’ll pardon me if we’re sick and tired of it.