Christmas – Page 21 – Family Council

Atheists in Florida to Hang Banner Replacing Jesus with Bill of Rights

According to the Associated Press, the Freedom From Religion Foundation is hanging a banner in the Florida State Capitol depicting Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and the Statue of Liberty gathered around a manger containing the Bill of Rights. The banner will read, “Let us also honor the birth of our Bill of Rights, which reminds us there can be no freedom OF religion without having freedom FROM religion in government.”

The banner is part of an effort by the Freedom From Religion Foundation to “counter” nativity scenes on public property. The group has placed signs at state capitols in Illinois and Wisconsin stating there are no gods, no Heaven, and no Hell.

Of course, atheists in Arkansas have set up what many have dubbed a shrine to paganism next to the Nativity scene on the Capitol lawn the past few years.

Atheist groups claim these displays are part of the “public forums” state capitols are establishing, and a public forum means all forms of speech are welcome. Legally, however, there are different kinds of public forums — unlimited public forums and limited public forums.

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Wishing You a “Burl Ives” Holly, Jolly Christmas

Dec 4, 2013JerryChristmasChristmas

We are celebrating Christmas each day for the next week with short stories and memories about the Christmas season. Yesterday I talked about Snoopy and the Christmas Truce of 1914. Today I want to wish you a “holly, jolly Christmas.”

When you hear someone wish a “holly, jolly Christmas,” your mind probably jumps straight to Burl Ives. After all, he made the song famous, singing it on his own hit record and in the TV special Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Many people assume Ives wrote the song himself. The truth is, the song was written by a little-known artist named Johnny Marks.

You’ve probably never heard of Johnny Marks, but you have heard his music. Marks wrote “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas,” but he wrote several other popular Christmas songs, including, “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” “Run, Run Rudolph,” and, yes, the old standby “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (written along with his brother-in-law Robert L. May who created the character of Rudolph for Montgomery Ward).

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Wishing You a Very “Snoopy” Christmas

Dec 3, 2013JerryChristmasChristmas

In 1967 the Royal Guardsmen released “Snoopy’s Christmas.” The song, which followed up their hit “Snoopy vs. the Red Baron,” is a favorite on many radio stations this time of year. In the song, Snoopy goes up against German ace fighter pilot “the Red Baron” on Christmas Eve during World War I. In the end, the Baron invites Snoopy to land with him; the pair exchange Christmas wishes, and part ways “each knowing they’d meet on some other day.”

The song echoes the wish for peace on earth and goodwill to man that so many talk about this time of year. What many people do not realize, however, is that in Christmas of 1914 Allied and German soldiers actually did pause from fighting to celebrate Christmas together.

The event has gone down in history as “The Christmas Truce of 1914.” Soldiers from both sides left their trenches and crossed the lines of battle unarmed. They sang songs together, exchanged food and small gifts, and played soccer. Against the backdrop of something so horrific as World War I, men still found it in their hearts to treat each other like men at least for one day.

“Snoopy’s Christmas” is a lighthearted retelling of that story, but the message is still there. At Family Council, we are so glad to have friends like you standing with us in the fight preserve, protect, and strengthen traditional family values. If you have not already done so, I hope you will make a generous, tax-deductible gift of $50 on our website to help us finish 2013 strong and begin 2014 with confidence. Click here to donate.

In the spirit of peace and goodwill this Christmas season, I hope you and your family have a very “Snoopy” Christmas.