Montana Christmas Festival Goes on Despite Atheists’ Threats

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A Montana school recently received a letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the ACLU threatening possible legal action if the school’s choir members were permitted to voluntarily participate in a community Christmas celebration at a local church.

The school has rightly decided to ignore the threat and let students join in the festivities.

From Alliance Defending Freedom:

“Schools should not have to think twice about whether they can allow choirs to participate in community Christmas events,” said Litigation Staff Counsel Rory Gray. “Courts have unanimously allowed students to sing Christmas carols at school. Nothing changes when they sing the same Christmas songs at a community festival instead. We commend the districts for rightly ignoring the baseless threats delivered by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.”

This latest action by the ACLU and the Freedom From Religion Foundation is yet another in a long series of anti-Christmas (and anti-religion) activities by the groups, including:

In addition to past actions by the Freedom from Religion Foundation, Arkansas has also seen its Christmas celebrations targeted by other atheist groups, including unwarranted controversy over a Nativity display at a school in Paragould and an anti-Christmas display sponsored by the Arkansas Society of Freethinkers on the Arkansas Capitol grounds.

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

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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.

(more…)

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After Years of “Happy Holidays,” Gap Wishes a “Merry Christmas”

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Last week Gap, Inc. — the umbrella company for Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and other retailers — sent a letter to the American Family Association announcing its stores would offer patrons Christmas wishes and decidedly Christmas-themed events this December.

This comes after years of nonspecific “Happy Holidays” and strong refusals to use the word “Christmas” in Gap’s advertising and seasonal events.

Gap’s letter to AFA says in part,

“Starting today, every Gap Outlet window will have signs that say ‘Merry Christmas,’ along with Christmas trees and wreaths throughout their stores…Following Thanksgiving, Gap will be putting up a door decal that includes ‘Merry Christmas’ in every store…We will also be incorporating ‘Merry Christmas’ into all of our store hour decals, which can be seen in the windows and at the register.”

It’s odd that any store would offer Christmas shoppers the opportunity to buy Christmas gifts or Christmas decorations, but refuse to say the word ‘Christmas‘ for fear someone might be offended — but that’s exactly what many retailers are doing. Thankfully, Gap is reversing course at its stores, and we look forward to others following Gap’s example.

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