He doesn't give a what about Christmas?!?

You learn interesting things by paying attention to local government. I did last week after a council meeting in my small California town. It wasn't pretty.

In the prior meeting, there was lengthy discussion about the merits (or not) of putting lights on a park tree. It's the town Christmas tree; they kept calling it a "holiday" tree.

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Town staff, for the second consecutive year, decided not to decorate the tree. It became an issue because some residents wondered about the lack of lights.

Discussion revealed that three years ago, a staffer, who was hanging the lights, fell out of the tree. Because of that, it was arbitrarily and privately decided, to stop the decorating.

Vigorous discussion ensued, and, finally, I raised my hand during public comment.

I expressed surprise at the arbitrary staff decision concerning the community-wide recognition of the Christmas (holiday) season and made a few suggestions. I ended by saying they should call it what it is: a "Christmas" tree.

Body language, facial expressions and later, actual words – showed my suggestions weren't well received. Indeed, the town manager commented sotto voce to the council that there's a legal issue of separation, and that a "Christmas" tree can't be on city property. The mayor alluded to my "Christmas" comment saying it is a "holiday" tree.

But then a week later, the tree was lighted, and I attended the next meeting on Wednesday. Afterward, I approached the town manager, referred to the prior discussion and told him it's perfectly legal for the town to call it a "Christmas" tree. I reminded him there's a national "Christmas" tree at the White House, which is government property.

He was taken aback. First, he said he didn't remember saying anything; then, that the town attorney told him we had to consider "political correctness."

I assured him it was more important to deal with legality rather than being PC.

Then he denied having said anything at all about this and, as his hostility and anger began surfacing, challenged me to prove he said anything of the sort and offered to bet me "anything" to prove it. I said "no bets," but what he'd said was incorrect.

He turned away briefly, then turned back and jutted his face within inches of mine, angrily snarling:

I don't give a crap about that stuff. It may be important to you, but I'm a Jew, and I don't give a crap about that stuff."

He turned away and kept ranting, "... and I don't want to stay here and fight with you about it."

I wasn't arguing, but he was. His "defense" is not only an insult to me, but to Christianity, and indeed to more decent Jews than he.

I didn't know his religion; I don't care, and it doesn't matter. His job is to represent all the people of the town and follow the law, not political correctness, and not use his religion as a reason for "not caring" about issues that are important to residents.

I have no doubt, that if this issue were a concern to certain select "minorities," he definitely would "give a crap about it" because that's the PC way.

According to the Alliance Defense Fund, it is legal for municipalities to have an official Christmas tree as well as any associated ceremonies/celebrations. It remains legal, despite continued attempts by petty demagogues, like the ones in my town, to strip religious traditions from all our holidays. They ignore that Christmas is a national, legal holiday.

The town of Queen Creek, Ariz., just battled secularists and atheists who want religion gone from public life, and the town won. They will have their "Christmas" tree and celebrations.

Mayor Art Sanders told AP he's wanted to call it a "Christmas" tree and said, "If we're going to have a 'holiday' tree-lighting, it should be a 'Christmas' tree, in the same way you wouldn't call a menorah a 'holiday candlestick.'"

Indeed – then again, perhaps my self-proclaimed Jewish town manager would call the menorah a "holiday candlestick." One never knows the depth of religious rage.

Lowe's stores changed policy after a huge flap because they'd called holiday trees, "family" trees. Overwhelming public reaction forced a return to traditional "Christmas" trees.

A Dec. 13, gossip column in the San Francisco Chronicle said the "decorated trees in the lobbies of Davies Hall are labeled 'celebratory' trees."

Stupidity and political correctness never end.

It's clear everyone can be offended except Christians. One atheist, one Muslim, one Jew complains, and everything changes. All offended sensibilities are catered to, except those of Christians. Then, it's just, "shut up" or, as my town manager revealed, "I don't give a crap about that stuff."

"Stuff," indeed. And this man runs the town!

Barbara Walters was upset on "The View" about a biblical quote on the president's Christmas card. She seriously asked if there are separate cards for atheists, agnostics, Muslims and other non-Christians.

A wise preacher recently said that any group of people celebrating faith is never an insult to other people of any faith. A decent person respects different beliefs.

Unfortunately, the deck is stacked against Christians. The marketplace drowns in everything "holiday," cashing in on Christmas but never using the word.

Like it or not, Christianity and Jesus Christ Himself is the reason for this holiday called Christmas. It's a massive affront to His church and Christian followers for government and society at large to demean, ignore and denigrate Christmas.

Christians should refuse to play the game. Stop supporting businesses that ignore Christmas, and tell them why you're doing it. Complain effectively. Rattle those cages.

Remember, most businesses, governments, bureaucracies and media think people are just sheep who can be manipulated and diverted.

So far, they've been right. It's time for a change!

The whole mess offends me, and I plan to do something about things that are both wrong and offensive.

How about you?

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