It came to no surprise that most school districts in my hometown of San Antonio Texas have an aversion to labeling the Christmas holidays as Christmas. Most districts use the bland terms of either Winter Break or Winter Holidays to define the vacation time taken during Christmas without actually having to use that dreaded word. And with the abhorrence to saying “Christmas”, I cannot imagine why some districts stuck to using the word “holiday” at all because it is, well, by definition; a reference to a holy day.

One area school district used the term Christmas/Winter Break while another employed Christmas/Winter Holidays. I suppose that this way anyone who might be offended can be placated.
 

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Yet, people are not as stupid as the schools may have thought. Many area residents have already complained about the silliness of using a safe term like “Winter Break” especially since this part of Texas is practically a semi-arid climate. In my entire lifetime of living in South Texas, I have only seen snow on two occasions (outside of my travels). Most of the time, the season of winter is not necessarily a reality since it is not uncommon to see people jogging in their gym shorts on Christmas day. And the city of San Antonio doesn’t even own a single snow plow.

Moving past the suburbs and deep into the rural part of South Texas, most school districts retained the word “Christmas” as part of the holiday vacation without much altercation or conflict. Deep in the country, political correctness and activist organizations really don’t stand much of a chance against popular sentiment.

And interestingly, the suburban district where I attended high school had a spokesman rattle off an incoherent reason for avoiding the word Christmas by saying (but still taking the days off):

"We have all kinds of families that live out here… Not everybody celebrates Christmas.”

My question would then be this. Why take any days off at all?

If the schools are closing down for a vacation at this particular time of year for almost every year since the settling of this country, then isn’t there a particular reason to why we are doing this in the first place? And what is wrong with saying what the reason why or at least explaining the background of this tradition?

Unfortunately, schools go to great pains to avoid explaining history and heritage. Nearly all school districts know exactly why we take a vacation around Christmas day but they are terrified to say it. They simply change the name of the holiday and still take the days off anyway.

The truth of the matter is that in this community in particular and in the nation in general, political correctness and the threat of litigation has stymied the very fabric of society and life. Educational institutions are afraid to say the word Christmas even though schools are supposed to be places where you can disseminate facts and history.

And rather than take on the activists who relish a fight and publicity, school districts have taken the path to avoid any to attempt to delve into the heritage or history of Christmas which is really why schools close down in the first place.

But what I find so amazing is that there are many atheists and agnostics who enjoy Christmas and exchanging gifts but have never been to a church or belong to an organized religion. In fact, they truly enjoy the secular aspect of a religious holiday and have been exchanging presents since their entire lifetime.

There were plenty of atheists and agnostics back when I was in high school during the eighties who loved Christmas and didn’t have the kind of hostility about it as is apparent now. Unfortunately, the difference today is that many atheists and agnostics are much more militant and litigious.

And the legal aspect of Christmas is what intrigues political organizations such as the ACLU. Threat of litigation is enough to make just about any government institution run for cover. Instead of debating facts and knowledge in democratic arena, lawsuits are what have made such groups very powerful. The ACLU isn’t as much concerned about knowledge, and heritage as it is about using intimidation and threats in order to achieve their objectives.

Just how intellectual is it for such an organization that is supposedly staffed by “intelligent” and “progressive” individuals but refuse to engage in debate or the exercise of democracy and freedom?

Activists like the ACLU do not thrive on education, persuasion, or debate but rather flourish by threats and intimidation. Unfortunately, this is the kind of environment that we live in until people demand debate and discussion instead of lawsuits.

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COMMENTS FROM READERS

Well, let me tell you one thing I have learned in my over 42 years. Is that you can’t please everyone. But since morality has gone to the dogs in America, we suddenly find EVERYONE offended by the word GOD or Christmas or EASTER. Lord forbid you should be a cub scout using the word GOD in your personal flag cert. Oh my!! Shame on you for using God and Country in the same sentence. My child NOW comes home learning about every holiday EXCEPT Christmas. Now let me ask you... just how prejudice is that? Seriously! Crazy! If you are going to discuss Ramadan, Kwanza or the Jewish holiday... you better darn well add my CHRISTMAS, too! Otherwise... you are discriminating against MY beliefs. The very beliefs this country was founded on. The last I recall, this country was founded on Freedom OF religion, NOT FREEDOM FROM Religion. As for separation of Church and state, well, that was not even in the original writings of this great country. We are told very simply, the government can’t have their OWN religion, i.e.: Government ran religion. That’s it!! -Renee

Here's your feedback, poltroon. I'm 31 years old. When I was a kid, our district in fairly red-blooded, red-state northeastern Ohio called it "Winter Break." It's because we have this little thing called "Judaism." You seem to have heard of it in the context of another little thing called Israel. Why do you pretend it doesn't exist and everybody's Christian when the USA is involved? -Lazlo