Guardian Angel Store - War on Christmas Continues

On 12 Nov 09, llowellsun.com reported that Byam Elementary School of Chelmsford, MA has banned items such as Santa, candy canes, stockings, or other items related to Christmas or Hanukkah from its annual holiday gift shop. The report related that Kathryn McMillan and Kathleen Cullen questioned the policy after a flier was sent home with students about the gift shop. "It's sending the wrong message to our kids," said McMillan. "The school is doing this in the name of diversity. But diversity means accepting all views, not suppressing some views."

The report related that the school defended their position in that their policy over several years has been to keep the gifts "neutral.” “The PTO offered a meeting to parents for input on the gift room," Superintendent Yeoman said. "After some feedback from parents, it was decided that they would design the event the same way they have in the past."

The report also related that a school committee member believes “the policy was likely enacted to prevent any child from feeling left out.” In contrast, the report quotes Cullen who points out,“It's as if the schools are saying choice is a fundamental right except when it comes to celebrating our traditions which have religious roots."

On 14 Nov 09, lowellsun.com reported, that a PTO meeting on the issue “grew heated.” In the report, McMillan related that “Red and green tissue paper to wrap presents was also crossed off the list because it looked too 'Christmasy.''
The report related that during the PTO debate, "One of the parents said, 'If we allow Santa, what do we say if a child brings in a swastika? Do we allow that too?' " McMillan said. "All I could think of was, are you kidding? You're comparing a Christmas ornament to a swastika? It seems as if reason is lost somewhere and I just hope we can find it again."
On 17 Nov 09, a Boston Herald editorial related that, “Byam Elementary School in Chelmsford is one of several area schools that raises money by setting up holiday gift shops. Parents donate trinkets and tchotchkes, which are then put on sale for a few days in December so the little kiddies can buy gifts for mom, dad and the sibs. According to organizers in the Byam PTO, it’s one of their biggest fund raisers.” The editorial goes on to relate that while other schools have no such restrictions, Byam Elementary prohibits anything related to the Christmas holiday.

The editorial quips, “To all the children at Byam Elementary: 'Happy Random Gift-Purchasing Non-Holiday!' “

On 3 Nov 09, the Catholic League posted an article with several examples of the 2009 “War on Christmas.” The examples range from the renaming of Christmas events and symbols or the prohibition of public displays to remove any reference to Christmas or observance of the nativity.

The article related, “The word 'Christmas' was deemed offensive. Instead, there will be a 'Holiday Tree.' The official line is that the 'Holiday Tree' is inclusive of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s, though no one has ever heard of a 'Thanksgiving Tree,' 'Hanukkah Tree' or 'New Year’s Tree.' “

The article points out that the season is still early; therefore, more examples are likely to surface of the expanding censorship of Christmas.

Lowellsun.com (12 Nov 09)
http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_13770329

Lowellsun.com (14 Nov 09)
http://www.lowellsun.com/todaysheadlines/ci_13786186

Boston Herald (17 Nov 09)
http://news.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view/20091117holiday_jeer_in_chelmsford/srvc=news&position=also

Catholic League (3 Nov 09)
http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1706