Just when you thought Congress did nothing in 2013. Earlier this week, 36 members of the House of Representatives introduced a resolution which essentially defends Christmas. Yup, defend Christmas.
“The Founding Fathers never intended for references to God and religion to be prohibited in civic dialogue, said Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado, who introduced the non-binding resolution to ABC News.
The resolution asked “Congress to protect the traditional symbols of Christmas for use by the vast majority of Americans who do acknowledge the holiday.”
In a statement, Rep. Nick Rahall, D-West Virginia and one of two Democrats who co-sponsored the bill, said phrases like “Happy Holidays” were “empty.”
“I say bah humbug,” Rahall said. “There’s nothing wrong with publicly recognizing the religious nature and true meaning of Christmas, especially for a nation like ours founded on the principles of religious freedom and free speech.”
Recently, House Administration Committee Chair Rep. Candice Miller, R-Michigan, overturned a prohibition of members making references to religious holidays in official correspondence with constituents.
“In the past, including any form of a holiday greeting was banned … this new common sense policy allows members to share their holiday wishes with constituents in otherwise official communication,” Miller told UPI. “I feel it is entirely appropriate for members of Congress to include a simple holiday salutation, whether it is Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and so on.”
The resolution, H.Res. 448, said “the Framers intended that the First Amendment of the Constitution, in prohibiting the establishment of religion, would not prohibit any mention of religion or reference to God in civic dialog.”
It resolves the strong disapproval of any attempts to ban references to Christmas as well as an expression of support from Congress to use symbols and traditions “by those who celebrate Christmas.”
Matt Clark
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