I havent blogged in a while just because nothing much has been happening and I have had lots of work. That, and I have been playing too much HALO.

I am almost done with get all my Christmas gifts for everyone. I really enjoyed it this year. I dont know what has changed, but for some reason I am really loving getting gifts for everyone.

I havent found much news to pass on recently, but I have been especially saddened by the militant removal of anything that could remotly be considered a Christmas celebration in our public schools.

Here are some examples:

Happy non-denominational colorless winter break party

Another one:

New Jersy Star-Ledger: School’s band to tune out Santa [only non-religious music at NJ school holiday instrumental concert] Star-Ledger [Newark, NJ] ^ | Nov 17, 2004 | KATIE WANG

Don’t expect the Columbia High School brass ensemble to belt out any jolly renditions of "Joy to World" at its holiday concert this year.
Nor will it play any songs about Santa Claus coming to town.

But there will be plenty of seasonal tunes, such as "Winter Wonderland" and "Frosty the Snowman"—songs devoid of any reference to religion, religious symbols or holidays.

A long-standing policy banning the singing of Christmas songs with religious references in the South Orange/Maplewood School District has come under scrutiny after the administration clarified the policy recently, saying that it also includes instrumental concerts.

This means the 40-member brass ensemble, which in years past has played Christmas carols with references to Santa Claus, Jesus, or other religious symbols, will not be played this year.

"Rather than try to respond to all the various religions and try to balance them, it’s best to stay away from that and simply have a nonreligious tone to them and have more of a seasonal tone," Superintendent Peter P. Horoschak said.

Some parents are critical ...

Eric Chabrow, whose son plays saxophone in the ensemble, said he thinks the district has gone too far.

"There needs to be safeguards in school," Chabrow said. "But musical notes don’t sanction religion."

Chabrow, who is Jewish, said he does not associate the classic Christmas carols as religious tunes.

His freshman son, Samuel, agreed.

"It’s nice music that’s just related to the holidays," he said.

Rabbi Jehiel Orenstein of Congregation Beth El in South Orange, said he takes no offense to instrumental renditions of religious holiday songs as long as there is something for everyone.

"I love music," he said. "There are overtones to instrumental music. I just want to make sure it’s inclusive, then we don’t leave anyone out."

All in all what I think is troubling is this idea that somehow having religious cultural things in school is not being sensitive. That people deserve to be protected against seeing religion or knowing about it.

People who agree with this sort of stuff use the first amendment as proof this must be entirely removed from sight in government and public schools.

Amendment 1: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Congress shall make no law respecting and establishment of religion says nothing against, or has anything to do with, government and schools celebrating religious holidays especially ones that are part of our culture such as Christmas.

Our Country was founded on Judeo-Christian philosophy and its part of American Culture.

It’s not the establishment of religion by the state to recognize and pay homage to our cultural heritage.

Celebrating and recognizing our culture does not forcing anyone to be a Christian or to practice Judaism, and it doesn’t take away from any other beliefs or religions.

If there was a law mandating that a certain religions items be in public school, that could be considered a law that is about establishing a state religion, which would violate the fist amendment, but in turn a law that prohibits religious items to be in our schools violates the first amendment as well by creating a law that prohibits the free exercise thereof.

Yes, Christmas is a religious holiday as well as Easter. I can’t even begin to imagine how celebrating them offends someone, or why someone should be “protected” from viewing these events being celebrated.

If someone believes the celebrating of these religious holidays in their workplace is wrong and offensive then they need to stay at work or school on these holidays lest they be a hypocrite.

Celebrating Christmas or talking about Christmas in schools, or even simply having a Christian saying on the wall is not a law establishing a religion.