Posted by glarson (Gwen Larson) on November 16, 2007 at 5:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A continuation of discussion begun on original stories.

Posted by quarterback (anonymous) on November 16, 2007 at 8:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If you are going to share your opinion the LEAST you can do is be INFORMED! Do your research and know what you are talking about. Contrary to what the above post states, it is PERFECTLY legal to have a "Christmas" program. Case after case at the Supreme Court supports that. Furthermore, celebrating "Christmas" no more makes a person a "Christian" than living in Saudi Arabia makes you a Muslim! Something to think about!

Posted by MrCmonkeeDo (anonymous) on November 17, 2007 at 4:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"...celebrating "Christmas" no more makes a person a "Christian" than living in Saudi Arabia makes you a Muslim! Something to think about!"

Excellent comment quarterback!

MrC wishes all the peeps COULD think that way and realize that worrying about the name of a musical program is folly.

`And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven will He not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?` (Matthew 6: 28-30).

Posted by mythoughts (anonymous) on November 17, 2007 at 5:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let us remember: It is the NeoCons and the "religious" right that has been shoving this whole "let's put Christ back into Christmas" down our throats for the past decade. If it's a program about Christ's birth, then call it the "Christmas (Christ's Mass) program" - something I would still assume that Protestant religions that don't believe in saints would be against.

But if you want to include EVERYBODY, and celebrate a special time of year (special to different people for different reasons) focussed on inclusion, peace and understanding, the SEASONAL CELEBRATION is the only way to go. People who want the Christmas Program name restored cannot have any other nearsighted goal than that of ramming their view of christianity down everyone else's throats.

Do these people not realize that Christ's birthday was set as near to the pagan winter solstice as possible in attempt to subsume the older religion into the new one - Easter is near the Spring Solstice for the same reason. Fixating on a date as Christ's birthday is just another form of idolatry. If you can't carry Christ's existence in your heart every day, then are you truly following his teachings? Why does a community-wide public celebration have to bow to your religious beliefs?

What would Jesus do? Waste untold thousands of dollars on a legal battle over "Christmas" versus "Season" or put that money--AND ENERGY-- toward making sure the poor in Emporia have food and heat this winter. If you want a cause, Christmas Program People, get involved with the social service agencies in this town and give to the United Way. Put your money (and hot air) where your mouth is. I practice what I preach. Do you? Forgive my rancor, please...I'm just frustrated with this narrow-mindedness. I can't believe that the name of this program is that important to God.

Posted by methusla (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mythoughts:

Are you too not trying to ram your beliefs down other peoples throats, seems to me by your rantings that is exactly what you are doing, there for you do not practice what you preach, and I am glad you can afford to give to the United Way, there are those of us who cannot afford to, after all you cannot by your way into paradise.

Posted by lookup (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Keep your xmas in the church. HAPPY SOLSTICE everyone! The REAL reason for the season! Longer days returning!

Posted by open_eyes (anonymous) on November 18, 2007 at 9:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's see, time, money and energy were spent changing the name in '93, from something that had been in place for 50 years, and apparently only offended 1 person (rammed that down our throats) - but NOW, suddenly, its a waste of time, money, and energy, and so on........ uh, ok......
The majority had to bow to the beliefs of 1 in 93, now it's "everyone has to bow to the religious beliefs"..... uh..... ok again.......

Posted by emporialifer (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Excellent points quarterback and methusla. I love it when people give the whole "What would Jesus do" quote - gosh guys - I think Jesus would fight to keep it Christmas. I think He would be really upset with the people that He gave His life to save that were so unwilling to even acknowledge Him. That is what I think Jesus would do!

Posted by mythoughts (anonymous) on November 19, 2007 at 1:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

So, the Christmas Program IS an acknowledgment of Jesus and, therefore, illegal because public funds are being used to exclusively promote a particular religion. Separation of church and state, people. I also say that "Christmas Program" is a misnomer because the program as it stands it's about more than Christ or Santa Claus; it is a celebration of the season - a time for peace and reflection according to whichever spiritual system you choose to follow.

Why is that so hard to understand? Jesus wouldn't care if you called it "The Big Happy Ho-Ho" as long as everyone's hearts were in the right place. Ah well, never try to teach a pig to sing--it wastes your time and it annoys the pig.

Posted by smith_ron (anonymous) on November 25, 2007 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You realize, of course, that goverment is not required to give employees a holiday break. And that not all government employees do get the holiday off (police, fire, etc.). However, most due as a matter of "administrative convenience," according to the First Amendment Center (paraphrasing: "Religious Holidays," First Amendment Center, www.firstamendmentcenter.org). Afterall, doesn't it make more sense to simply close the doors on non-essential operations when a majority of employees will probably be absent?

Posted by MisterO (anonymous) on November 25, 2007 at 6:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Another point to keep in mind regarding the Federal employees: they are given the day off due to a holiday. True, that holiday has its origins in a religious observance, however, they (the Federal employees) are not required to practice a religious observance, celebrate Christmas, go to church, buy gifts, sing carols, or anything else during that day off, so it's really not the same thing at all.

Now...if they were given the day off with pay and *required* to observe a particular religious belief, then it would be a different story.

Posted by DJrocksthemic (anonymous) on December 5, 2007 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Here's a shocker, I'm a Christian, and I don't care that it's called the "Seasonal Celebration." We share this world, and while we'd like all people to have our point of view, truth is they won't. And this "fight," is ridiculous. Seperation of Church and state is a two way street, it was set up to protect the church from the state, and should stay that way. So go ahead, fight the state (schools), tell them what to think they should do. And when your church organization starts paying taxes, I'm sure they'll start listening.

Posted by olddog (anonymous) on December 30, 2007 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There are a couple of very good post on this link!!! We need to find out who they were and vote them out!

http://emporiagazette.com/news/2007/dec/...