Wishing a spirited “Merry Christmas” to all

While I have long questioned the current regime’s big-brother nanny-state policies - including initiatives to ban pit-bulls, ban junk food in schools; and ban smoking in public places (your car is next) – the latest attempt at de-spiritualizing our vehicles takes the cake. This is one in a long line of schemes to remove any trace of religion from our daily lives.

For those who haven’t heard, Whitby United Church Minister Joanne Sorrill has been granted her vanity licence plate back. Sorrill, who's had the moniker REV JO for almost 20 years, was refused replacement plates initially because the Ministry of Transportation decided "REV" encouraged unsafe driving. Then the Ministry rejected her suggestion of "REVRNDJO," saying it promoted Christianity.

Provincial bureaucrats are instructed to reject plate choices deemed to be racist, sexual, religious, derogatory, or profane.  According to published reports, Ontario issued 26,832 personalized licence plates in 2006 – just 1.063, or under 4 per cent, were rejected.

This recent roller-coaster ride for an unsuspecting reverend attempting to obtain a personalized licence plate underlines the ongoing politically correct merry-go-round that also surfaces at Christmas.

I find it concerning at this spiritual time of year, when governments, businesses and individuals alike bend over backwards to eliminate any trace of religion from the season, replacing it with, “holiday” or “seasonal” sentiments.

As I’ve said before, it's that season again when some who are politically correct trip over themselves in their zeal to be multiculturally inclusive within our ever-increasingly secular and materialistic society.

It was not all that long ago when signs went up asking to keep the “Christ” in Christmas.  Today, political correctness is drastically altering the word “Christmas” itself in an effort to provide a more “inclusive” holiday. Now, sometimes, the fight is keeping the “Christmas” in Christmas

Here and there, Christmas is taking flak. Religious floats are being refused at Santa Claus parades; Christmas symbols are being threatened at some schools; and we have seen Toronto city officials decree the pine at City Hall not a Christmas tree, but a holiday tree. But there is hope - the “Christmas” moniker has since been restored to Toronto City Hall.

Some citizens prefer secular holiday celebrations. That’s their prerogative. But Government isn’t required to take sides in this debate nor should it.

I question why some public officials take the easy way out and surrender public space to a complete secularization of the winter holidays. No tree. No menorah. No manger.

The examples of the secularization of Christmas grow with each year.

The religious roots of this time of year extend back to a manger in Bethlehem, yet now Christmas has become associated more with a mall than a manger. For example, I don’t recall seeing the Nativity Scenes that I remember as a kid.

Some don’t call it the Christmas break – it’s now the winter break or holiday break. Would there even be a winter break without Christmas – I wonder?

Could Christmas pudding soon become a 'holiday pudding'? Are our Christmas stockings to be referred to as “festive long socks”? Do some people actually wish others, “Happy Winter Solstice”?

If we want to preserve the Christmas holidays for tomorrow, public officials today should continue the tradition of displays reflecting the diversity of our society – both religious and non- religious.

Merry Christmas everybody!