Macon, GA

Notes from the Georgia Senate

By State Sen. Chip Pearson

As a young boy and still today, one of my favorite times of the year is Christmas and the whole Christmas season. One thing we always looked forward to was two classic TV programs that would be on every December – A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Grinch who stole Christmas. I believe they are still run in most areas, and we have them on DVD, so I can watch them with my family today. Everyone knows the story of how the Grinch was a grumpy old fuddy duddy who did not like anything about Christmas, and was bound and determined to see that it was done away with once and for all. Well my friends, the Grinch and his henchmen are no longer confined to the television. They are alive, armed and actively engaged in doing all they can to eliminate the Christmas holiday and any reference to Christmas or the one for whom it is named, Jesus Christ the Son of God. Eliminate Christmas? Certainly this is a crisis of common sense!

Political Correctness run amuck

We cannot have a holiday without it celebrating and honoring someone or some thing. We officially recognize presidents, veterans, Independence Day, Martin Luther King Day and others as official holidays. Some of us have a mini-holiday on our own birthdays. We recognize Christmas for the birth of Christ and for centuries that has been accepted by those of the Christian faith, non-Christians and those of other faiths. But in the past decade or so, there has been an increasing effort by the politically correct crowd, marketers, intellectuals and academics (you know who you are) to do away with any reference to Christmas or the Christmas holiday. “Winter holiday” is ok with them, although I don’t know of any other “season” we have a holiday for. This crowd is also fine with “Winter break” as it relates to schools. But when it comes to the proper name of this holiday, Christmas, we can’t go there in all too many circumstances these days. We don’t want the government to recognize a particular religion at all (separation of church and state types), let alone to the exclusion of any other religions (the “if I can’t have mine too you can’t have yours either” crowd). Certainly, we have left the inmates to run the asylum with this issue.

What does the law say?

Our Constitution says that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” This can be found in Amendment 1 of the Bill of Rights. The purpose of this amendment was to protect the right of every citizen to worship freely, and keep an Iran-like situation from ever happening in this country. It is not meant to keep the government from recognizing religion or religious traditions. In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000 upheld a decision in Ganulin v. United States that said, “The establishment of Christmas Day as a legal public holiday does not violate the Establishment Clause, because it has a valid secular purpose.” Now, we may not like the basis for the decision, and may argue that Christmas has indeed become too commercialized. But it is interesting to note that the Court had no problem with the name of the holiday, or for the one it is named for.

What did our Presidents say?

President Calvin Coolidge once said, “Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think on these things, there will be born in us a Savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world.” This certainly is not something that would be said by a President talking about Winter break.

President George Washington said that, “It is impossible for man to govern others without God and the Bible.” Now, imagine if a President said that today. The notion of America being a Christian nation would result in a response from many of “Bah Humbug!” But America was founded on Christian values, and it was founded by men and women who knew from where they came and what they left, for only the opportunity of freedom and the right to honor God in the way they ascribed. To think or act or do differently is to be ignorant of history, tradition and common sense.

What did Linus say?

A Charlie Brown Christmas is indeed a classic. In it, Charlie Brown wrestles all the things that children and adults all wrestle with in our hectic holiday schedules. After several defeats and attempts to make Christmas as others say it should be, it’s quiet, thoughtful Linus who reminds Charlie Brown and all of us, what the true meaning of Christmas is – “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shown round about them and they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them, fear not for I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace and goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:8-14).

What should I say?

So, let’s see, Luke got it, Washington got it, Coolidge got it, Linus got it and even old slow Charlie Brown got it in the end. So why can’t we get it and keep it? Yes, Christmas is a day of celebration and recognition of the birth of Jesus Christ, son of God and our savior. That is the true meaning of Christmas. All the other good things about this celebration and time have come from that: food, time with family, gifts for ones we love and even helping out those who are less fortunate. We as Americans can all join together and enjoy these traditions regardless of our faith, but with reverence, respect and remembrance for the “reason for the season.” So, tell the next person you see “Merry Christmas” and don’t worry that the Grinches will frown. You are the beneficiary of the joy and blessing, because you have the true spirit and meaning of Christmas in you. It’s proper, historical, traditional, legal and oh yes, it’s common sense.

May the blessing of Christmas be with you and your family. It is an honor to serve you in the General Assembly. Merry Christmas!

Please feel free to contact Sen. Chip Pearson at his office in Atlanta at 404.656.9221 or by email at chip@team51.org.

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