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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2006 WWW.KANSAN.COM
EDITORIAL: The holiday season is a time for people of all faiths to celebrate, but the 'War on Christmas' threatens to drive everyone apart. See kansan.com for more opinions and Free for All comments
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
PAGE 9A
OUR VIEW
Ceasfire needed in 'War on Christmas'
The holiday season is here and has again brought with it a phenomenon that is quickly becoming an annual American tradition. This time of year draws legions of devoted followers into a passionate battle for holiday one-upmanship. This battle, generated and stoked by the Bill O'Reillys of the world, pits believers against both nonbelievers and believers of other stripes, all in an effort to determine which religious tradition will reign supreme in the public
eye.
The so-called "War on Christmas" is a frustrating development, as it often leads to anger at what should be a joyous time of year, but one that gives our nation the opportunity to discuss our freedoms of speech and religion. Much of the controversy derives from a simple question: Can state-funded displays of holiday decoration favor one religion over another, or even acknowledge a religious bent? Must they cater to every timely
religious tradition, or is it acceptable for a display to focus on Christmas, which has become so intertwined with American culture that it often seems areligious or wholly commercial?
Proponents of religious displays point, often correctly, to the strong Judeo-Christian tradition in this country. They also decry the use of "Happy Holidays" in place of "Merry Christmas", which is peculiar given the three distinct holidays in a monthlong span (Christmas, Hanukkah,
Kwanzaa). The opponents of religious displays point, also often correctly, to the equally strong tradition of separating religious matters from state matters. They are uncomfortable with tax dollars being used to promote, however harmlessly, one sect over another.
So what can be done to bridge the gap between the two sides? Few things are capable of fostering more passion or anger than religious controversies. The most important idea for both sides
to remember is tolerance of the other. We have a great tradition of religious freedom in this country; indeed, it may be our oldest and most cherished tradition. However, we also have a history of largely keeping religion out of state affairs. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, but it also guarantees freedom from religion, at least the state-sponsored kind. This wonderful constitutional provision allows us to celebrate our faith, but rightly keeps the
state from forcing any faith onto unwilling participants.
This holiday season, let us strive to find common ground between the two sides. December is a time of celebration for many Americans, and it would be a shame for that spirit to be lost to dogmatic battles and religious strife.
McKay Stangler for the editorial board.
>>> LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Open discussion of LGBT issues important
I am 43 years old. By the age of four I knew that I had been born with the wrong anomy, but because of society's prejudices and bias I hid and lived the life that was expected of me until it finally took its toll.
I have made many mistakes in my life while hiding who I really am. By the time I was 16 I had attempted suicide twice, once by trying to overdose and then by overdosing and slitting my writs.
Only the second one was noticed because of the slits on my writs. To this day you can still clearly see the scars.
I came to my senses and cleaned up, until 2004, when I attempted suicide again. I thought I had taken enough pills to kill at least two of me, but my body must have rejected it. I woke up 20 hours later just feeling like I had a good high going.
It's necessary to talk about
For me, this was a sign that I couldn't leave until I was open and honest with everyone. I'm still trying to get my life together, but at least I'm being who I am.
Call 864-0500
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There is a blizzard and we have
school
I hate you, KU. I hate you.
To my best friend's hot roommate: You make spending the night worthwhile.
Apparently the world has to be ending for KU to cancel classes.
Dear campus police: Please drive with your headlights on. Everyone else is doing it.
You know we should have a snow day when a flight of stairs
There has been ice since the world was created and the best defense we have is sand?
LGBT issues with everyone, so that those who have no understanding gain knowledge and for those who continually hide because of the fear they have due to lack of understanding by others. To those who have no understanding, rest assured: being gay, lesbian or transsexual isn't contagious. We are simply living our lives for who we are and have no interest in trying to convert anyone. We simply want to live as happy a life as anyone else, in a society that claims freedom for all.
For those of you who are still hiding your true nature, whether you decide to continue to hide or not, be true to yourself. Don't make the mistake of trying to conform in a diverse world.
Awareness brings knowledge. Knowledge brings understanding. Understanding promotes compassion and tolerance. It's a diverse world, and hating differences in others only brings hate back to you
Dee Tate Evansville, Ind.
COLOR
Somebody get the bus driver a
al families. Millions of families celebrate Thanksgiving, but each one has quirks and specialties to make the holiday exceptional for them. While I think it's good to share the intricacies of your culture (I also listened as my friend detailed her Guy Fawkes Night experiences and told of buying paper poppies on Armistice Day). I also don't think we really need a reason to do what we do.
Maybe Spangles is really smart about making bad commercials. They get a lot of free publicity.
inside has ice on it.
If you are going to a basketball game, you wear blue. No other
Kramer is not racist
beer.
I'm blaming Mangino for our loss today.
They are called Uggs for a reason.
Jonathan Kealing editor
864454 or bkamakkan.com
Erick R. Schmidt managing editor
864454 or eschmidtikkan.com
Gabriela Souza managing editor
864454 or guouzaikkan.com
Frank Tankard opinion editor
864492 or frankatkan.com
Has anyone else noticed that Brandon Rush looks like J.R. Gid.
I don't even think KU has the best basketball team in Kansas
dens
eason
Why can't we just play basketball?
anymore
Rush: The NBA likes players who
》TALK TO US
al families. Millions of families celebrate Thanksgiving, but each one has quirks and specialties to make the holiday exceptional for them. While I think it's good to share the intricacies of your culture (I also listened as my friend detailed her Guy Fawkes Night experiences and told of buying paper poppies on Armistice Day). I also don't think we really need a reason to do what we do.
Frank Tankard opinion editor
864-4924 or ftkankard@kansan.com
al families. Millions of families celebrate Thanksgiving, but each one has quirks and specialties to make the holiday exceptional for them. While I think it's good to share the intricacies of your culture (I also listened as my friend detailed her Guy Fawkes Night experiences and told of buying paper poppies on Armistice Day). I also don't think we really need a reason to do what we do.
al families. Millions of families celebrate Thanksgiving, but each one has quirks and specialties to make the holiday exceptional for them. While I think it's good to share the intricacies of your culture (I also listened as my friend detailed her Guy Fawkes Night experiences and told of buying paper poppies on Armistice Day). I also don't think we really need a reason to do what we do.
Lindsey Shirac, sales manager
864-4462 or lshirac@kansan.com
Dave Ruigh, associate opinion editor
864-4924 or druigh@kansan.com
Kyle Hoedl; business manager
864-4014 or khoedljkansan.com
Malcolm Gibson, general manager, news adviser 864.7667 or malcolm@jksu.edu
Jennifer Weaver, sales and marketing adviser
864-7666 or jweaver@kansan.com
Grant Snider/KANSAN
Kelsey Hayes is a Lenaxa sophomore in journalism and political science. She is studying abroad this year in Reading, United Kingdom.
COMMENTARY
We don't have to defend our traditions, even if some of them defy logic. Not observing the historical events down to the barest detail does nothing to diminish the meaning and value of our holidays and traditions. We can slice up our turkey (which I sadly didn't get this year) and cheer on our sports teams, knowing that by doing so we're uniquely American, and that's good enough.
Holiday traditions don't need reasons to exist
"So, what exactly is Thanksgiving?"
It was Thursday night — Thanksgiving night — and rather than brave the dorm-prepared curry, one of my English friends and I ordered a pizza and relaxed in my room. I jokingly said that this was my Thanksgiving dinner for this year, which prompted the question — what is Thanksgiving?
I thought about how to answer.
Should I actually use historical anecdotes and bore her to death?
Should I use lotty rhetoric? I decided to be brutally honest.
She nodded, figuring that it was just one more "American" tradition. It still bothered me, though, that an American institution could be accurately, summed up like that. I'm not referring only to Thanksgiving, but to any number of national, educational or personal traditions. How long do we have to do something before we forget why we're doing it?
"Basically, we all get together with our families, eat way too much and then pass out from all the tryptophan in the turkey, in front of a (American) football game playing on television."
As I thought of those two examples, I wondered whether it was important to know the why of traditions. Is Thanksgiving somehow less meaningful if Americans don't know the actual history? I personally don't think so, if only because the real history is pretty depressing. Do thousands of screaming basketball fans wearing their usual anti-Mizzou garb really give a flip about Missouri-Kansas relations during the Civil War? I doubt it.
Our traditions are our own, and they are what make us unique, as a school, as a country and as individu-
When asked what it was about Missouri that made them our rivals.
My friend also inquired about the University of Kansas basketball schedule that I had tacked up, and asked me about various important games. I mentioned that Missouri was an especially important game because they are our principal rivals (I used the analogy of Chelsea FC and Manchester United so shed know the significance).
Most Americans, for example, know that Thanksgiving refers to the goodwill harvest festival shared between the Pilgrims and Wampanoags at Plymouth. What they might not know is that who Americans call "Pilgrims," the English called "scum of society." Add to that the rampant starvation, disease and hostilities in the new colony, and one wonders what they really had to be thankful for. Oh, right ... another day without succumbing to scurvy.
I actually reached back to the Civil War and told the ancestral story of "jayhawking." Lawrence's history as an abolitionist stronghold, Quantrill's raid on the city and Missouri as a pro-slavery "bushwhacker" state. All she was looking for during that speech was a good reason why Missouri was such a big rival. Honestly, apart from historical significance, I couldn't really think of one ... except that they've always been there.
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General questions should be directed to the editor at editor@kansan.com
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EDITORIAL BOARD
1
Jonathan Kealing, Erick R. Schmidt, Gabrielle Souza, Franz Tankard, Dave Ruigh, Steve Lynn, McKay Stangler and Lois Mora
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