This year the Chattanooga Downtown Partnership will present "Winter Days & Lights" instead of "Christmas on the River." I believe that Christ is
the reason for the season and Christmas is what we are celebrating,
not winter. Therefore, I will keep my politically correct money in my
pocket and stay home.

To all the sponsors, I will not be patronizing your businesses or buying any of your products, and I hope other people who believe in Christmas will do the same. Political correctness has gone too far, and I for one am going to take a stand.

The Constitution says "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;" What that means is, we have the right to have Christmas. It insures our freedom "of" religion, not freedom "from" religion. I would like to know who decided to take Christmas out of Christmas on the River and The Christmas Light Illumination?

Maybe we should all call the sponsors and Chattanooga Downtown Partnership and ask them to restore Christmas in Chattanooga.

Charles Davis

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First off, let me say that I am in no way trying to offend anyone, but if you expect me to be "politically correct" about Christmas you are barking up the wrong tree. In the past 61 Christmas seasons I have run the gambit from believing in everything that has to do with this time of the year. It seems that what some want are to take the whole idea of Christmas and trash it..take the celebration of Jesus Christ and do away with it totally.

I have absolutly no problem with what anyone believes in..or doesn't believe for that matter, but when you are "offended" when the word Christmas is mentioned and you want it banned for some reason that offends me. I will admit that the meaning of Christmas has taken a turn from its true meaning, but banning the use of the word is just totally stupid.

I actually know first hand of someone that refused a Christmas bonus simply because it had Merry Christmas written on the check. They also wanted the playing of Christmas music banned in their workplace along with the removal of a Christmas tree in the lobby of the business. There were over one hundred other workers that had absolutly no problem with anything, but this one person actually went and talked to a lawyer about being "offended" and wanted things done their way. Luckly the lawyer just told them to deal with their issues and pay the lady as they left.

Growing up we always had a small Nativity set up which my parents had made. We were told from a very young age that the meaning of Christmas was not gifts and Santa but the birth of Jesus Christ. My wife and I have always tried to instill that same meaning to our children as well as our grandchildren. Our house has Christmas lights and a Christmas tree. We play Christmas music. We will go to Christmas On The River (even though they have changed the name, it will always be that to us), and on Christmas morning we will open our Christmas presents.

If you have been paying attention you will notice that I have in no way been "politicaly correct" on this issue and don't say you weren't warned. I am sure that there are way more people that are happy with the Christmas season than whatever else is considered to be "politicaly correct" these days...even if the ACLU stands behind those looking for a change. Trust me..if you come around me complaining about Christmas you just may find my size ten and a half Christmas boot some place the sun don't shine.

Craig Collier

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Dear Mr. Davis and Mr. Collier,
Before you dismiss me as some poor Godless soul, let me assure you that I feel God’s presence everyday in my life. As a psychologist, I strongly believe that God works through me and provides care that I could not on my own. That being said, I found both your perspectives a little troubling. I work with many teenagers and the 20-somethings (and sometimes older), who don’t believe in God because of the way they see “Christians” behave.

With regard to boycotting the downtown Christmas celebration, please understand that the city attorneys (and likely most large business attorneys) advise against using “Christmas” because there are so many people primed to sue. Sadly, in these economic times, a lawsuit is a very likely a risk the city simply can’t afford to take. Do you want your tax dollars spent on education or paying for a lawsuit?

I like Mr. Collier’s approach to this – which is simply to ignore the name change and celebrate it as you want – full of Christmas spirit. And, Mr. Collier, I agree with everything you said, with the exception of the Santa boot to the assumed location.

And to Mr. Davis, I have to ask – what would Jesus do? Did Jesus only “hang out” with others who believed as he did? Of course not. He went to those who needed him most (even though they might have denied that) and tried to “show them the way.” He did not act by staying away from (or boycotting) non-believers, rather he tried to model what living on the right path could do for the body, mind and soul. So please, if you come across a “non-believer” – please try to understand that they are simply lost…and might need some modeling of what Christianity is all about – love.

Sandra Kilpatrick, PhD

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The reason for the season is the birth of Jesus Christ, hence the term Christ-mas. If you don't like that, I'm sorry, you can't re-write history. I think it is an absolute disgrace that the Chattanooga Partnership has buckled to small interest groups by changing the name of "Christmas on the River" to whatever. I too plan to boycott all the sponsors of this event as soon as I determine who they are.

I think every church in Chattanooga needs to rally their congregations to boycott these sponsors, send emails and call, the Chattanooga Partnership, and all of our politicians that stand silent on this change. We need to demand that the name be changed back. When sponsor's pocketbooks are affected, perhaps they will not support such blatant anit-Christmas prejudice. Without Christ you just have Santa and I'm afraid he's not going to be able to help you that much.

Ronnie Land
ronnieland@comcast.net

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I am a member of a rich religious history that is steeped in tradition and has been around for thousands of years. I am a member of a tradition that claims Jesus as a member. However, the tradition I am part of does not acknowledge Christmas. As you can probably guess, I am Jewish.

Mr. Davis was correct when he quoted the Constitution as saying “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion….” A natural extension of this means that the government should not favor one religion over another. The “Winter Days and Lights” event entails more than just a Christmas tree sitting in the lobby of a private business or a Nativity scene on a neighbor’s lawn. We are talking about a large public event that should be open to the entire community. If this is the case, can I not be allowed to bring my family to take part in the festivities without being forced to participate in a religious tradition in which I don’t subscribe?

Mr. Collier, I understand that Christians are the majority in Chattanooga, and “there are more people that are happy with the Christmas season than whatever else is considered to be ‘politically correct’ these days.” I would like to think that I am not asking anyone to be politically correct, but rather simply asking for the citizens of Chattanooga to be welcoming and respectful of all traditions, not just Christianity.

Mr. Collier, I respect your views about Jesus as the Messiah and your reverence in celebrating His birth. I am not asking you to change your views; I am merely asking you to also respect mine. After all, a significant part of Jesus’ teaching is love and respect for others. I am not sure that you are following Christian teachings by threatening someone with your “ten and a half Christmas boot” if that person expresses an opinion to you on the divinity of Jesus that doesn’t line up with your own.

I am proud of the Downtown Partnership for taking this step in making the holiday event welcoming to all Chattanoogans, not just those who subscribe to Christianity.

John Lennox
Chattanooga

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This is Christmas, why would you try to change the way that we the people have enjoyed Christmas by changing the words that make Christmas on the river to winter days? What is that and what does it stand for? I hope you lose all your sponsors.

Rhonda Loach

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Mr. Lenox, you are wrong. America was founded on Christian principles as a Christian country, with the freedom to choose and worship the religion of one's choice. As a Jew, I appreciate the fact that in America, I don't have to wear a yellow star on my coat, or worry about who knows that I am Jewish. But, that doesn't mean that I must be shielded from a display of the majority religion. No one is forcing me to listen to it, no one is forcing me to convert to it.

Growing up, my school sang Christmas carols - and it was my choice to sing along - or not.

Your argument "A natural extension of this means that the government should not favor one religion over another" does not hold water. Christianity is the foundation of America, it is the religion of America and should be favored - but the founders of this country were wise enough to make sure that all religions were welcome and that no one was forced to become a Christian.

I would truly like to see the nativity scene up around City Hall and other places in Chattanooga. Not because I like looking at it - or believe it, but because I know that it means our country is getting back to it's roots of one of the features that made America great - strong belief in one's ideals without requiring them to be followed by someone else.

The Downtown Partnership holiday event has always been welcoming to everyone, removing the reason for the holiday is disingenuous at best and kowtowing to a few at its worst.

Gregg Juster
Chattanooga

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I wish you people who feel you're indignantly barking and biting at the feet of Jesus would give it a rest this year. It gets so old. Do you think Jesus is in favor of lights, decorations, gluttony and materialism? Are you imagining Jesus is gratified you're going to keep your bucks in your pocket? Are you imagining Jesus is insulted that his profile is not up in blinking lights? Do you think Jesus cares?

If you don't think Jesus cares, why should you? If you do think Jesus cares, see a shrink. If you think the city and the rest of us care what you think and do, you are wrong. Go look up "self-righteous" and eat a turkey leg.

David Saluk
aluk22@yahoo.com

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Some perspective about Christmas: Mr. Lennox, are you OK with changing the name of Rosh Hoshanna to "Celebrating Life?" Or how about making Yom Kippur the "Festival of Prayer and Repentance"" And our Muslim neighbors: how about changing Rammadan to a non-exclusionary "Month of Fasting and Worship?" Or instead of Eid al-Adha, how about calling it "Ibrahim's Day?"

You know, so people of other faiths wouldn't feel so "excluded" from the celebrations?

But that's ridiculous, isn't it? Those are specifically Jewish and Muslim holy days, aren't they? Why should Jews and Muslims be asked to toss away thousands of years of their culture and history in order to accommodate people who have little or no regard for that history?

Why, then, must Christians do so? That Christmas has strayed so far from its true meaning doesn't alter the historical fact that it is a Christian holiday. Yet the nature of the Christian faith is that everyone, of whatever beliefs or none at all, are always welcome to join in that celebration, if even socially.

If the failure of most Christians to live out their faith means our history and traditions must be forfeited at the altar of the politically correct and perpetually offended, then Jews and Muslims beware. If this can happen to the faith that is so entwined with the founding of this nation, do you think your faiths and traditions are untouchable? Christians used to think that, too.

Paul E. Scates
Chattanooga

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I find myself agreeing with bits and pieces from each opinion presented. I think the words that most hit home with me were those asking what if the names of Jewish and Muslim holy days were changed to generic "winter festival" names. How would the Jewish and Muslim communities feel about that? Then again, while I and other Christians I know invite others, regardless of faith, to come to our church's Christmas play and to our homes for holiday get togethers I have never been invited to attend a holy day celebration by a Jewish acquaintance or a Muslim. I've always gotten the feeling that they hold their holy celebrations close to their hearts and don't want any Christians coming in and mucking it up. Could they have a point?

Maybe if we Christians held the birth of Christ as the precious gift it was/is then we wouldn't have Black Friday and Cyber Monday being stuffed down our throats. Maybe every other ad on TV wouldn't be the biggest and best sale ever. Maybe our children would know and appreciate Christmas for what it is and what it represents for us as Christians.

Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ and ultimately our salvation. No one, no city council and no ad agency will ever change that for my family. At first I was angry about all of this, about the city changing the name, about the city not wanting to put up the nativity scene last Christmas, but then I went to church last night. My pastor simply reminded us that Christ would just turn the other cheek. He would not get angry and seek revenge. So for me and my family, we have a Christmas tree, Christmas gifts, sing Christmas carols and will continue to celebrate the birth of Christ.

As for you the people that are trying to take Christ out of our lives, I will pray for you.

Sally Davis
Harrison

* * *

Mr. Davis,

How dare you tell me I do not have freedom "from" religion. People
like you have been trying to cram their religion down my throat since
I was a kid, and I am sick of it. It is implicit that freedom "of"
religion means freedom "from" it. You are free from Judaism and Islam,
and I am free of your god.

Considering your holier-than-thou attitude I am pleased that you are
so upset with the name change to "Winter Days & Lights" instead of
"Christmas on the River." If you'll do a little research you'll find
that the early christians perverted the pagan winter solstice
celebration into their Christmas. It is fitting the pagans get it
back.

Ike Conn

* * *

If Christians are so concerned with Christ being taken out of
Christmas then they should celebrate the holiday by spending weeks
worshipping Jesus and reflecting on his teachings while only shopping
and decorating for a few hours instead of the other way around.

Hayley Roberson
Chattanooga