A Tea Party Christmas

[Whip Comes Down]

A California activist pushes a ballot intitiative to force schools to play Christmas music.
Is that constitutional?
​

A Tea Party activist and substitute teacher, Merry Hyatt, is trying to get an initiative on next year's California ballot to require schools to play Christmas music. "It's our right to have freedom of worship," Hyatt said. Rob Boston of Americans United for Separation of Church and State said he had "two words" for Hyatt's proposal: "blatantly unconstitutional." Is it wrong to have kids sing Christmas songs in school? (Watch commentary about the Tea Party Patriots' initiative)

http://www.theweek.com/article/index/104042/A_Tea_Party_Christmas
http://ag.ca.gov/cms_attachments/initiatives/pdfs/i827_initiative_09-0030.pdf

 

[Dav]

It is not unconstitutional because Christmas is not, and has never been, a religious holiday. In fact, I celebrate it and I am not even Christian.

Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas because it was too pagan for him.

 

[DarkWizard12]

It is not unconstitutional because Christmas is not, and has never been, a religious holiday. In fact, I celebrate it and I am not even Christian.

Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas because it was too pagan for him.

the only way it could be unconstitutional is if it equates to a government endorsement of religion. Which would be quite a major stretch considering the amount of secular christmas songs.

BTW: Public schools are part of the government and therefore, must submit to the will of the people. If the majority of california wants to force them to play christmas music, they have to play christmas music, period.

Although, it must be noted, I do find it rather ridiculous, there are more serious social battles to fight. This is a non-story. although, I would be tempted to vote for it just to piss off the liberal PC groups that have infiltrated our education system.

 

[Sergeant Stinger1]

It is not unconstitutional because Christmas is not, and has never been, a religious holiday. In fact, I celebrate it and I am not even Christian.

Oliver Cromwell banned Christmas because it was too pagan for him.

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If its not a religious holiday then what is it?

 

[DarkWizard12]

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If its not a religious holiday then what is it?

a national tradition, and one can claim it an international tradition as well.

 

[PeteEU]

a national tradition, and one can claim it an international tradition as well.

Talk about bs. I guess you have to resort to this kind of :spin: to defend the Tea Party and its "actions" regardless of what they are.

 

[DarkWizard12]

Talk about bs. I guess you have to resort to this kind of :spin: to defend the Tea Party and its "actions" regardless of what they are.

Obviously you didn't read the last post. Here, let me quote it.

it must be noted, I do find it rather ridiculous, there are more serious social battles to fight.

Are you trying to somehow say that it is not a tradition?

 

[Grim17]

A California activist pushes a ballot intitiative to force schools to play Christmas music.
Is that constitutional?
​

A Tea Party activist and substitute teacher, Merry Hyatt, is trying to get an initiative on next year's California ballot to require schools to play Christmas music. "It's our right to have freedom of worship," Hyatt said. Rob Boston of Americans United for Separation of Church and State said he had "two words" for Hyatt's proposal: "blatantly unconstitutional." Is it wrong to have kids sing Christmas songs in school? (Watch commentary about the Tea Party Patriots' initiative)

A Tea Party Christmas - THE WEEK
http://ag.ca.gov/cms_attachments/initiatives/pdfs/i827_initiative_09-0030.pdf

I love this quote from the article:

"It's mind boggling that Tea Partiers, who say they favor limited government, would want the government to "force non-Christians to take part" in their religious festivities."

What a crock. This proposal wouldn't force any child to take part in Christmas activities. If you read the proposal, it clearly states

"The parents and guardians of public school children should have the right to decide whether or not their children may hear Christmas music in the classrooms and assemblies at those schools."​

Whether you agree with the proposal or not, it's about giving students a choice, not forcing religion on them.

Again, here's another case of a liberal lying in an attempt to make someone look bad.

Can those on the far left ever have an honest discussion? Or is lying and misrepresenting those on the right, the only chance they have of being seen as relevant?

.

 

[ReverendHellh0und]

furthermore, she is a "Tea party activist"? Why, because the article claims it?

 

[Whip Comes Down]

"The parents and guardians of public school children should have the right to decide whether or not their children may hear Christmas music in the classrooms and assemblies at those schools."​

There's no parental right to decide whether or not children may hear Christmas music in the classrooms and assemblies at those schools. That power is conferred on the government officials who operate the schools

 

[ReverendHellh0und]

There's no parental right to decide whether or not children may hear Christmas music in the classrooms and assemblies at those schools. That power is conferred on the government officials who operate the schools

What? Please rephrase so there is a bit of coherency.

 

[Grim17]

There's no parental right to decide whether or not children may hear Christmas music in the classrooms and assemblies at those schools. That power is conferred on the government officials who operate the schools

Do you like being made a fool of? Or are you so far gone, that your mind simply blocks out what doesn't fit with your agenda?

Here is another excerpt from the proposal. I highlighted the relevant parts for you:

(b) Each public elementary and secondary school shall provide the parent or guardian of a pupil with written notice ofthe presentation or performance of Christmas music in a classroom or assembly at least 21 calendar days before that pupil would be required to be present for the presentation or performance of the Christmas music. The written notice provided to the parent or guardian shall include a tear-off slip or other method for the parent or guardian to inform the school if he or she chooses that the pupil not be present for the presentation or performance of the Christmas music.

(c) A pupil who is not present for the appreciation or performance of Christmas music pursuant to the expressed choice of his or her parent or guardian shall be provided with an appropriate alternative to the arts or social studies subject matter served by the Christmas music in the classroom or the cultural enrichment served by the Christmas music in a school assembly.​

Although that is written in plain, easy to understand English, I'm sure you will still stick to the lie... It's your trademark on this forum.

.

 

[molten_dragon]

A Tea Party activist and substitute teacher, Merry Hyatt, is trying to get an initiative on next year's California ballot to require schools to play Christmas music. "It's our right to have freedom of worship,"

Does anyone else see the inherent contradiction in this statement? If you're requiring schools to play music devoted to a Christian holiday (regardless of how watered down that Christianity has become), you aren't giving anyone 'freedom of worship'. Freedom implies having a choice in the matter.

I have no problems with allowing schools to play Christmas music at Christmas time (just as I have no problems with allowing Hanukkah or Kwanzaa music) but I don't see any reason why it should be required. That's just stupid.