Is the Grinch now going after Thanksgiving?

I couldn't believe the words I read on the sign at my son's school. My wife and I were attending the school's Thanksgiving luncheon. As we were waiting in line to purchase our tickets, there was the sign..."Holiday Lunch." I thought to myself, "You've got to be kidding me." I knew some public schools have an unwarranted C-word (Christmas) phobia, but now are we looking to delete the name of another American holiday - Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is the oldest American holiday. The First Thanksgiving is generally attributed to the Pilgrims in 1621. America's first national Day of Thanksgiving occurred on September 25, 1789. It was the nation's first official act set by Congress after that body completed the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

We already have Christmas censorship in the schools - now is there going to be a Thanksgiving taboo, too? Is anyone willing to say "Enough is enough? We want our American holidays to stay!"

Leadership guru John Maxwell said, "Before you tear down a fence, find out why it was put there in the first place." There is a good reason why Thanksgiving and Christmas have been placed as American holidays and observed for the last 233 years of our existence. Some would argue that America has changed in the last 233 years and so we need to give greater visibility to other's religious holidays and less visibility to our American religious holidays. But sensitivity to other religious expressions can be practiced without selling out Thanksgiving and Christmas - our American holidays.

I sincerely empathize with principals, administrators, and school teachers who are told (usually by uninformed council) that public schools shouldn't mention words like "Thanksgiving" or "Christmas." Here are just five examples of myths that some administrators believe as facts.

Myth No. 1: Students are not allowed to sing religious Christmas carols in public schools. Fact: Students are permitted to sing Christmas carols without offending the Constitution.

Myth No. 2: It is unconstitutional for school officials to refer to a school break as a "Christmas Holiday." Fact: The Supreme Court has acknowledged the government's long-standing recognition of holidays with religious significance, such as Christmas. Congress has proclaimed Christmas to be a legal public holiday.

Myth No. 3: Public schools have to recognize all religious holidays if they recognize Christmas. Fact: A school that has a holiday coinciding with a religious holiday must do so for secular purposes, but that does not impose a legal duty on the school to recognize every other religious holiday.

Myth No. 4: It is constitutional for public schools to ban teachers and students from saying Merry Christmas. Fact: The Supreme Court has stated that teachers and students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." The U.S. Secretary of Education stated: "students therefore have the same right to engage in... religious discussion during the school day as they do to engage in other comparable activity." Teachers have the right to greet students with the words Merry Christmas, in spite of their role as agents of the state. Saying a simple greeting that people commonly use in December does not violate the Establishment Clause.

Myth No. 5 - Public schools cannot display religious symbols. Fact: The display of a nativity scene is constitutional if it is displayed for legitimate secular purposes, such as to depict the origins of the holiday. If a public school is concerned, it is free to display a nativity scene among other forms of religious and secular seasonal expression. (www.sayChristmas.org).

I'm not asking public schools to teach Christianity (although the Ten Commandments on the walls or in the halls of our schools could only help). I am asking that the Webster Dictionary definitions of American federal holidays like "Thanksgiving" and "Christmas" not be ignored, renamed, or deleted. That's not teaching American Christianity... that's teaching American history!

The "politically correct" crowd (the vocal minority) will continue to rewrite what has been revered in America unless grassroots patriots (the silent majority) take a stand and fight for America's values. This column is one way I am expressing "Enough is enough! I want our American holidays to be observed and stay!"

Remember something fellow Americans - America is our country! It is our land and our values! This American lifestyle has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought, fought, and died for this land. Unlike some in government leadership today, I am proud to be an American. I still pledge allegiance to the American flag. I am unapologetic of our national motto, "In God We Trust" (90% of Americans say they believe in God). When will we stop apologizing for what we believe in and what we value? There does come a moment in the life of every nation when that nation can tolerate and compromise and then lose what made that nation a great nation. How close are we to that moment?

Therefore, I hope these words will be a catalyst for getting rid of the sanctions, restrictions, and suppression of these two great American holidays.

I leave you with this thought:

'Twas the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not an American was complaining,

Nor taking a stand.

The PC Police had taken Christmas away,

The reason for it - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,

About shepherds and wise men and angels and things.

"It might offend feelings"; the teachers would say,

So, we'll call just call Christmas a 'Holiday.'

The Grinch tried to steal Christmas,