Breaking News - HR 579 - Protect Christmas?!?!

Thursday, December 15, 2005 - The US House of Representatives debates House Resolution 579 - "Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected".

As per The National Jewish Democratic Council:

"This afternoon, 26 House Republicans -- together with the GOP leadership -- will be forcing the full House to vote on whether House members support the "symbols and traditions" of Christmas, and whether they disapprove of the utterly mythical "attempts to ban references to Christmas." Today's roll call vote comes on the heels of a House floor debate held last night regarding H. Res. 579, a resolution "Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected." During the debate, Democratic members asked the Republican author of the resolution, Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R-VA), if she would permit the symbols of Chanukah and other holidays to be included in the protection of the resolution -- and she refused."

Further information about the text of the resolution appear at the Library of Congress - THOMAS system.

Ira Forman - Director of the NJDC had the following comment:
"In this case, House Republicans are adopting the talking points of the most extreme, most divisive far-right elements in today's society -- and making that agenda the work of the people's House. Aside from being a colossal waste of time, it's divisive, it excludes other practices and faiths, and it buys into the conservative fantasy that there's some war against the 95 percent of Americans (according to Gallup) who celebrate Christmas."

It surprises me that I have found no mainstream media coverage of this resolution and the resulting conversation in the House. (If someone has found one - please post!)
I would have thought that perhaps Fox News would have a feature on how the House has "finally dealt with the situation".

I think this has gone too far. It's one thing to clog the media with a debate on the "war against Christmas" - it's quite another to bother taking time from more important issues - like Iraq, the economy (anyone else smell a smokescreen?)- to make legislation protecting a religious holiday observance. Not to mention against the Bill of Rights!?!?! Have they not heard that they "shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"?

Take a look at the listing of co-sponsors of this legislation. If you are from AR, CA, FL, GA, IN, KS, KY, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, OK, PA, SC, TX, or VA, call your elected representatives and tell them this isn't your idea of representative government!

-Emily

Cross-Posted at www.Talk2Action.org