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By GAIL BLUM La Crosse
It is December 2004 A. D. (anno domini, Latin for "in the year of our Lord"). That means we are celebrating the birth of the person (Jesus) who changed our calendar forever. So why is it that almost every card and greeting I receive says "Happy Holidays?"
Webster defines holiday as "Originally, a religious anniversary; now, a day set apart for exemption from labor or for a formal or informal celebration."
If that's the case, why don't we say Happy Holidays on Columbus Day or President's Day? Let me tell you why.
Christmas began with the celebration of Christ's birth. Then legends came of a man in a red suit who handed out gifts to people.
As America became more absorbed in this holiday, consumers were encouraged to buy gifts for people who touch their lives even remotely.
Next came political correctness. Christ in part of a word is offensive so businesses now say Happy Holidays so as not to lose customers.
If we take Christ out of Christmas, what does that really leave? And don't forget the other holidays that have religious connotations, such as St. Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day.
If you want to use the phrase "Happy Holidays," let's use it for all religious holidays so we never offend anyone. Oops, you can't use the word holiday because it also has religious connotations if you go back far enough.
So what can we say?
Happy Commercialism? Not me.
I'll fervently say Merry Christmas.
Don't be quiet about evil
By RODNEY GRIFFING Onalaska, Wis.
The Bible tells us Christians to "speak the truth in love." If I truly love someone, then I would want to warn them of danger. Speaking out against evil that will bring God's judgment is not the same as judging someone.
Judgment involves handing out a punishment, and we as Christians are not the punisher of sins, God is. God's punishment for unbelief is hell (Romans 6:23).
When I say, "You are damned if you don't believe in Jesus," I am hated and called intolerant. This is actually fine with me because Matthew 10:22 says that I will be hated for Jesus' sake.
Plus, it fulfills John 3:19-20, which says that people will hate Jesus because their deeds are evil. As for intolerance, which implies to be quiet about evil, that goes against Mark 16:15-16 that says to preach the Gospel.
The Gospel is the good news that all can be saved (Acts 2:21). If I truly love my neighbor, then I must tell them that they can be saved.
I must also tell them what God calls sin. Homosexuality is a sin according to God (Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:26-28)
This message does not bring peace, however that fulfills Matthew 10:34-39, which says that Jesus did not come to bring peace on this earth.
My purpose as an ambassador of Jesus is not to bring peace at any cost, but to "speak truth in love."
Private agencies have their place
By JERRY HANOSKI La Crosse
The Tribune's Dec. 21 editorial, "It's time to rethink privatization efforts," needs a bit more balance.
The Milwaukee W-2 scandal to which you referred involving Opportunities Industrialization Center of Greater Milwaukee (OIC is a nonprofit agency) is indeed outrageous.
The state, namely the Department of Workforce Development, also shares a responsibility in this scandal for failing to exercise proper oversight, though it should be noted that DWD has since taken assertive corrective action that included transferring much of OIC's W-2 contract to other providers.
What has even been more outrageous in Milwaukee is the county government's multi- million-dollar pension scandal, but county government lives on without reassignment of responsibilities, albeit with huge deficits resulting from the pension fiasco.
Private agencies, specifically hundreds of nonprofit agencies, have had a solid long standing history of being excellent providers of government sponsored services.
One rotten apple should not taint the whole lot.
Most units of government are good providers of services as are most nonprofit agencies. Utilizing private nonprofit providers of services is a good option for government, should government choose that option for whatever reason.
As the executive director of a nonprofit organization that operates the W-2 program in six counties in western Wisconsin, we believe in working hand in glove with government and our books are open to anyone who wishes to see them.
The provision of government-sponsored services can run amuck regardless of who is at the controls, including government. That's why we need oversight.
(Jerry Hanoski is executive director/CEO of Workforce Connections, Inc.)
Keep saying Merry Christmas
By TOM MUNN Sparta, Wis.
Merry Christmas! Now there is something you don't hear much anymore.
Why with the term "Christmas" being unconstitutional, it just isn't correct to say it in public.
The reason that our Founding Fathers put in the Constitution was because they realized the damage to society that could occur if the phrase was left unchecked. We don't even need to discuss the damage Nativity scenes have caused over the years.
It's the First Amendment that calls for the freedom of religion.
I'm sorry.
I misspoke. It is the freedom "from" religion, which is the politically correct term.
Thank goodness for the lawyer's at the ACLU, who finally realized that the separation of church and state "outlaws" Christianity in all its forms. Rather than the 200-year-old assumption that this was placed in the Constitution to prevent government interference in the church. Such as was the reason for the pilgrims coming to America in the first place.
Amendment I — Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified Dec. 15, 1791:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
I wonder how many people have actually read this? I must admit that I am not a lawyer, but I don't see how this prohibits things like nativity scenes, the Ten Commandments, Easter and yes, Merry Christmas.
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