Santa and Jesus: Both are Offensive

Clearly this woman in Warwick, New York is not a Christian, or if she is, she hasn't read her Bible lately.

Sanfordville PTA holds an annual fundraiser this time of year to raise money for other yearly activities. They hold a party, serve food, invite the kids ... it's on a Saturday so if you choose to attend that's your option. The event is called Breakfast With Santa, and the children are invited to have pictures taken with Santa for a nominal fee and that money goes into the PTA treasury.

I'm not clear on how many years the district has done this, but this year, they won't be doing it.

A woman who wishes to remain unnamed (how noble of her) complained that the breakfast is Religious in nature and is discriminatory to people of other faiths.

That parent, who did not wish her name to be used, said she and others in the community were offended by the PTA sponsoring an event geared toward one religion. She said that Santa is a religious figure, a figure that represents Christmas, a Christian holiday, and that a public school, by law, is not allowed to do that. When committee members agreed to change “Breakfast with Santa” to a Winter Wonderland Breakfast, and include Hanukkah traditions, the parent said she felt this still wasn’t fair because it included religious traditions.

“This shouldn’t be just for one person or two person’s religions,” she said. “I wanted to represent all, not just a few.”


Which few? I'd like the people of her community who do not exchange presents on Christmas or during Hanukkah to please stand up.

Last time I checked, The Bible did not make reference to dear old Santa anyway. In fact, I was under the impression that Christian Church's made it a point to stay away from Santa Clause, as he detracts from the overall meaning of the holiday.

I'm disappointed in this. How long before they take Santa out of our shopping malls because he's offensive? How long before you can't decorate outside or within a certain area of a school because it's offensive?

If people took all their energy that they put into fighting stupid causes like this and fought real causes like child abuse, AIDS, poverty in America, or any number of other domestic issues, we'd be a better community. Moving a mythical figure that's only purpose is to bring joy to a child does no one any favors. What's left in his place after you've removed him is empty, meaningless and cold.

So enjoy your "Winter Wonderland Breakfast" Warwick. Next year you'll have to move it to January as having it in December puts it too close to Christmas which is a Holiday. Because, if you give a mouse a cookie...

Granted, Christmas is a holiday that 85% of the country celebrates and that 100% enjoy the benefits of (day off from work). I say if you're really all that offended by it, don't take the day off. And companies, give that as a flex holiday and the rest of us will just use our vacation to celebrate our traditions. The rest of you "i'm so offended by Santa" schmucks, go into work. And don't put up lights, and don't shop at the malls, and basically don't turn on the television. Because I assure you the Charlie Brown Christmas special (which reads directly from the Bible) will be on at least twice. Followed by It's a Wonderful Life which has a heavenly angel in it. The next show on (and these are on the big three, not cable, so anyone can see them) will be Miracle on 34th Street, about a little girl who doesn't believe in Santa or miracles.

So really, if crap like this can get removed from an optional party on a Saturday (really, if you're so offended, DON'T GO. Arrange for a non-denominational, non-confrontational, non-discrimnatory vanilla event for the 4 of you that are offended by Santa. You could probably host it at your house.) Anyway ... if Santa can be taken out of an optional fundraiser, who long is it before Santa and Christ are both relics of our old ways?

Who knew Santa and Jesus would have the same battles to fight?

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