Imagine activating a live stream of C-SPAN 1 only to discover a debate on a resolution that protects the symbols of Christmas from various "attacks." And imagine having a Jewish man from New York explain how this bill is discriminatory, asking the resolution's sponsor to consider the sanctity of other holidays' symbols. But the sponsor, a certain representative named JoAnn Davis from Virginia, stands rigidly before her microphone and utters as if she were an automaton: "But those symbols are not under attack; what is under attack are candy canes and Christmas lights."
Join me in the extended body.
Another Jewish Representative from New York tries to explain to this possessed woman that the resolution's language, because it does not acknowledge other religious traditions, implies some symbols are more worthy of protection than others. But she disappears from the floor. The man who speaks on her behalf, a certain Porter from Nevada, then states that the resolution cannot be modified, as the problem of iconoclasm only pertains to symbols of Christmas.
This is not fiction. In fact, it just occurred on the House floor. The crisis manufactured by Fox News has actually precipitated legislation to be voted on later tonight or tomorrow. Read the following:
Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis introduces sense of Congress supporting references to Christmas
Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis today introduced H. Res. 579, a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected, and that references to Christmas should be supported. This measure, which is non-binding and does not carry the force of law, simply states Congressional support for traditional references to Christmas that are being eradicated from the public dialogue.
"There has been an ongoing effort by retailers and many media outlets to slowly eradicate references to Christmas and the symbols and traditions that come along with it from public dialogue," said Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis. "Common sense has been hijacked by political correctness, and the Christmas Season has become a vague, generic `holiday season' spanning from Thanksgiving to New Year's Day, representing nothing and celebrating anything. December 25th is the federally recognized day known as Christmas, but retail chains across the country have banned their employees from wishing people a Merry Christmas. As if it could not get more ridiculous, the Christmas tree has now become a holiday tree. This is political correctness run amok. No one should feel like they have done something wrong for wishing someone a Merry Christmas," added Davis.
"My resolution is a simple sense of Congress defending Christmas and its symbol and traditions. It is a unified statement supporting references to Christmas, and disapproving of attempts to ban these references. The traditions, symbols and heritage of Christmas cannot be the next victim of political correctness," said Davis. "This is a selective assault on religious free speech, which is a fundamental right. Celebrating Christmas is not a violation of separation of church and state. The Framers intended that the First Amendment to the Constitution would prohibit the establishment of religion, not prohibit any mention of religion or reference to God in civic dialog. Who would have thought that we would live in a society where the display of Santa Claus and the mentioning of a Christmas tree would bring out the speech police?" added Davis.
"Efforts to morph Christmas into this generic 'winter celebration' go beyond the secularization of the day," said Davis. "Santa effectively took the Christ out of Christmas years ago, but this new effort looks to replace Christmas and even its secular symbols with the celebration of nothing. Christmas symbols symbolize Christmas, and Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Christ. Therefore, the purge of Christmas is the goal. This resolution supports Christmas and defends the heritage and symbols that represent it," added Davis.
Yes, this JoAnn Davis introduced H.Res. 579 onto the floor this evening, and the YEAs and NAYs have been requested. And the bill will not consider other holidays; only the symbols of Christmas are to be protected from the iconoclasm of what they call "political correctness." Christian hegemony is to become an implicit law, a frightening and very dangerous precedent.
This JoAnn Davis must be vilified. Here is her contact information:
Website
Washington, DC Address:
1123 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4261
Fax: 202-225-4382
District Office Address:
Peninsula
4904-B George Washington Memorial Highway
Yorktown, VA 23692
Phone: 757-874-6687
Fax: 757-874-7164
Fredericksburg
4500 Plank Road
Suite 105-A
Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Phone: 540-548-1086
Fax: 540-548-1658
Middle Peninsula/Northern Neck
508 Church Lane
Tappahannock, VA 22560
Phone: (804) 443-0668
Fax: (804) 443-0671