“Our coins bear the words 'In God We Trust'. We take the oath of office asking His help in keeping that oath. And we proclaim that we are a nation under God when we pledge allegiance to the flag. But we can't mention His name in a public school or even sing religious hymns that are nondenominational. Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel and reindeers, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a teacher would answer if a student asked why it was called Christmas.”

I love Reagan

In most part, poor choices to rest the principle upon but, the overall sentiment rates 5 stars. Who's coins? Most all oaths are breached all most immediately upon individual volition. Though I happen to personally like the pledge, only a very few comprehend what under God in that setting means, etc., etc., etc.

Yes politicians have been busy trying to force the christian religion on the entire population. They have and continuing to take public funds to prop up the religious institutions that do not want to pay their own expenses but instead line up at the public money $$$$ trough. Grossly dishonest, but then there is a long history of unethical behavior. The religious leaders have long lined up with the powerful and dishonest to pursuit of support for their power and wealth. For both "stealing does pay" and they have no fear of any "Final Judgment" that is what they feed to their "sheep"!

Keep your religion out of government. Practice whatever your personal religion is but not as part of government. If God-talk in govenrment is forbidden by the rules it menas govenrment education without godtalk follows the rules. The Constitution forbids religious tests and oath's because it is too easy for the leaders of faith to conspire with the leaders of force to impose religion on everyone. Forbid it almighty god.

If a tree was allowed in a schoolroom, it would probably be called a holiday tree or some such name. As to what a teacher would say if asked why it was called Christmas, I doubt that the average teacher would even know.

Amen to Ronaldus Magnus. Our nation was founded by men of faith, based on the laws of faith, and entrusted faithfully to God.

Willard, please help us out. What politicians (individually or in concert) have been trying to force the Christian religion on the entire population and by what means are they implementing the force (what force). What public funds are propping up what religious institutions that do not want to pay their own expenses? I would suggest that God and Christianity in general are being outlawed in America. (jim's holiday tree as one example- Boy Scouts being judicially determined to be a religious institution, disallowing them to camp on government property - such as military bases as another example)

First off, is there any mention of a Christmas celebration in the Bible? There is not. The Puritans actually acted to cancel Christmas. So, Christmas is then irrelevant to the Christian faith. Also Reagan has a lot of audacity.Journalist Allan Nairn wrote that Reagan was responsible for "One Of The Most Intensive Campaigns Of Mass Murder In Recent History". What grounds does he have for invoking Christianity! He is just another war-mongering Neo-Con!

Another naive statement - unfortunately he never did his home-work - the birth of Jesus has never been verified, that is of course if he was ever existed. Christmas is a PAGAN FESTIVAL dude. Happy Holidays

Regan had some problem with nuanced thinking. Robert I generally respect you Bud but the existence of the Rabbi or teacher from Galilee know as Jesus has been documented and proven in so many ways, not that there were not some fictions also developed along the way. A message so powerful as the Christian one had to have a start. To doubt Jesus you would have to also doubt the apostles and secular Roman history of the time. Do you question that the founder of Buddhism or Confucianism ever existed? Christianity is stronger in America because it is free of political meddling in the secular schools and elsewhere. A Norwegian friend was surprised by the American religious scene and commented to me "Wow in America the People run the churches, in my country they are run by the government." A Hungarian sister-in-law said, "There are so many temploms (churches) here maybe that is why the American people are so happy and optimistic." Mike I again don't know what you are smoking because your sentiments are at total variance with my two friends above. May the separation of chruch and state continue is my prayer.

Mark, what? Because the word celebration specifically is not mentioned, is that what you are talking about? It is probably all in how you define the word celebration. I guess that whole multitude of praising angels, shepherds glorifying and praising, and wise men / kings / and magistrates giving gifts thing was not in the same league with disco balls and popping a cork on the bubbly. AND, though Easter is more indicative of Christianity, that small sect of believers, organizing under the title Puritans, does not actually speak for the complete body of believers. I for one enjoy celebrating the incarnation of humanity's Christ.

Waffler, how is declaring the Boy Scouts a religious institution and not allowing them to camp on government property at total variance with your 2 friends. It is an example of your friends situation and a national establishment of religion. Only those organizations that profess no God can camp on government ground.

Robert, good point, and the Holocaust has never been verified either. NOT!

I have never had a problem with saying Merry Christmas to anyone no matter what their religious persuasion. And Jesus can be a myth, too, it doesn't change anything for me -- it doesn't take away anything from his lessons and examples. I do trust the process of life that is beyond the control of us tiny humans -- call it what you like, I do not think anyone can accurately define the 'God' in which 'We' trust anyway!

well said Archer

Reagan must be rolling in his grave right now with what destruction Obama has caused with his socialistic policies. God, I've give anything to have Reagan as President right now..

True LisaG.

The Constitution does not forbid the belief in an Almighty God! It actually encourages THE belief in the Judeo-Christian God of the Bible. Though the Founding Fathers had narrow, but diverse beliefs doctrinally, they believed that the United States of America was formerd out of Divine Providence. To deny that is to believe a lie and remain willfully ignorant. Michael Ganoe True Conservative Patriot

"In God We Trust" first appeared on our coins in 1864, and "Under God" was only added to the pledge in 1954. You religious folks can try to act like those phrases were there from the beginning but they weren't. this nation was not meant to be a Christian, or even a religious nation. period. ever heard of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution? not only does it give freedom to worship whoever you want, it forbids "the establishment of a national religion by the Congress or the preference of one religion over another, non-religion over religion, or religion over non-religion." see the part that says "religion over non-religion?" yep. good night.

Our founders would be appalled at how their direct and explicit words that they debated over so carefully have been warped and twisted.  Freedom OF religion has been corrupted to supposedly mean freedom FROM religion--a personal choice their intent certainly allowed but the practice of one's choice of faith--even in public was also not one they or government prohibited, even in the halls of gov't.  In fact, services were held in gov't buildings on Sundays and prayer opened gov't sessions.  

We need a separation of school and state.

Whether Jesus ever existed or not, I have no problem with saying Merry Christmas. And Happy Holidays is also fine with me. This argument between the Merry Christmas folk and Happy Holidays people is not all that important, but some folk have to have some sort of "cause" or they aren't happy.

Well president Reagon's followers  as you ask and as an educator, the phenomenon of Christmas is to keep the criminal foundation of our nation and world diverted from reality. It is the irrational response of the child like mentality that controls the means of production to help preserve that mentality in its present state and prevent adult like maturity.