Santa Claus Banned from Oregon Classrooms

[philosslayer]

HILLSBORO, Ore. (WTVD) -- A school district in Oregon is joining many others around the country in a controversial decision to ban holiday symbols and decorations from the classroom.

KATU reports Santa Claus is no longer welcome in Hillsboro Schools, outside Portland.

The district told staff who wished to decorate offices or doors to refrain from religious-themed decorations or images, including Santa. The students are not allowed to wear anything Santa-themed, either.

School officials said they just want to make sure all cultures and backgrounds are comfortable at school.

http://abc11.com/society/santa-claus-banned-from-oregon-classrooms/1631841/


Good move in my opinion, and I hope this is a growing trend. Muslim, Jewish and other non-Christian children should not be confronted with Santa Claus when at school. Some will find it non-inclusive or even offensive. School should be considered a safe space.

[Lotusflower70]

1. Isn't that special

Merry Christmas to you Oregon.

[yeoman6987]

17. I feel so sorry for kids today

Thank god this was not the ways in the 80's. What a shame.

[Table]

39. It is much better now. More diverse.

Check your privilege.

[lunamagica]

54. There's nothing wrong with a little childhood fun and fantasy. As for diverse, Santa

is pretty much a secular figure, and anyone can enjoy him.

[lindysalsagal]

60. Not if he doesn't come to your house: In that case, it's not OK for a child at school.

I like it: Santa is a big lie.

[Thor_MN]

108. This is fake news. Right wing "War on Christmas" BS.

The school district out out a memo to be sensitive towards other cultures and the fake news industry turned that into this "bbban on SSSanta!!!"

[lindysalsagal]

115. No. My school just eliminated Santa from an event.

[snooper2]

119. what school do you go to?

Middle or High?

[bravenak]

126. !

[GummyBearz]

128. Ok 2 things

1. Wicked burn
2. Maybe that person is a teacher?

[Thor_MN]

127. Unless you go to Hillsboro, Oregon School District School,

You don't have any standing to make that claim. The OP is about the Hillsboro, Oregon School District.

That story is FAKE NEWS, Right Wing whining about the "War on Christmas!!"

[Lotusflower70]

71. Not talking privilege

I am talking about including all celebrations. Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and so on. I am talking about inclusion. Check your assumptions.

[yeoman6987]

75. Sorry but Santa should be allowed.

Noprivlege involved.

[skylucy]

84. Story is not true. Please see my other replies on this thread.

[apcalc]

2. Sounds ok to me....

The whole Santa thing is hogwash anyway.

[dhol82]

3. Oh, people should get a grip

Santa is about as religious as I am. He's on a level with Frosty the Snowman!

Why not include all the festive holiday symbols? Why not let everybody feel included? That rather than exclude all the joy of a joyous season?

[LisaM]

5. I agree with you.

Doing things like banning Santa Claus just feeds the us vs. them narrative. And I also agree on including other symbols. Make it a discussion on how this time of year is a time of holidays in many cultures.

[elleng]

6. Yes. Thanks.

[LeftyMom]

16. Based on a saint, visits on a Christian holiday? Yep, totally secular.

[dhol82]

20. That might have been the historical genesis of this particular exemplar of the holiday

However, in modern times (since Thomas Nast in 1862 - http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/harp/1225.html
Santa has been, basically, a symbol of holiday joy and gift giving. Very secular.

Seriously doubt that most people actually know the origin story.

[LeftyMom]

24. Symbol of which holiday's joy?

[dhol82]

26. All holidays that are celebrated in December

I kind of like Festivus myself.
Don't find Santa interfering with that enjoyment.

[LeftyMom]

30. That's horseshit and you know it's horseshit.

[dhol82]

28. Saturnalia is also an interesting choice

Wonder what Santa would have thought about that?

[jberryhill]

23. From the North Pole, using flying reindeer

Not even Scientology is that messed up.

[marybourg]

29. Do all religions have a "festive" holiday at the right

time of year?

[dhol82]

40. All religions have 'festive' holidays.

They span the year.
Which ones do you object to?

[marybourg]

48. I don't object to any. I was just

responding to the suggestion of incorporating all festive holidays into one celebration at Christmas time. I wonder if religions that began in the southern hemisphere, for example, have a festive holiday at the middle of our winter (their summer).

[dhol82]

55. There are celebrations that are enjoyed throughout December.

Don't think it has anything to do with hemispheres.

[marybourg]

69. Okey dokey. nt.

[jberryhill]

113. Human civilizations of all kinds have marked the solstices and equinoxes

At the end of the day, it is pretty much a constant in human civilizations of all kinds throughout time, that we have recognized the shortest and longest days of the year and developed ritualized observations around them, and the midpoints between.

Rather than to try to change customs such as Saturnalia, Yule, etc., many of these traditions were syncretized INTO "Christian" observances, but that is why the things we actually do on these holidays really don't match up with the religious significance that was assigned to them in order to observe them.

Easter is another example. There's nothing about maypoles, rabbits and eggs involved in the resurrection of Christ. However, the general theme of "rebirth" as we move into spring, and the fertility rites which were customary to various cultures, got absorbed into it.

Does that make the "Easter Bunny" a religious symbol? I don't think so.

Likewise at Christmas, we've got these rituals around mistletoe, evergreen trees and so on, and reindeer of all things. I can easily imagine that the winter solstice meant a whole lot more to people herding reindeer, than to people living at relatively more equatorial regions.

The Puritans of Massachusetts BANNED Christmas celebrations, and I think they had a more clearheaded view of how the customs of Christmas have approximately nothing to do with Jesus or Christianity in general.

[elleng]

4. 'want to make sure all cultures and backgrounds are comfortable'

so ban ALL? Not the right approach, in SCHOOL, imo. Make holidays TEACHING experiences, and celebrate and teach EVERYTHING.

My daughters' Catholic elementary school classes invited my 'bi-religious' daughters to explain HANUKAH to their classmates, at Christmas time.

Incidentally, this year, Hanukkah 2016 will start the evening of
Saturday, December 24.

[dhol82]

9. I was just at Bed, Bath and whatever. They have a Chanukah section and

They had a Star of David 'tree topper!'
Thought that was great! Just the right thing for The Chanukah Bush.

[elleng]

11. Perfect! Wish my family were still together and had a Chanukah Bush!

We used to have the biggest tree; bought our house (in DC) after seeing seller's huge tree, and got ours every year from same tree seller (who later provided tree to Prez O's White House!)

Growing up, aunt and uncle in Conn decorated Chanukah Bush they'd cut from their property with Aunt Marie's sugar cookies.

[dhol82]

12. Awwww! Sounds wonderful! :)

[DemocratSinceBirth]

7. Fight the battles that are worth fighting.

Eliminating Santa from the classroom is not the hill I am ready to die on.

[Quayblue]

94. Word. Nt

[Old Vet]

99. Well said Jeezzzzzz

[Kingofalldems]

8. The last paragraph is sarcasm.

Why don't you just say what you mean?

[philosslayer]

56. I did say what i mean

[Travis_0004]

10. How dumb

I don't see Santa as strictly religius. And this is the US. Most people celebrate christmas.

I wouldn't go to a school in the middle east then complain when they do things differently for Ramadan.

[LeftyMom]

18. Why are you blaming Muslims? It's usually JWs who want holidays out of the classroom.

Also a surprising number of fundamentalist Christian groups regard holidays not mentioned in the Bible, especially Christmas as pagan and thus forbidden.

Their kids have a legal right to an education. The school has a responsibility to minimize holiday-centric activities from which they will be excluded.

[dhol82]

25. How will they be excluded!

[LeftyMom]

27. JW etc kids are kept home or sent to another classroom during holiday stuff.

Can't even save them a cupcake.

[dhol82]

32. How sad for them.

From what I understand they can't even celebrate birthdays.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

36. Birthdays too, apparently.

A large group of my co-workers signed a birthday card for a woman who worked there. She immediately tossed it in the trash and stomped off. We later found out she was a JW.

It didn't bother me, but some people there acted like they hated that woman for tossing the card in a trash can.

[Ron Obvious]

80. I would hate her too.

Bloody ingrate. What's so hard about a gracious refusal? She acted like they'd mortally insulted her when they were just being friendly.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

81. Lol. That's how many of them reacted too.

I thought it was foolish of the woman to angrily toss the card in the trash, but I tried to overlook it. She seemed pretty "normal" and "nice" most of the time, so I was definitely confused by it.

EDIT: Maybe she had previously told the woman who handed her the card that she didn't believe in celebrating birthdays? Heck if I know. I didn't dig into it too much.

[LeftyMom]

37. No.

So in the interest of minimizing their time out of the classroom (they're legally entitled to be there) it's best to confine the holiday decor/party/etc to one short event.

[dhol82]

44. You know - it's their choice

I can't get crazy about accommodating every twist and turn of religious doctrine.
If this is a religious school, then great. If it is a public school, then a secular exemplar of a common holiday is not offensive.

You seem to have the problem. Care to share what it is?

[LeftyMom]

47. It's not the child's choice. They're legally entitled to a public education

We're discussing the policy, stop trying to make me the issue. Thank you.

[dhol82]

72. Sorry to be coming back to this

I am not trying to make you the issue. Truly.
If the child is excluded from an assembly, how is that impacting their education?
Don't understand how missing out on the singing takes away from an educational activity.
Well, unless exposure to other religious concepts is considered a requisite part of the educational process. Doubt that the JW's think that is so.

[dhol82]

34. I think you are deliberately fomenting anger here

Don't most of these religious sects try to educate at home or at their own charter schools?

Why are you pushing removing all joy from the public school system?

[LeftyMom]

42. No. Actually a surprising number of court cases keeping schools secular and non-sectarian come from

JWs with kids in public schools.

I'll thank you not to question my motives.

[dhol82]

45. Gosh - are you JW?

Is that where all this comes from?
Just asking.

[LeftyMom]

50. No, I'm just aware of court cases on secular public ed and their history.

Some other cases involve Catholic kids who were being forced to read Protestant prayers and scripture (that's why you can't throw a rock without hitting a Catholic school) and Native Hawaiian kids objecting to English only mandates, but they're not relevant to this story.

[dhol82]

57. Interesting

Where were catholic kids forced to read Protestant prayers?
Curious.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

102. When I was in public grade school, we started the morning with a prayer.

It genuinely incensed me that we had the Protestant version only of the Lord's Prayer. I thought we ought to at least alternate with a couple of good Hail Marys.

[rug]

62. What do you think of this case?

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/thecurrent/the-current-for-november-18-2016-1.3855509/lawsuit-protesting-indigenous-ceremony-blurs-line-between-cultural-and-religious-values-1.3855610

[dhol82]

76. I have no problem with smudging

Have actually waved the sage leaves to get rid of evil spirits.
And, I am an atheist.

[rug]

85. Me either.

[JI7]

112. based on my experience it has always been the JW kids who did not take part

one time i remember is when a kid sat alone while the rest of the classes got into groups and worked on holiday activities.

and some kids attacked him for not believing in god.

muslims usually aren't that strict and do take part in most holiday things like giving gifts to friends. and classroom crafts.

[lunasun]

64. Actually my friend lives in a Jewish area and they have this request in her public school district

in the Midwest for years. No Santa or Christmas or any holiday. Just a winter fest
So she is always looking for snowmen and snowflake items for her kids school. One time she messed up and had paper plates outlined with Christmas wreaths in the design.
It's hard when you are raised in a one religion culture and Christmas holidays to her and I, are like second nature and have to remember what all is really associated with the it . She was thinking the weaths just represented winter but they are Christmas wreaths . Santa is only for Christmas . Yes it is a religious holiday although now days to me it is more a national buying orgy in someways but again perhaps mostly for people raised following Christ traditions

She doesn't mind the winter fest ban , it's just sometimes it's hard to delineate since our upbringing was so saturated by a singular religion it's hard to see the line you cross

[handmade34]

13. so wrong in so many ways...

ritual is what makes us human... acceptance of all peoples' rituals makes us humane

excluding all holiday symbols and decorations is not educating children... talking about and including all holidays/rituals is truly educating

I find this trend troublesome

[dhol82]

51. Totally agree.

The high school I went to (back in the 60's) had a truly lovely Christmas event. There were Gregorian chants, carols sung in the various languages we were all learning and it was just a lovely assembly with the choir entering the auditorium holding candles. It is one of the memories I treasure from my time there.
Found out that a number years later ther were a bunch of pissy complainers who stopped it. I could never understand why other celebratory manifestations could not be incorported into the event. No, they just stopped the whole thing.
I am an atheist and just love all the holiday events and songs no matter which religion and am truly saddened that they are being stopped in the name of inclusion. Not a good thing.

[skylucy]

83. THIS STORY IS NOT TRUE! If you log onto the Hillsboro School District (Oregon) website,

you will see a big disclaimer saying that they have not banned Santa! Looks like this was an inaccurate story printed in the newspaper after administrators just reminded staff to be inclusive and accepting of different cultures, religions in December. If you look on the December events calendar for the district, you will see Holiday Bazaars, Ornament Day, etc. at various schools. Maybe I should start a thread to debunk this. I don't know how to do links (I'm old and not very tech savvy) but I found the district just by googling "Hillsboro School District, Oregon". (It is not Hillsboro Hills, it is just Hillsboro.)

[DawgHouse]

106. From the Hillsboro School District site, this story headline is NOT TRUE.

Here is the statement on their website:

Hillsboro School District Not Banning Santa

Author: areyj/Wednesday, November 30, 2016

On Tuesday, November 29, one of our local media outlets ran a story about HSD with a title of: “Schools ban Santa.” The story itself, which talked about our guidance to staff around refraining from decorating with overtly religious or strictly Christmas-related items, wasn’t bad, and correctly reported that several surrounding districts have similar guidelines in place; however, the title of the piece has been very upsetting to people and is leading to questions and confusion.

This started with our Human Resources team sending out a memo to central office staff explaining that we would not be having a door decorating contest this year because the “competition” aspect had led to some decorations getting a bit excessive. As a result, we had some staff members and visitors to our building indicate that they were uncomfortable and didn’t feel welcome due to the overwhelming Christmas atmosphere that had been created.

A portion of this memo was shared with school-based administrators as a reminder to be aware, reasonable, and inclusive about the environments created in our schools over the holiday season. Some administrators passed the message on to their staff members, and at least one recipient elected to contact the media.

Even though we were extremely clear with the reporter that we were not banning Santa, nor were we going to police decorations in our buildings unless they were blatantly over the top, the story still ran with the “Santa ban” title.

We have no policies or directives around this issue, we merely want to remind staff that we need to create inclusive and welcoming spaces for all of our students and realize that many of our students—because of their religion, culture, or other beliefs—do not feel comfortable (and in many cases may not be allowed by their parents) participating in activities that are holiday-based or religious in nature, or being surrounded by imagery that is a direct affront to them.

Public schools are a bit unique because people have to go there and stay there for several hours every day. It’s not like a trip to the mall where you can choose to go in or not, or stay however long you’d like. We have an added responsibility to ensure the students feel comfortable and ready to learn.

http://www.hsd.k12.or.us/News/TabId/123/ArtMID/2274/ArticleID/853/Hillsboro-School-District-Not-Banning-Santa.aspx

[cwydro]

116. Dollars to doughnuts, the OP will not acknowledge he posted a fake story.

A shame.

[DawgHouse]

107. Yes, it's easy to look up the truth. Media is running with a click bait headline.

[LanternWaste]

123. With over 4,700 holidays to celebrate, when would math class take place?

talking about and including all holidays/rituals is truly educating...

Every one (the Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh, Vaisakhi, Bon Festival, Blessed Rainy Day, Lughnasadh, Sacrifice of Jesus, Watch Night, Gokul Ashtami, Vijayadashami, Nuzul Al Qur'an, Mother's Day, Groundhod Day, Victoria Day... and the other 4,500 high days and holy days celebrated around the world)? When would math and science classes take place?

Or is there an objective measure as to which high days and holy days are more "high and holy" than the others? Troubling trend, indeed.

[Leontius]

14. This is the kind of shit that gets people to vote for

Republicans and guys like Trump.

[LeftyMom]

21. Oh yeah, Republicans clean up in Portland.

[Calculating]

46. Seriously

This is ridiculous and just fuels the 'war on Christianity/American culture' drivel.

[skylucy]

92. I just posted something in General Discussion to let DUers know that this story is not true.

[Leontius]

101. Thanks for the info.

[TheBlackAdder]

15. So close to posting the "Ho! Ho! Ho! Sit on my lap Johnny. . ." joke.

[jberryhill]

19. Santa Claus, however, is a symbol of a secular tradition which is not a religious one

There is no religion of which I am aware, which involves flying reindeer.

It may be some ancient pagan thing from Lapland, like their traditional Lap dances, but it certainly has nothing to do with Christianity.

Now, sit on my lap and tell me what you're wishing for!

[Buckeye_Democrat]

22. Time for FOX News to stir up their religious kooks with this story.

Megyn Kelly can assure kids that Santa and Jesus are white too.

[11 Bravo]

33. Yup. This is the kind of silly shit that made Bill O'Reilly rich.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

43. Yeah, like the "war on Christmas" nonsense.

People have been saying "Happy Holidays" for as long as I can remember (at least back to the early 70's), partly out of respect for the religious beliefs of others. He tried to portray it into an attack on Christians, and it apparently worked on many of them.

[Warren DeMontague]

65. exactly.

what's depressing is how many people here are taking the bait.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

66. Yeah.

I probably shouldn't have used the word "kooks" since I know there's some very religious Democrats too. I hope most of the Democratic ones don't fret over a school trying to be secular, however.

[Warren DeMontague]

95. Hell, it's not even so much 'trying to be secular', it's just a standard reminder to be inclusive.

And it's being spun exactly the same as that stupid story a couple years ago that said "California school bans the declaration of independence". No, the California school refused to let some bible-thumping group distribute religious materials on campus that included the Declaration of independence because they felt (wrongly) that the Deism in the DOI somehow negated the fact that the Constitution is a deliberately "God"-free document.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

97. I agree.

It's amazing to me how having Christian churches all over the place doesn't seem to be sufficient for many of them.

Maybe it's the result of preachers desperately trying to increase their congregations again? Then their followers go forth with their cram-it-down-their-throats instructions?

[Warren DeMontague]

98. Yeah, aint that a kick in the pants? Church lawns aplenty and the only place suitable for a manger

or a giant granite 10 commandment monument, is apparently in front of the courthouse or city hall.

[hrmjustin]

31. Thank God the kids will be protected from Santa!

[marybourg]

35. I went to school in NYC in the 40's and 50's.

There were no holiday symbols or celebrations in the schools (nor food, except at lunchtime, nor birthday celebrations). This had the effect of making us believe those things happened at home and school was where you went to learn. We did have time for music, art and dance and remedial classes, including speech for those who needed it.

[smirkymonkey]

38. This reminds me of South Park's Non-Offensive Christmas Episode. I think we just

chuck all traditions and everyone should worship Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo. "Hooowdy-HO!"

[dhol82]

77. Perfect!

[KewlKat]

41. so what about All Hallows' Eve?

should celebration of this holiday be allowed in schools if we're gonna ban santa, christmas, etc.?

[geek tragedy]

49. Truly there is nothing more sacrosanct than Santacon. nt

[dhol82]

78. Thank you for reminding me!

I want to be out of town for that festival of drunken vomiting all over NYC.

[geek tragedy]

89. Just avoid LES, EVil, and Billyburg nt

[dhol82]

117. They are generally all over the West Village also.

[jmg257]

52. Sheesh what horseshit. Santa is such a fucking threat to safe spaces..that whole thing about

a mystical fat man bringing toys to all the kids of the world is so scary.

[Warren DeMontague]

59. horseshit is right. Namely, this "libruls ban santa" horseshit being pushed in this story.

Yeah, and they "ban God from school" when they don't let creationists hand out bibles or teach about Jesus's dinosaur riding habits, too.

Derp Derp, rinse, repeat.

[skylucy]

93. Story is not true. (I just posted in General Discussion to let people know.)

[Warren DeMontague]

53. OH NO

[Warren DeMontague]

58. "It really went out as a notification to staff, not even parents"

http://katu.com/news/local/should-santa-claus-be-allowed-in-schools

Graser says she understands the frustration some people may have with regards to holiday decorations, but says, "It's not meant to be that at all. Again, it's just really a reminder to get people to be sensitive."

This "Santa Banned" crap is straight up right-wing FOX News type bullshit.

Asking teachers to be sensitive to the fact that there are a diversity of students in classrooms is not "banning Santa".

[tenderfoot]

61. Santa Claus is a creation of Coca-Cola. Less soft drinks the better.

eom

[tenderfoot]

63. What flame baiting bullshit

eom

[Paladin]

67. Pretty ironic, from my standpoint.

Once upon a time, I attended a church where a hot-headed young pastor advocated the elimination of Santa Claus depictions---because he deemed Santa Claus to not be religious enough. He didn't last very long at that church, I'm pleased to say.

Honestly, I think whatever religious impact Santa Claus may have once had has long since departed, via gross commercial overuse. Babe in a manger depictions? That's something else again.....

[FarCenter]

68. Santa Claus is a great tool for teaching kids not to believe all the BS that adults are pushing

The Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy are also good examples of lies told by adults.

Kids, don't believe what you're being told. Be skeptical of everything.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

79. My family members who were most susceptible to believing in Santa Claus became...

... the most religious as adults.

I didn't believe in Santa Claus from a very young age. I made a niece cry because I was annoyed that she still believed in Santa at around age 6. I felt guilty later, but I couldn't believe she was so damn gullible. I'm only a few months older than her, so I was young too! That niece is strongly religious today.

My oldest brother (also not religious) claims that our religious siblings easily believed in Santa Claus when they were young as well.

It's anecdotal evidence, but I sometimes wonder if there's a genetic aspect to that kind of thinking.

[dhol82]

87. Not surprised

There have been brain studies (don't ask for links) that allude to links between strong beliefs in fantasy stories in childhood and religious belief in adulthood.

[Warren DeMontague]

96. Exactly. Kids should be skeptical of tales of invisible or unseen beings with magic powers

[Mike Nelson]

70. That's too bad...

...still, I hope "Santa" will become a more non-religious fantasy for children. In fact, I thought this was already happening. Kids love Halloween, Santa Claus and the tooth fairy during young years. it's the best time for believing in magic.

[phylny]

73. Eh. I grew up on Long Island in the 60s and 70s. We sang lots of songs, including

Christmas and Hanukah songs, secular and religious. We didn't blink an eye. Having said that, I'm a Christian and I don't care about Santa or Christmas except that my family celebrates Christmas and we enjoy it. No one else needs to say a word about it or do a thing about it to please me, and I say "Happy Holidays" when out in public if it warrants it. There is no war on Christmas. No war on Christians, either.

I do think banning holiday clothing kids wear is unnecessary, but I wouldn't bust a gut over it, either

[cyberswede]

74. My school did that when I was in 2nd grade - in 1973

...for the reasons of inclusiveness that you mention.

We had a "winter party" with treats & games on the last day before "winter break."

I was surprised that my kids' school district (nearby) has Christmas stuff through the season, including a caroling concert put on by the school chorus.

[skylucy]

82. THIS STORY IS NOT TRUE! If you log onto the Hillsboro School District (Oregon) website,

They have a big disclaimer on their page saying they have NOT banned Santa. The story originated when some administrators just reminded staff to be accepting of all cultures etc. at holiday time. The story got blown out of porportion. If you look at the district calendar for the month of December, there are things on the calendar like "Ornament Day" at one of the schools, various holiday bazaars at schools, etc.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

86. Lol, that figures!

Reminds me of FOX News and their "war on Christmas" tripe.

[Dr. Strange]

118. Huh, that's so weird...

because the OP hardly ever posts trolly nonsense like this.

I'm just shocked that this ended up being bullshit, and ever so surprised that the OP supported it.

[Squinch]

88. This has been debunked. It is not true. And now you know it, and should take this down.

[Warren DeMontague]

100. What, and deviate from his loop?

[cwydro]

120. This.

But don't hold your breath.

[Squinch]

124. At least he's taken a break from telling us that all women should be wearing hijabs or burkas.

[cwydro]

125. Lol!

You're right about that!

[DesmondFoster]

90. This also, is not complicated.

It doesn't matter if it's a true story or not, the principle is what matters and reading the responses here shows how truly divided people are when principle lands on their doorstep and challenges their particular values.

Anyone who truly believes in an inclusive and diverse country with a clear separation of church and state should understand why a symbol that celebrates a Christian holiday shouldn't be in the classroom. The point is not one that can be argued, it's literally a slam dunk.

It's the entire problem within the party in a nutshell right now. You don't get to pick and choose when to be progressive. You either are or you are not. You can't say you feel badly for someone being discriminated against and then say "aww shucks, Santa should still be allowed in there he's just fun".

[Crunchy Frog]

103. Guess I'm not a progressive then. Thanks for letting me know.

[DesmondFoster]

109. You're welcome?

I'm glad to help.

Progressivism isn't 90% what you like but 10% what you don't. And that carries a burden. A burden that you sometimes have to sacrifice your own personal beliefs or desires for the greater good.

If you truly think it's okay for Santa Claus to be welcome in a school where non-Christian students who might already feel marginalized or "different" is okay then no, you're not a true progressive. You're a liberal who likes to pick and choose what's convenient to their own personal belief system.

And you are the precise reason we are where we are today. Why on earth would anyone who identifies as a progressive think that's okay? I'm a Christian. I grew up with Santa Claus. I celebrate the holiday with my family only out of respect for their feelings because they're my family. But that is MY choice because I've grown up, been educated, and made my own decisions regarding religion.

You don't get to pick and choose the parts of this fight you want to support.

[Crunchy Frog]

111. Sorry, but I just don't give a flying fuck what strangers on the internet think about me anymore.

Especially ones who sit around debating minutiae while this country is about to go up in flames. So have at it.

And yes I fucking do get to pick and choose which parts of this fight I want to support. I still have the fundamental American right to freedom in my own beliefs, even if America ceases to exist in any meaningful form.

[jberryhill]

114. Santa is a Coca-Cola advertising vehicle, and does not represent "a Christian holiday"

A guy who lives at the North Pole and hauls toys around with flying reindeer is not part of any religion I have ever encountered.

I suppose next someone will tell me that Jesus rose from the tomb in search of eggs left by an anthropomorphic rabbit.

[CanonRay]

91. Turns out this story is more fake news

[NRQ891]

104. we should have 'Draconian Claus' instead

have him ask kids what they want for Christmas, then dress them down for wanting more, when other kids already have less

[Coyotl]

105. Don't kill a tree for Jesus.

I know, exploiting cats for humor ....

[jmowreader]

110. Didn't we see this in a South Park episode?

[MineralMan]

121. Story is not true. Santa wasn't banned at all.

You should self-delete.

[LanternWaste]

122. What's important to the focus on is of course, what any school district is or is not celebrating

Last edited Thu Dec 1, 2016, 05:56 PM - Edit history (2)

What's important to the focus on is of course, what any school district is or is not celebrating rather than appropriate funding to better ensure equal access to a good education... that merely being the actual function of school.

[TuslaUltra]

129. in principle, you're right. Thing tho is that Christianity is kind of the majority culture

and part of learning to live in society is how to accept that there is a majority and a minority. Also, this kind of thing doesn't help progressives' image.