Why are Christmas Eve/Day and MLK National Holidays ?

Isn't it immoral to base national holidays on an individual person ?

The Christian faith's growth was due to the work of thousands of people, not just one guy.

And the same with MLK - he was just one of many people of all races and backgrounds who fought for civil rights.

Just saying, we need to stop putting individual people on a pedestal.
I refuse to acknowledge either day. In the case of Jesus - well, he is a religious figure and a secular government shouldn't be acknowledging it. And in the case of MLK, he fought for a great cause but it's wrong to just give him full accolades.

 

What is the basis for determining that basing a national holiday on an individual person is immoral? Where is the harm to someone else in that?

 

I think the rationality for having Christmas as a national holiday lies in the fact that most of the country adheres to a form of Christianity. If it were to be removed as a national holiday, the economic impact of people taking Christmas off would be large.

As for MLK Day, it should be considered more a celebration and remembrance of all who fought and died for the recognition of Civil Rights.

 

Are you really arguing about this?

 

even non-Christians celebrate Christmas, it's become so secular it's not a issue, even the courts have agreed with this

it's not even pronounced like it's spelled anymore, it's pronounced krismas

.

 

It’s long been known that “Christmas” is a conglomeration of holidays.

Like most things Christian, the celebration of “Christmas" was high jacked from previous myth(s). It was high jacked by the retail industry during the early part of the twentieth century.

As a major part of the commercialism that has become X-MAS, Coca Cola, while not the creator of the modern Santa Clause as many believe, Coke has had remarkable success with the version they began using in the early 1930‘s.

Whether it’s Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or whatever the individual’s preference, they’re all synonymous with, “ It’s the most expensive and fattening time of the year.”

 

yep and prior to the commercialization of the holiday it was a raucous carnival holiday...

"Christmas history in America"

http://www.thehistoryofchristmas.com/ch/in_america.htm

"The pilgrims, English separatists that came to America in 1620, were even more orthodox in their Puritan beliefs than Cromwell. As a result, Christmas was not a holiday in early America. From 1659 to 1681, the celebration of Christmas was actually outlawed in Boston. Anyone exhibiting the Christmas spirit was fined five shillings."

"It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia. "

 

A national holiday based on the supposed birthday of a religious figure seems like a clear violation of the establishment clause.

 

Blah, blah, blah, establishment clause. The winter solstice was celebrated by most cultures long before Jesus. Jesus' "birthday" was only placed on Dec 25 because people ALREADY celebrated on that day.

 

It's so clear that at least of a couple generations of 'War-On-Christmas' liberal Democrats never connected it to the Establishment Clause?

 

I understand where your coming from on this but look at it this way. MLK had and still has a large influence of how our country functions. As for Christmas... well thats just basic consumerism . The msm hypes up christmas in order to make people spend more .

 

Well I for one hope that ends up in the Democratic platform for 2016 and every Democratic candidate is quizzed about it.

 

Hopefully Antonio Villaraigosa can be the speaker, again.

 

Well, we don't call it "Winter Solstice" day, do we.

- - - Updated - - -

It's been adjudicated.

 

Did Congress establish Christianity as the official religion of the United States? Or did they recognize that it was the biggest religion that played a big part in our history? Much like we honor Martin Luther King for his work and for a time, honored certain individual presidents with a Holiday. Maybe someone can point out where Congress did that, as it would violate the establishment class.

 

I don't see the problem here. If people want to celebrate a religion based off of a single individual, then that's their right. I also don't see a problem with the government recognizing it. It's not like the government is forcing you to accept that religion.

 

Giving all federal workers a paid day off to celebrate the birth of a religious figure while not doing the same for other religions? Might as well have.

 

I agree. But at the time this was done I am sure Christianity made up about 85% of the population and had a big impact on the lives of many, unlike today and it would seem like Congress wanted to honor that person, much like we honor Martin Luther King, or Ben Franklin on our money.

 

Yeh, you're right. We shouldn't have ANY holidays at all! **** it! The peons need to stay at work as much as possible, non-stop. And, hey, why the hell does anybody need to be off on Saturdays and Sundays, either? If some people are so stupid that they want to give up what few holidays they have, then **** them -- work them to death! There's plenty more where they came from! Citizens of the United States get fewer holidays than those of any other people in the First World, but if they wanna work -- put them out there with the animals and work 'em!

 

Not everyone treats MLK like Christmas Day. There have been some local manufacturing plants that call the first day of hunting season a "floating holiday" because they know everybody is going to call in sick that day, or at least enough people that it makes it better just to shut down for the day.

 

the purpose of my post is obviously soaring high above you.
the point isn't about having a day off, it's about celebrating the birth of a religious figure
it's called separation of church and state
what do you think this post is about ?

 

If you have a problem with IN GOD WE TRUST on all your nasty money, I'd be more than happy to take it off your hands.

Paypal?

 

i'll keep my money, i'd just rather we remove "In God We Trust."
your comment was pedestrian.

 

Not at all. It's the same thing. If you want holidays dropped because they're based on religious figures, write your congressman. Same with In God We Trust on currency and 'Under God' in the PoA. Why pick just two holidays to make your case when there's a bigger picture out there to focus on?

We have freedom OF religion... not freedom FROM religion.

Sorry, in this case, majority rules.