Will Christmas be pushed into the catacombs? A new round of animosity toward Christmas is further proof that the political correctness police are busily at work.  Furthermore, we are witnessing the re-paganizaton of Christmas. One of the great achievements of Europe's Christian culture was the transformation of various pagan winter festivals into a celebration of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. In a stunning reversal of history, secular antagonism and New Age spiritualities threaten to recapture Christmas for paganism.

Each Christmas seems to bring a new round of anti-Christmas bias and discrimination. As the secularists press for the virtual evacuation of all Christian symbolism from the public square, Christmas poses a particularly juicy target for litigation and intimidation. A prime example of this anti-Christmas bias is evident at the School of Law of Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis.

Controversy erupted when a Christmas tree appeared in the atrium of the law school's building at the school, commonly known as "IUPUI." The tree was decorated with paper fans made of maps of the world along with other globe and map-related objects. Nevertheless, even a Christmas tree absolutely shorn of Christian symbolism was too much for the emotionally sensitive and ever vigilant political correctness police.

A Bothersome Tree

According to Rich Schneider, director of media relations for the school, some students contacted Dean Anthony Tarr and complained that the Christmas tree made them feel "excluded." As Schneider told the Indiana Daily Student, "the dean sees the students, faculty and staff as a family, and it bothered him that it bothered some members of that family. He didn't want to offend anyone." Did you get that? The dean was "bothered" that the mere presence of a Christmas tree "bothered" some members of the law school community. Presumably, no one was concerned that it might "bother" others when the Christmas tree was unceremoniously removed.

Schneider went on to explain that the previous decorations on the Christmas tree were chosen to express "diversity and the identification of peoples everywhere," whatever that means. He also promised that the school would keep the student complaints in mind for the next year.

Law professor Jennifer Drobac explained that the presence of the Christmas tree at the school was legal, but congratulated Dean Tarr on making the right decision. "Because ours is a state school and, to a great degree, a majoritarian society, Dean Tarr quietly replaced the Christmas tree rather than further discomfort those non-Christians who felt excluded. Under Supreme Court precedent, the tree could remain, but we are a moral community as well as a legal one, an inclusive society. Dean Tarr gave life to the concept of equal protection, as well as to the First Amendment. I agree with the prophet who said, 'blessed are the peacemakers.' I hope we can now rejoice in our peace and new understanding."

Nonsense