Christmas is to be separated from state buildings. Christmas is to be banished from the public square. This is all done under the guise of separation of church and state. Thomas Jefferson wrote about this concept and assumed that intelligent folks would understand that he was not talking about freedom from religion, but freedom of religion, not having the establishment of a state religion along the lines of the Church of England. He did not reckon with the confused who now walk among us and are so unhappy in their lives that they will be damned, and they will be, if they “allow” the rest of us to be happy in our lives.

Leesburg, Virginia, and Clarksville, Tennessee, are among the cities that will be “crèche-less,” because that baby in a manger is a very seditious symbol. Yet another shot on the bow is coming this time from the state of Washington, where no religious symbols will be allowed on government buildings.

Even the president and Mrs. President went after baby Jesus, as one headline suggested. This was a story in the prestigious New York Times, or I would not have believed it. Baby Jesus was about to be banned from the East Room of the People’s House where He had traditionally been a prominent part in the décor. The rush was on to have more “inclusion,” created by the exclusion of Jesus, as part of a “non-religious Christmas.” This was coming from a family that purports to be Christian? If baby Jesus is not welcome in a Christian home, especially the People’s House, where should He find shelter?

Apparently wiser heads prevailed. Could it be that the president was persuaded that notwithstanding the talk of some of his followers dubbing him the “messiah,” that the gig was already taken by that little baby in the manager? Moreover, most likely, the president and Mrs. President did not want that “Muslim to the core” talk about him, rearing its head again. Although, if he is/was a Muslim, he should be proud of it. I am a Christian and mighty proud and grateful. I am not hiding The Light under a bushel of political correctness.

The troublemakers have been fortunate in a sense, because they have been successful in incrementally slamming the door to the public square inn, in the face of that little baby. With a lawsuit here, a threat of a lawsuit there, they succeeded in cowing some in officialdom and commerce. But, they are becoming so brazen that we the ordinary folks are recognizing that they are doing a perfect impersonation of Ebenezer Scrooge, rabidly trying to keep taking away more and more of our traditions. We are now taking a stand and declaring – “enough is enough!”

I have a message for all of the political and business cowards who are being frightened into pushing any manifestations or symbols of the season of love, out of their buildings or establishments. “Love” brings in more money than “hate.” When folks are feeling “peace on earth and goodwill towards men,” they spend and spend some more. Those who hate are stingy with both their emotions and their wallets. Good luck in pushing the Christmas lovers out of your stores and expecting us to buy from you, or vote for you when you cannot even stand up to a few troublemakers. You have become frightened of your own (Christmas) shadow. I blame you more than I blame the “attack dogs.”

My theory for the attacks on Christmas, is that they are motivated by fear. The non-Christmas folks are so afraid of the power of the Christmas story, that they have to work overtime to silence the story of a baby in a manger. They are scared witless by the story of a helpless baby, whose parents could not even find room in the equivalent of a motel, in which to birth him. The Motel 6 of the day did not “leave a light on,” for the Light of the world.

His is a simple story. Imagine a baby came to earth 2000 years ago. He trained as a humble carpenter. He could have created His own Mount Olympus, waged wars, and easily won. Instead, He went around as what we would describe as an “itinerant” preacher, teaching about love. For His efforts, He was hung on a wooden cross. End of story.

But it is not. He still puts fear into the heart of those who hate Him, as conversely love is the preeminent emotion in the hearts of those who love Him. Ever since that day that He made His entrance in a stable, He has been a thorn in the side of those with a lust for power. He is also probably hated because he was born a Jew, and was a Rabbi. Talk about a double whammy! Well, I worry not about Him. He is preeminent, all-powerful, everlasting…that baby in the manger. He lives forever, while His detractors will keep their appointed date with the grim reaper, when He decides that it is their time.

If the Christmas-haters wanted to be really effective, they would be secure in their sense of insecurity. They would give up the efforts to shut down the celebrations for the baby in a manger. They would just ignore the rest of us. They wouldn’t give us all of that power over them. They would prove their machismo by ignoring all of those revelers celebrating the season of joy, peace and love. They would show their disdain by thumbing their noses, or any other action that shows that this season and all that it represents, is beneath their contempt. That would definitely show us that we are irrelevant in their orbit.

Christmas-haters, you can’t, can you? That little baby in the manger, and Santa coming down the chimney, get your goat every time. As my pal Sheila phrased it, He is “a stable baby for an unstable world.” Your instability is showing. Try to remember that even Scrooge had a change of heart. Open up your hearts to love. It is beyond belief to feel the surge of happiness that flows through the body, heart and soul as the Christmas carols and songs ring out, as the joy and wonder of the season, are reflected on the faces of kids, when they open their presents from Santa, helped out by Mom and Dad. Come on. Enjoy, even if you don’t believe! Those of you, who love to hug trees, go hug a Christmas tree!

In order to give as good as Christmas is getting, I was going to put “Operation, Christmas 365,” into full swing, and nonchalantly walk by the offices of known Christmas haters, with a mini crèche in one hand and a mini Christmas tree in the other. The idea was to make them foam at the mouth at the sight of the baby in the manger, when I swing by in January, February, and all the other months of the year. I was even going to see if Santa wanted to travel down from the North Pole and join me, especially as he is now considered to be a “religious symbol,” according to at least one principal at an elementary school.

In the spirit of the season, I am going to shelve Operation Christmas 365. Instead, I will simply love the haters into submission. “Love” will pierce their armor of intractability. After all, this is the season of “ho, ho, ho,” peace, love and joy! They will succumb.

My therapy will be to invite them to watch “It’s A Wonderful Life,” every other day for four days, until they remove that inner sense of failure that is propelling their actions. They will learn from Clarence, that “no man is a failure who has friends.” I will be their friend. Next, they should listen to Handel’s Messiah. They will find that they may be changed, in “the twinkling of an eye,” by the beauty, ethereal quality of the fusion of voice and instruments.

This just in! In the midst of the Christmas revelry, the reveille could have just been sounded for healthcare as we know it in the United States of America. Instead of the aforementioned “ho, ho, ho,” we should be singing “no, no, no”?Despite a majority of Americans not wanting this particular “present” under their trees, not this Christmas, or any to come, those who some are labeling tyrants, prostitutes, and worse, have voted in the US Senate, for cloture. “Cloture” sounds so much like clothing being shed. They have been accused of doing the equivalent of going into a motel and exchanging dollars for body fluids, in order to get their votes for the bill that opened the door of its crypt during the Halloween season.

But, Christmas has not been labeled “the season for miracles,” for nothing. Ebenezer Scrooge held sway for awhile. He succumbed. The political “prostitutes” and their “pimps” will succumb, either this Christmas or next one. It will be a version of “cash for clunkers,” without the cash being exchanged. The cash was already exchanged in the political motel room.

I feel strangely optimistic that long after the politicians “orgy of power,” the baby in the manger, will still give us hope, peace and love. So let the rest of us continue to revel in the camaraderie, generosity, graciousness and love on display during this wonderful season – in between calling the political pimps to let them know what we think of their “prostitution ring.” What a mix of the sublime and slime, this season has become. But – it is still “the most wonderful time of the year!”