Photograph from 1952 of Donald Wike on the left, Santa Claus in the middle and Franklin Wike on the right
U S Legacies Magazine December 2005
With all the recent reports on the news, informing us The Ten Commandments, or manger scenes are no longer allowed on certain government properties and that many of the large stores will no longer use the phrase, Merry Christmas in their advertising, because it offends some of their customers, I was inspired to write a different type of editorial this month.
I am not as old as some of our members, however I am thankful that I am old enough to have been raised during a time when the words “Merry Christmas” would be on display and people looked forward to attending or participating in Christmas plays and/or concerts at local schools, as well as many other Christmas traditions, such as children sitting on Santa’s lap while sharing their Christmas list and gathering together at Grandma’s house with all the relatives.
Between the atheists and followers of other religions, it seems like God and Christianity have almost become dirty words to some people and, unfortunately, that unhappy minority has protested loud enough to cause some of the religious freedoms our forefathers sacrificed, fought, and died for, to be taken away.
I grew up during a time when almost every home in America seemed to have some type of reminder that we NEEDED and counted on a higher power to guide us and protect us. We would say morning prayers in public school, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance where we used the words, One nation under God. It was at school where I was also taught the words to such patriotic songs as, God Bless America, and America (My Country, Tis of Thee) ending with the words, “protect us by thy might, great God, our King.”
In our home, we had pictures of Jesus on the wall and signs containing the words, “The family that prays together, stays together.” Back in the 1960s, when I started driving semi, one of the most popular license plates on trucks had the words, “God, is my co-pilot.” Families sat down together at the kitchen table and said a prayer before they started eating and talking with each other about the days events.
During Christmas time, we ALWAYS had a manger scene on display in our home, along with the secular type Christmas decorations and tree and I even have a photograph of Santa personally passing out presents in our home.
But over the years, I have noticed families changing. It seems there are more children being raised by single parents, than by two parent households. In many cases, the younger families have moved away from the extended families of Aunts, Uncles and grandparents. As a result many children in this country today, do not get to experience the large family gatherings and Christmas dinners the older generations had. Another side effect of not having the extended families living close by, is children learning about life from fellow classmates and the school system, instead of from loved ones or their church. The end result is a society where some children have to walk past metal detectors in order to enter their school and are no longer allowed to pray, or even say the word God, once they enter their school.
I do not intend to use this magazine or organization to preach about any particular religion, but I will use it to help preserve traditions and right now, many of the Christmas traditions I grew up enjoying, are on the verge of being lost. Overseas, there is one country that is trying to pass a law making it illegal for children to sit on Santa’s lap and in one area of the UK, it is illegal to display decorations containing the word Christmas in public.
I know that we can not change the laws in other countries, but we do have the ability to voice our opinions in this country and your voice is needed.
Atheists have attempted to remove the phrase “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance and “In God we trust” from U.S. currency, as well as Ten Commandments displays from publicly owned places.
In 2002, the Holiday Displays policy for New York City public schools prohibited the display of [Christian] Nativity scenes in public schools during Christmas, while it expressly permitted and encouraged the display of the Jewish Menorah and the Islamic Star and Crescent during certain religious holidays and observances.
Also, in 2002 a California judge ruled the Pledge of Allegiance was unconstitutional because it contained the words, “Under God.”
Last year, a Seattle, Washington school board banned Halloween activities partly because the celebrations and costumes MIGHT be offensive to real witches.
Last month, rather than add a school holiday for Muslims who were requesting one, a Florida school board canceled all religious holidays including Yom Kippur, Good Friday and the day after Easter. Fortunately, local citizens spoke up and encouraged the board to reconsider their vote. After hundreds of parents, irate about losing the holidays, peppered the board with complaints, the school board then reinstated its religious holidays.
While talking about the past and preserving the stories of past lifestyles is important, so is maintaining traditions. If I traveled to Africa during the Christmas holiday, I would not expect to see or take part in a traditional Christmas celebration and that would be fine, because I would be the one making the choice to spend my time in a foreign country. But as long as I am living in America, I would like to see Christmas decorations on display that use the words Christmas. I would also like to see manger scenes on display in public and be able to share a traditional dinner surrounded with family. This year, I will be able to enjoy those things, but how about next year?
In past months, I have asked for your help in numerous areas, including asking for volunteers and financial donations. This year, there is one special thing I would like for Christmas. I would like for our members to read local, state and national newspapers and watch for any mention of laws or policies being changed. Then start writing letters to politicians, judges, school boards, town boards or anyone else that has the power to pass or interpret laws and policy. Let them know that you do not want the Pledge of Allegiance banned or changed. Let them know you do not want the word “Christmas” banned from public decorations or taken out of the school. Stand up and voice your opinion before it is to late. Then when you sit down for Christmas dinner with your grandchildren, you can tell them YOU fought for their freedom to choose how they will celebrate Christmas when they become grandparents.
I hope this Christmas you get to create new and joyful memories that will live in the hearts and minds of your loved ones forever.
Franklin T. Wike, Jr.
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