Christmas commercials debuting in October. Christmas toy displays opening before Halloween. And most certainly Christmas sales and shopping starting well before Black Friday.

While Central Minnesotans might be used to the retail Christmas season starting earlier every year, most probably weren’t expecting to hear the opening shots about the (mythical) “war on Christmas” so long before they made their lists, much less checked them twice.

Yet, sadly, those shots rang out loud and clear last week — thanks to Starbuck’s national release of an innocuous red cup and, closer to home, the Wadena City Council. Outrage about the blank red cup bordered on laughable, while Wadena leaders had little choice but to follow the Constitution.

Red over a cup?

Before you read another word, ask yourself this: What symbols were on Starbuck’s cups for previous Christmas seasons? A Nativity scene? The words “Merry Christmas?” Three wise men?

Not even close. Images of previous Starbucks’ cups show snowflakes, snowmen, ornaments and drawings of reindeer and holiday-dressed characters.

None of those symbols have strong (if any) ties to Christianity, so how can anyone take seriously that the coffee giant is taking the “Christ” out of Christmas? If anything, the blank cup speaks volumes about the overcommercialization of this time of year — a message those strong in their Christian faith should evangelize, not demonize.

And then there is the Wadena City Council’s vote Nov. 10 to end its longstanding tradition of putting a city-owned Nativity scene on display in a city park. As much as council members might have lamented their decision, they still did the right thing. The city sold the scene and said it could not go on public property.

Continuing the display would have violated the Constitution and spurred a lawsuit from a Wisconsin-based group made aware of the display last year.

As this board has routinely stressed for years, the Constitution requires government entities to treat all religions equally. Failure to do so violates the Constitution— and, if you have not already noticed — puts America on a philosophical plane very similar to theocracies worldwide. Not to mention certain terrorist groups.

 

— St. Cloud Times, Nov. 17