Many Say It's Time to Surrender in the 'War on Christmas'

Dec. 15, 2006 — -- Is saying "Happy holidays" an attack on Christmas? What about wanting a "holiday" tree in the town square?

Whatever you think, clashes over the so-called "Christmas wars" seem to be getting louder every year, and this season is no exception.

At the Seattle airport this season, it didn't take long for the holiday cheer to turn to holiday jeers when 14 Christmas trees were taken down after a rabbi complained.

"Why lose the Christmas spirit?" asked airline passenger Lisa Jones. "Christmas is for kids. The adults should zip their mouths."

Now the trees are back up.

When Wal-Mart told its employees to greet customers with a simple "Happy holiday," Christian groups boycotted the store.

So this year, "Merry Christmas" is back.

That's little surprise to comedians like the "Daily Show's" Jon Stewart, who have taken aim at the whole "what to say" debate.

"It's where Jesus would have shopped," Stewart said during a recent episode of "The Daily Show" in reaction to Wal-Mart's response.

Some scholars who study the First Amendment say we've all just become too sensitive.

"Its OK to use Merry Christmas. It's OK to say it," said Charles Haynes of the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center. "Most groups aren't offended by that."

Many Christians say people are forgetting the real meaning of Christmas.

Radio talk-show host Glenn Beck says the real meaning of Christmas is about redemption and second chances.

More and more, though, Christmas is all about consumerism, he said.

"As a Christian, I'm beginning to become offended by Christmas because it's nothing but buy our crap all the time," Beck said.