EDITORIAL - With the Christmas Season upon us, again we have stood witness to the politically correct assault on our sensibilities that is the "War on Christmas." Even as Sam Donaldson and the rest of the elitist, agenda-driven mainstream media snobs proclaim that there is no such attack taking place, law suits over nativity scenes and corporate directives banishing the term "Merry Christmas" are evidence to the contrary. To listen to those so full of rage this holiday season one would think that Christmas, and the tradition that created it, are a very destructive and offensive affair.

Christmas, traditionally - and even that is becoming a word that evokes gasps from the "progressive" left - has been about putting aside our daily differences, if just for a week or so, in an effort to remember that we have evolved into a civil society and that we inherently possess qualities that are exclusively humane. By embracing these we are able to get along despite said differences. Traditionally, and officially since 1870, it is a time of thanksgiving and appreciation, a time for family and friends, a time for heartfelt actions and for some self-examination, especially in the face of the approaching New Year.

Further, for a great many in the United States and around the world it is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior for Christians. Christian or not, Christ's life illustrates the very real human desire for peace and kindness. While some scholars would argue that Christ's actual birth was some time in early Spring, the celebration of his birth has been accepted by the world at large to be on December 25th.

In the United States, Christmas is a federal holiday, embraced and sanctioned by Congress. But this wasn't always so.

Just as we witness today's biases against the traditions of Christmas, whether they are in the form of religious intolerance or secular humanist aggressiveness, the same type of exclusionary intolerance was practiced by the Puritans of Massachusetts - the current home to Senators Kennedy and Kerry. The Puritans banned any observance of Christmas and anyone caught observing the holiday was fined. The State of Connecticut went so far as to enact a law forbidding its celebration along with the baking of mincemeat pies, also known as Christmas pies.

It wasn't until 1870, when the totalitarian attitudes of the American Puritanical Age began to wane that Americans in general started to accept not only the holiday of Christmas but the meaning behind it; peace on earth, good will toward men. On June 26, 1870 the United States Congress declared Christmas a federal holiday.

It would seem that the politically correct culture - a culture directly based in Socialist ideology - currently running amok in the United States is less "progressive" than it is "regressive," especially where Christmas is concerned. The secular humanist devaluation of the basic reason for the existence of Christmas, and their intolerance of any symbol related to the holiday, are frighteningly similar to the social and religious strictures of the Puritans of the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries.

The Puritans engaged in witch hunts out of ignorance and the fear of the unknown. Secular humanists of the "progressive" left are ignorant and fearful too. Compounded with egotistic narcissism, elitist intolerance and an unwillingness to accept cultural human differences across the board, "progressive" secular humanism is proving to be less about inclusion than enforced conformity, a ruthlessly communistic tactic.

If there is anything offensive about a symbol - religiously based or not - that reminds us of the ideals of kindness and compassion for our fellow man, I certainly can't see it. If there is anything insulting about the gentleness, wholesomeness and joy that a nativity scene symbolizes - whether the basis for the nativity is religious or not - it is beyond me.

There are those among us whose esteem for their own opinions has fostered a belief in a manufactured, nonexistent Constitutional right not to be offended. This faux right is based entirely in the Socialist-based ideology of political correctness. And, as of this writing at least, there is no piece of legislation, no mandate and no obligation that requires the American people to kow-tow to the coercion of any oppressive, intolerant ideology. Simply put, the American public doesn't have to put up with it even under the progressive guise of political correctness.

Perhaps it is time (and I believe that it is well past time) that the silent majority of Americans - who don't have a problem with saying Merry Christmas, Salvation Army kettles or a nativity scene in the public square - points out that it is the "offended" who are being offensive and intolerant. Perhaps that can be our Christmas present to America.

To all of you who appreciate it, I wish you peace, health and happiness this holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.