Christmas resolution in Congress renews debate over 'Christian nation'

By Beth Young - Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 - Web Link
Send this news item to a Friend
Sign-up for Daily News Updates

December 19, 2007

A seemingly benign U.S. congressional resolution supporting Christmas has become the latest fodder in the debate over whether America is a "Christian nation."

Nearly all the members of the House of Representatives, including a majority of Jewish members, voted for the Dec. 11 resolution acknowledging the celebration of Christmas and the role Christians have played in U.S. history.

But the resolution's author, Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), has since lashed out at the nine "liberal Democrats" who voted against the resolution and questioned how they had supported a different resolution supporting Ramadan.

In a Dec. 12 appearance on Fox News, King said: "I would like to know how they can vote yes on Ramadan, yes on the Indian religions and no on Christianity when the foundation of this nation and our American culture is Christian."

The rhetoric over the so-called Christmas wars has been toned down this year, with Christian conservatives less vocal than in the past about the need to "protect" Christmas from those who would downplay its public and religious significance.

At the same time, the congressional dust-up comes as Jews and others express discomfort with the decidedly central role of faith in the race for the Republican nominee for president.

King had voted "present" on the two other recent religious resolutions, one honoring Ramadan, which passed on Oct. 2, and one recognizing the Indian holiday of Diwali, which passed on Oct. 29.