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     * [29]Culture & Society
     * [30]Politics & Law

Who says we can't say `Merry Christmas?'

Nobody, that's who. And I ought to know

By: [31]Barry Piatt - December 25, 2022 7:00 am

   WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 30: U.S. President Joe Biden and First Lady
   Jill Biden participate in the National Christmas Tree lighting on the
   Ellipse on November 30, 2022 in Washington, DC. President Calvin
   Coolidge participated in the first tree lighting ceremony on the
   Ellipse in 1923. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

   [32]Iowa Writers 'Collaborative. Linking Iowa readers and writers.
   You've seen the memes on social media and heard the loud complaints,
   usually coming from the same partisans. It even showed up on Saturday
   Night Live's cold open this past weekend - the tired, old,
   and false claim that "they," whoever "they" are, but the implication is
   always that it's the "libs" and Democrats who are responsible for it --
   won't let us say "Merry Christmas" any more.

   Donald Trump, as president, even added his own absurd twist to it. He
   took credit for bringing "Merry Christmas" back.

   To be sure, SNL was mocking both claims. But plenty of people still
   believe the Republican falsehood that we can't say "Merry Christmas"
   any more, even as they simultaneously believe Trump restored it, while
   at the same time also believing we still can't say it.

   Whether any of those claims are true or false, of course, is not the
   point for those making them. They are just more falsehoods in the
   circus parade of falsehoods Republicans have marched around the public
   square over the past decade, all of which have a single purpose: to
   make their fellow partisans angry and outraged at the "libs" and
   Democrats.
   To be clear, the Republican narrative about a supposed prohibition
   against saying "Merry Christmas" is 100% hogwash.

   No one banned saying "Merry Christmas." It is alive and well,
   unfettered. It is has never faded.

   I ought to know. I've had a front-row seat for the nation's celebration
   of Christmas for more than three decades. To a very small degree, I've
   even had a hand in helping shape that celebration in the nation's
   capital.

   During the 1990s, I became a volunteer Master of Ceremonies (MC) at the
   nightly musical programs at the National Christmas Tree in Presidents
   Park, located in the backyard of the White House. For the last decade
   or so, I have recruited, trained, coordinated and supervised all the
   other volunteer MCs at those programs, as well.

   The nightly programs run for about two weeks following the night the
   president officially lights the tree, launching the Christmas season.

   By the way, -- yes -- I'm talking about that National Christmas Tree.
   The one you see on TV every year when the national recording artists
   and Hollywood movie stars, along with the U.S. Marine Band join the
   President of the United States for a big show that is often nationally
   televised. The one where the president lights up the National Christmas
   Tree and gets the Christmas season officially on its way.

   That National Christmas Tree.

   You'd think if there was a ban on saying "Merry Christmas," that would
   be the place to start, right?

   So let me tell you what I have seen and heard over the years at these
   events to measure it against the claim that saying "Merry Christmas"
   has been banned.

   The first National Christmas Tree lighting I ever witnessed in person
   was in 1975, when President Gerald Ford did the honors. There was a
   musical program, he switched on the colorful tree lights, made some
   brief remarks, and then welcomed Santa who "surprised" everyone by
   dropping in. Then he wished the nation a "Merry Christmas."

   Since 1975, I have attended dozens of annual tree lighting ceremonies
   with the Presidents who followed Ford into and out of the White House.
   Calvin Coolidge was the 30th president of the United States from 1923
   to 1929. Credit: Wikipedia.

   Presidents have been doing this, by the way, since 1923 when
   then-President Calvin Coolidge started the tradition when he strolled
   over to a decorated tree on the White House grounds, flipped the
   switch, made a very brief speech (they didn't call him Silent Cal for
   no reason!) and wished everyone a "Merry Christmas." That tradition
   will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year.

   Every president since then -- Coolidge through Biden -- has done
   exactly the same thing: enjoy the show, flip the switch to light the
   tree, deliver brief remarks, and wish the nation a "Merry Christmas."

   While the presidents have changed and even the actual trees have
   changed, that basic program structure has not significantly changed in
   99 years.

   Those of us who serve as MCs at the nightly musical programs also
   extend "Merry Christmas" greetings to the crowds who visit the tree
   each night. No one has ever suggested to me that we shouldn't say
   "Merry Christmas," and, in turn, I have never suggested to any of the
   MCs that I recruit, train, coordinate and supervise that they shouldn't
   say it.

   Of course they should say it!

   We are standing on a stage in front of the National Christmas Tree.

   The air is filled with Christmas music.

   Presidents Park is filled with Christmas decorations
   and Christmas ornamentations.

   The speech the President delivers on the night the tree is first lit is
   all about Christmas.

   And yet the Republican anger and outrage factory persists with the
   falsehood that "Merry Christmas" has somehow been banned.

   As I said earlier -- it seems to me that if the government was going to
   ban "Merry Christmas," the National Christmas Tree is where it would
   start. There is no sign of it here, and there never has been.

   I remember the night, Dec. 22, 1963, when I was a fifth grader growing
   up in Van Meter, Iowa, and I first discovered we had a National
   Christmas Tree. It was before supper, and I was watching the CBS
   Evening News with Walter Cronkite. Mid-newscast, Cronkite switched to a
   live broadcast from the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C. The
   lighting of the tree had special significance that year, because it
   also marked the end of the 30-day national mourning period following
   the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

   When the new president, who America was still getting to know --
   President Lyndon B. Johnson - turned the switch to light the tree, I
   was absolutely mesmerized. (And we had a black and white TV!)

   I promised myself right then, that one day I would see the National
   Christmas Tree in person, maybe even personally witness a president
   light it up.

   Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day I would not only
   do that multiple times, but I would also actually be a part of the
   National Christmas Tree festivities, even in a small way.

   Something else I never imagined: that a bunch of "bah-humbug"
   politicians one day would see Christmas not as a joyous time to
   celebrate the birth of Christ, with peace on Earth and good will to our
   fellow men and women, but would instead view it as just one more
   cudgel, an opportunity to weaponize Christmas with falsehoods to divide
   us and make their followers angry and outraged.

   And that one of those "bah-humbug," cudgel-wielding politicians would
   be a President of the United States and many of his followers.

   To those who continue to spread the falsehood that we can't say "Merry
   Christmas," I say, please. Knock it off. Just stop.

   Instead, have yourself a Merry Christmas!

   This column was originally published by [33]Barry Piatt on Politics:
   -Behind the Curtain. It is republished here via the [34]Iowa Writers'
   Collaborative.

   X

Who says we can't say `Merry Christmas?'

   by Barry Piatt, [35]Florida Phoenix
   December 25, 2022

   <h1>Who says we can't say `Merry Christmas?'</h1>___________
   <p>by Barry Piatt, <a href="https://floridaphoenix.com">Flor
    <p><a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/wp-content/uplo
   <p>Donald Trump, as president, even added his own absurd twi
   <p>To be sure, SNL was mocking both claims. But plenty of pe
   <p>Whether any of those claims are true or false, of course,
   <div class="subscription-widget-wrap">______________________
   <div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe">____________
   <div class="preamble">To be clear, the Republican narrative 
   </div>______________________________________________________
   </div>______________________________________________________
   <p>No one banned saying "Merry Christmas." It is alive and w
   <p>I ought to know. I've had a front-row seat for the nation
   <p>During the 1990s, I became a volunteer Master of Ceremoni
   <p>The nightly programs run for about two weeks following th
   <p>By the way, -- <em>yes</em> -- I'm talking about <em>that
   <p><em>That</em> National Christmas Tree.</p>_______________
   <p>You'd think if there was a ban on saying "Merry Christmas
   <p>So let me tell you what I have seen and heard over the ye
   <p>The first National Christmas Tree lighting I ever witness
   <p>Since 1975, I have attended dozens of annual tree lightin
   <figure><a href="http://floridaphoenix.com/wp-content/upload
   <p>Presidents have been doing this, by the way, since 1923 w
   <p>Every president since then -- Coolidge through Biden -- h
   <p>While the presidents have changed and even the actual tre
   <p>Those of us who serve as MCs at the nightly musical progr
   <p><em>Of course</em> they should say it!</p>_______________
   <p>We are standing on a stage in front of the National <em>C
   <p>The air is filled with <em>Christmas </em>music.</p>_____
   <p>Presidents Park is filled with C<em>hristmas</em> decorat
   <p>The speech the President delivers on the night the tree i
   <p>And yet the Republican anger and outrage factory persists
   <p>As I said earlier -- it seems to me that if the governmen
   <p>I remember the night, Dec. 22, 1963, when I was a fifth g
   <p>When the new president, who America was still getting to 
   <p>I promised myself right then, that one day I would see th
   <p>Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day I w
   <p>Something else I never imagined: that a bunch of "bah-hum
   <p>And that one of those "bah-humbug," cudgel-wielding polit
   <p>To those who continue to spread the falsehood that we can
   <p>Instead, have yourself a Merry Christmas!</p>____________
   <p><em>This column was originally published by <a href="http
   <style> figure, .tipContainer, .socContainer, .subscribeShor
   ____________________________________________________________
    <p><a href="https://floridaphoenix.com">Florida Phoenix</a>
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   Barry Piatt
   [38]

Barry Piatt

   Barry Piatt has had a front row seat for state and national government
   and politics for over 50 years, working first as a political reporter
   in Iowa, and later as a senior advisor for members of the U.S. House
   and Senate and candidates for U.S. president. His blog, Barry Piatt on
   Politics: -Behind the Curtain, is on Substack.
   [39]MORE FROM AUTHOR

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