Bringing Jesus Back

By Shawn Healy

The Christian Science Monitor contends that Christ is returning to Christmas in the form of nativity scenes in the public square and retail outlets re-emphasizing the event tied to Black Friday and the commericial flourish that follows. Although they failed to mention Chicago's exclusion of a screening of The Nativity Story at Daley Plaza's Christkindlmarket, cities elsewhere are apparently developing an awareness of the bounds of the First Amendment. Religious displays are not forbidden when couched with other non-secular symbols of the holiday season and/ or accompanied by emblems of other faiths. Moreover, consumers who feel that retailers have declared "war" on Christmas have taken it upon themselves to articulate deep-seated frustration with their feet, shopping at alternative venues, spending the almighty dollar elsewhere. In this holiday season money talks.