Columnists | Opinion

Political columnist: Bad Santa display leaves town cross, free speech forsaken

By Ryan Campbell

Posted on Dec. 07, 2011, at 11:38 p.m.

Ah, Christmas — a time for loving, sharing, caring, and crucifying Santa.

On Dec. 5, reports came from residents of Leesburg, Va., that a crucified Santa Claus was on display in front of the Loudon County Courthouse. The display, which was put up by Jeff Heflin Jr. after going through all the necessary paperwork, was erected to “depict society’s materialistic obsessions and addictions and how it is killing the peace, love, joy and kindness that is supposed to be prevalent during the holiday season.”

The display was quickly taken down, either by those who love Jesus or still believe in Santa Claus, which stirs up yet another debate regarding freedom of speech and what Christmas should be about.

Freedom of speech is one of the most valuable gifts we’ve been given in this country. We can’t compromise it for everyone just because we are afraid of what it means for a large interest group, or even an individual.

Preventing someone from expressing him- or herself is a slippery slope. If we ban an artistic interpretation of a holiday in a public place, should all public places be devoid of all forms of art?

If we don’t allow individuals to interpret a holiday this way, in what other ways can’t it be defined?

Being cognizant of this, the board of supervisors who permitted the display weren’t in the wrong for doing so. More importantly, the artist wasn’t attempting to falsify a Christian holiday; instead, he was illustrating — in the best way he knew how — what he believes the holiday has become.

The truth is, Christmas has shifted far from its origins. Rather than being about the coming of the Messiah for the Christians, the holiday has become over-commercialized and devoid of its historical relevance.

The “Christmas season” begins with Black Friday when, nearly every year, we hear stories about people being murdered — yes, murdered — over plasma screens, power tools and holiday hand towels. And whether you’re an atheist or a devout Catholic, we can all agree this is not how Christmas began.

Supervisor-elect Kenneth Reid, who represents the town of Leesburg, went on record saying, “How offensive [it is] to children, especially, to see a beloved symbol of the holidays crucified.” If anything, he should have said, “How offensive to Christians to see the beloved image of the crucifix defamed by putting someone other than Jesus on it.”

Reed is clearly offended by the display — it did, after all, take a heavily commercialized image celebrated as innocent among youngsters and place it within a complex, symbolic territory that veers toward the grotesque — but his vehement criticism based upon the perspective of children, disallows him from receiving the actual message sent specifically to people such as himself.

The display was never meant for young eyes; rather, it was intended to be seen by adults who may be raising kids or at least participating first-hand in this evolving tradition, which in turn has mutated tremendously from the true origins of Christmas.

They, after all, are the demographic able to change their compromised Christmas practices to become more in line with what the holiday is actually about.

No, Christmas is not solely about Jesus anymore, but it also shouldn’t be entirely devoted to bargains on electronics as it has been as of late. It’s about a new birth of generosity, giving and family. And if the crucifixion of Santa is the jolt people need to get back to that original idea, the First Amendment in this country is in place to allow it.

Christmas doesn’t have to be about the birth of Jesus for everyone, but it should be about love and gratitude for the gifts we have been given. No one can deny that our freedom of speech is one of America’s greatest gifts.

The crucified Santa is a testament to the great liberties our country has given us. So whether you’re a scientologist or a follower of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, everyone does and must continue to have a voice, and to listen carefully.

Happy Holidays.

Ryan Campbell is a fourth-year political science student. His columns will appear every Thursday.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 7th, 2011, 11:38 pm. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.