On Dec. 11, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution acknowledging the significance of Christmas and Christianity. The resolution passed by just over 97 percent. That is right, 327 representatives approved of the resolution, and at least nine voted against it. Ten representatives voted “present,” and 40 did not vote.
The resolution’s sponsor, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, expressed astonishment over the “no” votes. King said he could not understand how members of Congress could vote against the measure after the House approved without opposition similar resolutions honoring observances of Islam and Hinduism.
King’s measure recognized Christianity as “one of the great religions of the world,” expressed support for Christians in this country and other countries, acknowledged the “international religious and historical significance of Christmas and the Christian faith” and renounced persecution against Christians in this country and around the world.
On Oct. 2, 2007, the House voted 376-0 for a measure that expressed some of the same sentiments toward Muslims. It also recognized Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. That roll call included 42 members voting “present” and 14 not voting.
On Oct. 29, 2007, representatives voted 358-0 for a resolution that honored Diwali, the Indian festival of lights that is celebrated by Hindus, as well as Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. The roll call showed eight members voting “present,” and 66 not voting.
“I would like to know how they could vote ‘yes’ on Islam, ‘yes’ on the Indian religions and ‘no’ on Christianity when the foundation of this nation and our American culture is Christianity . . . I think there’s an assault on Christianity,” King told Fox News, according to a release from his office.
Of the nine representatives, all Democrats, who voted against the Christmas resolution, seven supported both the Ramadan and Diwali measures. Those seven were Rep. Gary Ackerman and Rep. Yvette Clarke, both of New York; Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado; Rep. Jim McDermott of Washington; Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia; and Rep. Pete Stark and Rep. Lynn Woolsey, both of California. Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida did not vote on the Diwali resolution, and Rep. Barbara Lee failed to record a vote on the Ramadan measure.
These representatives certainly had the right to vote against Christmas, but do these representatives honestly find Christmas and Christianity insignificant? Is Christianity not one of the great religions of the world? Is it right to persecute followers of any religion?
We would like to encourage our readers to express their disappointment to the Christmas humbugs who voted against the resolution by visiting http://www.house.gov/writerep.
