Many Believe That Christmas is Under Fire from Political Correcctness
WHITFIELD: A nativity scene on a Michigan family's front lawn has become the latest battle front over political correctness this holiday season. Is it crossing the line? Our Delia Gallagher has the story.</s>DELIA GALLAGHER, FAITH & VALUES CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the first silent night the Samona household has had in a while. They, and their nativity scene have been at the center of a Christmas controversy.</s>BETTY SAMONA, NATIVITY SCENE OWNER: I start crying. How I'm going take the nativity down? How I'm going to take mother of God, Mary, down? Really I was surprised.</s>GALLAGHER: Surprised to receive a letter from the neighborhood association, demanding the Samonas remove the creche in their front yard or face a fine. For these Iraqi immigrants who came to the United States three decades ago in search of freedom the letter hit hard.</s>SAMONA: We here in a free country, we're American citizens. We were shocked when we receive the letters, you know? How this has happened?</s>GALLAGHER: The home owner's association that governs this Novi, Michigan, suburb said the Samonas were in violation of a rule that prohibits lawn ornaments, but the letter did not mention any of the other lawn ornaments. Nothing about removing Santa or Winnie or Mini. Just quote, please remove the nativity scene display.</s>JOSEPH SAMONA, SON: A lot of people who don't celebrate Christmas have Winnie the Pooh or have Santa Claus, it's just what Christmas, but they specifically commented on the nativity scene.</s>GALLAGHER: Battles like this have been playing out across the country, in what some are calling a war on Christmas. For instance, in the center of Chicago, this is not a Christmas tree. Officially it's a holiday tree. In Boston, it was a holiday tree until there was such a huge ruckus, the mayor declared.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a Christmas tree as long as I'm around.</s>GALLAGHER: In stores like Target and Wal-Mart, shoppers are generally greeted with "happy holidays." Both stores say it's up to the individual greeter. (on camera): Here in the Time Warner lobby, where CNN's offices are just upstairs, the holiday decorations are striking. Over here a Kwanzaa table, on this side, the Menorah. Right in between them, a Christmas tree? No, a snowflake tree. (voice-over): To some, it's a flat-out conspiracy to take Christ out of Christmas. Death by political correctness. Not surprisingly, the usual suspects are fighting back.</s>REV. JERRY FALWELL, CHMN., FAITH & VALUES COALITION: Breaking man's law enables us to keep God's law.</s>GALLAGHER: The Reverend Jerry Fallwell has a battalion of lawyers poised and ready to keep the Grinch from stealing Christmas. But not everyone is buying it.</s>REV. BARRY LYNN, AMER. UNITED FOR SEP. CHURCH & STATE: There is no one trying to eradicate Christmas in the United States. This is mainly a fund-raising gimmick for a couple of right of center interest groups. Anybody who wants to put up a private display on their front lawn, or wear a tee shirt, or hat or pin to school, has my full support, even if the message is religious. No one is trying to stop individual people from exercising their right to celebrate Christmas.</s>GALLAGHER: Which brings us back to the Samonas; their story has a happy ending. The neighborhood association sent a letter of apology, saying, "We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or distress this confusion has caused you and your family." That means the Samonas can keep their creche.</s>J. SAMONA: We did accept the apology, that doesn't mean we're not upset.</s>GALLAGHER: Upset, but willing to forgive.</s>FRANK SAMONA, NATIVITY SCENE OWNER: Christmas time is all about love and care and forgiveness. We do forgive them and put this behind us and move on with our lives.</s>GALLAGHER: That's the Christmas, I mean, holiday spirit.</s>WHITFIELD: And that was faith and values correspondent, Delia Gallagher. One thing you won't find under the Kwanzaa table, or the Menorah or the Christmas tree, these lovely pandas. They are a panda protection center, I guess gift in China. They're experiencing a panda boom. Sixteen of these fluffy cubs have been born since July. And the brood includes five sets of twins. In case you're wondering, 38 giant pandas were artificially impregnated this year. More panda cubs are expected. Still much more ahead on CNN LIVE SATURDAY with Carol Lin. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. Have a great evening.