There is a war on Christmas. No, really. Every year around September or October, we start to hear about the Christmas (holiday) programs at our schools, or the Christmas displays at our city halls and community centers.

And every year the “anti”-Christ-anything people come out of the woodwork.

Recently the Arkansas Society of Freestinkers – sorry, I mean Freethinkers – asked the Little Rock School District to cancel a school outing to a Charlie Brown Christmas play.

Really. Why? You ask.

Reason One: There is a scripture reading about the story of Christmas, just like there is in the cartoon version that has been airing for 50 years and consistently pulls high ratings on TV.

Reason Two: The play is held at a church. Why at a church? Well, it’s a very sinister reason: It’s the only facility for a play that could hold that many kids. Well, we can’t have that.

And how many parents were up in arms over this field trip? Exactly one. YUP, just one.

A North Carolina college recently told a student group that it would not post notices about the group’s Christmas tree sale. Why? Because the college could not contribute in the promotion of a religion. Are you kidding? No, it’s true.

Since when is there a “Christmas tree” religion? And who follows it? Tree huggers?

Here’s a little history on the subject. The Christmas tree used to be called a “yule tree”. It had nothing – and still has nothing – to do with the Christian religion. The tree is sometimes referenced as a reminder of the cross – but that’s relatively recent.

The tree, mistletoe, presents, Santa Claus, lights, etc., have NOTHING to do with the Christian religion.

Actually, the “Christmas” season is a mix of many religious, non-religious and cultural beliefs including pagan, Nordic and German, just to name a few.

So why is all this “anti” aimed at Christians? Why not the Muslims who celebrate Ramadan in this country and take time from work and school, or the Jews during their high holy days, or even the atheists on April 1 – never mind. Scratch the last one.

And why is it that Democrats in power, governors, senators and others want to call it the “holiday tree”? We can’t celebrate a Christian holiday in the public arena, but most can take off the Christmas holiday and get paid for it, or work it and get paid time and a half or double-time. Really?

Most Republicans – you know, those Bible-thumping, gun-toting religious nuts – have no problem celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah or any other religious or non-religious expression you might want to have.

Why is it the party of tolerance is mostly intolerant to those of us who want to express ourselves with our particular holiday celebration, while the so-called party of “no” is more than willing to allow all people to celebrate their religious or non-religious celebration during the “holiday season?”

The so-called “party of the people” wants to squelch the wishes of more than 77 percent of the American people who say they have no problem calling it Christmas, the Christmas season, or a Christmas tree, and the party of “no” is willing to allow all people to celebrate as they see fit.

Has there been a change in the dictionary? Is it backwards day?

People, we have lost our minds. “Live and let live” is yesterday’s news. Respect for other people’s belief systems is almost completely gone. You’d better pay attention and speak up before it gets to the point where we’ll all have to read our Bibles, Korans, Torahs or even Wall Street Journals in the closet with a flashlight.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas. If you don’t celebrate Christmas, then merry “whatever” to you – and if you are offended, so be it.

Joe Messina is host of The Real Side (TheRealSide.com), a nationally syndicated talk show that runs on AM-1220 KHTS radio and SCVTV [here]. He is also an elected member of the Hart School Board. His commentary publishes Mondays.