But no more. Those Christmases exist now only in the memories of those who grew up in an America that is gone, too. Atheists and secularists who would never dare protest the celebration of Ramadan or Eid in Egypt, Saudi Arabia or Iran have silenced the children's songs in America's public schools. They've managed to remove nativity scenes from the public square and in order to be politically correct, Americans have learned to say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas". Children no longer get a Christmas vacation from school but rather go on winter break. If there are any department stores left in the cities, they most likely have iron bars on the windows, not fantastical worlds behind the glass. Dogs have their photos taken with Santa Claus, but children? Not so much. It's the rare child who has heard the poem "The Night Before Christmas". Even fewer know what a sugar plum is. Where once Christmas began on Christmas Eve when Santa trimmed the tree after the children went to sleep, Christmas decorations appear in big, box stores as soon as the jack-o-lanterns and ghosts are put away. Speaking of Halloween; it's as big a holiday as Christmas these days. Is it only a matter of time before we start exchanging Halloween gifts and not Christmas presents?

Time moves on and in its stately progress, so must we. Loss is never a loss when something is gained. But what did we gain by losing Christmas? Has anyone benefited by being wished Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas? What harm was there in a nativity scene in the public square? Are the children better off because they don't sing "Silent Night" in school? And when the silver bells finally fall silent and the brightly colored lights go out, what are we left with but just another bleak, winter day?