> all religions and/or cultures are welcomed in America.

I think that statement would be very controversial especially after 9/11.

> Nobody is hurt by American culture and/or religious beliefs.

And that one too (American Indians, citizens of Iraq)

> If this wasn’t true, then America would be the last place folks would risk their lives to live here.

People risk their lives to live all kinds of places. Iraq, etc...

> Of course Christmas is a worldwide holiday.

Do they celebrate christmas in China? India? Sri Lanka? Do you really think this is true?

I'm not at all saying to outlaw Christmas. I'm not saying that people shouldn't be allowed to celebrate.

> America is a Christian nation.

That statement seems to exclude people of other faiths (Jewish, Islam, Buddist etc) from being 'proper' Americans.

:-(

Isn't what a nation is determined by the make up of its citizens? There are a diversity of faiths in the USA (and indeed in most countries).

I guess I'm all for the seperation of church and state.

Not because I'm a killjoy...

But if the state won't give people a statutary holiday around Jewish, muslim, buddist festivals then why should the state give people a statutary holiday around christian festivals?

Because the majority are christian?

One problem for democracy is the problem of the tyrannical majority (not to suggest the majority are tyrannical). But the problem is that the majority is of course bigger than minority groups and if it is in the interests of the majority to ignore and / or persecute minority groups... Well... Democracy ain't so hot after all (at times). Sigh...

Thanks for the discussion people :-)