It’s safe to say ‘Merry Christmas’

he “Merry Christmas” versus “Happy Holidays” debate is back at the Georgia Legislature.

A Republican lawmaker is reviving a bill that would prohibit state and county government agencies and school boards from banning “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukkah” or any other such holiday expressions.

The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Clay Cox (R-Lilburn), says he has heard from teachers, public employees and students who were afraid to say “Merry Christmas.”

House Bill 12 “protects free speech of our public employees and our students,” Cox told the House Civil Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, before the panel gave the measure preliminary approval. The bill would apply to all public and legal holidays.

The bill drew criticism from some Democrats, who argued it was not needed, and the Georgia School Boards Association, which found it confusing.

Before endorsing the bill, the Judiciary Committee asked Cox if he could cite any examples of schools attempting to curb speech. Cox said fliers for a holiday parade in Lilburn were not distributed at a local school last year because the word ”Christmas” was printed on them. Cox declined to identify the school other than to say it is an elementary school in his legislative district.

“Students were instead — on an announcement — encouraged that if they wished, they could attend a ‘winter parade’ at the city of Lilburn on Main Street,” Cox said. “And that is just absurd.”

A spokeswoman for Gwinnett County schools said the district was not aware of the situation Cox described.

“We don’t bar employees or others from wishing anyone a Merry Christmas,” Gwinnett schools spokeswoman Sloan Roach said. Roach added that Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks wished employees a “Merry Christmas” in a December newsletter.

The bill is similar to legislation Cox introduced last year. It passed the House then but did not come to a vote in the Senate because of time constraints, he said.

The question of whether government employees should say “Merry Christmas” or the more generic “Happy Holidays” has flared as part of a wider debate about a “war on Christmas.”

Some Christian groups have complained about government agencies and major retailers taking the words “Merry Christmas” out of seasonal displays. Some stores restored “Christmas” greetings last year.

Sadie Fields, chairwoman of the Georgia Christian Alliance, said her organization supports Cox’s bill.

“At this moment in our history, Christian symbols are being discriminated against, and it is unfortunate that we have to have legislation,” she said. “But if that’s what it takes, that’s what it takes.”

A high-ranking Republican House leader predicted the bill has a good chance of passing the General Assembly this year because the debate has started early in the legislative session.

“There is a recognition by the people of Georgia — and therefore their representatives — that political correctness has run amok,” said House Majority Whip Barry Fleming (R-Harlem).

Some Democrats acknowledged that the bill puts them in a tight spot.

The bill “is unnecessary,” House Minority Leader DuBose Porter (D-Dublin) said, “but if it hits the floor, people are going to vote for ‘Merry Christmas’ and I will, too.”

Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver (D-Decatur), who serves on the Judiciary Committee, voted against the bill last year and is still critical of it. “It seems to be inviting just a new round of litigation that will be expensive and painful,” she said.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia said it has not found any evidence of schools banning children from saying “Merry Christmas.”

“We support legislation that strengthens student speech rights,” said Maggie Garrett, legislative director for the ACLU of Georgia. “We are just suggesting they strengthen the bill to make clear what students can and cannot say.”

The Georgia School Boards Association also raised concerns Tuesday, calling the bill “confusing.”

Under HB 12, government agencies and schools would still be allowed to enforce regulations preventing “unlawful speech or expression” that disrupts classwork or violates the rights of others.

The bill “would seem to prohibit a board from prohibiting an employee or student from any expression relating to a holiday or sort of anything else,” said Angela Palm of the school board association. “But then it also grants that you can limit unlawful speech. So I’m not sure where that exactly would leave us.”

Gary Zindars, a retired air traffic controller from Marietta, said he supports the bill.

“I believe this nation was founded on Christianity, and that is why we came over here to America,” Zindars, whose granddaughter attends a Cobb County elementary school, said in an interview. “And we don’t seem to have a problem with anybody else’s religions, but now the minority seems to have a problem with ours.”

Zindars was among the readers who posted comments under an article about the bill on ajc.com Tuesday.

A reader who identified herself only as “Deborah” wrote, “I would think the GA Legislature would have more important things to do than this. This is exactly why the state is always at the bottom of everything, except maybe traffic congestion.”