By Bill O'Reilly

Whenever the far-left viciously attacks you know you are on to something. Every year when we report Secular Progressive assaults on the traditions of Christmas, the crazy left loons begin a vitriolic campaign to diminish me and this program. There is a reason why they are doing that. And it has nothing to do with Santa Claus.

Let's take it step-by-step. No one tells you a person could possibly see a secular display of Christmas as an imposition of religion. When the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree here in New York City was lighted last night no one threw themselves to the ground screaming about Jesus. That did not happen. New York City police did not round up the onlookers and force them into Saint Patrick's Cathedral a block away. Nothing religious happened at the tree lighting. It was just a fun occasion.

Also you heard an atheist on this program last night say the federal holiday of Christmas imposes religion on him. What religion would that be? He says Christianity. But Christianity is not an organized religion, a church that can be imposed. There are many different churches that promote the Christian philosophy in many different ways.

Does the atheist think the federal government is promoting Mormonism? Lutheranism? Catholicism? What? After that interview the crazy Web site People emerged screaming that I'm wrong. Christianity is indeed a religion. This people are so stupid, it's painful.

Christianity is a philosophy. You don't have to believe Jesus is God in order to admire his view on life.

Millions of Muslims admire Jesus as a prophet. In fact the United States was founded on Judeo-Christian philosophy, that's what shaped our constitutional tenets. Again if you are stone-cold dumb and don't understand the difference between an organized church and a philosophy, I cannot help you.

In 1927, President Calvin Coolidge made my point when he sent this Christmas message to the American people, quote, "Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy is to have the real spirit of Christmas. If we think on these things there will be born in us a savior and over us will shine a star sending its gleam of hope to the world", unquote.

That's from my private collection, by the way. Is Calvin Coolidge promoting religion in that Christmas greeting? Of course not. He is promoting a mind set of goodwill. Now the more intelligent far-left people realize that what I'm telling you is absolutely correct. Historically and theologically but many of them don't care, they want any hint of spirituality out of the public square.

Earlier this week, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee was asked by a reporter exactly why he will not call the state Christmas tree a "Christmas tree."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: Do you understand how some people feel like you have somehow negated their traditions?

CHAFEE: Yes. You're absolutely right, either its gay marriage or accepting immigrants. You're absolutely right. They don't want to believe this is -- time are changing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'REILLY: Times are changing are they. The Governor told you the truth. He is tying the Christmas situation into secular progressive politics. Mr. Chafee wants to ignore traditions of America and build a more inconclusive nation where Judeo-Christian philosophy is tamped down. That's the big picture here. That's the big picture it's what it's all about.

The secular progressives want a new America and traditional Christmas isn't a part of it.

And that's "The Memo."

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