Political correctness is again turning the United States' Christmas scene on its ear this year. Arguments continue to rage over what to call the "real live" national evergreen tree, now firmly planted in the nation's Capitol on the Ellipse.

What is it: a holiday tree or a Christmas tree?

Those who say "holiday tree" point out that it offends Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, atheists and the American Civil Liberties Union if we use "Christmas," claiming Christ must be taken out of the national "holiday" celebration.

Looking back over the years, it has become evident to me that the gap between what the Bible says to do, and what its alleged followers actually do, has reached near absurd proportions.

Contrary to what most people think, the trappings of Christmas are not based on Jesus Christ of the Bible, but are deeply rooted in pre-Christian oral legends, sanitized by theologians, historians and, in some instances, the editorial rooms of more modern times. Of all these legends, none has grown to the stature and popularity of that of Santa Claus.

On Tuesday, December 20, 2005, ABC aired a special two-hour program entitled, "Heaven: Where Is It? How Do We Get There?" To produce the program, Barbara Walters spent a whole year traveling the world, "interviewing religious leaders, scientists, believers and non-believers alike to get a range of perspectives on heaven and the afterlife."

With all that's happened this past week life has certainly changed for many of us. My brother and I were in hurricane Katrina while visiting family and friends back in Mississippi this past week. My cousin's home was flooded as she lived in New Orleans and has moved out to be with her children in California and will be looking for work. Our mother's home was spared, being in Jackson, Mississippi; however, the home was without power for over a week until just yesterday. We lost several trees and one landed on the roof of my grandfather's home out in the country just north of Clinton.