A Christmas tree

At this time of year in the United States a public and often angry debate takes place over religion and free speech. This year is no different. This report from Jane Little

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This year the talkshows seized upon a decision by the airport authorities in Seattle to remove all Christmas trees because a Jewish rabbi threatened to sue them if they didn't also display a menorah - a religious symbol for the Jewish festival of Hannukkah that coincides with the Christmas season. There was an outcry, the rabbi insisted he never wanted the trees removed and they were replaced when the lawsuit threat was withdrawn.

Ironically the Christmas tree is a secular symbol that has nothing to do with the story of the birth of Christ. But such facts don't get in the way of a heated battle over the soul of the nation. One side argues that religious liberty is at stake in a Christian country, the other that the constitutional separation of church and state is under threat. In recent years public companies have preferred to play it safe and to wish their employees and customers an inoffensive Happy Holidays.

But this year Christmas has made a comeback - perhaps due to a feeling that religion got too squeezed out of the public square or maybe because the society is now more secure in its pluralism. Whatever the reason shoppers are being wished a Merry Christmas, the stores apparently confident that such greetings won't drive them out of the door empty-handed.

Jane Little, BBC, USA

Listen to the words

Tis
It is (note: old English, now rarely used)

dubbed
called

seized upon
used (something because it gave you an opportunity to do something)

secular
non religious

a heated battle
an angry argument

the soul of the nation
here, the choice of religion of most people in that country

at stake
at risk (here, there is a chance that the freedom to celebrate your religion could be lost)

under threat
at risk

to play it safe
do something that will not offend or upset anyone

a comeback
a successful attempt to become important again

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