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Show There's room for everyone in Christmas No wonder, then, that 95 If there's a war over Christmas, as some argue, the percent of Americans celeanti-Christmas warriors are brate Christmas, according to a Fox News poll going to lose. But released earlier trie Christmas that this month - ifs emerges victoriin our Western ous will inevitably bones, even if we be different from 'Diher Voices are not Christians. the exclusively Christian Christmas for which Interestingly, according to the same polT, of those Americans supporters yearn The latest example of the who attend religious services, changeable and changing 39 percent answer that they nature of Christmas obser- go to "feel the power of God/' vanceis the new movie "The while nearly a quarter cite Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, "family tradition" and "sense the Witch and the Wardrobe," of community," based on the C.S. Lewis chilMeanwhile, it's a general rule dren's novels. that a religion flourishes when Ifs entirely possible to view it is under attack. And in the the film as a rollicking saga, early 21st century, Christianity without being aware that it is finds itself under assault from also a Christian allegory. Still, two sources: the film, opening Friday in time First, Islam. If Muslims for the holiday, is likely to be a assert their religion, Christians hit, because a) it is entertaining - and Jews, Hindusand others and b) it strikes deep Christian who are confronting militant chords. Islamism - are more likely to The fact is that one can assert theirs. Ifs a predictable barely turn around in America cycle of action and reaction. and not see the imprint of Second, secularism and its Christianity on our lives and offshoot, which might be called our minds. "litigationism," as preached by NaflView the American Civil Liberties Union. John Gibson, my colleague at Fox News, has written "The War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought/' detailing antireligious incidents strangely neglected by the mainstream media. Ifs possible that these forces and counterforces will lead to a "culture war." But probably not, at least .within the United States, and here's why. Market forces, broadly defined, will heal the breach. Capitalists have demonstrated a willingness to sell anything to anybody. So if more customers want Christmas, they will get it. The answer is syncretism a word derived from the Greek "synkretismos," or "union of communities." Kind of a sweet thought, fitting for the season. That's the commercial, political, mostly peaceful American way, and it sure beats the alternative. James P. Pinkerton wrote this column for Newsday. G& TW£ PHONG THAT CAN WIT AUf • Camera phono • Office quality speaker phone • Bluetooth* technology • Video capability • MP3 player • Internet access FREE STEREO HEADSET through December 31 with mail-in rebate K i nto(MUD Maun Save (80 jjtrovgb December.' -gam aappom tart ' tnr ml tw I AM ML U*m tftw Mimi0*l*mMttaK*tilft1SlM Ite.lMbl Ac fcitfm krtfttfc. America's Choice fcr $9.99 mmtfy aCEeSfcreedi aJdtimd line Old* Fanify tfbyou UiUnrM OCBIhi b-oilivtii otter VUoi W « l m curiums vhan o U v Fran thi '69 or fftf a fa* f •tii i- a- sy fifth m n n g CDM •ttai mlhi EttnvtHi ensional Sknpb H ±,7*t%pJ**tm*.9m* Br ate rittt* H I n mammt 765-6700 NSURANCE From page 13 784-0800 NORTH LOGAN companies willing to contract with Utah State University. During the past five years, USU has sent proposals out to approximately 18 insurance companies with only three (including the current carrier) responding with a bid. Other companies respond simply by stating that, unless our institution implements a mandatory insurance requirement, their company is not interested in providing a health insurance plan for USU students. The only option that will improve this situation and allow USU to retain a student health insurance plan for students would be to adopt a mandatory insurance requirement for all students in order to attend Utah State University, necessitating that all students show proof of insurance before enrollment. Many states, including Idaho, California and Massachusetts, making a large commitment have implemented a manda- to the student's education, this tory insurance requirement for would allow Utah State to make sure that there is a provision for our students to get necessary medical care in order "I don't think students to stay healthy and to stay in understand that school. Utah State University choosing not to carry isn't trying to get students to some form of health buy the university health care plan, only to have insurance. insurance can possibly Utah State University cares affect them for the rest about our student's opinions of their lives." - « - ^ and would like to invite all NoellHansen students to join an open forum Insurance Specialist held by the Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) all State higher education insti- on Wednesday, November tutions and it has proven suc- 14th at 9 a.m. on the west side of the international lounge in cessful. Implementing a mandatory the Taggart Student Center to insurance requirement at USU discuss the issue of mandatory would allow our institution to insurance. offer insurance plans at lower Noell Hansen is an insurance rates and because both the specialist at the Student Health student and the institution are and Wellness Center. 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