Of course Christmas and Christmas have been important to the United States, if for no other reason than that it transforms the bottom lines of many businesses from red to black. For the most part (this election cycle being the exception because of the front-loading of the primaries and Iowa caucuses) it mostly silences the politicians, which is the perfect gift for most of us! But it also gives Congress a way to identify with a feel-good sentiment expressed in such classic films as "It's A Wonderful Life," "The Bishop's Wife," and "White Christmas."

The key to such resolutions is that they not be too specific. Congress wouldn't want to go on record as affirming the greatest contribution ever made: God's gift to Man -- salvation in and through Jesus Christ. It is instructive that language about Jesus was deleted from the resolution before it passed, making the Christmas and Christian resolution no more significant than National Pickle Week to some members of Congress.