Is There a War on Christmas?

The holiday decorations are up at City Hall Park in Dearborn: A sprawling, lit-up "Season's Greetings" welcomes drivers and pedestrians on Michigan Avenue in east downtown. And next to it, a Christmas nativity scene.

Is it an OK display for the holiday season?

In November, Santa Monica officials opted to forego their traditional Christmas display due to pushback from local athiests. Several area churches involved with the setup sued, but their case was dismissed in federal court on Nov. 30, according to the Santa Monica Daily Press.

Also this month in Michigan, a Warren man won his court battle to be able to put up a nativity scene on Mound Road. According to Fox 2, it was something his family had done since the 1940s, until being stopped by Macomb County officials in 2008.

The display will be up by Dec. 15.

These manger scene legal scuffles are some of the latest battles in what many—headed up by national TV station Fox News—have dubbed the "War on Christmas." From the use of Happy Holidays over Merry Christmas, to the end of Christmas trees and manger scenes in many municipalities, some argue that the nation is choosing political correctness over "the reason for the season."

But some cities—Dearborn included—celebrate the Christian holiday publicly without complaint. Dexter has a nativity scene, as well as Birmingham and Troy, which are set up by area churches. Plymouth has a scene in its downtown every year, but also has a Jewish menorah to honor Hanukkah.

Farmington has bypassed a specific holiday display in favor of a "unity candle."

So, Patch readers, let's hear what you have to say:

What do you think of Dearborn's nativity scene? Do you think there's a War on Christmas?