Much to my dismay, the holiday season is yet again upon us like a bad case of the flu; it's clogging our airwaves, flushing our cheeks and generally making us sick to our stomachs. This year, though, the strain seems to be a bit worse, a bit viler and a bit more extreme.

Just this week, Denver resident Lisa Jensen faced threats of fines when her subdivision's homeowners' association claimed her peace-shaped wreath was a "protest of the Iraq war" and possibly even a "symbol of Satan." When Jensen defended her door decoration against the board, several of her neighbors supported her, pledging to pay the daily fines on her behalf. Thankfully, the board was reminded of the existence of the first amendment, and has since apologized for its actions and recanted the threats.

Here in Madison, the holiday fever continues to rise with the state Capitol's annual press release on when and where each holiday decoration will be located. And we're not just talking about a few lights and a tree, but a laundry list ranging from a Menorah to an interfaith display to the infamous 35-foot Holiday Tree. There is undoubtedly something that will please — or at least appease — everyone.

And across the country in Los Angeles, factory workers were busy manufacturing a shipment of Jesus dolls. The one-foot-tall dolls preach Bible verses — we're talking "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" — with a simple push of a button. In fact, many news sites are offering a link to a video showing exactly what the doll says, in case you have any doubt (or would like to place an order).

Now, of course, there is no problem with a little religious fun, but controversy ensued when the dolls — manufactured by "one2believe," a subsidiary of the Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Co. — were shipped to the Marine Reserves' Toys for Tots campaign.

The branch of the Toys for Tots program that is sponsored by the Marines, according to the mission statement on their website, aims to "deliver, through a shiny new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to needy youngsters that will motivate them to grow into responsible, productive, patriotic citizens and community leaders."

So what should the Marines do? Take a shipment of Jesus dolls and risk having a little Jewish girl unwrap her gift, only to find a plush preacher? On the other hand, beggars can't be choosers, and a toy is a toy for unprivileged kids, right?

Wrong. According to The Associated Press, Bill Grein, the vice president of marine Toys for Tots Foundation, argued that had they accepted the toys they would have effectively been placing one religion over another, and the risk of sending a Jesus doll to either a child of a non-religious home or a different faith altogether was one that the marines were not willing to take. Needless to say, the doll company is disappointed by the rejection and seems to think that any child could benefit from religious teachings. And what better way to infuse religion into young, impressionable minds than through a toy that may wind up being the only present many kids get at Christmas, thanks to Toys for Tots?

While the Marines should be commended for their decision to deny the toys a place in the charity program, the problem truly originated in the doll company's assertion that there is nothing wrong with sending a charity like Toys for Tots religiously themed toys. I am certainly not barring the legitimacy of a Jesus doll's benefit to those who believe in such a thing. I am, however, noting the extreme absurdity that in this day and age, a company would think this is an appropriate place for such a toy.

But maybe I shouldn't be surprised at all. After all, the Denver woman got berated for a harmless wreath on her own door, and our own state Capitol is so cluttered with decorations from every religion under the sun that I'm not quite sure how anyone can navigate around the building at all. We seem to be so concerned that the religion we choose to believe in be adequately, and often excessively, represented during the holidays that we lose sight of the possibility that religion doesn't always need to be a factor. Underprivileged kids deserve toys — like Barbies and LEGOs — not Jesus dolls. They deserve a break, too.

Have you had your flu shot yet?

Emily Friedman ([email protected]) is a senior majoring in journalism and legal studies.