Hello faithful readers (take that how you will): I’ve been thinking a bit more on this “war” on Christmas. I was reading from this conservative blog when I realized that we may be unified in strongly disliking commercialism. I remember this little epiphany I had years ago — I’m sure it is a common epiphany. I think even Dr. Spock had it. All you need is love. The Beatles certainly had it. We all want to be accepted for who we are and appreciated. That’s really not such a bad thing. Let’s try to not put people on the defensive. When people feel threatened, they attack. Okay, not earth shattering. Try to see the other perspective, be empathetic.
I don’t know that anyone really ever had that much of a problem with Christmas itself. The complaining I’ve heard is that it is Christmas season from Halloween until Mid-January, that everywhere you look, you are slapped in the face with it. I know many Christians who complain about the fact that they have to listen to “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” in early November. What is the cause of this? Capitalism and retail.
Culturally, non-Christians often get annoyed with Christmas, because it seems like the only holiday. For years, Jews did not get off on major Jewish holidays. We did not get Diwali off from school. Kwanzaa? What do we do for Ramadan? If one does take off for a religious observance, then s/he is excluded from the rest of what is going on. If I kept my child home for Diwali, s/he would miss a day of school. I believe there has been a move to secularize Christmas to make it more inclusive. Let’s celebrate all the holidays that happen during this season. It is not to exclude God. Ultimately, I think the message we want to send goes something like this: It is fine for you to worship your god; just be respectful of me worshipping mine.
It seems like it’s such a better idea to come together as a community rather than to exclude, and I do not understand this tendency to exclude.
December 20th, 2005 at 10:33 pm
I completely agree. I don’t mind the season so much as the constant nagging and “in-your-face”-ness of the whole thing. I mean, thank god 106.7 in both Boston and New York is playing all Christmas songs non-stop or else I don’t know where I’d get my fix. (Also thank god I got “Hollywood sings Christmas” a few years ago so I can keep that spirit alive the rest of the year)
Personally, I’d be happier if people forgot all the holidays, and instead just said what they really thought. Don’t say you’re going to show how to decorate a “Holiday” table when you’re planning on showing how to decorate a table using red, green and silver. Just say “Merry Christmas” if that’s what you feel. I won’t think any less of you.
(that having been said) Happy Holidays to everyone
December 20th, 2005 at 10:44 pm
I actually tried to respond to the blog I linked to, and my comment isn’t up. Am I being censored? Weird, eh? Land of the free, home of the brave…
December 23rd, 2005 at 10:32 am
Then again, it is the “blogosphere”.
December 24th, 2005 at 11:11 am
Update: My comment has been posted.
Josh — color me naive (and a bit of a luddite), but I’m not sure what your response of “it is the ‘blogosphere’ ” means in response to my rant….
November 25th, 2006 at 1:25 am
Speaking of the war on Christmas, Best Buy has just dug their heels in and returned to the trenches by banning the greeting, “Merry Christmas” from their advertising campaign this Christmas.
I’ve been fighting back with this song (feel free to use it in your campaign if you like it):
Best Buy Inn
Dr. BLT (c) 2006
http://www.drblt.net/music/BestBI.mp3
for more information, visit my blog:
http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/blognroll/2759
or my website:
http://www.drblt.net
November 26th, 2006 at 12:49 pm
Bruce — How did you get the impression that I wouls wand to fight back to be able to use “Merry Christmas”? Clearly, I believe in taking a more secular and inclusive stance. Therefore, I have no campaign.