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The War on Good Cheer
Author: BobR
Date: 2013-12-04 12:05:04
Last week on Thanksgiving day, I wrote about the impending "holiday" season, and how Black Friday shopping had slipped into Thanksgiving day. It's December and we are now officially in it, for better and for worse. The dichotomy between the purported message and the reality of how Christmas is treated never ceases to jar me with cognitive dissonance.
As always, Black Friday set the ugly tone early on. It used to be just rudeness. Now, there are fistfights, stabbings, shootings... How long before someone is killed trying to save a few bucks on a video game machine?
Then of course, there is the annual FOX "News" grim declaration of a war on Christmas (something Bill O'Reilly's been harping on for at least 8 years). They are part of a handful of angry purists who get upset when their Christmas tree (stolen from the pagans) is referred to as a "holiday" tree. There's also the wreaths and yule log (all taken from the pagan yule holiday) that they hold so dear with nary a trace of irony.
Who would Jesus stab at the Wal-Mart to get that deeply discounted TV to celebrate His birthday?
On the other hand, we have the hard-core anti-religion types for whom even a decorated tree on public property is a step too far. I have had an argument with a woman who was upset when someone hung a wreath in her apartment building's public space. Really? Is THIS the battle you want to fight?
Yes, I celebrate a 100% secular Christmas. It holds no religious meaning to me, so I don't see Santa or trees or wreaths or stockings or any of the other decorations as having any religious significance. I just like how they look and the warmth and color they bring to the dreary days of winter. To me, the religious caroles and stories are just that - stories like Santa and Frosty and Rudolph.
There are so many problems in this world that deserve our concern and outrage and advocacy. The vaguely religious roots of a national holiday are not one of them, neither for those opposed to the supposed embrace of religion by government, nor the supposed persecution of it either (neither of which is occurring).
I say "Merry Christmas" because I want people to enjoy the holiday, even if they don't observe it and see it as just another day on the calendar. Can't we do that? Can't we have one day a year where people put away the bullshit and just be nice to each other?
It's 3 weeks away - anything is possible. Maybe we should practice - starting now.
As always, Black Friday set the ugly tone early on. It used to be just rudeness. Now, there are fistfights, stabbings, shootings... How long before someone is killed trying to save a few bucks on a video game machine?
A shooting was also reported Thursday night in Las Vegas...
A police officer in Rialto, Calif., was also injured Thursday night when a fight broke out at a local Walmart.
In Virginia, a man was allegedly slashed with a knife during an altercation with another shopper over a parking space at a Walmart.
A stabbing was reported early Friday morning in Carlsbad, Calif. The victim in that case was stabbed in the stomach at the entrance of a mall, according to NBC San Diego.
Then of course, there is the annual FOX "News" grim declaration of a war on Christmas (something Bill O'Reilly's been harping on for at least 8 years). They are part of a handful of angry purists who get upset when their Christmas tree (stolen from the pagans) is referred to as a "holiday" tree. There's also the wreaths and yule log (all taken from the pagan yule holiday) that they hold so dear with nary a trace of irony.
Who would Jesus stab at the Wal-Mart to get that deeply discounted TV to celebrate His birthday?
On the other hand, we have the hard-core anti-religion types for whom even a decorated tree on public property is a step too far. I have had an argument with a woman who was upset when someone hung a wreath in her apartment building's public space. Really? Is THIS the battle you want to fight?
Yes, I celebrate a 100% secular Christmas. It holds no religious meaning to me, so I don't see Santa or trees or wreaths or stockings or any of the other decorations as having any religious significance. I just like how they look and the warmth and color they bring to the dreary days of winter. To me, the religious caroles and stories are just that - stories like Santa and Frosty and Rudolph.
There are so many problems in this world that deserve our concern and outrage and advocacy. The vaguely religious roots of a national holiday are not one of them, neither for those opposed to the supposed embrace of religion by government, nor the supposed persecution of it either (neither of which is occurring).
I say "Merry Christmas" because I want people to enjoy the holiday, even if they don't observe it and see it as just another day on the calendar. Can't we do that? Can't we have one day a year where people put away the bullshit and just be nice to each other?
It's 3 weeks away - anything is possible. Maybe we should practice - starting now.
