The War on Christmas

As each year marches on the grumblings of dissent grow louder about the alleged “war” on Christmas. Not exactly sure how someone can war on your ability to believe what you want to believe BUT... it finds its way to the headlines (and has even sold a few books about us "scary, 'godless' liberals) because the media loves to fuel this dissent. Fire up the audience by using these hyperbolic words to stir up the faithful, who grow less and less tolerant of the generalization of a religious holiday, and then sit back and watch the fireworks.

While it might be entertaining to those pushing us around this virtual little chess board, I find it all rather a waste of energy. To argue whether or not people (particularly the government or laws) are not displaying the proper religious diligence for a federally approved religious holiday is not only hypocrisy of the most outrageous kind... it is a prime example of how appearances mean more to the average “Main Street” American than actual content.

I know I’m going to lose some folks with that one, but bear with me.

Every year Christmas gets bigger and flashier and loses more of its original intent underneath all the pomp and circumstance. Just because one puts a nativity out on their yard along with Santa and his reindeer doesn’t mean that he is truly reverent of what this holiday is supposed to represent… any more than the folks who never darken a church doorway more than the couple of days a year. What these are, are traditions. They have nothing to do with the heart of Christmas.

In a country that promises religious freedom it *makes sense* that we (and by we I mean the federal government) incorporate all the holidays that happen to surround Christmas day – which I reiterate (because it's important) is the only federally approved holiday of the bunch. To pay face value to the other holidays by using the more generic “Happy Holidays” doesn’t mean anything more than recognizing that despite with historical revisionists may tell you – the United States is not exclusively a Christian nation and, by its very own constitution, allows religious matters as something best left to the individual and their creator (or not) of choice.

Case in point. I used to work in Los Angeles in the entertainment field. Around the last two weeks of December things pretty well dried up around town because a majority of the big wigs in that particular field happened to be Jewish. My boss, who maintained business relationships with all the major players in Tinsel Town, had two lists for her Christmas cards based on nothing more than common courtesy. One would be the more traditional “Merry Christmas” list, for those whose faith more closely aligned with the Christian faith. The other list was a more generic “Happy Holidays” list, for those whose faiths (or lack thereof) would not be excluded by the Christ-part of Christmas.

My boss, who was brought up in the Christian faith, was actually demonstrating what I felt was the more Christian POV when it came to sending out these holiday greetings. The Jesus Christ of the Bible was not a man of exclusion OR offense. He didn’t require or demand people shared his beliefs, he simply lived them… and that was how he converted other people.

He wasn't afraid to love people where they were, as they were... which... I kinda think is the whole point of Christmas.

For some reason, however, American “Christians” have long since missed this message. They are determined to change laws that do not align with their particular faith, as if even existing in an environment that does not goose step along with their beliefs somehow invalidates the belief itself.

It's like they have to completely ignore (or hide and oppress) anything that doesn't fit in their narrow world view.

Quite UN-Christian when you think about it.

As long as Christmas exists in the heart of one person – the real one, not the economic glut of excess it has become – then Christmas exists. If Jesus is the reason for your season, then spectacular. What better way to celebrate his birth than to spend your Christmas season attempting to follow his kind and loving example? That same Jesus would reach out and embrace those who do not share the same view and extend that same love, mercy, tolerance and acceptance to all because that’s the step toward his ultimate goal of “peace on earth, good will to man”.

It's showing respect for the beliefs of others and finding that by doing so our own beliefs are then respected. It's one gift that honors the man the holiday was based on AND we can all do it at no charge.

WWJD?

Let's not forget... Jesus was Jewish. Odds are he was celebrating Hanukkah, not decorating any trees or cutting in line at Walmart to buy Sarah Palin's newest book for Aunt Edna.

Only in Ah-merica will we find this ridiculous either/or mentality to be a battlefield, where conflict is encouraged and fear reigns supreme that your faith will be somehow lessened just because someone says “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas."

I feel sorry for you that your faith is that weak, personally.

Historically there have been those who have been physically and horribly persecuted for their beliefs and yet held onto those beliefs anyway. They celebrated Christ – and not JUST his birth – and prayed to God when it risked their very lives to do so.

We live in a country where we are free to celebrate this holiday in whatever manner we choose. We get to sing hymns and pray and light candles and read the Bible to our children without any fear of legal retribution. We even get a federal day off in recognition of this holy day, which is a lot more than some other folks get, whose celebrations (while still legally allowed) are a lot more low key.

Yet somehow, they manage to celebrate with all the sincerity and reverence they have to give. These celebrations, which can even pre-date Christmas, aren't lessened or invalidated by the belief of anyone else. In their holiday and their beliefs, a challenging position is not war, and they don’t waste a single minute of their celebration worrying how a bunch of strangers don’t give a fly about what is inherently so personal anyway.

If that is the war against Christmas, I hate to break it to ya. They’re winning.

So Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and all that implies, whatever you celebrate. May you find the peace of the season in your church of choice, in your family of choice, in your life of choice and in your heart.

Government optional. (as it should be)