People keep asking me, "Mike, what do you think of the whole let's call a Christmas tree a 'holiday' tree?" Actually, they don't. But I ask me, so here's my answer: IT'S STUPID. It's not called a "holiday menorah," is it? NO. So, for good or for bad, call something what it should be called.
But this whole debate over "Holiday v Christmas" is overshadowing the debate that should be of greater concern. Is Christmas the celebration of Christ's birth, or is it a celebration of ourselves?
I was at Mass the other day and the priest asked us why if it's a celebration of Christ's birth do we buy things for each other? Even more so, why, during what should be a celebration of thanksgiving for Christians, is it a celebration of "have to." Don't know what I mean? During this time of year we always say, "I have to buy my niece something." "I have to wake up at the butt-crack of dawn so I can stand in line for three hours so I can save about 20 percent, or 10 dollars on my Christmas shopping." Or, "I have to go to church."
Recently, I read an article about a few churches in Sacramento that are cancelling Sunday services so that the attendants could spend more time with their families.
This isn't what Christmas is about. It's not about pushing each other to be first inside Best Buy to pick out a video game that probably celebrates violence and sex. It's not even about families, well our respective families at least.
If people want to make this time of year about those things, please call it the "holidays." Or call it Xmas. The mass that celebrates "fill in the blank."
Hello world!
1 year ago
3 comments:
And watch me climb off of my soapbox
I think our country is becoming so PC that nothing that once defined the United States as the "land of the free and the home of the brave" is PC anymore.
At the same time, its unfortunate that the right-wing fundamentalists get on GW's case about his "holiday" cards - come on! He has taken a "religious stance" on everything else and that's the one thing they're gonna spot? Dude - what's up with our country?
All I'm saying is that we should be able to celebrate Christmas and the "holiday season" without getting up in arms. This is a time for SHARING, GIVING and APPRECIATING - not shopping, guarding and attacking each other.
Well, I think the fact that Bush sent out "Holiday" cards is very telling regarding his religious principles - he's only religious when it suits his political need. The rest of the time Bush is worrying about how he can best serve his corporate backers' needs and making the Christmas season the Holiday season is more inclusive and, as a result, should create more revenue for them...
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