[Pepper]

I thought this was interesting.

"'Tis the season to be jolly." But, as usual, not for all of us.

It is the Christmas season, that time in December when all good Christians celebrate the birth of the Savior of mankind, born in a stable in Bethlehem, 2,000 years ago.

It is a time of family gatherings and gift-giving, of joyous music and fond memories. For some, it is one of the few days of the year, Easter being the other, when they return to the old church for the feast day that yet retains its hold upon them from childhood.

Even many non-believers celebrate, for Christmas joy is contagious.

But not for all. For some, it is not too much to say that they hate the idea of Christmas with a deep abiding hate, not just the "Bah, humbug!" dismissal of old Scrooge. They want Christmas dead.

As usual, they are busy at work, going to court to get Nativity scenes expunged from public squares, demanding that statues of Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus be removed from department stores and parades, checking vigilantly to see that any and all caroling at public schools is free of such outrages as "Silent Night." For people such as these, even Santa has become an intolerably divisive figure who must be purged from public life.

And this year again they are meeting with some success, especially with a business community for whom Christmas has always been about sales volume, not salvation.

Target stores have told the Salvation Army it may no longer station volunteers at store entrances, with their red kettles, and solicit charitable contributions for the poor. The 30-year tradition that reaped the Army $9 million a year has been terminated

The reason? Says Target, unconvincingly, it is so the company can have a consistent policy of no solicitations outside its stores. But in recent years, the gay lobby has pressured Target to ban the Army because it is Christian and rejects homosexuality as sinful.

Now Macy's has stopped using the phrase "Merry Christmas" in all store advertising, replacing it with what Macy's calls the more inclusive "Season's Greetings" and "Happy Holidays."

But how is it "inclusive" to exclude the Christians' greeting? Is that not anti-Christian? Why would the Macy's of the "Miracle on 34th Street" do such a thing? Why would Federated Department Stores, Macy's parent company, impose such a policy?

By Newton's laws of motion, an object moving in a given direction will continue to do so unless an outside force intervenes. What hidden force intervened to cause Macy's to reverse course and suddenly sever its ties to Christmas? Who insisted that Macy's cease to mention Christmas, the holiday around which its selling season is built?

It is hard to believe some Macy's executive took it upon himself to make so offensive a decision as to expunge "Merry Christmas" from the store, when so many of Macy's most loyal shoppers were certain to be disheartened and hurt. Who is trying to kill Christmas?

It needs to be said. What we are witnessing here are hate crimes against Christianity -- the manifestations, the symptoms of a sickness of the soul, a disease a Vatican diplomat correctly calls "Christianophobia," the fear and loathing of all things Christian, coupled with a fanatic will to expunge from the public life of the West all reminders that ours was once a Christian civilization and America once a Christian country.

Americans are among the most tolerant of peoples. No one demands that any dissenting adult or child be made to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag, or join in Christmas caroling, or be forced to say a prayer before class, or go to church at Christmas. The Christian majority only asks that they be free to be themselves, to exercise their freedom to express their love of their Savior as the First Amendment has always guaranteed.

But what are we to make of Maplewood, N.J., where the Columbus High School brass ensemble was ordered not to play a single Christmas carol at their holiday concert, not even an instrumental version. Parents and students were outraged. "This is censorship at its most basic level," said student Ryan Dahn. Correct, Ryan.

In Denver, officials of the annual Parade of Lights refused to permit in the parade a float carrying the banner "Merry Christmas" with members of the Faith Bible Chapel congregation, who were to sing Christmas carols. Approved was a float sponsored by Two Souls, an American Indian group that considers homosexuality holy.

While Christmas often brings forth the best in some of us, because of who and what is being celebrated, that is not true for all of us. For some, it brings forth the purest malevolence. Why? Sadly, because they do not know Him. Nevertheless, Merry Christmas -- to all.

Mr. Buchanan is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of The Death of the West, The Great Betrayal, and A Republic, Not an Empire.

http://www.humaneventsonline.com/article.php?id=6048

[Annmarie]

I went to the store and bought Christmas cards this past monday. I could not find one box that had a religious theme. There were santas, presents, trees, stockings, reindeer, etc. not one box dealing with the birth of Jesus, no stars, no wisemen, nothing at all. I was astounded! There were lots of boxes of cards, so it wasn't like they were running out. My elderly relatives always get religious type cards from me, not this year though.

[Pepper]

Annemarie, I had the same problem. I finally settled for one's that had a star and dove of peace and the other had a shepard boy on them. If "they" may take Christ, out of Christmas but, they can't take Him out of my heart. I don't believe in X-mas, so, I'll not be celebrating it.

[fruit loop]

....just political correctness run amok.

Where do people get some of these ideas???? "Can't play the radio on a bus because it might play religious carols...." "The band can't play instrumental carols because they still hear the words in their heads.." "Nativity scenes might offend somebody....."

Jeez. Some people have waaaayyyy too much time on their hands

[Hokey]

I think Froot Loop is right, its just the way pc'ness has run rampant in our society rather than a targeted attack. Part of the problem is when lawyers and fear of being sued gets brought into play. You must remember that there is no other 'religious' holiday in North America that trumps Christmas as far as being in your face. Its everywhere. Perhaps this visibility makes it a target.

But on the other side of the coin...and I'm sure christians will say so what..

I sat through a class event my daughter was having at her school (a public school). Tea and cookies were served and the kids did some christmas skits, singing and reading. All in all pretty harmless and cute. One thing bothered me though (and this is where traditional parts of Canada differ from the US) about some of the skits. The tone of the skits was that Christmas was really about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. Great stuff for christians eh? Now I don't want to get into whether or not this is true but for me, an Agnostic, who would rather his daughters grow up to be critical and freethinking and make up their own mind later in life, I thought the reinforcement of all things Jesus Christ being 'historical fact' was wrong and being very impressionable on all young minds there. In fact I know my kids are confused about our families religious ideals just because they are a minority in a christian majority. But you know, I'm not going to get worked up about it or sue the schoolboard for impressing religious ideals on my children without my consent. We give 'religious' instruction at home to try to make them look at things critically and to try to instill humanist values (and lead by example). Eventually they will catch on. As a matter of fact, my older daughter who is 9 years old has seriously debunked Santa Claus this year and everything elvish or magic about christmas. Her anti-Santa rants are quite amusing. I'm proud of her thought process.

But to exclude religious elements out of a religious holiday just because of fear of being un-pc or sued is not fooling anyone. Its stupid in my opinion. No one has to celebrate a holiday from another religion if they don't want to.

[Flint]

For a lot of people, Christmas is not a religious holiday. So I'm of two minds about this sort of thing. On the one hand, it has many of the elements of Christian Paranoia, the propensity for Christians to feel persecuted if they are NOT granted special favors. On the other hand, no harm is done that I can see in recognizing that a large number of people does in fact celebrate their religion as part of the holiday.

I found some attractive, high-quality cards at Barnes and Noble, showing nativity scenes and madonna and child etc. from great paintings. I bought them and I've been sending them to everyone, though few of the recipients are particularly religious. The cards are lovely.

Some people do tend to go overboard about everything. I'm not surprised to see Buchanan cherry-picking a few of the most extreme cases, the far end of a normal distribution, and pretending he's seeing a trend. He's seeing his own fears. Even Christians (I hope) can enjoy friends, family, and generosity without dragging their Church in there with them.

[Darkimbolc]

I have to agree with the 'rampant PC' run amok idea. However, as to the "Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays," Christian or not, you have to realize three FACTS: 1) Not every American is Christian, 2) Several religions celebrate a Holiday around this time of year, 3) Macy's is a business in the business of making money (Perhaps Macy's want to play to a larger audience?).

Out of curiousity, how would you feel if, for example, Macy's had a Yule sale with a 20-foot holly and oak pentacle decking their front door?

[fruit loop]

The "they're persecuting us!" just feeds the beasts....the people who think They The Christians are the world's most persecuted group.

It's all PC run amok.

I say Happy Holidays to my atheist, pagan, Jewish, and agnostic friends. I don't think, unlike some of my brethren, that this makes me "less" a Christian. (I disagree that doing this "denies Christ" when directed at this audience.)

I say Merry Christmas to my Christian friends.

What's the problem?

By the way, Merry Yule, Dark Imbolc

[Chills]

It seems to me if we apply this logic..
"
But how is it "inclusive" to exclude the Christians' greeting? Is that not anti-Christian? "
To any other religious and or spiritual group then Macy's would be anti-just about every dham group if they dont acknowledge each and every separate holiday and religious hoedown that comes along.

This isn't PC'ism run amok its a bunch dham Christians whining for no good reason what so ever in my opinion, other than to play the religious persecution card.

[Anita]

This time of year the holidays of MANY religions coincide. The final days of Ramadan include gift giving [especially for children], Hannukkah includes gift giving, Christmas includes gift giving, etc. Don't know about Kwansa (sp??) 'cause I don't know any black folks who honor it. Happy Holidays SHOULD cover it all [except in the minds of some Christians who enjoy feeling persecuted.]

[hughmanity]

This is too funny. I have been told by my fundamentalist friends for years that Christmas was forced on christianity by the evil Catholic church. That christmas trees were from some pagan religion and that Jebus was really born on some other day. So now that society is taking the Christ out of Christmas the fundamentalists are upset. Guess you just can't please everyone. :re:

[nanna]

This is too funny. I have been told by my fundamentalist friends for years that Christmas was forced on christianity by the evil Catholic church. That christmas trees were from some pagan religion and that Jebus was really born on some other day. So now that society is taking the Christ out of Christmas the fundamentalists are upset. Guess you just can't please everyone. :re:


Damned if you do, damned if you don't, heh?

:D


nanna

[Annmarie]

I never thought of looking in Barnes and Nobles, I'll stop by after Christmas and maybe get some half priced cards. This year I ordered books for Christmas from Barnes and Nobles rather than going into the store. Had I known I would have looked for cards too, but I always get them at the local chain store. I ended up getting cards with little kids hugging by a tree saying "Christmas is for sharing."

This is a big country with a lot of different groups of people. I have no problem with anyone celebrating any kind of religious holiday. I don't care what the Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. celebrate, it doesn't offend me in the least. I always loved going to our school's Christmas plays or musicals and listening to the beautiful christmas music. I honestly don't understand how anyone can object to this type of thing.

It did struck me as very odd that there would not be ONE box of religious themed Christmas cards at our local chain store. Every year I buy from this store, next time I will look in the bookstores or make my own.

[Darkimbolc]

By the way, Merry Yule, Dark Imbolc

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours, fruit loop :)

[Anita]

the White House lead??

Here's (http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/) the White House Holiday website.

Here's (http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/2003/cards/gwbush/03.html) the White House holiday card for 2004; you can also check out cards sent in the previous three years here.

[Anita]

Who knew? :confused:

Most Christians ignorantly state that "Jesus is the reason for the season," without the slightest clue about the origins of the holiday or the pagan rituals they inadvertently participate in during the "Christian" Christmas celebration. From the Christmas tree to the mistletoe, everything about Christmas has significance when viewed from the pagan perspective, including Jesus himself.

Most influential to the Christmas holiday was not Jesus, but the celebration of the birth of the Persian sun god, Mithra. Hundreds of years before the supposed birth of Jesus, the worship of Mithra was brought to the Mediterranean following Alexander's conquests.

Christians might find it interesting that Mithra was considered the Son of God and born of a virgin. Mithra 12 disciples (one for each of the signs of the zodiac), had a last supper with them, and died to redeem humankind. Mithraists were Trinitarians, believed Mithra was co-equal with God, kept Sunday as their day of worship (what other day would they worship a SUN god on?), and believed that Mithra would come at the end of time to judge the living and the dead.

Complete article is here. (http://www.iowastatedaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/12/08/41b689a9c9804?template=pda)

[HeadachesAbound]

What offends me is the fact that the PC is being carried to the extreme. My childs school teacher was talking to me about their "Winter" party and let the word Christmas slip out instead of winter. I had to contain my laughter at the expression on her face as she corrected herself and stated "oops, I mean winter party. We don't want to offend anyone."

I'm sorry, but I'm quite tired of being tolerant of everyone else's beliefs and opinions when my own are being trampled left and right. I am a young, white, male who happens to have a belief in the Christian religion. This makes me a target for every PC-ism out there.

This is a Christian nation. Do I care if you are not Christian? No. Am I offended when you begin ranting and raving because your child might be introduced to the concept of God while reading our nations constitution? Yes.

One of the great things about being a human being is choice. You have the choice to teach your child whatever you want. If you want to teach them to be a racist bigot, then so be it. If you are intelligent enough to teach them cognitive reasoning and provide them with a firm intellectual foundation upon which to build their faith or lack thereof then I applaud you. If you are offended by someone calling it a Christmas party (which it is) rather than a winter party (which it isn't) then you can just stay home.

And...

Merry Christmas
Happy Holidays
Seasons Greetings
Happy Kwanza
Happy Chanukah

Interesting what google finds...

http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/view.bg?articleid=59560

Also...

Anita,

This is not new to me. Almost every Christian Holiday was designed specifically to counter a pagan Holiday. Take Halloween for instance.

[SmartAZ]

EDITOR'S NOTE: Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about Kwanzaa which we put to the creator of Kwanzaa, Dr. Maulana Karenga. The answers to them offer not only a concise view of the origin and meaning of Kwanzaa but also the dynamic context in which it evolves! and continues to develop.

1. Why was Kwanzaa created?

Kwanzaa was created:

* To reaffirm the communitarian vision and values of African culture and to contribute to its restoration among African peoples in the Diaspora, beginning with Africans in America and expanding to include the world African community.
* To introduce and reinforce the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles and through this, introduce and reaffirm communitarian values and practices which strengthen and celebrate family, community and culture. These seven communitarian African values are: Umoja (Unity), Kuji-chagulia (Self-determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).
* To serve as a regular communal celebration which reaffirmed and reinforced the bonds between us as a people in the U.S., in the Diaspora and on the African continent, in a word, as a world African community. It was designed to unite and to strengthen African communities.
* As an act of cultural self-determination, as a self-conscious statement of our own unique cultural truth as an African people. That is to say, it is an important way and expression of being African in a multicultural context.

Official kwanzaa site (http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/)

[Anita]

I'd never considered Halloween a Christian holiday until you mentioned it and I read this. (http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Oct2001/Family.asp) Learn something new every day. Thanks for the tip.

[HeadachesAbound]

Anita,

I'm usually referred to as 'Headaches'. Seems as though I cause just as many as I have.

I was driving to work on Monday when one of the local radio DJ's had a fit about this very thing. He went off about the fact that Religious Tolerance Organizations want everyone to be tolerant of everyone else's religion but they don't want to mention anything that has to do with Christianity. I wasn't enjoying my day until I heard that and I just couldn't stop laughing. Since then I've heard more and more people in general getting pretty fed up with the whole idea of not talking about Christmas.

And your welcome for the tip. I learn something new every second so I have to share it with someone or it just drives me crazy.

[SmartAZ]

FWIW The man who taught me how to study the bible did not consider christmas to be a very important holiday. "Everybody gets born!" he said. He considered it a distraction for christians and a major opportunity for uneducated or miseducated people to twist the scriptures. He considered easter and pentecost to be much more important occasions.

[Chills]

If a phobia = a fear than I am a christophobe.

I think it is rational to fear and or have a healthy respect for anything that is dangerous to my welfare and survival.

I can not have a healthy respect for any thing or anyone when that respect is not reciprocated...that leaves me with only fear.

:yes:

[Anita]

I think the Christianophobia is being "pushed" onto center stage by advocacy groups. Here's (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/ae/tv/2971907) an article stating that television has no respect for religion.

They judged 22.1 percent of the mentions positive, 24.4 percent negative and the rest neutral.

But what were the shows used in the judging? I sure didn't see Seventh Heaven included, and that's one of MY favorite shows. Sounds to ME like some people have come to the conclusion that there's a problem [like in the Christmas card article] and then selectively choose examples that meet the problem's requirements. Then they wonder why the rest of us don't see the problem.

[Flint]

Sounds to ME like some people have come to the conclusion that there's a problem and then selectively choose examples that meet the problem's requirements. Then they wonder why the rest of us don't see the problem.But they usually end up deciding we're all part of the conspiracy!

[Anita]

LOL. Yeah...there IS that. Does it strike you as odd that as a nonbeliever YOU could find the Christmas cards with a religous message and that *I* as a nonbeliever could find Seventh Heaven on the television line-up? [Just as an aside, my kids tease me about being maybe the only nonbeliever in the US who tunes in "religiously" to Seventh Heaven.] :P