MMR: Happy Chrismakwazaakkah…Or Something Like That

Note: I posted this last year under a different title. It’s, sadly, still relevant, so I’ve tweeked it and put it back out there. As always, I do not have a religious agenda with this piece. I am not particularly religious. I’m just calling the shots as I see them, and thought this was important enough to call out again.

So, is it just me, or has the whole "Christmas is not Politically Correct" thing gotten way WAY out of hand?

I mean, seriously. Christmas has been celebrated in this country since its inception. That's because this country was founded by Christians, and its laws are based on Christian ideas. When the founding fathers implemented their "separation of Church and State" ideas, they did not mean that the government, and all its officials, had to be secular. They simply meant that there would not be a state sponsored, or mandated, Church (like the Church of England was). People were free to practice any religion they chose. But this country was still mostly Christian. And thus, many Christian holidays made their way onto the American calendar...most notably, Christmas.

In Christianity, Christmas is the second most important holiday of the year (after Easter...which is big in Christianity, not as much outside of it). It is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated with nativity scenes and advent calendars and depictions of a Baby Jesus and the three wise men. Christmas in Christianity does not require a tree, nor does it have stories of a Santa Claus, nor is it a huge commercial holiday. However, since Christians founded America, Christmas made it way onto the American calendar, and has become the biggest holiday of the year in this country.

Now, the Christmas that is celebrated nationwide, nay, worldwide, is not the same Christmas the Christians celebrate. American Christmas is a huge commercial holiday, with advertising for mass mall shopping, amazing light decorations, and Christmas trees. Cookies, and Santa Claus, and Snowmen, and Reindeer are all a part of American Christmas that have no basis whatsoever in the Christian version of Christmas. Thus, the holiday celebrated currently in America is a very secular version of Christmas that has no real ties, other than name, to any religion whatsoever.

Recently it's become very popular to trash Christmas, and sue any governmental agency, or public company, that has the word Christmas in anything it does during this time of the year. Apparently celebrating "Christmas" is offensive to everyone, because it’s forcing Christian beliefs onto people. And to that I say RUBBISH!

First, for years and years, and decades and decades, Americans who do not celebrate Christmas, but their own religious holiday, have not had a real problem. Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, and have done so just fine for years. When the little kids at school would start to harass the Jewish kid for not celebrating Christmas, he would just reply with "yeah, well, we get presents for 7 days, what do you get?" and the little Christian kids would shut up. And, in any class I was in where there were Jewish kids, a little menorah was allowed to be put up next to the Christmas tree, which in and of itself is ridiculous, since a Christmas tree has no religious implications, but whatever. It’s fine.

Kwanzaa is a made up holiday, and one I feel no need to discuss further. It is imaginary, and has absolutely no tradition or background, other than being used as a racially divisive tool by the militant African American community (not the normal African American community, that has fit in perfectly well with the rest of society. As a matter of fact, I don't think I've ever met an African American that has ever celebrated Kwanzaa...they all celebrated American Christmas).

Finally, some people have gone to the extent to celebrate the Winter Solstice as a way to prove they are above the religious holiday of Christmas, and won't be told what to celebrate by the Church. Ultimately, I really don't care what people celebrate, but this one seems kind of childish. Unless you descend from Native Americans or other native cultures that actually celebrated the changing of the seasons, why are you celebrating this particular Solstice? Why not celebrate both Solstices and both Equinoxes. This "holiday" was created solely to piss off people who celebrate Christmas. And that, more than anything, irritates me.

So now we live in a society that cannot just celebrate a holiday. They have to take great measures not to piss off one group or another. It's become more divisive than ever! Companies and governments cannot put up any decorations that might show they "favor" one holiday, and thus one religion or culture, more than any others...otherwise enter the protesters, and lawsuits, and all that BS. Christmas used to be a time to bring people together to celebrate being a family, and being a community. Entire towns would come out for the lighting of the Christmas tree...even if they were Jewish or Muslim or agnostic. Lighting a Christmas tree wasn't seen as a public display of Christianity, it was a time when the community could come together and celebrate being a community and enjoying whatever holiday you wished to celebrate. And everyone would see one another; you could catch up with old friends. Today its all "Happy Holidays" this, and "non-denominational" that. And it just seems like the overall message has gotten lost.

Today's society has completely lost its way. Christmas, rather than being a time to celebrate family and community, has become a time to walk on eggshells and hope to not piss anyone off. It's completely absurd, and really really sad. It's become a time when it's "cool" not to celebrate Christmas, to show how progressive you are...instead of forgetting about what’s "cool" and just showing what a good neighbor you are.

At times like this, I look back to a classic: A Charlie Brown Christmas. It was first aired in 1965, and has a very simple message about what Christmas is all about. When Charlie Brown gets frustrated with all the expectations that go along with Christmas (picking the right metal tree, putting on the right play, etc.), he shouts in desperation, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

And Linus comes to his aid:

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"

Yes, this is a bible verse. And yes, this is very much what the Christian Christmas is all about. But even from an American Christmas viewpoint, you can take away that this is a time of joy, a time of love, a time of peace, and a time of celebration. And the best part is, when this came out, you didn’t hear people clamoring for “A Charlie Brown Solstice.” They just enjoyed the show, and smiled, and were filled with the Christmas Spirit. Luckily, this is a classic, and has to be aired (although last year’s airing was pre-empted partway into it for Obama to give a speech…classy). I can’t imagine introducing a cartoon into today’s society that’s main message derived from Christian ideals. It would be crucified (pardon the pun).

So, yes, I am celebrating Christmas. I am celebrating American Christmas, and am going to enjoy the time I get to spend with my family and friends. And if anyone has a problem with that, too effing bad.