In My Opinion
By L.N.P.

Merry Christmas

Bush "claims to be a born-again, evangelical Christian. But he sure doesn't act like one," said Joseph Farah, editor of the conservative Web site WorldNetDaily.com. "I threw out my White House card as soon as I got it." (Because it did not contain the words “Merry Christmas”)

In a New Jersey middle school, school officials recently cancelled an outing to see Dickens' classic play “A Christmas Carol” because some children might feel "awkward."

Which extreme sounds more idiotic?

Frankly, I'm not sure where I stand on this entire brouhaha surrounding Christmas. What I do believe is that we can't have it both ways.

Growing up in the ‘50s and early ‘60s, everyone said “Merry Christmas” and we all were thrilled when Christmas vacation came around. Apparently, we were terribly un-PC back then: approximately 85% of the country was (and still is) Christian, so we just didn't bother much with the minorities. In fact, often the minorities capitulated: I knew many non-religious Jewish families who actually had Christmas trees. Of course, the practicing Jews celebrated Chanukah, but that just presented an opportunity; often we were invited to each other's holy-days, and grew to understand and respect them. Seemed like a good solution.

Then came the appropriation of Christmas in the late ‘60s and ‘70s from a celebration of the birth of Christ to something that was more about world peace, good will, and winged doves: a reflection of the times. Finally, in the ultimate reflection of the times, we wound up with the secularization and gross commercialization of Christmas: Santa Claus, Rudolph, and rampant consumerism. Christmas came to be synonymous with how much you could buy and how far into debt you could go.

So when I wrote that you can't have it both ways, I meant that Christmas is either a universal, totally secular holiday or it's a religious holy day. To millions of Christians, it should be a day to celebrate the birth of our Lord, something I've written about in past columns. But if that's so, then we ought to be sensitive to those who don't share our religious beliefs. Not intimidated or ultra-PC…just sensitive. And they–those who have different belief systems–should be equally sensitive to ours.

I think that's where the rubber meets the road in today's society. We are constantly bombarded with warnings about how a Christmas carol might upset someone, or how saying “Merry Christmas” is offensive, but I have never heard anyone complain about being uncomfortable with a Muslim who celebrates Ramadan, or being offended by a Jew who sends a Chanukah card. It's back to that pesky 1 st Amendment again, the one that never mentions separation of church and state. What it DOES mention, however, is that the state shall not establish one religion, but shall allow for the free expression of all religions. So it just seems fair, somehow, that the religion of the vast majority in this country should at least be allowed to freely express itself.

Getting back to the two opening paragraphs for a moment, I'd like to tell you what I think. Regarding the card from President Bush that has caused such a furor among the religious right zealots–get over it! Jesus would have been ashamed. There is very little doubt about the President's strong religious faith; he has certainly been criticized enough for it by the zealots on the left! To me, his Happy Holidays card (which included a Psalm, by the way) demonstrated his understanding of the fact that Christmas is indeed a religious holy day, and his sensitivity to the fact that not all of the million plus recipients of the card share his religion.

On the other hand, I pity the poor kids who were not allowed to view “A Christmas Carol” because it might offend a few of their classmates. Is the same thing going to happen to them in Art History? Will Giotto and Michelangelo be banned? What about music; should they not hear Handel's Messiah or Bach's Christmas oratorio because it might offend someone? Where does it stop in a civilization that has been so overwhelmingly influenced by its Christian heritage in art, architecture, music, and literature? Do we simply re-write ALL of history?

On a personal level, I think most of us know what to do. I might find it odd to receive a “Happy Chanukah” card because I don't celebrate Chanukah. Nor do I celebrate Bodhi Day, Ramadan, Kwanzaa or the winter solstice and don't expect I'll be getting many of those cards either. But I would NOT be offended if someone, freely expressing his or her religion , decided to send me one. On the other hand, I am sending Merry Christmas cards, because that is my right in a free society. And that should offend no one either.

Send me your opinions at LParis@netlistings.com