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“War” On Christmas?????
The last couple of years, we’ve heard a lot of hullabaloo in America about a so-called “war” on Christmas. Lots of whining about
- whether or not nativity sets can be publicly displayed,
- whether religious Christmas carols may be sung by school groups,
- and whether or not Santa Claus is nothing more than a cunning plot to ruin the traditional Christian significant of Christmas by burying it under a load of consumerism.
The silliest, most petty battle to be waged, primarily by conservative talk show hosts and their adoring fans, is over what sort of holiday greetings are appropriate. “Happy Holidays,” they claim, “is an insidious attempt to water down or obscure completely the Christian message of Christmas being the birth of Jesus Christ!”
It’s as if they truly believe that people of other faiths plot all year long how best to wrangle a “happy holiday” out of retailers, just to persecute poor Christian believers. Nasty plot. Tsk. Tsk.
Can we BE more petty? Come on! In a world where thousands of people die every day in real wars, where millions of children don’t have a family with whom to celebrate ANY holiday, where men and women and kids everywhere are struggling to find food to fill their empty bellies with…in a world such as this, we are worried about who says “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas”?
I know, I know…it’s impossible to believe. You probably are saying to yourself right now, “Meredith, you must be making this up! You’re a novelist, after all. It’s your job to invent conflict.” I understand. I find it hard to believe, too.
But to prove to you I’m totally serious, here is some real “ammunition” in this sad and pathetic “war” on Christmas. The first is an actual email from the American Family Association, sent in December 2005. It was the inspiration for Rosalyn’s GWENCH storyline in my novel, @Home For The Holidays. I’ve provided some helpful commentary in RED:
Some victories! Project Merry Christmas set to begin
Tired of having Christmas bashed and commercialized, AFA begins new campaign
Dear Friend of the Family,
Target includes Christmas in their TV ads. Lowes says their trees are now "Christmas trees." Costco says, "When you walk into our stores, you see Christmas." Walgreens says things will be different next year with how they handle Christmas. Sears added "Merry Christmas" signs in all their stores. And the list goes on.
You are having an impact! With all of us combining our efforts we can accomplish a lot of good!
Oh yes, saying a phrase like “Merry Christmas” really does a lot of good. I can see already the peace and prosperity it brings to the world. Gosh, it really IS a better place for us having threatened and bullied folks into talking like we think they should. Thanks, AFA!
As we begin our 29th year of ministry, you have helped AFA Online become a large and effective on-line pro-family action site.
SUBTEXT: Keep those dollars rolling in, folks! We’re putting them to real good use here, as you will see…
Let me share with you what AFA has planned for Christmas next year (2006). We are developing a special Project Merry Christmas campaign. We expect to announce the details in a few days. Here is the basic theme (details to be worked out).
Ooohhh, I can barely contain my enthusiasm. What blessings and peace are we going to extend to our neighbors next year? Helping the homeless get off the streets? Giving away clothing and food to families facing poverty? Extending the hand of peace and forgiveness to our enemies? I’m breathless in anticipation…
Our Project Merry Christmas campaign will ask people during the Christmas season next year to keep the giving of purchased gifts only for children. We will ask others that, in lieu of buying gifts, they donate what they would normally spend on gifts to help the poor and needy. If someone absolutely wants to give a gift because it brings so much joy, we ask that they give non-purchased gifts to adults. For instance, give a gift which doesn't involve much money such as one they made or even a gift of their time to help someone.
Aw, now that’s sweet. I’m touched by this display of compassion and concern for the poor. Now this is what Jesus would do.
We plan to publicly announce Project Merry Christmas soon so we can begin to get the word out. Such an effort will remind all of us, including retailers, what Christmas is all about. I very much believe that you will see retailers get on board promoting Christmas instead of Happy Holidays. If they miss us shopping next Christmas, maybe they will respect us more.
WHAT? So this whole “give to the poor instead of buying gifts for yourselves” is just to make retailers respect us more??? What happened to helping the poor because the poor are valuable to God? What happened to generosity, and giving without an agenda?
Yeah, this will really make those horrid, awful retailers “respect” us more. Sure…
Of course we will continue to address our other issues. But we will make a really big push for Project Merry Christmas from time to time throughout next year. That is why we hope you will forward this to your family and friends.
We are engaged in a great culture war for the hearts, minds and souls of our children. Our society is turning more and more secular and anti-Christian. Thank you for taking a stand. I ask that you pray for me and this ministry.
Hmm…you need prayer, that’s for sure. But I can’t quite see how you call this a “ministry.” So far, you haven’t really ministered to anyone. Bullied, threatened, tried to punish—yes. But ministry? I don’t think so. Nice try.
Oh, and…HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
I don’t know if the AFA ever carried out their brilliant plan, but I do know that you can now purchase (excuse me…it’s a “suggested donation” of $3.00) through them these “attractive” car magnets and buttons, to express your support for this supposedly beleaguered holiday. Poor old Christmas—everyone’s out to get you, it seems. Cry me a river.
Just warms your heart, don’t it?
Here’s Bomb #2, sent to me in October of 2006. I don’t know where this one originated, but its target is the ACLU. Comments in Black this time, for obvious reasons.
TRY VERY HARD TO DO THIS!
IT’S A VERY POLITE WAY TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
This is a Great Idea!!!
CHRISTMAS is coming so get ready to include an important address to your Christmas card list.
Want to have some fun this CHRISTMAS?
Let's all send the ACLU a CHRISTMAS CARD this year.
Since they are working so hard to get rid of the CHRISTMAS part of this holiday,
we should all send them a nice, CHRISTIAN, card to brighten up their dark, sad, little world.
Make sure it says "Merry Christmas" on it and not "Happy Holidays."
Here's the Address, just don't be rude or crude.
(It's Not the Christian Way, you know!)
Of course. As if anything else about this email is really the “Christian” way, either.
ACLU
(Address removed in case any weirdos actually wanted to try doing this.)
Two tons of Christmas cards would freeze their operations because they wouldn't know
if any were regular mail containing contributions.
So spend 39 cents and tell the ACLU to leave Christmas alone.
Also tell them that there is no such thing as a "Holiday Tree". . . .
It's a Christmas Tree even in the fields!!
Oh. My. Gosh. No wonder a lot of non-Christians think Christians are freaking idiots! All I can say is…DO YOU REALLY THINK JESUS WANTS YOU TO CELEBRATE HIS BIRTHDAY BY BEING SO MEAN AND STUPID?
I’m sure I’ll end up having more evidence for you about the “War on Christmas” as the holiday season progresses. I hope you see now that there truly is a war. And it’s being waged by people who obviously don’t have enough important things to do with their lives. It’s being waged under the name of Christianity, and that makes me angry.
On behalf of followers of Christ, I’d like to apologize to Jesus—it’s a crappy way to celebrate Your birth, my Lord. And to Jewish people, atheists, celebrants of Kwanzaa, Muslims, and other people of faith—we demand your respect but show you none in return. This isn’t right. To the retailers, to the poor who are being used as human shields in this ridiculous war—I’m sorry. Christians aren’t supposed to act this way. Most of us don’t.
Instead of “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays,” I wish to say this holiday season:
Peace. Shalom. Salaam. Say it in every language. And God help me, I want to see us do more than just say it.
I want to live it.
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