Comments on: Christmas Questions

By: MikeA

MikeA — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:05:54 +0000

That the question need be asked is tragic. Although a Christian, I celebrate Christmas not because of any holy-grail imagery or great religious imperative. Being a good Christian on Christmas and Easter is a pretty shallow level of faith in any case. The reason I do Christmas at all is because it is a tradition that brings my family and friends together for an intense camaraderie that reminds us all that we are a blessed people. Traditions are sufficient in themselves. You do yours and I�ll do mine. I would not be offended to see a display of a winter solstice diorama on the courthouse lawn. Or a Menorah, or a Christmas tree. But for some reason non-Christians seem driven to at least say they don�t believe in Christ, every time the Christmas season tolls around. If Christmas is not a tradition for you, that�s fine with me. But please leave my traditions alone. I like them just as they are, and I don�t really care what non-Christians think about that.

By: Garvey

Garvey — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 14:37:56 +0000

Tim:

Please refer to Lynch v. Donnelly. Putting up religious icons is not categorically a “no-no.” And wishing it were doesn’t make it so.

This country is so far from a theocracy, folks sound like loons whenever they suggest it is. It is very easy to see that if this country *were* ever theocratic, it was more so 200 years ago and grows less so with each passing generation.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:40:56 +0000

The rub for me is when religion spills over into and in some cases on top of our government. I don’t care how many “touchdown” Jesus statues anyone puts in their yard. I don’t care how many “Yo momma was pro-life, dawlin” bumperstickers they have on their cars. But when they put up religious icons on public buildings and public land, that’s a no-no. Some Christians get “offended” and claim there’s a “war on Christmas” because the sign on city hall says “Season’s Greetings” instead of their preferred “Merry Christmas.” I say, “Happy Holidays you theocratic schmuck.”

Thanks for asking, B.

Peace,

Tim

By: YatPundit

YatPundit — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:32:18 +0000

heh, I’m reading “The Joy of Y’at Catholicism” by Earl Higgins at the moment. In it, he’s got a line where he says “In New Orleans, even the Jews are Catholic.”

We don’t have to water down holidays to respect others.

And if anyone has a problem with that, they can bite me.

By: The Rebel Jesus « Odd Bits of Life in New Orleans

The Rebel Jesus « Odd Bits of Life in New Orleans — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:27:07 +0000

[...] Jackson Browne, Jesus, justice, pagan, peace, rebel, Xian, Xmas, Yule trackback I tried to answer Bart’s question about how to deal with Xmas when one is not an Xian as best I could. I think, however, that Jackson [...]

By: chrissieroux

chrissieroux — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:03:14 +0000

Its funny–I work at a Jewish agency where several of my Jewish colleagues celebrate both Hannukah and Christmas. I asked one colleague about this and she explained that she grew up feeling really alienated and pissed off not to be able to celebrate such a fun and festive holiday, and she and her husband have decided, as adults, not to deprive themselves.

Not that that really addresses your questions, but I thought it was interesting.

By: mominem

mominem — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:32:44 +0000

I was also referring to the wacky PC crowd who can’t seem to stop making fun of some people beliefs, especially those they feel are beneath them in the proper social order.

Fun is fun a we can all use a reality check from time to time.

But it’s a Christmas Tree, not a Holiday Tree damn it!

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:43:46 +0000

You know, there are plenty of practicing neo-pagans around who celebrate an unabashed pagan Yule, the winter solstice, so do that if you like and enjoy it. It’s all good with us. Heck, I even found “Happy Solstice” cards at Borders one year. Christians in no way have a monoploy on celebrating this time of year.

By: Garvey

Garvey — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:23:54 +0000

I would also like to add that I do not believe in the “right to not be offended.” This right does not exist. So if you do offend me, that’s uncool, but I won’t howl at my congressman about it.

By: Garvey

Garvey — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:20:36 +0000

As a Christian, I agree with the “do your thang” philosophy that others have said here. If you don’t celebrate Xmas, it doesn’t offend me.

If we didn’t celebrate Jesus’ birthday on Dec. 25, we’d all have to work, etc. So I am a little annoyed that what really is Christmas and all its trappings–secular stuff included–is often called “winter break” or some other BS. I’m not one of those “War on Xmas” blowhards, but I do think that some people act a little too offended about Christmas–on *both sides*. If we called it “Christmas Break,” is that REALLY tantamount to “establishment” of religion? Heck, no. And anyone who claims it is, is an extremist, IMO.

So while Mominem prolly meant “those wacky evangelicals” when she wrote about catering to extremists, from my perspective, it is the folks who want to tear down and PC-ify everything are the extremists.

I guess the long and short of it is this: if you can celebrate whatever you want without defecating (figuratively) on the beliefs of others, great. I celebrate Xmas, but that doesn’t mean I hang up a symbol of someone else’s cherished holiday with a circle-slash around it. All I ask is the same courtesy.