Whenever I think "Surely we didn't lose the election just because of the values thing?" I read something like this.
There are two ways to read it. One is that yes, it was the values thing. The second way is that those on the Right are just as capable of misinterpreting the election outcome as those on the Left. Neither is very comforting.
I agree with this group's stance against political correctness-gone-mad. Hell, I agree with any group's stance against political-correctness-gone-mad. But really, who the hell cares if Macy's says Merry Christmas? I can't believe this is on their radar.
Kids being banned from singing christmas carols on the school bus, yeah I think that's pretty tyrannical and ridiculous. But some of this other stuff is silly and a waste of effort. They should be out buying presents! At Target...
I'm all for dumping political correctness in general, but this particular thing seems like a call for a Christian Nation disguised as a stand against PC. I mean what's really wrong with "Happy Holidays"? Is it too inclusive? God forbid we actually wish everyone happy holidays, and not single out the Christians for praise.
Businesses have an interest in appealing to the largest possible group, so of course they encourage more generic "Seasons greetings" type things. Every jew, or black person, or whatever, that you make a little uncomfortable might mean dollars lost.
As for schools and state buildings... well if you're going to insist that Christmas is a Christian Holiday then you have to accept that the state cannot promote it. If you want to let it slide into secularism then fine, but you don't get it both ways.
Well, these days maybe you can have it both ways, but I don't approve. Freedom of Religion is too important. It amazes me to see the most religious among us work against it, but then I realize that it is always the religious, not the secular, who threaten the freedom of others to worship as they choose.
I probably mostly agree with Asa's stance on this "save X-Mas" business. I am after all, a hell-bound "nonbeliever."
However, Christmas isn't some holiday to be bundled in with the rest. Christmas is "more equal", as it were, than the others simply because it is a Federal Holiday. This is why I think there's some rightness in the argument among those going gaga over the Orwellian re-writing of Christmas language and whatnot. This is also why I don't have a problem with the Feds lighting a Christmas tree or saying Merry Christmas.
I think a lot of this anti-Christmas business is simply because Americans on the Right and Left are conditioned to be offended by EVERYTHING.
"I'm a Christian Red State Farmer and Bono saying 'fuck' offends me. Get rid of him."
"I'm a gay New York fashion photographer and your manger scene offends me. Get rid of it."
Unlike these people, I'm not easily offended. And that goes for everything, from open displays of religion, to open displays of vaginas.
Maybe it's because I'm an atheist, but you know how they say some guys are more comfortable with their sexuality so they can handle crazier things? Well, I'm comfortable in my lack of religion, so I can handle anything the Pope and friends throw at me.
Also, the Constitution isn't helping, as people have both the right to free speech (the right for me to say "Merry Christmas") and freedom of religion (the right for me to say, "Keep your crucifix off my sacrifical slab!"). They sorta cancel out, I guess. Which just leaves us with the right to refuse quartering British soldiers in our homes.
* * *
As for Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays...
Yeah, I don't know why people are getting mad at those. It's pretty irrational, if you ask me. It's not like those sayings were invented just this year. People have been saying Happy Holidays for generations. It even includes Thanksgiving!
* * *
Oh, and people really concerned with Christmas should be worried less (but still worried) about speech codes and political correctness than big business. If you're wondering why the Birth of Christ ain't so religious anymore it's not the fault of those nasty progressives, it's the fault of Wal-Mart, Target, Television advertisers, and Mattel.
Aye, there's the rub. The only thing I have to add to what you just said, and I think i touched on this in the original post, is that Christmas is "more equal" precisely because it has become secularized. Santa has nothing to do with Jesus. But these people seem to be saying "Put the Christ back in Christmas and while you're at it throw some government (or whatever) money in there!" You really can;t have it both ways.
Forgive me if this is an obvious observation that's been written about elsewhere, but isn't "Happy Holidays" almost as exclusive as "Merry Christmas," merely expanding the circle to include Jews and Kwanzians (both relatively small groups)? It does nothing for agnostics and atheists who are only celebrating ONE holiday this time of year. And what about the Jews, who this year wrapped up our annual commercial holiday over a week ago? As for our New Year's Day, it was back in September! So "Happy Holidays" doesn't really apply to us either.
So what have I been saying to strangers this past week? "Happy Holidays," with the occasional "Merry Christmas" slipping past. I guess "Season's Greetings" would be the only truly inclusive/meaningless thing to say this time of year.
* * * * *
Oh, and as for the people who believe that this is still a "Christian Nation," they should pay a visit to Arlington National Cemetery and check out the fresh graves of our soldiers killed in Iraq. Instead of a sea of crosses, there's a cornucopia of religious symbols representing Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and several other religions I couldn't identify.
Of course, then they'd have to admit that soldiers were dying in Iraq, so nevermind.
6 Comments:
Whenever I think "Surely we didn't lose the election just because of the values thing?" I read something like this.
There are two ways to read it. One is that yes, it was the values thing. The second way is that those on the Right are just as capable of misinterpreting the election outcome as those on the Left. Neither is very comforting.
Happy Secumas!
I agree with this group's stance against political correctness-gone-mad. Hell, I agree with any group's stance against political-correctness-gone-mad. But really, who the hell cares if Macy's says Merry Christmas? I can't believe this is on their radar.
Kids being banned from singing christmas carols on the school bus, yeah I think that's pretty tyrannical and ridiculous. But some of this other stuff is silly and a waste of effort. They should be out buying presents! At Target...
I'm all for dumping political correctness in general, but this particular thing seems like a call for a Christian Nation disguised as a stand against PC. I mean what's really wrong with "Happy Holidays"? Is it too inclusive? God forbid we actually wish everyone happy holidays, and not single out the Christians for praise.
Businesses have an interest in appealing to the largest possible group, so of course they encourage more generic "Seasons greetings" type things. Every jew, or black person, or whatever, that you make a little uncomfortable might mean dollars lost.
As for schools and state buildings... well if you're going to insist that Christmas is a Christian Holiday then you have to accept that the state cannot promote it. If you want to let it slide into secularism then fine, but you don't get it both ways.
Well, these days maybe you can have it both ways, but I don't approve. Freedom of Religion is too important. It amazes me to see the most religious among us work against it, but then I realize that it is always the religious, not the secular, who threaten the freedom of others to worship as they choose.
I probably mostly agree with Asa's stance on this "save X-Mas" business. I am after all, a hell-bound "nonbeliever."
However, Christmas isn't some holiday to be bundled in with the rest. Christmas is "more equal", as it were, than the others simply because it is a Federal Holiday. This is why I think there's some rightness in the argument among those going gaga over the Orwellian re-writing of Christmas language and whatnot.
This is also why I don't have a problem with the Feds lighting a Christmas tree or saying Merry Christmas.
I think a lot of this anti-Christmas business is simply because Americans on the Right and Left are conditioned to be offended by EVERYTHING.
"I'm a Christian Red State Farmer and Bono saying 'fuck' offends me. Get rid of him."
"I'm a gay New York fashion photographer and your manger scene offends me. Get rid of it."
Unlike these people, I'm not easily offended. And that goes for everything, from open displays of religion, to open displays of vaginas.
Maybe it's because I'm an atheist, but you know how they say some guys are more comfortable with their sexuality so they can handle crazier things? Well, I'm comfortable in my lack of religion, so I can handle anything the Pope and friends throw at me.
Also, the Constitution isn't helping, as people have both the right to free speech (the right for me to say "Merry Christmas") and freedom of religion (the right for me to say, "Keep your crucifix off my sacrifical slab!"). They sorta cancel out, I guess. Which just leaves us with the right to refuse quartering British soldiers in our homes.
* * *
As for Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays...
Yeah, I don't know why people are getting mad at those. It's pretty irrational, if you ask me. It's not like those sayings were invented just this year. People have been saying Happy Holidays for generations. It even includes Thanksgiving!
* * *
Oh, and people really concerned with Christmas should be worried less (but still worried) about speech codes and political correctness than big business. If you're wondering why the Birth of Christ ain't so religious anymore it's not the fault of those nasty progressives, it's the fault of Wal-Mart, Target, Television advertisers, and Mattel.
Aye, there's the rub. The only thing I have to add to what you just said, and I think i touched on this in the original post, is that Christmas is "more equal" precisely because it has become secularized. Santa has nothing to do with Jesus. But these people seem to be saying "Put the Christ back in Christmas and while you're at it throw some government (or whatever) money in there!" You really can;t have it both ways.
Forgive me if this is an obvious observation that's been written about elsewhere, but isn't "Happy Holidays" almost as exclusive as "Merry Christmas," merely expanding the circle to include Jews and Kwanzians (both relatively small groups)? It does nothing for agnostics and atheists who are only celebrating ONE holiday this time of year. And what about the Jews, who this year wrapped up our annual commercial holiday over a week ago? As for our New Year's Day, it was back in September! So "Happy Holidays" doesn't really apply to us either.
So what have I been saying to strangers this past week? "Happy Holidays," with the occasional "Merry Christmas" slipping past. I guess "Season's Greetings" would be the only truly inclusive/meaningless thing to say this time of year.
* * * * *
Oh, and as for the people who believe that this is still a "Christian Nation," they should pay a visit to Arlington National Cemetery and check out the fresh graves of our soldiers killed in Iraq. Instead of a sea of crosses, there's a cornucopia of religious symbols representing Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and several other religions I couldn't identify.
Of course, then they'd have to admit that soldiers were dying in Iraq, so nevermind.
Merry X-Mas!
Post a Comment
<< Home