Goodpasture
Well-known member
Bill O’Reilly has been saying that there’s a war on Christmas that we must fight against. This has made me very concerned, as I’ve no idea as to what weapons to use for the coming battle. So far, everything has been quiet here in Tulsa – except, of course, for the lawsuit filed against ORU and Richard Roberts for raiding the university's treasury for private gain. Turns out it wasn’t a war on Christmas at all, but was, perhaps, part of a war against an unloving religion and an opportunistic televangelist.
So far, there seem to be no signs in this part of the country of a war on Christmas. Nobody has tried to remove anyone's crèche from anyone's home. I’ve read the Nativity Story in the Bible, and not one person has burst into my home to tear the Bible from my hands. I hear the Christmas music in the grocery store that I’ve been hearing every year for most of my life – the same songs of “Winter Wonderland” and “Jingle Bells” and “I’ll be Home for Christmas”. Nothing seems to have changed there. No, I’m not hearing “Silent Night” while I shop, but then, I find it obnoxious to try to mix commercialism and faith and to see how much money they can make off the baby Jesus. If I want to hear Christmas carols, there are plenty of opportunities - the CD carol albums, the religious stations on the radio, CMT, XM Radio, and, yes, I can go to Church and sing. Friends went to Church Christmas Eve for a special Carol-singing service, and as far as I know, no one was stationed at the door trying to stop them from singing.
Our Jewish neighbors never once asked anyone to take down a crèche, nor did anyone ask them to take down their Hanukkah display. I've some religious decorations on trees – but no one has yet confiscated them. If I want to see an outside crèche, there’s a nice one at a church a few miles away – I can drive past it anytime I want.
When I go to shop, I decide whether to wish someone “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays,” no one trys to tell me what to say. There are no signs on the door telling me what to say or how to say it. If it’s a religious store, or if I know the person is a Christian, (such as the cafe owner with religious music coming over the radio), I wish him “Merry Christmas.” If the owner is Jewish, or Muslim, or shows no sign one way or another, it seems that a “Happy Holiday” is n problem......In fact, I was at a Muslim restaurant a while back, and the owner, a friend, wished me a Merry Christmas......apparently he knows I am a Christian and he doesn't feel threatened by such sentiments.......Christmas is supposed to be a loving and caring time of year, and that is something we all should support and enjoy......and it appears my Muslim and Jewish and Pagan friends agree.
I know that some people find Christmas a difficult time of year. For those who aren’t religious, or not Christian, the bombardment of a particular point of view can be tiring.....annoying even. But these same people are quick to point out that it is not the Birth of our Savior that is annoying. It is the inundation of Christmas commercialism starting at Halloween that is annoying them......but then we are in total agreement in that. I find it crass and commercial well before Thanksgiving. Christmas holidays can be a time to be givers, regardless of faith, to bring families together, to celebrate love for each other. For those of us who are Christian, it has another significance. But that significance is not diminished because everyone doesn’t think the way we do. We can still go about our merry way, celebrating the many dimensions that are part of this season and worshiping as we so choose, without forcing anyone else to follow our same rituals.
Perhaps Bill and Sean and many of the people on Faux TV haven’t figured out where to find Christmas yet. It’s in our hearts. It’s the compassion we show for each other. It’s the love and peace and joy that we manifest. Perhaps when they stop being nasty to others, they’ll find Christmas and realize there’s no war going on – in the meantime.
Merry Christmas.
and if you are Jewish or Muslim or Hindu or Sikh or Pagan or Heathen or something else......
Happy Holidays
So far, there seem to be no signs in this part of the country of a war on Christmas. Nobody has tried to remove anyone's crèche from anyone's home. I’ve read the Nativity Story in the Bible, and not one person has burst into my home to tear the Bible from my hands. I hear the Christmas music in the grocery store that I’ve been hearing every year for most of my life – the same songs of “Winter Wonderland” and “Jingle Bells” and “I’ll be Home for Christmas”. Nothing seems to have changed there. No, I’m not hearing “Silent Night” while I shop, but then, I find it obnoxious to try to mix commercialism and faith and to see how much money they can make off the baby Jesus. If I want to hear Christmas carols, there are plenty of opportunities - the CD carol albums, the religious stations on the radio, CMT, XM Radio, and, yes, I can go to Church and sing. Friends went to Church Christmas Eve for a special Carol-singing service, and as far as I know, no one was stationed at the door trying to stop them from singing.
Our Jewish neighbors never once asked anyone to take down a crèche, nor did anyone ask them to take down their Hanukkah display. I've some religious decorations on trees – but no one has yet confiscated them. If I want to see an outside crèche, there’s a nice one at a church a few miles away – I can drive past it anytime I want.
When I go to shop, I decide whether to wish someone “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays,” no one trys to tell me what to say. There are no signs on the door telling me what to say or how to say it. If it’s a religious store, or if I know the person is a Christian, (such as the cafe owner with religious music coming over the radio), I wish him “Merry Christmas.” If the owner is Jewish, or Muslim, or shows no sign one way or another, it seems that a “Happy Holiday” is n problem......In fact, I was at a Muslim restaurant a while back, and the owner, a friend, wished me a Merry Christmas......apparently he knows I am a Christian and he doesn't feel threatened by such sentiments.......Christmas is supposed to be a loving and caring time of year, and that is something we all should support and enjoy......and it appears my Muslim and Jewish and Pagan friends agree.
I know that some people find Christmas a difficult time of year. For those who aren’t religious, or not Christian, the bombardment of a particular point of view can be tiring.....annoying even. But these same people are quick to point out that it is not the Birth of our Savior that is annoying. It is the inundation of Christmas commercialism starting at Halloween that is annoying them......but then we are in total agreement in that. I find it crass and commercial well before Thanksgiving. Christmas holidays can be a time to be givers, regardless of faith, to bring families together, to celebrate love for each other. For those of us who are Christian, it has another significance. But that significance is not diminished because everyone doesn’t think the way we do. We can still go about our merry way, celebrating the many dimensions that are part of this season and worshiping as we so choose, without forcing anyone else to follow our same rituals.
Perhaps Bill and Sean and many of the people on Faux TV haven’t figured out where to find Christmas yet. It’s in our hearts. It’s the compassion we show for each other. It’s the love and peace and joy that we manifest. Perhaps when they stop being nasty to others, they’ll find Christmas and realize there’s no war going on – in the meantime.
Merry Christmas.
and if you are Jewish or Muslim or Hindu or Sikh or Pagan or Heathen or something else......
Happy Holidays