I don't think one has to be a wild-eyed, drooling, right-wing fundamentalist, young-earth creationist, pro-life human to recognize the demise of Christmas as we once knew it. (In fact, I'm not sure if any of those creatures actually exists, or even ever existed.) That's really an unfair portrayal of those of us who hold to a literal, historical, and traditional view the great day that we all enjoy.
No, “Who stole Christmas?” is just a question that simple, rational, and breathing individuals ask when he or she assesses the holiday season we once called Christmas.
Add anyone who chooses to be untouched by materialism, uncluttered by Hollywood, and unmoved by status quo, while you're at it, and you've likely got the same people asking the same question.
While you may not be one of those in my first line, you still may hold to a conservative (and therefore reasonable) view of life and death, history and geography, finances and morals, faith and fact. If you do, I feel better already. You likely share the same concern that I'm going to develop in this column.
Even selecting my target audience makes me sad: You see, one of the marks of the demise of Christmas is that people—which would include yours truly—who place a value on the origin and meaning of Christmas, are seen as wild-eyed, drooling, right-wing...(oops, used that line already).
It's a very sad day in a once-strong society that there is so little tolerance for certain marginalized folk. And people who place a value on faith and facts are getting more and more marginalized.
It is rather ironic, then, that those who have been demonized as intolerant are no longer tolerated by the so-called tolerant. Go figure.
When it comes to celebrating Christmas, there are two extremes today (and I suggest that the truth lies somewhere in the middle): those who believe nothing significant happened 2,000 years ago and those who believe nothing significant happened 2,000 years ago.
No, that was not a miss-print, but a witty commentary on how the two polar opposite opinions are, in fact, actually quite similar. Let me explain.
On the one hand, there are people who have set convictions when it comes to Christmas. They believe in the birth of the Christ-child 2,000+ years ago; they believe it was a significant birth, yet wrapped in insignificant surroundings; and though they recognize it all happened back then, they believe that the celebration today should not be marked by lights, trees, cards, presents, or other forms of hollow joy.
You may not be surprised that I agree more or less with many of their assertions.
The other extreme is the godless greed and confused consumerism that marks many people's version of Christmas. There is no need for a manger, because there is no room for the Christ-child anymore: back then, in the inn; and now, in the hearts of mankind. The light (aka the star) that led the magi to the house where the young child lay has been replaced by gaudy Christmas displays—lights replacing light, if you will, colourful but overdone.
You may not be surprised at how much I disagree with that position.
Surely you're aware that the word “Christmas” is being de-emphasized, even deleted these days, replaced with something generic like “Winterfest,” or “Holiday Joy.” The usual rationale is about being sensitive to the needs and differing views of others--unless you hold to a traditional view, of course.
That's both lame and inconsistent, of course, as there appears to be no sensitivity to the needs and differing views of the generations of families that have cherished the facts of a historical Christmas.
By the way, “Winterfest” and “Holiday Joy,” in and of themselves, are certainly acceptable terms; the rationale behind using them, though, is sad.
And to be shoved aside, then ostracized, because one sees things differently, is a very sad commentary on the state of our society today. Whatever happened to “goodwill toward all men”? Oh right, it got thrown out with the Babe in Bethlehem.
For that matter, don't think one has to be a wild-eyed, drooling, right-wing fundamentalist, young-earth creationist, pro-life human to embrace the true meaning of Christmas. Just a simple, rational, and breathing human being would do just fine.
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