I'm getting tired of it. I've never seen more whiny little shits in all my life than right now, during this 2005 holiday season.
Open any newspaper in America, from the New York Times and the Boston Globe down to the little community and suburb papers, and you see op-ed pieces ad nauseum arguing about the de-Christmas-ization of the holidays and about what to call the community tree. Turn on Bill O'Reilly and he's mouthing off about how we should boycott department stores that refuse to mention Christmas in their holiday marketing efforts.
Wasn't it, like, a year ago that people were complaining that there was too much commercialization of Jesus' birthday? And now those same people are compaining because we aren't commercializing Jesus' birthday enough? What the fuck, people, are you insane? It just seems ridiculous to me to shout "Fuck you, Target! Fuck you and your "Holiday Sale"! I'm going to go somewhere else to commercialize my Lord's birthday! So there!".
The use of the phrase "happy holidays" is not an assault on Christians. It is not part of the progressive agenda. (And by the way, last time I checked, Christians were not an endangered species.) It is simply common fucking sense and good manners. There just happens to be more than one holiday during the season. There are several. So it's not about de-Jesus-ifying, it's about inclusion and accuracy and acknowledement of the truth. All three things that Jesus would likely approve of.
And all this tree commotion. Who gives a shit what it's called? It's a fucking tree. A symbol. And for your information, the evergreen has been widely recognized as a pagan symbol. That's right. And it was used to scare away evil spirits. All you people boycotting Halloween at your kids' schools becuase of its roots in paganism can go ahead and chuck your tree out the window, along with your jack-o-lanterns and your Batman costumes. Now, I don't know what it's like where you live, but I can throw a rock from my front door and hit the houses of Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Agnostics, and Atheists. Outside of the Christians, some of them have trees, and appreciate the community tree that is decorated each year downtown. It seems the kind, unifying, and democratic thing to do (espeically when its our tax dollars that go towards lighting the thing) is to not declare it a symbol of any particular holiday, but rather a symbol of unity, light, hope, and peace -- all sentiments that each member of the community can appreciate and apply to their own lives. Each of these sentiments would not be unwelcome in any religion.
I think the thing that I would like to see the most during the holiday season is a universal acknowledgement that we live in a society that is comprised of immigrants. All of us, except, obviously, the Native Americans, who seem to me to be the only ones that don't have a voice in these issues. None of us, and our various religions, belonged here before we brought them here. Times have changed. Just like the white anglo ancestors who came here for a better life, others have done the same. Our country was founded on the basis of freedom of religion. You are certainly allowed to worship how you wish, and wish whoever you want a Merry Christmas/Kwanzaa/Ramadan/Solstice/Hanukkah, etc., but just don't be an imbecile who whines about who should/should not wish who what. Because when you do, you just look like a dick, and you make your religion seem less appealing to others.
Me, I don't go to church. I don't read the Bible. I don't claim any religion. I am not even sure that there is a God. But I have a tree in my house. And I wish others "Happy Holidays" and I give gifts. I recognize all the holidays, and I recognize all the beliefs (and non-believers) in my community and in my society. I appreciate the sentiments of most every religion, and this time of year those sentiments are more alike than not. Religion is complex. And more than anything, it is an incredibly personal matter. Most of us would not force any other personal philosophy, morals, opinions, or any other personal matters upon anyone else that did not want them. That would just be rude. I, personally, don't find this to be any different.
