Saturday, December 01, 2012
If there's a War on Christmas, it's the one I experience watching TV commercials this time of year.
There's two main events happening now. One is Advent/Christmas, The other is a huge, hodge podge Solstice festival draped with pseudo-religiosity that has exerted itself upon many cultures since ancient times, & which we have transformed into a grand celebration of American consumerism.
Look at the Christmas they were celebrating in Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." A few parties, a few gifts, a family dinner with the rare treat, a cooked goose, & the general air of good will. Ebenezer Scrooge wasn't resisting our contemporary holiday. He was just a mean-spirited, greedy capitalist who wouldn't give Bob Cratchit a day off & a small bonus. Ironically, the Scrooges now are right wingers defending Scrooges.
I don't know what conservative Christians are bitchin' about. Non-Christians recognize what's going on here isn't "Christmas." So do a lot of Christians trying to maintain some detachment & a sane perspective. You can certainly participate in both "festivals." But understand that they're not the same, only entwined. Don't expect retailers to unravel them for them. Businesses do what they have to do to sell us stuff from Chia Pets to new cars.
"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Thomas Jefferson
There's two main events happening now. One is Advent/Christmas, The other is a huge, hodge podge Solstice festival draped with pseudo-religiosity that has exerted itself upon many cultures since ancient times, & which we have transformed into a grand celebration of American consumerism.
Look at the Christmas they were celebrating in Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." A few parties, a few gifts, a family dinner with the rare treat, a cooked goose, & the general air of good will. Ebenezer Scrooge wasn't resisting our contemporary holiday. He was just a mean-spirited, greedy capitalist who wouldn't give Bob Cratchit a day off & a small bonus. Ironically, the Scrooges now are right wingers defending Scrooges.
I don't know what conservative Christians are bitchin' about. Non-Christians recognize what's going on here isn't "Christmas." So do a lot of Christians trying to maintain some detachment & a sane perspective. You can certainly participate in both "festivals." But understand that they're not the same, only entwined. Don't expect retailers to unravel them for them. Businesses do what they have to do to sell us stuff from Chia Pets to new cars.
