Thursday, December 15, 2005

I really need to get a life

I've been packing for my CHRISTMAS trip (no, it's not a generic "holiday" trip), and decided to check out Dr. Sanity
How in heaven's name did all the political correct assininity become so prevalent? How did it sneak up and like the Grinch, sneaking down from his mountan, steal Christmas away from us?

Isn't it time to say "enough is enough" to this mind-boggling insanity? "Cold in the Night"? Trees of color?? Red and Green offensive? What is the matter with these people? Who died and made them holiday fuehrers? Does the multicultural mob live in thrall to the White Witch? Or are they simply PC Grinches?
Holiday Fuehrers - I love that.

Thinking about "The Grinch that Stole Christmas" made me think about the whole thing - what makes Christmas so special? It may be partly cultural - the English, Germans, and Celts that first populated a good part of the founding states had a long tradition of celebrating the holiday (except for the Puritans and a few others who think Christmas is a Pagan holiday). It may be that, in America, the winter is long and cheerless, and it could use a good holiday right about then.

But the fact is that, until sometime in the 60's, most people in America considered Christmas a, well, Christian holiday. They made a point of attending church. They expected to give and receive religious cards. They set up creches and manger scenes, and participated in singing Christmas carols of the old type - with a specifically religious theme.

When did it change?

Sometime during the Baby Boom years, when TV was young, the networks started putting programming on to fill those long days between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some of the specials they created still linger:
  • Frosty the Snowman
  • Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
  • The Grinch that Stole Christmas
  • and the many versions of A Christmas Carol

Looking over this list, one thing occurs to me - in none of these do any of the families go to church to celebrate the holiday. And that tradition continues:

  • A Christmas Story
  • Miracle on 34th Street
  • It's a Wonderful Life

You know, for me, it's hard to imagine celebrating Christmas without going to church to do so. One of my fondest memories is leaving church to the tune of "Joy to the World". But I recognize that my family is in the minority. Many families do the "whole Christmas thing" without ever darkening a church threshhold. Sad, but true.

Yeah, I know, you don't need a church to worship God. You can celebrate the magnificence of God in the middle of a forest. Better, even.

Except, when's the last time you did so?

Tags = Religion

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