Saturday, December 10, 2005

Hallelujah! There is a silly season!

Hardly scandalous, just dumb, are two stories of ‘political correctness’ and Christmas.  The first was noticed in a Sydney, Australia, newspaper:
"In 1915 two ammunition ships collided in Halifax harbour, Nova Scotia. The blast totally flattened Halifax, with hardly one building left standing.
Good American neighbours in Boston were the first and most generous providers of help. Ever since, Nova Scotia has sent the finest, most perfect Nova Scotia pine Christmas tree to Boston as a token of thanks. Farmers compete for the honour of being the donor.
This year Boston announced that it was no longer a 'Christmas tree' but, so as not to embarrass ethnic groups; it would become a 'Holiday Tree'. The Canadian farmer asked them to send it back." Boston has now changed its mind - it's a Christmas tree again.My Boston correspondent advised me that: “No one really noticed until the ‘Canuks’ kicked up a stink.

The second story, again an Australian newspaper, tells of George W. Bush and Laura sending out their Christmas cards to 1.4 million of their closest friends, without mentioning Christmas. Instead, they wished everyone a happy "holiday season".

I don’t see the problem with Christmas. For those who can derive a spiritual message from the event, I say; “Good on you.” For most it is, and was created in the ‘good old USA’, to be a commercial cum sentimental celebration, The reason for the season is to generate retail sales, and possibly spread a bit of good spirit.
Of course George W is in trouble with his ‘evangelical’ fans, but it will be ever thus in a pluralist society. Someone is going to object no matter what you do. Why not leave as Christmas and simply invite all and sundry to make of it what they will.
I was struck by a discussion on thanksgiving recently, and how it has become a widely accepted tradition. The comment was that it reflected the fact that everyone, pilgrims notwithstanding, has need to stop and give thanks.
In the same way Christmas, for most, is nothing more than an opportunity to take a break from crazy reality and indulge in a bit of unreal generosity of the spirit and material. So call it Christmas, reach out and hug someone. But be careful; check out the crazy sister in law and the demented brother for hidden weapons.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

1.4 million of their closest friends? That is the most rediculous thing I've ever heard. Oh and btw, Christmas,Holiday Season or whatever you want to call it, was originally a pagan celebration.

Anonymous said...

Hold on here, what the hell is going on? It seems the latest fad is changing words, so they alleviate the problem. So if you change Christmas into Holiday season, it's the same thing but not because the name is changed. WTF??? May I remind the world, this form of manipulation is learned by children at a very early age and is nothing new! I have always taught my children not to lie, It's about time these Leaders got a spankin!

mikevotes said...

In 1984, not the last word but very popular and useful reference for things like this, the whole manipulation of perception was based on language control.

This is just one example.

And, interestingly to me, this whole "Christmas debate" has led to several articles on the more rational Christmas side recognizing that Dec. 25th is an arbitrary date for celebration and that most of the trappings of Christmas as we celebrate it are brought from pagan roots.

Mike