Have you ever said “Merry Christmas” to a Jew? How about a Muslim? How would you like it if a Muslim said to you “Eid Mubarak” (عيد مبارك) wishing that you have a blessed Eid ul-Fitr?
And you don’t celebrate Eid ul-Fitr, don’t know anyone who does, and don’t even know what you do to celebrate it?
Like it or not, this is a diverse nation. More diverse than when my ancestors made the trip from the old country, and their religion, and everyone else’s for that matter, was some form of Christianity. But back then there was enough of a difference between the Christian sects, and such religious persecution, that it caused my European ancestors to leave their homeland in search of a country that was more tolerant of religious differences.
And now we seem to have come full circle. We are now where Europe was in the mid-19th century, and we are now persecuting those who exercise some religious tolerance, persecuting those who exercise some consideration for those of us who have differing religious views.
These new persecutors, among others are the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas. The next Torquemada of the next Inquisition.
The First Baptist Church of Dallas has taken it upon itself the task of having people leave messages on their website GrinchAlert.com turning in businesses who take diversity seriously and try not to offend those among us with differing, that is, non-Christian religious (or non-religious) points of view.
Their point is, I take it, that Christmas is all about Jesus the Savior of the World, and to deny Him the celebration of His Birthday is . . .what . . . anti-Christian? Anti-American?
Anti-something, anyway.
They identify businesses as “naughty” and “nice.” Naughty businesses scrupulously avoid wishing their customers “Merry Christmas,” preferring “Happy Holidays.” Other businesses sell Christmas ornaments, or should I say Xmas ornaments, but not the kind that have Jesus in the manger or angels or religious sentiments.
“Nice” businesses do all of that.
The idea is to get like-minded Christians who deny the validity of any other religion not to shop at these “naughty” shops. Sort of like how the Taliban takes a dim view of Infidels or how Saudis don’t want our soldiers to drink beer while in their country.
So where did they get “naughty” and “nice?” Could it be from that seasonal holiday song about a mythical elf that bestows toys upon all the children of the world (or at least the Christian children, anyway) on Christmas Eve?
The song that more than any other, is responsible for the secularization of Christmas?
And I hate to break it to my Christian brethren, but history runs very much counter to the whole Jesus being born on December 25th thing. Christmas may have been hijacked by Free Enterprise in the 20th century, but originally Christmas was hijacked by the 5th century Roman Church when they saw their members celebrating the festival of the Invincible Sun – a three-day H-E-Double Hockey Sticks raiser that centered around the Winter Solstice, and a celebration of the sun returning on its journey back to the south with the promise of warmer days to come.
Put Christ back into Christmas? How about putting Sol back into the Solstice?
And how about getting back to the principles of our Founding Fathers and practice a little religious tolerance. Now more than ever because we’re not all Christians anymore, are we?
Ah, The Grinch, that green-skinned creature mentioned in the Book of Mark. Or was it the Book of John?
The Book of Seuss?
No comments:
Post a Comment