First, it seemed to be an American thing: the ever-stronger push toward a neutral “holiday” season so that non-Christians won’t be even the slightest bit offended. It seems that celebrating Christmas in any public way is a violation of church and state separation for US politicians (in fact: that’s where this nonsense started). But now this stupid behaviour is coming to Europe too. The Brittish town Havant, have renamed their local “Christmas Lights Party” into the “Festival of Lights”. What is wrong with people? Did we ever feel offended by Jewish hollidays or other non-western holidays? In Europe we do not have Thanksgiving. But do we care about Americans that live in Europe and that still want to celebrate it? Hell no: let them enjoy it! So what’s wrong with enjoying Christmas?
Why should I be forced to say “Season’s greetings” instead of “Happy Christmas”? Yet a lot of companies (not just in the USA) have changed their holiday greeting cards. And it doesn’t stop there.
It seems that there is a trend going on here. John Gibson, a popular anchor for the Fox News Channel (representing the Christian right wing spectrum), has been digging up evidence about the liberal activists, lawyers, politicians, educators, and media people who are leading the “war on Christmas”. And he reveals that the situationin the USA is worse than you might imagine. For instance:
- In Illinois, state government workers were forbidden from saying the words “Merry Christmas” while at work
- In Rhode Island, local officials banned Christians from participating in a public project to decorate the lawn of City Hall
- A New Jersey school banned even instrumental versions of traditional Christmas carols
- Arizona school officials ruled it unconstitutional for a student to make any reference to the religious history of Christmas in a class project
All I can see is that this is a stupid trend that seems to prove that people are willing to do anything out of fear. Fear to upset someone from another religion and fear of retalliation from such a person or his religion.
I say we should not fear other cultures, we should celebrate all cultures, including Christian.
So let’s just enjoy Xmas instead of turning it into some neutered “holiday” season.
