In the Agora: The Mythical "War on Christmas"

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November 11, 2005

The Mythical "War on Christmas"

Tis the season to be cranky, or so it seems. Like last year, the holiday season is accompanied by shrieks of horror and outrage from the likes of Bill O'Reilly, Pat Buchanan and the Worldnetdaily at the prospect of someone saying "Happy Holidays" to them rather than "Merry Christmas". John Gibson of Fox News has a book out called The War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought.

I'm sure you've all heard this diatribe by now, in which the main piece of evidence and the pretext for this chorus of discontent is the fact that a few department store chains have started using the more general holiday greeting on their advertisements to appear more inclusive, since a sizable portion of their customers are more likely to be celebrating Hannukah, Ramadan or nothing at all this time of year. For the demagogues mentioned above, this is proof of a Satanic plot to destroy Christmas and probably Christianity too.

But here's what I'm surprised no one has said: this entire "War on Christmas" meme that seems to be everywhere in the conservative media these days is incredibly insulting to Christians. If I was a Christian, I would be highly offended upon hearing O'Reilly and his fellow travelers peddling this nonsense, for the simple reason that he is painting an image of Christians as petulent drama queens who overreact to something this pointless and irrelevant.

See, here's the thing. I know lots of Christians and lots of non-Christians. None of the non-Christians I know are bothered by having someone say "Merry Christmas" because they are reasonable enough to know that Christmas is a prominent holiday that dominates the winter season in this country for Christians and non-Christians alike, and because they understand that the person who says it is wishing them merriment, regardless of particular holiday it's attached to. And quite frankly, anyone who reacts badly to being told "Merry Christmas" is just looking for something to get bothered about.

Likewise, none of the Christians I know, at least to my knowledge, would be the least bit offended at being told "Happy Holidays" or even "Happy Hannukah" by someone because, again, they're reasonable enough to understand that the person speaking is wishing them happiness and joy in whatever way they think is appropriate. And quite frankly, any Christian who is offended at being told "Happy Holidays" is just looking for something to get bothered about.

And if they take it further than that and declare, as Pat Buchanan did last year, that department stores with signs saying "Happy Holidays" are a "hate crime against Christians"? Well then they've simply lost their minds and wandered off into a bizarro universe of irrationality.

Posted by Ed Brayton at November 11, 2005 11:17 AM

Comments

As a Christian who also happens to be conservative, I have to say that the crass commercialization of Christmas long ago removed it from its true meaning to Christians. I'm more troubled that Christians want this event to be associated with the commercial aspects of Christmas than I am with stores deciding to tone down the religious aspect of it. My $.02.

Posted by: JohnH at November 11, 2005 12:46 PM | permalink

As a Christian, I view Christmas as a pagan holiday--one that can be quite fun, of course. Nowhere in the bible are we told to celebrate Jesus' birth. We are only instructed to celebrate His death.

The disturbing fact, if there is one to be found, is not that the "what" but the "why." Christmas references are being eradicated for nothing more substantive than PC.
Like here.

same link:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1859540,00.html

Posted by: David Heddle at November 11, 2005 01:19 PM | permalink

I'd be satisfied if someone (anyone!) could make WNIC not play 24/7 Christmas music until at least the day after Thanksgiving.....

Posted by: lawyerchik1 at November 11, 2005 01:24 PM | permalink

As an addendum to lawyerchik1's comment, I'd vote for anyone who attempted to bad the playing of Christmas music before Thanksgiving.

Posted by: Off Colfax at November 11, 2005 03:15 PM | permalink

I would like to broaden that ban to no Xmas decorations before Thanksgiving. They had Xmas decorations up and for sale at the grocery story before Halloween

Posted by: Lee at November 11, 2005 03:50 PM | permalink

I'd like them to avoid playing Elvis Christmas songs, songs that mention Christmas but that are not Christmas songs (and that are not even good), and that song about somebody's grandmother getting mauled by a reindeer.

Posted by: Karl at November 11, 2005 03:57 PM | permalink

I have seen Christmas lights for sale by the middle of September.

Posted by: Karl at November 11, 2005 03:58 PM | permalink

I am in charge of all of our direct store deliveries at a Wal-Mart. On October 1st of this year you could walk in to Wal-Mart and buy your halloween costume, thanksgiving spread, and purchase a Christmas tree all in the same day! :)

Posted by: Sarah Angeline at November 11, 2005 09:28 PM | permalink

As I mentioned in my response to Zach's post about Christmas last December, I also have a problem with those pepper-shaped Christmas lights, and anything on the shelf of a store that starts singing or dancing when I walk in front of it.

Posted by: Karl at November 11, 2005 10:23 PM | permalink

November 11, 2005

The Mythical "War on Christmas"

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