Every year the
Christmas holiday seems to get a little more controversial. Many Christians believe there is a "war
on Christmas" from people who don't want God and/or Jesus to be part of
the holiday, even though that particular holiday is Christian in origin. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of
Jesus Christ. It has been commercialized
into a holiday for all with Santa Claus and presents and various
decorations, both religious and non-religious.
In the politically correct corner, the greeting of "Merry
Christmas" has been pushed aside by many in favor of the more secular
greeting of "Happy Holidays".
I find that interesting since the word holiday comes from the root words
"holy day", which still has religious connotations.
Many stores and businesses, in order to not offend anyone of
any religious or political persuasion, stay completely away from the word
"Christmas". Walking through
stores these days you see the word "Christmas" less and less. It's truly a shame since Christmas used to be
a time when people came together, when they truly looked for peace in the world
- even if it was only for a couple of days.
On Christmas Day, 1914, only 5 months into World War I,
German, British, and French soldiers, already sick and tired of the senseless
killing, disobeyed their superiors and fraternized with 'the enemy' along
two-thirds of the Western Front (in times of war, a crime punishable by death).
German troops held Christmas trees up out of the trenches with signs, 'Merry
Christmas.' 'You no shoot, we no shoot.' Thousands of troops streamed across a
no-man's land strewn with rotting corpses. They sang Christmas carols,
exchanged photographs of loved ones back home, shared rations, played football,
even roasted some pigs. Soldiers embraced men they had been trying to kill a
few short hours before. They agreed to warn each other if the top brass forced
them to fire their weapons, and to aim high.
This event is documented historically. And it was because both sides celebrated and
honored Christmas and its meaning of peace on Earth. It may have only lasted hours (although there
are reports that in some places it lasted days) but think of it - a war
interrupted because both sides wanted to celebrate a special holiday.
A couple of years ago I came across a Christmas greeting
that should satisfy my secular, progressive, liberal, and even atheist friends. Here it is...
To my liberal/secular friends:
Please accept, with no obligation (implied or explicit) my
best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress,
non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday,
practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of
your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the
religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not
to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful,
personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of
the generally accepted calendar year 2013 but not without due respect for the
calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have
helped make America great. Not to imply
that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America
in the Western Hemisphere. Also, this wish is made without regard to
the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual
preference of the wishee.
To my conservative/believing friends:
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
May the joy of the Christmas season be with each of you,
regardless of how you celebrate it. God bless you all.
HA HA
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