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Looking at the Thought
Behind Christmas
Culture War
Frank
Salvato, Managing Editor |
December
23, 2004
- With the Christmas Season upon us, again we have
stood witness to the politically correct assault on our sensibilities that
is the "War on Christmas.” Even as Sam Donaldson and the rest of the
elitist, agenda-driven mainstream media snobs proclaim that there is no such
attack taking place, law suits over nativity scenes and corporate directives
banishing the term "Merry Christmas” are evidence to the contrary. To listen
to those so full of rage this holiday season one would think that Christmas,
and the tradition that created it, are a very destructive and offensive
affair.
Christmas, traditionally – and even that is becoming a word that evokes
gasps from the "progressive” left – has been about putting aside our daily
differences, if just for a week or so, in an effort to remember that we have
evolved into a civil society and that we inherently possess qualities that
are exclusively humane. By embracing these we are able to get along despite
said differences. Traditionally, and officially since 1870, it is a time of
thanksgiving and appreciation, a time for family and friends, a time for
heartfelt actions and for some self-examination, especially in the face of
the approaching New Year.
Further, for a great many in the United States and around the world it is a
time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior for
Christians. Christian or not, Christ’s life illustrates the very real human
desire for peace and kindness. While some scholars would argue that Christ’s
actual birth was some time in early Spring, the celebration of his birth has
been accepted by the world at large to be on December 25th.
In the United States, Christmas is a federal holiday, embraced and
sanctioned by Congress. But this wasn’t always so.
Just as we witness today’s biases against the traditions of Christmas,
whether they are in the form of religious intolerance or secular humanist
aggressiveness, the same type of exclusionary intolerance was practiced by
the Puritans of Massachusetts – the current home to Senators Kennedy and
Kerry. The Puritans banned any observance of Christmas and anyone caught
observing the holiday was fined. The State of Connecticut went so far as to
enact a law forbidding its celebration along with the baking of mincemeat
pies, also known as Christmas pies.
It wasn’t until 1870, when the totalitarian attitudes of the American
Puritanical Age began to wane that Americans in general started to accept
not only the holiday of Christmas but the meaning behind it; peace on earth,
good will toward men. On June 26, 1870 the United States Congress declared
Christmas a federal holiday.
It would seem that the politically correct culture – a culture directly
based in Socialist ideology – currently running amok in the United States is
less "progressive” than it is "regressive,” especially where Christmas is
concerned. The secular humanist devaluation of the basic reason for the
existence of Christmas, and their intolerance of any symbol related to the
holiday, are frighteningly similar to the social and religious strictures of
the Puritans of the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries.
The Puritans engaged in witch hunts out of ignorance and the fear of the
unknown. Secular humanists of the "progressive” left are ignorant and
fearful too. Compounded with egotistic narcissism, elitist intolerance and
an unwillingness to accept cultural human differences across the board,
"progressive” secular humanism is proving to be less about inclusion than
enforced conformity, a ruthlessly communistic tactic.
If there is anything offensive about a symbol – religiously based or not –
that reminds us of the ideals of kindness and compassion for our fellow man,
I certainly can’t see it. If there is anything insulting about the
gentleness, wholesomeness and joy that a nativity scene symbolizes – whether
the basis for the nativity is religious or not – it is beyond me.
There are those among us whose esteem for their own opinions has fostered a
belief in a manufactured, nonexistent Constitutional right not to be
offended. This faux right is based entirely in the Socialist-based ideology
of political correctness. And, as of this writing at least, there is no
piece of legislation, no mandate and no obligation that requires the
American people to kow-tow to the coercion of any oppressive, intolerant
ideology. Simply put, the American public doesn’t have to put up with it
even under the progressive guise of political correctness.
Perhaps it is time (and I believe that it is well past time) that the silent
majority of Americans – who don’t have a problem with saying Merry
Christmas, Salvation Army kettles or a nativity scene in the public square –
points out that it is the "offended” who are being offensive and intolerant.
Perhaps that can be our Christmas present to America.
To all of you who appreciate it, I wish you peace, health and happiness this
holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. |
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Frank Salvato is the
managing editor for The New Media Journal. He serves at the Executive
Director of the
Basics Project, a non-profit, non-partisan, 501(C)(3) research and
education initiative. His pieces are regularly featured in over 100
publications both nationally and internationally. He has appeared on The
O’Reilly Factor. He hosts The New Media Journal on BlogTalk Radio and is a
regular guest on The Right Balance with Greg Allen on the Accent Radio
Network, The Bruce Elliott Show on WBAL AM1090 in Baltimore and The
Captain’s America on WWPR AM1490 in the Tampa Bay area, as well as an
occasional guest on numerous radio shows coast to coast. His organization,
Basics Project, is partnered in producing the first-ever national symposium
series on the threat of radical Islamist terrorism. His pieces have been
recognized by the House International Relations Committee and the Japan
Center for Conflict. Mr. Salvato is available for public speaking
engagements...
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