Where are the Grinches?Byline: The Register-Guard Christmas, we're told, is under attack. The twin forces of secularism sec·u·lar·ism n. 1. Religious skepticism or indifference. 2. The view that religious considerations should be excluded from civil affairs or public education. and political correctness politically correct adj. Abbr. PC 1. Of, relating to, or supporting broad social, political, and educational change, especially to redress historical injustices in matters such as race, class, gender, and sexual orientation. , harnessed by the media and the cultural commissars of Hollywood, are laboring to purge every shred of religious meaning from Christmas and, indeed, dispense with Christmas itself. In its place is a multicultural "season," a time of reindeer, snowmen and bland greetings of "happy holidays." Inevitably, there's a backlash. Columnist Kathleen Parker Kathleen Parker is a conservative U.S. columnist whose columns frequently focus on family, sex roles, and race. Her column is syndicated nationally by The Washington Post Writers Group. joined it on these pages Wednesday, decrying the fact that the U.S. Capitol has a "holiday tree" instead of a Christmas tree Christmas tree Evergreen tree, usually decorated with lights and ornaments, to celebrate the Christmas season. The use of evergreen trees, wreaths, and garlands as symbols of eternal life was common among the ancient Egyptians, Chinese, and Hebrews. , and that saying "merry Christmas" is regarded in some quarters as an religious intrusion. Bill O'Reilly Bill O'Reilly may refer to:
The jihad isn't getting much traction. Christmas is more firmly established than any holiday on the calendar. No one is calling for its cancellation, and anyone who did would be hooted down as a Scrooge and a Grinch. Both the secular and the religious aspects of Christmas are openly celebrated by such an overwhelming majority of Americans that even those of non-Christian faiths or none at all are swept up in it and partake in Verb 1. partake in - be active in participate, take part - share in something 2. partake in - have, give, or receive a share of; "We shared the cake" partake, share the Christmas spirit. So where does someone like Fox News' Tony Snow get the idea that Christmas is under an assault so broad as to constitute an "attack on Christianity"? It comes partly from the broader sense that religion, and specifically Christianity, is being pushed out of the public square. Another source is the feeling that Santa has shouldered Jesus aside, and the religious meaning of the holiday has been obscured in a cascade of commercial- ism. Evidence can be found to support both these concerns. People old enough to remember singing Christmas carols A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics center on the theme of Christmas or that has become associated with the Christmas season even though its lyrics may not specifically refer to Christmas. Both types of Christmas carols are included in this list. in public schools lament their replacement with secular songs - musically, "Frosty the Snowman" is a poor substitute for "Silent Night." Every year, some government jurisdiction makes headlines by banning Christmas displays on public property - a few years ago it was Eugene, with an edict A decree or law of major import promulgated by a king, queen, or other sovereign of a government. An edict can be distinguished from a public proclamation in that an edict puts a new statute into effect whereas a public proclamation is no more than a declaration of a law against Christmas trees in city offices. In public service and in commerce, the fear of giving offense has caused "happy holidays" to become a more acceptable greeting than "merry Christmas." The commercialization of Christmas is even easier to spot - indeed, it's impossible to miss. The frenzied materialism of Christmas gift-giving runs counter to the calm and quiet joy that should attend a celebration of the birth, in humble circumstances, of Jesus. And commercialism isn't the only problem. The holiday has become encrusted en·crust also in·crust tr.v. en·crust·ed, en·crust·ing, en·crusts 1. To cover or coat with or as if with a crust: with so many barnacles of obligation that it leaves many people feeling exhausted rather than renewed. None of this, however, is a sign that a campaign is under way to do away with Christmas. Clearly, there is more sensitivity to minority religions than there used to be - and sometimes, such sensitivity becomes so fine-tuned as to become silly. Being respectful of other traditions while celebrating one's own, however, is a mark of maturity and confidence. Christmas carols, Christmas greetings and Christmas symbols can be sung, said and seen in so many places that anyone who can't find them isn't looking very hard. Nor does it take much effort to dig beneath the tinsel tin·sel n. 1. Very thin sheets, strips, or threads of a glittering material used as a decoration. 2. Something sparkling or showy but basically valueless: the tinsel of parties and promotional events. . People are reminded to do this by most of the messages presented by the Hollywood studios that are supposedly working to stamp out to put an end to by sudden and energetic action; to extinguish; as, to stamp out a rebellion s>. See also: Stamp Christmas. If there's any time of year when the media celebrate generosity and selflessness, and stress the importance of family and community, this is it. Those may be generic spiritual values, but they are certainly consistent with Christian faith, and little exertion is required to go further toward discovering the specifically Christian character of Christmas. The backlash is part of a wider cultural reaction to secularism, multiculturalism and political correctness - a reaction that helped secure President Bush's re-election. The defenders of Christmas, however, are charging through an open door. No one is trying to take the holiday away. How could they? Christmas is omnipresent om·ni·pres·ent adj. Present everywhere simultaneously. [Medieval Latin omnipres . The lights, the cookies, the music, the greens, the gifts, the bells, the story of Christ's birth as told in the Gospels - any or all of these can be savored by everyone susceptible to the contagious spirit of the season. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, or both - whichever you prefer. |
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