I personally declare War on Christmas

[TallahasseeGrannie]

Or at least what Christmas has become. First and foremost it has become a divisive issue in my beloved country. So much for peace on earth, good will towards men.

I declare war on a sacred holy day of my faith being valued chiefly for its bottom line potential by people who exploit it.

I declare war on the obscene excess of Christmas, on the catalogs that come in the mail featuring "stocking stuffers under $500" while fellow Americans live in tents on the Gulf Coast.

I declare war on 24/7 versions of "Santa Baby" and "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" or Celine Dionne shouting "Oh Holy Night" and completely bypassing the incredible musical literature of the season, assuming we are all idiots who can't be trusted to listen to anything without a throbbing bass line. I declare war on a media that plays constantly to our lowest common denominator.

I declare war on those who use symbols of my faith in politically charged and/or inappropriate ways, exploiting them in the hope of gaining some sort of advantage in the now-sacred "polls." We await the revelation of the most recent poll more avidly than anyone ever awaited the appearance of the Virgin Mary in the sky.

I declare war on the thoughtless people who insist on reminding me again and again that my people stole the holiday from the pagans, when the fact is that all religions evolve from each other. No faith is born in a vacuum. I honor and indeed celebrate the multitude manner in which human beings access their spiritual core. I even honor and celebrate the manner in which human beings negate, repress or deny that core because to me, to be human is to search. I feel physical pain when told by an insensitive clod that I worship "a dead guy on a stick" because I would never say something so dismissive of anyone's faith or lack thereof.


But then, as I read my words I stop and think, why is it that this holiday has become so misinterpreted, misunderstood and misused? What is it about the birth of this man, so long ago, (even if it was probably in April) that brings out both the best and the worst in us all? I will kneel in quiet moments past midnight on December 25 and think about the births in my life (two grandchildren in two years), about death (both parents in the same time span), about harmony and about dissonance. I will listen to the music of my childhood, and the words that have framed my life and I will feel comforted in my soul. That is my Christmas.

I ponder these things and to me, the horrible deformation of this day actually solidifies my faith, because only a real threat to someone or something could, in my finite and limited opinion, result the modern debacle we call Christmas.

I realize that some of my views are not the usual DU fare, and I hope you will put up with my ramblings. I have made many friends here in my three months and learned many things. Peace on earth and good will to you all.

A granny in Tallahassee

[auntAgonist]

1. heartfelt and heartwarming

thank you. recommended too!

[amitten]

2. Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrry Christmas!!!!

[faithfulcitizen]

3. I agree wholeheartedly Granny!

[IChing]

4. Good rant

I honor and respect Jesus in my religion.

Santa is another matter though, brazen commercial consumerism without much thinking of

"Peace on earth and goodwill towards man"

[benburch]

5. AMEN! nt

[kevinbgoode]

6. Absolutely. I am sick and tired of this ridiculous pandering

to the whims of mentally deranged self-professed religious crazies who will stop at nothing to scream about "political correctness" while demanding their own. If they are going to insist that we all define things according to their labels, it's time to demand a halt to their own political correctness and assert some individual rights here.

I'll celebrate my holy-day any damned way I choose, and I'll refer to it in any manner in which I choose, thank you. And the next religious or Republican culture warrior who gets in my face about their political correct nonsense will find themselves being afraid to utter another word in their so-called "culture wars."

No real christian would engage in such behavior. It's time to call a cult for what it is - an American Taliban threat to disrupt every aspect of our lives until they install a theocracy based on the teachings of pretend prophets whose "churches" never existed when this nation was founded.

Enough is enough.

[adarling]

7. wonderful

i agree with you 100%. For me, it isn't the presents or crap like that. It is going to church at 10 or 11 on christmas eve night and celebrating christmas. have a merry christmas granny

[MiniMandaRuth]

8. More words of wisdom from TG.

You must be one of the more worldly-wise people on DU. I agree with you completely. Sure, it is nice to get presents and many enjoy it. But, I agree, we don't think about why Christmas really is... Christmas.

Mini

[ptolle]

9. kick and recommended

Need some backup for your war? I'm a thorough-going atheist who happens to believe that do unto others and love your neighbor are words to live by when stripped of the superstitious supernatural claptrap that's been draped around them. The spirit I carry in my heart this season is that of the winter solstice celebration that the pagans had hijacked from them by the god-botherers and of family togetherness.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

14. Thank you

I truly think that one of the reasons the early church chose the solstice for Christmas was the silence of a world at wait, waiting for the bud of spring. The cold blue sky at night is sacred all on its own. Now THAT is religion and it has no name.

Blessings to you.

[Lindsay]

10. Beautifully said, TallahasseeGrannie.

Your beliefs and mine differ in some respects - but I respect your right to yours. And I deeply respect the way you've expressed your beliefs and your feelings.

(And if none of us has to hear "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" ever again, what a joyous day that will be! I'm waiting for one of our local religious radio stations, to which I never listen otherwise, to start in on its about-22-out-of-24-hours-a-day of orchestral and choral traditional Christmas music. That's one of the joys I find in the season.)

Peace to you, too, my sister. And hope that we can make the world your grandchildren will grow up in better than what we face at the moment.

[wryter2000]

11. I'm old enough to be a granny

Let me suggest an addition to your traditional Christmas celebration. The 1950 English version of "A Christmas Carol" with Alistair Sim. What he gets for Christmas is the ability to give of himself. We should all be so lucky.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

13. Ohhhh I know that version well

in my hometown in Somerville, NJ, we got a show out of NYC called "Million Dollar Movie." They always played that on Christmas Eve. It was the hardest night to get to sleep.

[DancingBear]

24. Million Dollar Movie - Channel 9, I believe, out of NYC

Used to have a (running) reel of film on to introduce it, I think.

Now, what about The Early Show (different channel - 2, I think) with "The Syncopated Clock" as the intro music.

[wryter2000]

26. Yes

I remember that one, too.

The theme for Million Dollar Movie was Tara's theme from Gone with the Wind.

[wryter2000]

25. I remember Million Dollar Movie

It was out of New York. I watched it in Queens and then in Connecticut.

I remember my mother watching Christmas Carol (it was originally called Scrooge) late one night when I snuck out of bed. I happened in on the scene where The Ghost of Christmas Future appeared. He scared the stuffing out of me! But, I liked being scared, so I remembered it and caught up with the movie later on.

These days, it's one of my favorite movies off all time -- holiday or not. I watched it again last night. I've probably seen it 30 or more times, but I always find something new.

[lildreamer316]

12. Back atcha; Grannie

Kicking and rec'd for your kind words in my own thread on this subject.
Off to listen to my Firestone Christmas #5 LP with JULIE ANDREWS' beautiful voice and a haunting rendition of "I Wonder as I Wander" that you cannot find anywhere else.......and remember the wonderful peaceful holidays of my childhood.

Bless you & Yours.......

[readmylips]

15. My Birthday.. (long but my 85 yr old Aunt sent it to me).

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year
there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the
celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people
shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer.

It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people
think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many
years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all
that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the
reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don?t know the meaning of the celebration.

I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The
dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted
nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were
many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know
something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn?t
remember to send me an invitation.

The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left
outside, they closed the door in my face...and I wanted to be
with them and share their table. In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me.

Since I was not invited, I decided to enter the party without making
any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking;
there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at
everything. They were having a great time. To top it all, this big fat
man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room everything. They were having a great time. To top it all, this big fat
man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room
yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the
children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus"...as if
the party was in his honor!

At 12 midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my
arms waiting for someone to hug me and.... Do you know...? No one
hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation.

When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one
for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left.

Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the
gifts, the parties and nobody remembers me. I would like this
Christmas that you would allow me to enter into your life.
I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand
years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross,
to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all you
heart.

I want to share something with you. As many didn't invite me to their
party, I will have my own celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, a spectacular party. I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to the party. Those who don't answer the invitation will be left outside.

Do you know how you can answer this invitation? It is by extending
it to others whom you care for...I'll be waiting for all of you to attend my party this year...
I love you! -Jesus-

Author: Unknown

[Gregorian]

16. I declared war on Christmas around 1980.

And I haven't celebrated is since. Not in it's commercial form, at least, much to the dismay of my beloved and elder parents who can't seem to get past "celebration".
I think it's lazy to just follow along. One designated day. I also think it's ridiculous that a fucking Xmas tree costs 200 dollars.

I hate "Christmas". I am a Christian.

I recently saw the funniest cartoon. It was a wise man with his cellphone text message. Gld and tdngs. Yeah, whatever. Like anyone gives a rat's ass what I think.

[Terran]

45. Bah humbug!

Damn man, no Christmas for the last 25 years?? That's sad.

And where do you live that a tree costs $200? That's absurd. I just paid $30 for a six-footer, and I got it from a charitable organization, not a chain store that can afford to sell them cheaper.

[Redneck Socialist]

17. Looking for volunteers for your war?

If so sign me up.

Well said, and thank you for saying it.

[shenmue]

18. So true Granny!

Thank you, that is fantastic.

I cringe every time these religiosity-soaked RW hypocrites say they are sticking up for the true spirit of Christmas. Do they ever talk about things like helping the poor, sick and alone? Do they ever talk about love and forgiveness? No! All they want is to put a religious banner on a department store. Where they sell things! Where they buy presents! Is that why they believe in Jesus? Buying things? Jesus was said to have told people, "Sell all you have and come follow me," not, "Sale sale sale sale sale!"

These shallow types are so disgusting. Not only rampantly materialistic, but insisting that their faith, or their version of it, and that one alone be the one allowed public self-expression. They make me sick.

Thank you for summing up what these creeps have gotten wrong.

[oxbow]

19. Thank you and God Bless

I am not Christian, but I agree 200% with everything you just said

[hunter]

20. I join you in peace!

Let us stand tall, let us celebrate all that makes the human spirit stronger.

[IronLionZion]

21. I don't want any presents this year

There are people in the Gulf Coast and Kashmir who need help more than I need presents. There are lots of other people too, but this year I'm focusing on Gulf Coast and Kashmir. I'm asking my family to take the money they would have used to buy me presents and donate it to any of a list of charities that will help the good people of the world.

Here are some of the charities I'm suggesting:

Operation USA http://www.opusa.org /
Save The Children http://www.savethechildren.org /
Mercy Corps http://www.mercycorps.org /
Doctors Without Borders http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org

Please suggest your favorite charities too. I'm looking for charities that provide necessary services like food, medicine, shelter,...and use almost all the money for helping people rather than bureaucracy.

[MadisonProgressive]

22. You're going to need a big army to fight all those wars!

MadisonProgressive reporting for duty! DU is our army - an army of peace and goodwill to ALL men and women, regardless of race, ethnicity, ual orientation, or religion or lack thereof!

[AirmensMom]

23. I'm with you, Granny!

Sign me up for your war. You expressed my views perfectly.

I'm listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing Handel's Messiah. Beautiful. Before that, it was Garrison Keillor's Now It Is Christmas Again. There's no Santa Baby in this house.

[stevedeshazer]

27. I'm with you.

Grannie Baby!

[Neil Lisst]

28. Grandma got run over by a reindeer is the Achy Breaky Heart ...

of Christmas music!!

[Faygo Kid]

29. Well spoken. It meant too much to many people gone now that I cared for.

Including Mom, who raised two sons alone, and who always gave us a nice Christmas, despite being poor. It meant a lot to her, and she never heard of Celine Dion (thank God). It's really about our childhoods, our children and other people we care about. And faith, which is vital to many and has been so corrupted all year long.

[Burried News]

30. Peace on Earth

[Protagoras]

31. where do I enlist?

recommended.

[many a good man]

32. Support DOCA-- my Defense of Christmas Act

Back when I was a Christian it used to burn me up to see how commercialized Xmas had gotten. Xmas! The most beautiful holiday of the year. Silent nights-- with bright stars, pure clean air, blanket of snowy white. Perfect time for the birth of the world's Prince of Peace.

As a kid I thought Xmas kind of sucked. All the rich kids got cool new toys and all I got was hand-me-down underwear wrapped in newspaper. Xmas just rubbed it in my face that life was unfair.

The Prince of Peace, whose birth we are supposedly celebrating, was born in a stable, a f'in' stable! NOT in a palace. This is not how He would want his life celebrated.

I know many European countries don't exchange gifts until Epiphany, the second Sunday after Christmas (I think). Its also known as Three Kings day. That's the day the Wise Men made it all the way to tiny Bethlehem and gave Him their gifts: gold, frankincense, and game boy. Christmas remains what its supposed to be: solemn and joyous (and non-materialistic).

So I propose a federal law than bans gift-giving on Christmas. No shopping malls open till midnite on Xmas eve. No advertising, no sales until after Xmas. Gifts can be exchanged two weeks later in January.

I know this sounds severe, but tough. I know the retailers won't like it. Tough. Unconstitutional? Probably. But its critical that we do something to halt our collective downward slide to materialism, greed, and arrogance.

[tavalon]

33. He's always tried to bring out the best in each of us

But we nailed him to a tree for it.

I'm not a Christian but Christ embodied what is best in spirituality. It is how the religions bastardized his teachings that drove me away from Christianity. It was Joseph Campbell who helped me to see that all the religions have commonalities that speak to that greater thing that we can't really speak to.

I love the phrase you used, "the modern debacle we call Christmas". It so gets to the crux of the matter and it leaves Christ sadly in the dust, the dust of the Walmart parking lot.

[alittlelark]

34. You sound a lot like my grannie.... I wish she were still here

she'd say



Perhaps not literally, but in the vernacular of her day.

[Kazak]

35. War is not the answer.

I don't know what is, but I know it's not War.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

38. You know, I didn't like the choice of ''war"

myself but went with it. Maybe there are more than one type of war and mine is a war of spirit.

I agree that war, in the literal sense, is useless. What is it good for? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

[Vinnie From Indy]

36. Salute Granny!!!!

Right back at ya!

[Ioo]

37. Read from theconservativevoice.com - GREAT

http://www.theconservativevoice.com/articles/article.ht...

[whatelseisnew]

39. Bravo

Well said. I'm participating in a performance on Dec 23 called F... Xmas which highlights the corruption of the holiday. I couldn't agree with you more.

[kineneb]

40. Hodie Cristus natus est.

Hodie Salvator aprraruit.
Hodie in terra, canunt angeli;
laetantur archangeli:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
---
Merry Christmas-

Et in terra pax hominibus bonae vountatis.
---
Your Church Latin gift for the season. Now back to the reguarly scheduled junky "christmas" music.

(the fun things one gets to study/sing when one is a music history student)

...and happy holidays to everyone!

[shrike]

41. At first ,your post got my hackles up.

Because I love Christmas. The decorating, the baking (I bake a lot of my Xmas gifts), the caroling, the tree, and the fun I get from giving gifts.

But having read your entire post, I have to agree with almost all of it. (I absolutely HATE christmas shopping (do most of it on-line) and the husband and I have decided to give each other modest gifts this year (it all comes out of the same till, anyway.) The only ones I spoil are my nieces, because they are great kids, and because my sister and BIL don't have a whole lot of money. And I despise the greed that has taken over the holiday -- the hordes who stomp all over each other so they can get the last "it" gift of the year.

One point of contention: Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer is a guilty pleasure of mine. Other than that, I'm with you on these sentiments.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

42. Oh, don't get me wrong

I still do the whole Christmas schtick. I'm not a minimalist by any means. I bake, decorate, etc. But something out there "in the world" has jumped the shark, if you know what I mean.

[nomatrix]

43. We too declared "war" on this tradition

Our rules of engagement-

1.Diversion of all dollars normally spent on the commercial trimmings (tree, lights, cards, gifts) will now be spent sending packages to our military personal stationed in Afghanistan & Iraq.

2. To write cards & letters to as many soldiers during this season and to vow to continue the friendship with them. Find them at AnySoldier.com

3. When engaged in conversation with anyone, a verbal reminder is strategically placed to honor those who are giving the ultimate sacrifice.

"It's cold outside."
"Imagine what it is like in a tent, in the mountains of Afghanistan with no heater or electric blanket."

"Did you finish your shopping yet?
"I have a box that is almost full, do you have anything you might like to include, such as old socks from your children? It's freezing and those little kids don't have shoes or socks."
For that matter, when you are pitching the old stuffed animals, and games I know they'd sure appreciate it. I'll drop some boxes at your house to fill. Your kids will learn a wonderful lesson about giving. Maybe they could color a picture or write a thank you in a card.

This bleeding heart liberal is planning on hemorrhaging around my neighborhood with a list of items to send out. I want to be a constant reminder to those "out of sight, out of mind" chichenhawks that not only are our sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, dying or being blow up, they are freezing in tents, many have no PX for supplies like envelopes or pens to write home, don't receive mail because they come from poverty themselves, and are being our goodwill ambassadors by giving the children beanies babies.

Our mission-
To infiltrate the conscience of public, to use subliminal messages, reverse RW talking points, and challenge any depressed victim of the SCS (stolen christmas syndrome) to get off their sorry butt, and give until they find some gratitude for what they have instead of what they think they lost.



Recruitment stations-
Library for magazines and books
businesses who have samples
dollar stores
post offices
St, Vincent de Paul
Goodwill

Enlistment requirements-None.

No discrimination to age, gender, race or religion.


Other mission includes at least one Veterans Hospital.

Motto-
Really Support the Troops

Links
AnySoldier.com
any other site that gives 100%

This mission, should you accept it will give you "peace on earth, goodwill toward men"

[bloom]

44. Christmas has been difficult the last couple of years

I can't help but think how much the US seems like the Romans who were occupying a Middle Eastern country and who crucified and tortured the person that we are supposed to be celebrating.



And the commercialism seems more obscene every year, as well.

[Ladyhawk]

46. Merry Christmas!

Despite the stupid posturing, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Merry Christmas to all DU Christians!

To everyone else: Happy Chanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Soltice or whatever rocks your boat!

[Terran]

47. Christmas is what you make of it.

It's kind of like what Eleanor Roosevelt said (paraphrasing): The only person who can make you feel inferior is yourself. As with Christmas: if you allow all the BS to ruin it for you, it's on you. I love Christmas whether I have money to spend or not, and this year I have little, but I'm *into* it like never before. And I simply don't participate in the commercialism except to the extent *I* want to.

As to this year's alleged 'War on Christmas', I must agree with you there--what a self-serving pile of steaming cow turds THAT is!

[LWolf]

48. I'll stand with you.

[ComerPerro]

49. One thing I liked seeing on a commercial, a Mach 3 as a stocking stuffer

Kinda caught my attention, because it was something that people could actually afford as a stocking stuffer.

You're especially right about the "stocking stuffers under $500" aspect.

Makes me sick...

[hippiegranny]

50. My "war" is with those who use any reason,

even Christmas, to make a political point. All I have been hearing lately is how this right winger, and that conservative blowhard is outraged, simply outraged, because someone wished them a "happy holiday" or they saw a sign advertising "holiday trees." Fer gawd's sake. Talk about creating a distraction from the absolute turd in the punchbowl BushCo left.

As for the commercialization of Christmas, my solution is to mute the commercials, shop only at mom and pop stores, and play music in my collection rather than the radio. I love to decorate with lots of candles because this solstice time of year definitely needs the added light. I enjoy Christmas because the family all has time off from work and school and we can all be together from far flung places. That is what it is all about for me. It is easier to reject the commercialism than most people think.

[Moosepoop]

51. TallahasseeGrannie, if you have a fan club

I want to be president of it!!!