Christmas or X-mas? Substitution to da Max

As of right now, we are a month and 12 days from December 25th. Christmas Day! Oh... since this is a school assignment should I use the politically correct X-mas, or just, the "Happy Holidays" Day so as not to offend anyone in this uptight society? Walk through the stores today, or a month ago before some people were even thinking about Halloween and you saw Christmas, or 'Holiday' everything on the shelves. We still have a major holiday to go! Well, Thanksgiving is major, isn't it? Or is it being downsized to Thnxgvng as well? Anyways, radio stations were playing Christmas songs as soon as Halloween was done, and some were even too anxious for that. Significant snowfall has yet to stick! I'm almost afraid to analyze what Christmas has turned into in America because I'm scared of what I might find. Well, here goes nothing.

First of all, we're taking this 'separation of church and state' thing far too literally. Walk through school halls a little closer to Crhistmas break, and the C... word is whispered carefully in some places around the nation under school administration threats of punishment who are desperately trying to maintain an excessive amount of 'governmental order.' "Happy Holidays," and "The Holiday Spirit" are replacing Christmas, just as "darn" and "snap" have replaced expelatives. Without these substitutions, the resulting social and political uproar is sadly nearly identical in some situations.

I'm going to venture out and state simply as a reminder to all that the reason we celebrate Christmas is because of Jesus Christ, the man whom Christians have faith in as their Savior and Redeemer. Let's take a quick break for a history lesson and remember that in early America, many churches were funded with government money. When the Bill of Rights came around, specifically the first amendment, that idea ceased (called 'disestablishment', from which the lengthy word 'antidisestablishmentarianism comes from, but that's off topic). They decided to 'separate' Churches with the State/s (America) so that they would all be on equal footing. We must also remember the origin of the document we chose to amend, the Constitution itself. To paraphrase(ish) Ben Franklin in the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, "If sparrow cannot fall without God's notice, can a great nation rise without his aid?" Many prayers were said in behalf of this nation as well as many prayers since. Do you think for even a moment that someone would have been offended to hear someone publicly calling upon the name of the Lord during the War of 1812 as the British relentlessly bombed Ft. McHenry? After or during Pearl Harbor? During Red Scares of the Cold War? How about September 11th? Should not Christmas (His day) be treated with equal respect? We ask for God's help any when we need it, but we can't stop and think of Him? You hear of people getting upset at stores for having displays saying "Merry Christmas," people getting mad over "Seasonal Songs" being played in public places, and people wishing each other "Merry Christmas!" At this rate we'll be banning certain kinds of wrapping paper, trees, lights, cards, and candy because of what it says on it. Is is easy to think of Christ when we are in dire need, but are we to the point where any thought of Him is repulsive enough to take to court when it is 'unnecessary' or found where we 'don't want it'? I shiver at the thought.

Not only are we banning the nature of the celebration, we're turning Christmas into a "Happy Holiday," defined as: "A day to dote upon your children by spending a month or two's paycheck, teach them about Santa Clause, threaten them with coal to get them to be good, eat food, and maybe get together with other family if you have time or can fight your way out the door through the wrapping paper." I'm not saying everyone is like this, but I'm not saying everyone isn't either. Little do we take care to realize that on all this money we pass around this time of year says "In God We Trust" on it. Is someone going to start attacking that as well?

That was a pretty extreme example for one single situation, but I'm sure we all exhibit at least one of the symptoms. Sometimes we get impatient in that line, sometimes we think more of getting than giving, if we think of giving at all, sometimes our attention drifts from the star on the tree to the presents beneath it, and sometimes we think of just Santa's sack and the stories involved. In America's fast-paced society, that occasionally seems to be all that matters. Taken from a Spanish conquistador, "By the [wallet] and the [store], more and more and more and more!"

By preparing for "the season" early, banning talk of the stable where it started, and believing that the "True Holiday Spirit" comes in a package with shiny paper and a pretty bow, Americans are jumping the gun and missing the mark in a fast 180 degree turn of society. We are denying the very reason to celebrate 'The Holiday," afraid of offending others. I am glad to be a Christian and I'm glad that other people love their religions, and I accept those that have none by their own choosing. Those without a religion can learn to respect those of us that have one, just as we respect them for choosing not to have one. I enjoy expressing my feelings 'freely.' It's simply part of being an American. I would have no problem hearing or singing religious songs from other faiths. It's a great way to connect cultures. We shouldn't have to live in fear of social reproof of talking of Christ and His birth. If we were afraid to offend the British by dumping their tea, we'd be... well... British!