It’s nearly gone. It’s now the “holiday” or the “season,” but rarely Christmas anymore. Our culture, the American culture, has been driven by the progressive movement in recent years. While that means moving away from the ideas and intentions of the Founders, it also means a culture willing to kick Christian values under a bus so as not to offend the smaller portion of people who dictate these kinds of things.
Personally, I have received several “Christmas cards” this year that don’t mention the word “Christmas” or “Merry Christmas” anywhere. The words are not printed on the card and they are not in the sender’s written well-wishes. The Christmas card has already been sanitized to avoid offending the recipient; even when the recipient is a Christian. I find this kind of card offensive quite frankly. It is Christmas. That is what the card is supposed to be about. Is it sent just because the sender felt it was the “season” to send a card?
Is Merry Christmas hate speech?
In TV commercial after commercial, the words “holidays” or “happy holidays” are the only phrases chosen by the advertiser. Even many Jews celebrate Christmas alongside Hanukah, but apparently this doesn’t matter. The couple of percent of the population who are Atheist, or some other religion outside of Christianity or Judaism, apparently have more pull than the great majority of Americans.
I predict that the term “Christmas” will disappear from the American lexicon. It has already been moved into the category of politically incorrect phrases by those who loathe Christians or those who believe we have to progress away from the observation of Christ’s birth.
The sad thing about all this is that nobody is taking a stand. It seems like nobody really cares. We will just progress into whatever vision of America that somebody else wants and let the observation of Jesus Christ’s birth become “the season” or the “holiday.”
Are we better off when this happens? Does the country evolve into something better when we let Christmas become a plain-vanilla, politically correct event that is only signified by gift-giving and inflatable snowmen? Do we ignore what Patrick Henry once said that; “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ”?
America has always been a Christian country. While we have observed and honored the First Amendment and have never established a government-sanctioned official religion, we have been predominantly Christian since the founding of our country. At Christianity’s core is a savior named Jesus Christ and the first six letters of Christmas are Christ. It stands to reason that people would respect the observance of Jesus’ birth and respect the majority and their faith, belief and celebration.
But sadly, that is not the case. Commentators on TV confine their remarks to “the holidays,” advertisers restrict their message to “the season” and Christmas cards are created and purchased that don’t mention Christmas. This is not an evolving change in our culture; it has been allowed to happen and it is here. Everything that contributed to American culture, the melting pot, the land of Christian values and charity, is being stripped away and there is no national movement shouting; STOP!
This year, 30 percent of my “Christmas” cards have no mention of Christmas. As people kowtow to this progressive movement to deem Christmas as not politically correct, it is only reasonable to expect that next year, it will be 40 percent. Like leading sheep to slaughter, one of the most cherished holiday celebrations in America will be whitewashed and homogenized, and rendered more palatable to those offended, and we will stand aside and watch.
Changing Demographics
As a member of the baby-boom generation, I am one of the last of those who are regular church attenders. According to the Pew Research study of religion, while 15 percent of baby-boomers say they have no affiliation with any particular denomination or religion, 32 percent of those under 29 feel that way. The study has found that twice as many members of the Millennial generation consider themselves unaffiliated with any faith or denomination compared with baby-boomers during the 70s.
This trend doesn’t bode well for Christmas and it allows the political correctness movement to gain momentum like a speeding train; something that is harder to stop with each Christmas that goes by.
The baby-boomers may be the last generation to even care about keeping it alive and retaining the real reason for the season. But, if the baby-boomers do not voice their discontent with the companies, advertisers and other participants who seek to banish Christmas, then it will disappear within our lifetimes.
Do Something
Here is a plan of action: when you see someone, who should have said Merry Christmas, instead say something else; say something. Write to the companies who have embraced political correctness. Buy more products from those who proudly still proclaim “Merry Christmas.” Write about this topic and send it to your local paper’s opinion or editorial page. Teach your children and grandchildren that they must keep Christmas alive and recognize it for only one thing; a celebration of the birth of Christ.
If we sit this one out, we all lose. December 25 is Christmas and nothing else.
© 2014 K Richard Douglas
