From Seattle writer and consultant Matt Rosenberg...

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"The Fabricated War On Christmas"

December 18, 2005

I find the term "Christian nation" very offensive, and I'm not offended by much. It has the same sort of ring as "Islamic Nation," implying that those who practice other, or no faiths, are living in the wrong country, and don't really belong. Yet in the last few weeks, "America is a Christian nation" has been the rallying cry of the ill-focused hard-right conservatives bellyaching about the "War On Christmas" or altenatively the "War On Christianity." You'll see that viewpoint and - thankfully - many others as well in the long comments string to this recent post of mine over at the group blog Sound Politics. Myself, I wish the pro-Christmas warriors would just shut up and enjoy the season in their own way, as they are already perfectly free to do, without worrying about whether Target, or Wal-Mart, or the local city hall, has a "Christmas" tree or banner, or is wishing us "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays," instead.

This SF Chron editorial, "The Fabricated War on Christmas" today, gets it right.

The idea that there is a "war on Christmas" is just absurd. To the Christians who are howling the loudest for a public showdown, we remind you that the religious significance of the holiday is not defined by mass-produced Hallmark sentiments or by store displays in a shopping mall, but by what individuals do in their homes and churches. It's up to each of us to decide whether we want this to be a holiday season of religious reverence, material indulgence, festive occasions -- or nothing special at all. Celebrate your right to embrace, or reject, others' customs -- and respect their right to embrace or reject yours.

You want a war on Christianity to worry about, take a look at Indonesia. Political capital isn't infinite, especially these days for conservatives. Let's spend it wisely, gang.

TECHNORATI TAGS:

Posted by Matt Rosenberg at December 18, 2005 10:07 AM

Comments:

Well Congress thought taking sides in the war on Christmas was important. If you're in Seattle, you can thank Congressman McDermott for being one of the few who refused to entertain such a notion, and voted against the silly resolution.

Posted by: srcastic at December 18, 2005 11:37 AM

If I got this right, you're believe there is no attempt to remove Christianity from the US? And that if there is, Christians should just shut up and sit down?

Why is it, when Christians voice an opinion, request a right, or put up a fight, they are reviled and ridiculed for it? But let a one-person minority jump on the table and demand something, everyone bends over backwards to give it to him?

I agree that most of this fight is done haphazardly, but it is still a fight. Religion is here to stay no matter how much legislation passes. And the fight from the secular side is coming through legislation, make no doubt about that, because most of the changes that have happened would not have passed with a vote.

What religion do you follow, if any?

Posted by: HappyGoLucky at December 21, 2005 05:27 PM
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