BCT Editorial – 11/29/06

This page was last updated on December 3, 2006.

What would Jesus say?; Editorial; Beaver County Times; November 29, 2006.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject editorial.

“So-called ‘war against Christmas’ reflects fear more than faith

“Christmas is coming, and the nativists are getting restless - again.”

[RWC] “Nativist” appears to be a catchall word for the Times. If you oppose illegal immigration, you’re a nativist. Now, if you believe the Christmas season should be referred to as the Christmas season, you’re also a nativist.

“In a repeat of last year, Americans are being alerted that there is a war against Christmas. Is it an assault on the blatant commercialism that makes a mockery of Christ’s message? Is it an attack by secular humanist bigots on Christians as they worship during Advent? Are manger scenes being destroyed or carolers assaulted? Are stores being boycotted for selling religious items related to the season?

“No, none of these are taking place.

“Instead, the ‘war on Christmas’ revolves around whether some stores are instructing their employees to say ‘Happy Holidays’ or ‘Seasons Greetings’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas.’”

[RWC] It’s far more than stores. Even the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree was renamed the “Holiday Tree” in the late 1990s, until it was changed back to “Christmas Tree” in 2005. That’s why a Santa Claus decoration can appear outside the Beaver County Courthouse, but a nativity scene can’t. Don’t ask me why a representation of St. Nicholas is OK, but a crèche isn’t.

“What these stores are acknowledging is something the nativists refuse to do - America’s continued and growing cultural, racial, ethnic and religious diversity. Saying ‘Happy Holidays’ and ‘Seasons Greetings’ is a way of acknowledging that not every customer is a Christian.

“It’s common courtesy, not anti-Christian.”

[RWC] What twisted logic! For all practical purposes, when someone says “Happy Holidays,” et cetera, they are saying Merry Christmas. If you were offended by hearing Merry Christmas, why wouldn’t you be offended by hearing Happy Holidays?

Should we switch from “Happy 4^th of July” to “Happy Holiday” because we may offend a visiting Brit? What about “Happy St. Patrick’s Day?” After all, we’re not all Catholic or Irish. Let’s not forget St. Valentine’s Day. Since we’re not all Catholics, what should be the greeting?

“This week, The Times carried stories on Pennsylvania’s growing diversity. Immigrants from Asia who practice Buddhism, Hindu, Islam and other religions, including Christianity, are changing the religious makeup of our state and region.

“Most of them don’t resent the emphasis on Christmas. One would hope they understand that, in a sense, they must go with the flow of the dominant culture. They might even take steps to accommodate their faith to the season.

“Hanukah is a perfect example of this. Hanukah is a minor Jewish holiday. It’s so minor that if you greeted a non-American-born Jew with ‘Happy Hanukah,’ chances are good they wouldn’t have clue as to what you were talking about. (The Jewish high holidays are Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah.)

“In the United States, Hanukah became a way for Jews to help their assimilation into American society. But as a religious holiday, it has no significance. (That’s why the menorah-crèche equivalency that many Christians draw at Christmastime speaks volumes about their lack of knowledge of other faiths.)”

[RWC] Perhaps the editorial author is the one displaying a lack of knowledge.

While Hanukkah may not be a high holiday, I believe it’s wrong to say it has no religious significance. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem after its desecration by a non-Jewish ruler of the region. From a religious perspective, Hanukkah celebrates the miracle of the oil. After the Temple desecration, though there was only enough olive oil to fuel the Temple eternal flame for one day, it burned for eight days until more olive oil could be procured and consecrated.

The menorah is one of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith, and there’s a specific menorah (nine branches instead of seven) used for Hanukkah. Likewise, a crèche is a symbol of a Christian holyday. Since both are symbols of religious holydays, why is one OK and the other not?

As to Hanukkah occurring at about the same time as Christmas, that’s a coincidence. The Jewish calendar determines the date for Hanukkah (25^th day of Kislev). That’s why the first day of Hanukkah varies from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar.

“Let’s put this Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Seasons Greetings argument in another context.

“On Mother’s Day, some stores instruct their employees to wish every woman a happy Mother’s Day, assuming, of course, that the woman is a mother. But what if the woman being wished a happy Mother’s Day has had multiple miscarriages? What if she and her husband have been longing for children but have been unable to conceive? What if the woman and her spouse had a child who has died? Isn’t it more considerate for the employees to omit any reference to Mother’s Day and simply be as pleasant as possible?

“In failing to say ‘Happy Mother’s Day,’ they certainly wouldn’t be waging war on motherhood.”

[RWC] The editorial missed the real problem with “Happy Mother’s Day.” The real problem is discrimination against males and girls because only women get the greeting. Seriously, though, does the author really believe these are analogous scenarios?

“So if someone says ‘Happy Holidays,’ or ‘Seasons Greetings’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas’ this year, don’t snap at them. Ask yourself, ‘What would Jesus say?’ and proceed accordingly.”

[RWC] I really wish editorial writers had the nerve to sign their work.

Did you notice folks like the editorial author don’t ask, “What would Jesus say?” when it comes to the language used in editorials to attack opponents?

Anyway, while I don’t know what Jesus would say, here are a few possibilities. “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s” is one possibility. Another is simply “Merry Christmas.” Of course, since Jesus was a Jew, “Happy Hanukkah” is a possibility.