Letters to the Editor
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Democracy
I am an atheist, sure but I recognize that I am in the minority. And, as a part of the minority in a democracy such as ours, I am out-voted by the majority, which is christians. Look people, Jews are only about 1% and Muslims are about 1% Atheists don't even warrant a percent, and we just have to deal with that. Sorry if you feel like a minority, but you are, just like me. WE kind of *DO* have to get over it and get on with our own lives. And really, how can you be mad at someone who is wishing you well, even if you don't beleive them?
Stats from Association of Religios Data at UPenn:
Christian (84.12%), Jewish (1.92%), Muslim (1.55%), Buddhist (0.91%), Ethnoreligionist (0.39%)
PS I was wrong, Jews are almost 2%, but my point stands. I know of no democracy that caters to 2%. Christians in Turkey have to deal with a crescent on their national flag. Muslims in Israel have to deal with a star of david on their NATIONAL FLAG. Surely we can get over a little tinsel, people. Sheeesh.
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Ohhhh, Garrison.........................
I am a big fan of Garrison Keillor, but I'm disturbed by his desire to bring us all into the Christian fold. Is this a Christian culture? I guess that depends on how you define culture. One brief look at the media suggests that there's nothing Christian about our leisure hours. Even the films about Christmas these days lack any Christian values. And the Founding Fathers emphatically declared this a secular country. I enjoy a pretty Christmas tree and all the shopping and party hoopla, but I can't join Keillor in his cavalier dismissal of those who feel uneasy or worse about the assumption that other world views ought to be ignored in America between Thanksgiving and December 25.
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I don't really complain, I just don't participate
There probably is something for everyone at the holiday season, and I think Garrison's point is that we all need to relax on this vitriol about Christmas. Unfortunately he's got his mistletoe thorn pointed the wrong way.
For my part, I was reasonable jolly at the holidays, despite not being a Christian, until Bill O'Reilly, et al, decided that by my preferring to say Happy Holidays, I'd started a war on his beliefs. They've tried to turn everything in our culture into a black and white shouting match, and they've really succeeded at Christmas. I never really thought about it when someone said Merry Christmas to me, it was just a nice holiday greeting. Now I hear a political message. You did that Bill, and shame on you Garrison for pointing the blame in my direction for being angry at being called intolerant by the most intolerant people in the country.
Christmas was a benign holiday that we secularists had largely come to terms with. All we asked is that our public buildings show reindeer and santy claus instead of a nativity scene. Then, in an effort to get ratings, sell books, and further outrage the perpetually outraged, right-wing media declared that we hated Christmas. Well, I do now. And it has nothing whatever to do with the actual Christian origin and message, and everything to do with the conservative political message. They turned Christmas political, Garrison, and you should know that.
Now, whenever I send my "holiday" cards, with secular "holiday" messages and benefits to AIDS research, it's a political message too. Live with it, Garrison.
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It's a Christian culture. Work with it.
I thought it was a pluralistic culture. I guess I was misinformed.
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Christmas is no longer a Christian holiday anyway
In this country, Christmas is no longer the Jesus holiday. It's the Santa holiday. It's a national holiday about christmas trees, lights on houses, big wreaths, rudolf the reindeer, elves, santa, frosty the snowman, and, of course, PRESENTS!!!
I'm an atheist, my husband is an atheist, and I was raised my entire life in an atheist household. And I LOVE Christmas. I love decorating the house and baking cookies and putting up the tree and all that crap...it's FUN! It's festive! It's nice to get drunk on eggnog and sing Christmas carols and stay up late wrapping presents. And you can **easily** do Christmas without the slightest reference to religion or God or Jesus. And if fact, most Christians don't give more than a passing nod to Jesus on Christmas anyway. My in-laws are hardcore true-believers, but Christmas for them is about presents and Santa, just like it is for most people (I have spent Christmas at their house and was shocked that there wasn't even one reference towards the Christian meanings all day long).
Hell, my atheist household even puts out a nativity scene on our mantle every Christmas, just for fun. I see the baby Jesus as no different from a cupid on Valentine's Day or a witch on Halloween...all fantastical creatures, but all fun, festive symbolism. So some of you may choose to not celebrate Christmas, but I personally think you're missing out....it's the most -- wonder-ful time -- of the year.
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Last straw in the manger
I thought long and hard before renewing my Premium subscription, not because I have never once received the magazines I have signed up for in the last 6 years, but because the inanity of celebrity bullshit and TV reviews and shallow puff pieces mascarading as social commentary has nearly crowded out the investigative reporting. War Room and Tom the Dancing Bug, about all I read any more, does not justify another year's subscription price, when I could just send the money to Move On and be done with it. But this article was the last straw. Salon, you can take your god damned sugar cookies and shove them up your irrelevant upper middle class progressive ass. There, I feel a little better now. Just 26 more fucking shopping days till fucking Xmas!
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A Christian culture.
Yes it is. Christians have infused our culture with Christianity since the first one made landfall in the Americas. That isn't the same, though, as when some wingnut barks like an annoying little terrier about how the United States is a "Christian nation." Whether or not you claim to be a follower of Jesus Christ in any capacity, you probably still embrace some aspects of it, probably without even realizing it. I was Catholic the moment Dad came, to borrow a phrase from Monty Python, but I haven't gone to Mass in years. I gave it up for Lent years ago. Nevertheless, I regard Friday fish frys one of the more endearing traditions of Catholicism. I think GK was trying to say the same thing about Christmas.