Hark, the Harried Bigots Whine!

Oh Christmas tree, oh holiday tree . . .

As I glanced through Thursday's paper, I came across an ad for "holiday trees" for sale. I chuckled and thought, what holiday are they referring to - the Fourth of July? Easter? Labor Day?

All holidays should be called by their proper names. I have always called a Christmas tree a Christmas tree, not a holiday tree. The same prefix should apply to wrapping paper, cards, shopping, cookies, decorations and so on.

It seems certain advertisers are taking the true meaning of Christmas out of their advertising medium. Perhaps next year we can listen to Bing Crosby sing, "White Holiday."

Merry Christmas - to all who believe.

John

Labor Day Tree???? Hahahahahaha! John, you truly are a weaver of comical absurdity in the fashion of Ogden Nash.

What is this crap? Are people really this desperate to feel persecuted? What happens after the new year, when the War on Christmas issue won't whip up the self-righteous, undereducated masses anymore? What core American value will the manipulative right claim is under attack? Capitalism? Budweiser? Television?

I mean, this advertisement affected John so much that he felt compelled to write the paper about it. First of all, it's an advertisement. It has absolutely no substance or emotion behind it. It is a soulless, impersonal line of copy meant to convince you to exchange money for the item being advertised. An advertisement for a "holiday tree" is no more indicative of a cultural war on Christmas than an Ovaltine ad is indicative of a cultural war on Nesquik.

Second, John, why do you care what somebody else calls Christmas? Why is it so important to you? The concept of thought control doesn't seem to invoke any fear anymore... this is really what people want. Not only do you want the right to call the season Christmas, but you want to be the only person with the right to name the season for yourself. Why can't someone call it the "Holidays"? Is it inaccurate? No, there are many holy days of various religions that fall close to each other. Does it affect your celebration of Christmas? Certainly not directly... how someone else celebrates doesn't affect you at all. So what is your problem? Why do you feel the need to control the semantics used by others? What kind of bullshit, neurotic power trip are you on?

I don't know about Bing Crosby's "White Holiday", but right now I'm listening to those anti-Christian communist rabble-rousers, the Carpenters, sing their foul classic "Happy Holidays." How they can get away with playing this trash is beyond me. Let's all grab torches and pitchforks and head on down to the radio station. We're not going to take this anymore.

"Merry Christmas -- to all who believe." What about the folks who don't 'believe', John? Do you wish them ill? Do you wish a pox on every Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Pagan, and atheist on earth? What's wrong with saying "Merry Christmas to my fellow Christians, and Happy Holidays to all"? Doesn't that exemplify the spirit of peace on earth and goodwill toward men better than your self-important, egotistical version?

Look, if I know someone is Christian, I will happily wish them a Merry Christmas. If I don't know, then I will wish them Happy Holidays. What I am saying is, "Regardless of the holiday preferred by your chosen spirituality, or lack there of, I wish well for you." That the Christian Right is opposed to this sentiment says something very telling. They do not wish well on those whose beliefs differ from theirs. Perhaps this is a good reason to stop voting them into public service.