Thank goodness, but the war on Christmas seems to be experiencing a lull. I haven’t heard quite as many horror stories about the dangers of crèches or how Christmas trees are corrupting our youth and absolutely must be removed from public sight this year as in years past.
Which is wonderful.
As this war has marched on during the past few years, I’ve been puzzled by something. There are many who feel themselves somehow excluded from the festivities. Or, they feel that since they aren’t card-carrying members of a church, they aren’t really Christians, and therefore aren’t part of the season. While this is a natural sentiment, I have something to say to you; don’t exclude yourself from this joyous time of year.
While I’m not one of the aforementioned card-carriers, and I don’t attend a church, I do consider myself to be a Christian. Whether or not The Big Guy agrees will be determined at a later date. Until that time, I’ll continue to conduct my affairs as though He’s watching my every move.
It couldn’t hurt.
I have a strong suspicion that I’m not alone. While we may not subscribe to organized religious doctrine, we nonetheless have a personal set of standards that we adhere to. For example, I try to treat everyone as I would like to be treated. I bet you do, too.
And the worst part is, I can’t find anything wrong with that.
It just so happens that that personal rule is one of the only two rules that Jesus directs us to follow, the second being to seek out his dad, God, and try to understand his will. I’ve had much more success with the former than the latter. So, if for now, I can’t quite understand certain aspects of God’s plan for me, I’ll just do what I can understand.
But, I digress yet again.
Now, maybe it’s just me, but I can remember when everybody I knew celebrated Christmas whether they considered themselves Christians or not. Everybody joined in. Life’s pressures were set aside in a genuine effort to be cheerful, to bring alive the spirit of the season. I wonder what happened to that spirit…
I know it’s still there, but for some reason, there are folks who don’t want to participate in Christmas at all. Why would you not want to take part in a celebration that doesn’t really require much in the way of personal commitment? You’re free to put up a tree or not, sing carols or not, give gifts or not. In the past, if you chose not to participate in Christmas, you pretty much kept it to yourself, or if asked, you’d reply that you weren’t celebrating and that was the end of the conversation. No biggie.
But in recent years, there’s been a movement by some to eliminate any signs of Christmas, regardless of where they are. It began when some malcontents decided that there was some mythical separation of church and state in our Constitution that forbade Christmas displays on public property. Had there actually been some sort of official prohibition of religion, obviously no one knew about it until the ‘60’s, if the number of nativity scenes on courthouse grounds was any indication.
In fact, Madalyn Murray O’Hair, an atheist, sued the federal government over the harmless act of the Apollo 8 astronauts’ reading a passage from Genesis while orbiting the moon in 1968, thereby seeking to deny them their freedom of speech.
I’m glad to discover that folks who aren’t passionate Christians are starting to revolt quietly against this PC madness that would silence a good word or two in this Christmas season. I’m on a personal crusade to wish everyone I meet in a store a Merry Christmas instead of saying Happy Holidays. Overwhelmingly, I also get a Merry Christmas in return, along with a knowing grin. One fellow I spoke with over the phone yesterday said I made his day by wishing him a Merry Christmas. Now that’s what I’m talking about.
Anyway, back to my original point. If you practice a different religion than Christianity, I, nor anyone I know has a problem with it. If you don’t wish to participate in Christmas, that’s OK too. Although I liken it to deliberately refusing to learn how to swim, you’ll have much more fun if you do.
And to the hard-liners out there who are somehow offended by any shows of Christmas, I ask you, how can you possibly be offended by the idea of peace on Earth and good will towards your fellow man?
Humbugs have been around since the dawn of time, and not just at Christmastime. To them, we should extend a hand in peace and goodwill, and invite them to join in our simple celebration of one very special Life.
I wish you all a very heartfelt Merry Christmas.
Showing posts with label peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peace. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Philosphy 101: The Traditional Role Of War and How the US Broke It
While cruising the Intertubes this morning, I came across a couple of articles prodding the reader to evaluate his or her place in the world, specifically in relation to war.
The first one over at Sigmund, Carl, and Alfred, was a post by a Daily Telegraph reporter who asked the final question at an historic press conference marking the end of the Soviet Union. His life has taken a turn that allowed him to reflect on the meaning of war and it's place in Western sociology. He has time to ponder his impact on the world and thanks soldiers and warriors for the peace that has allowed him to do so.
The second post over at Pajamas Media asks Whose Death Matters More? It starts with the comparison between the fictional Joe Schmoe and Albert Einstein and moves on to terrorists.
In a rare turn of events, those two posts got me thinking.
Here's the baseline: war is abhorrent and would never occur if everyone had the Love of God in their hearts.
However, since that's not the case, we must play the hand we're dealt and understand that there are people out there who want you, me, and our families dead.
Why?
That's the question that will never be answered to anyone's satisfaction because there's no sane reply to that insane question.
We're all born into a system over which we have no control. If you were born into a communist culture, you'd be taught how to be a good communist. If you were born into a cannibal culture, you'd be taught to be a good cannibal. If you were lucky enough to be born into a society that values freedom and individualism, you'd be taught to be a good American.
Now this is just one blogs' opinion, but Christianity holds within it the key for peaceful living. It starts with the knowledge that we are all in this lifeboat together, trying to do the best we can to provide for our life through the system into which we're born. No society is perfect, just as no person living is perfect. Therein lies the key: we can deal in a Godlike way with imperfect people, with patience and love, treating them the same way we want to be treated.
Hmmm, that sounds like another Christian principle. Something to do with gold and a measuring stick...
Anyway, that's the peaceful side of life which we should all strive for. It's harmonious, full of joy and rewarding in a way that trancends earthly things. The rub is, not everyone thinks that way.
Our sworn enemies have vowed to kill us or make us submit to them. Again, the insane question is Why? We don't actively seek your domination, so what's your real beef with us? Is it jealousy? Envy? Do you covet what we've accomplished in a scant 200 years and wish to take it for yourself? We've shown the rest of the world how beneficial individual freedom is and also how to achieve it. We've shown you the way, but it requires that despotic leaders give up their ways and allow the people to govern themselves.
We, as a nation, have also occupied a unique place in military history. We're the only power that has occupied foreign soil not to conquer, but to return the land to its rightful owners, it's people. Just think of how many countries the US has fought against and could be rightly claimed as our territory, but aren't: South Korea, South Viet Nam, Kuwait, Iraq, and those are just the ones in my lfetime. We're a warlike nation. We love a good fight, but it had better be for the right reasons.
We don't conquer, we liberate.
There's a difference.
The first one over at Sigmund, Carl, and Alfred, was a post by a Daily Telegraph reporter who asked the final question at an historic press conference marking the end of the Soviet Union. His life has taken a turn that allowed him to reflect on the meaning of war and it's place in Western sociology. He has time to ponder his impact on the world and thanks soldiers and warriors for the peace that has allowed him to do so.
The second post over at Pajamas Media asks Whose Death Matters More? It starts with the comparison between the fictional Joe Schmoe and Albert Einstein and moves on to terrorists.
In a rare turn of events, those two posts got me thinking.
Here's the baseline: war is abhorrent and would never occur if everyone had the Love of God in their hearts.
However, since that's not the case, we must play the hand we're dealt and understand that there are people out there who want you, me, and our families dead.
Why?
That's the question that will never be answered to anyone's satisfaction because there's no sane reply to that insane question.
We're all born into a system over which we have no control. If you were born into a communist culture, you'd be taught how to be a good communist. If you were born into a cannibal culture, you'd be taught to be a good cannibal. If you were lucky enough to be born into a society that values freedom and individualism, you'd be taught to be a good American.
Now this is just one blogs' opinion, but Christianity holds within it the key for peaceful living. It starts with the knowledge that we are all in this lifeboat together, trying to do the best we can to provide for our life through the system into which we're born. No society is perfect, just as no person living is perfect. Therein lies the key: we can deal in a Godlike way with imperfect people, with patience and love, treating them the same way we want to be treated.
Hmmm, that sounds like another Christian principle. Something to do with gold and a measuring stick...
Anyway, that's the peaceful side of life which we should all strive for. It's harmonious, full of joy and rewarding in a way that trancends earthly things. The rub is, not everyone thinks that way.
Our sworn enemies have vowed to kill us or make us submit to them. Again, the insane question is Why? We don't actively seek your domination, so what's your real beef with us? Is it jealousy? Envy? Do you covet what we've accomplished in a scant 200 years and wish to take it for yourself? We've shown the rest of the world how beneficial individual freedom is and also how to achieve it. We've shown you the way, but it requires that despotic leaders give up their ways and allow the people to govern themselves.
We, as a nation, have also occupied a unique place in military history. We're the only power that has occupied foreign soil not to conquer, but to return the land to its rightful owners, it's people. Just think of how many countries the US has fought against and could be rightly claimed as our territory, but aren't: South Korea, South Viet Nam, Kuwait, Iraq, and those are just the ones in my lfetime. We're a warlike nation. We love a good fight, but it had better be for the right reasons.
We don't conquer, we liberate.
There's a difference.
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