This Week in God, 12-18-05

How the Christians Ruined Christmas!

To keep on the same theme as a previous post, I want to share with you an email I got from my aunt. It was one of those things that had been forwarded at least a dozen times before it got to me. In the message, the writer was urging people to send Christmas cards to the ACLU. Actual Christmas cards and nothing that said "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings," but "Merry Christmas!"
Well, for one, I think this is a bad idea. While I don't always agree with the ACLU all the time, I can also say the Christians need them, more than the ACLU needs Christians. What if we lived in a country where everyone had to worship the President's religion and denomination. I know this seems like a farfetched idea, but people actually thought John F. Kennedy, the only Catholic President, was going to have the Pope in the Cabinet. It didn't happen. Two years ago, I heard a woman bluntly say on Christmas Eve, nonetheless, that she wasn't going to vote for Joe Leiberman because she didn't want Jews to be running things in this country.
Well, I didn't hear anyone say that all the churches were going to be United Methodist when Bush got elected. I mean, he is a Methodist and probably the most openly religious President we've ever had, so, where's the beef? No, people say Bush is a Christian and some people think that he has been letting his religious beliefs get in the way of his Presidential duties.
Honestly, a true Christian would never send people out to kill other people in the name of war. I mean, it is a Commandment. You know those Ten Commandments Christians want posted everywhere.
But that's for a different time and post.
Bush got in trouble by some Christian groups because he sent out approximately 1.4 million cards that were reportedly generic Holiday cards.
Let just say that this pisses me off in so many ways at the same time making me happy.
Why it makes me mad. Well, first, where the hell is my card?! I'm a citizen of this country, where's my White House holiday card.
Second, the postage on something like that is about $518,000. That's probably two year's salary after taxes. Also, since this is the administration that made Washington D.C. foot the bill for the inauguaral ball rather than take the money already allotted, I know the First Family didn't go cheap on the cards.
I purchased a box of 32 cards and envelopes for $2. If Bush and clan had been thrifty, that would still total $87,500. Yet, I think it is probably twice as much, at least.
I know it's not just the Bushes doing that altogether. Sure, Bush might be do things half-assed and seems to have his thumb up his ass most of the time, but I will say that he has better things to do than fill out cards. Maybe the labels were made electronically, but someone had to stuff the envelopes and stick the labels.
I want to know if this came out of Bush's own pocket or it was one of those special accounts they have.
But the Christians are pissed that Bush sent out cards that didn't mention Christmas on them. This makes me happy, because Bush is finally being tolerant. Somewhat.
Which brings me back to the ACLU. Sure, maybe a few years ago, the ACLU was mad about too much Christmas and not enough Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, but where are those people bitching about no mention of those holidays. Better yet, why isn't the ACLU counter striking against all these Christians groups? All the controversy this year seems to be coming from the Christians.
In Norman, Oklahoma last week, Christian organizations protested a holiday parade because there was no mention of Christmas. If it wasn't for the ACLU, they wouldn't have the right to protest it. It's cosmic that way, isn't it?!
In the past week, I walked into Sears and saw "Merry Christmas" signs posted. At the doctor's office, I heard the receptionist wish a patient a "Merry Christmas." The man in front of me at the checkout lane at Wal-Mart today wished the cashier a "Merry Christmas."
Christmas hasn't gone away. It's still here, but maybe, just maybe people are started to be a little more tolerant to other people in this country and thinking about them first. Isn't that what this time of the year is all about? Thinking of other people? Isn't that why we give them gifts and food?
It's funny that motorcycle clubs once thought of being outlaw gangs had their annual Toys for Tots last week. These are people, who if some of us saw in a convenient store late at night might become uncomfortable, showing that you can't judge a book by its cover and helping out little kids.
The Salvation Army is out ringing bells in the cold for donatings so some people can have something underneath the tree and something hot on the stove on Christmas. Believe me, if you ever need a reason for this time of year, help out at a Salvation Army food drive. Or a soup kitchen or another other charity out there. Trust me, you'll see the spirit and magic of Christmas everywhere.
I just wish all these Christian organizations would take all that time and energy about worrying the politics and do something useful for the people around them. Instead they want to make this a time of debate and have ruined Christmas because of it.
It's always going to be Christmas, even if we don't call it that. As long as there are good-natured people in this world who donate their time and money for those who are less fortunate than them, there is always going to be a Christmas.
It exists within us and not on a piece of paper.