OPINION:
The left hates Christmas because it hates all expressions of faith in our society. But, on a deeper level, the War on Christmas is America’s war.
In many ways, Christmas is as American a holiday as it is Christian. (There are no trees or shrubs in Bethlehem.) Today, only 63% of Americans call themselves Christians, while 93% of them celebrate Christmas. In other words, about a third of those who celebrate Christmas are non-Christians.
More than Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, or the Fourth of July, Christmas unites us as a nation.
Anything that brings Americans together, the left fears – like the flag, the national anthem, and statues of our heroes.
This is reflected in efforts to remove Christmas trees from parks and public libraries (which has no problem celebrating Pride Month and having a “princess story hour”) and the holy war against holiday decorations in schools and other public spaces. Store employees risk life and limb to wish customers “Merry Christmas”.
The media tries to enlighten us, saying that the War on Christmas was invented by conservative groups to raise money and mobilize the base.
You can’t really make these things up.
The King County, Washington, Human Rights Commission has banned Christmas and Hanukkah decorations from county employee workplaces, including virtual workplaces. Even festive clothes are banned.
“Some employees may not share your religion, practice any religion, or share your enthusiasm for decorating for the holidays,” the memo from the commission explains. This wonderful sensitivity applies only to religious holidays. Everyone should participate in Pride Month and honor Black Lives Matter.
On the other side of the continent, the Christmas War took a turn for the worse.
The Needham, Massachusetts Public Library has decided to break a 28-year-old tradition this year by not displaying a Christmas tree because anonymous people said last year’s evergreen tree made them “feel uncomfortable.” What, they thought Tannenbaum was attacking them or trying to convert them to Christianity?
After a public outcry, the library surrendered. Instead, in turn, a member of the city’s Human Rights Commission (HRCs are the general headquarters for secular witch hunts) went full Grinch and called the lady who advocated for the tree’s return “selfish.” ” and “disgusting garbage” that somehow endangered the lives of municipal workers because “that’s what your magical heavenly father wants”. Billet-do and the author wished “great punishment” to the supporters of this tree. He then resigned from his position.
If the Right invented the War on Christmas, why are there so many enemies of Yuletide cheer, ranging from mildly obnoxious to downright hysterical?
In part, this is a sense of entitlement. Liberals believe that they have the right not to be confronted with signs of celebration that do not celebrate. But it goes much further than that to the issue of national identity.
The left is for everything that divides us—multiculturalism, critical race theory, the promotion of sex in schools and unisex bathrooms—and against everything that unites us. Nothing brings Americans together like Christmas – and I don’t say that as a Christian.
For most Americans, Christmas brings back happy childhood memories – snow covered snow, colored lights, hills, piles of presents, decorated holiday trees and stories about flying sleighs and a jolly old gentleman who looks like your favorite uncle.
Christmas seems to be a uniquely American holiday – Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Yes, Virginia, There’s a Santa Claus.” and memories of a time before homeless encampments, illegal aliens streaming across the border, fentanyl and baggy men demanding their inalienable right to invade women’s showers and locker rooms. Christmas reminds us of a time when America was sane – a state of normalcy that many long for.
“Merry Christmas” is an expression of good will and hope for the future. Optimism is another American virtue.
The war on Christmas is not just another aspect of the culture war, but a psychological war against Americanism. The left isn’t just gunning for Christmas trees, good news and a jolly old Elf with a bag full of presents, it’s the American ideal we must fight to preserve.
Like Natalie Wood’s character in “Miracle on 34th Street,” we have to believe and believe that there is a mystical connection between Christmas and America.
• Don Feder – correspondent of “Washington Times” newspaper.
