HispanicVista Columnists

December 19, 2005

What’s all the hoopla surrounding the word “Christmas?"

The public debate focusing on local governments not using the word “Christmas” exemplifies once again the lack of concern for the real issues that matter to most of the public i.e. poverty, war etc.

Many have taken offense to the use of the all-inclusive "Happy Holidays" greetings being promoted by public institutions. Obviously, the greeting is intended to be respectful of the myriad of religions that are represented in the public.

With Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and in some years Ramadan and other religions sharing the same season, polls have shown that a vast majority of Americans celebrate Christmas.

America is a nation which prides itself on being true to the freedoms of expression and respecting the notion of separation of church and state.

Still, there are those who insist that the majority should not be held to the will of “political correctness” and demand that the word “Christmas” be placed on public reading materials such as greeting cards.

These demands are often promoted on fanatical right-wing radio talk-programs who have a habit of spewing issues over our public air-waves which tend to draw jingoist fanatics and Koresh-like religious fanatics into a zombie-state of frenzy over nothing.

This talk about “Christmas” not being part of government’s literature during the Holiday Season illustrates once again the emptiness of right-wing conservative thought. Think about it.

Rather than address the social ills that are plaguing the poor and elderly and the rising costs of energy putting many of these families in harm’s way, the motor mouths of right-wing radio talking heads are up-in-arms about government not using the word “Christmas.”

What a waste of air-time.

Is it not enough that Christians have control of American public institutions, political and economic affairs? Do we really have to stress the point, in a time of peace, that Christian dominance over other religious minorities is reflected in our society during this time of Holiday Season?

This debate is riddled with nonsense and barbaric indifference to the memory of those first immigrants from Europe seeking religious freedom.

Here’s an idea, rather than debate the use of the term “Christmas”, why don’t we talk about the many Americans who have trouble spelling the word “Christmas?"

Here’s another idea, instead of demanding that government use the term “Christmas” over the term “Holiday”, why don’t we demand from government what it is doing to help those who can’t afford a Christmas tree let alone survive the cold weather gripping the upper Midwest, Northwest and Northeast portions of the United States?

It should be that of brotherhood and love are the themes of this season; the hate mongers however, want to talk about insignificant issues that matter only to them and a fanatical few.

It’s easy for conservative right-wing bonehead radio personalities to go around beating up on government for not using the term “Christmas”. But then again, speaking about poor families during this time of year might remind us about being Christians.