While Missourians Freeze, Blunt Battles the Imaginary 'War on Christmas'
Roy suggested yesterday that Gov. Matt Blunt was unable to spend much time helping Missourians --many without power and frozen in the wake of the weekend storm-- because he was busy boosting the Romney for President bid in sunny Florida. But apparently there was also another competing project that Blunt saw as a top priority: proving that he's a faithful warrior against the apocryphal War on Christmas.
Specifically --we learn from national conservative blog Powerline-- that Governor Blunt sent a memorandum Monday to department directors instructing them that his administration is taking a strong defensive position in a battle that exists mostly in Bill O'Reilly's head. The memo stated:
To ensure that there is no confusion regarding our state policy I am directing that each of you inform all members of your department that they should feel at ease using traditional holiday phrases, including "Merry Christmas" and they should have no fear of official reprisal. I also ask that you inform your staff that the objections of those who are offended by these phrases be given due consideration, but that no state employee will be reprimanded or in any way disciplined for saying "Merry Christmas."
I wonder how many state employees were reprimanded in the last year for telling their colleagues 'Merry Christmas' anyway? Probably fewer than were reprimanded for reading the Bible in the workplace.
Sadly, this episode lends special insight into the Blunt shop's psyche. Take special note of the introduction that the Powerline bloggers give to the memo (emphasis added):
A member of Governor Blunt's staff has kindly forwarded us a copy of Governor Blunt's directive to Missouri department directors...
Nice that the Blunt staff is on top of ensuring that conservative bloggers in Minnesota are kept abreast of the governor's each salvo fired against anti-Christmas forces.
Kudos to the Blunt administration for keeping an eye on the things that really matter. Is the power back on for those half a million people in St. Louis yet?
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[Tounge-in-cheek...]
I decided to volunteer to fight in the War on Christmas but I can't find the recruiting station. Can someone give me directions?
(I've tried Google and Yahoo searches, but to no avail. All I can find are listings for conservative broadcasters and bloggists who warn of their impending loss to the nearly victorious secularists, who apparently see winning the War on Christmas as the first step toward legalized prostitution and drug abuse.)
Surely there's an HQ somewhere around here...?
An expansive proposition, that dude God!
Kevin, you have hit the nail on the head. This whole so-called "war on Christmas" is simply the refusal of some to accept the expansive nature of God, as is our pigeonholing Christianity "vs." other religions. Certain people must seem to get a degree of satisfaction thinking "my God is better than Your God" so then they then feel compelled to force that way of thinking on the rest of us.
I don't think these people have ever read Acts 17:24-25: "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else." In other words, there is no war on Christmas because Christmas needs no defense. God does not "need" our personal support of Christmas or any other hot button religio-moral political topic. God will be just fine. The message of Christmas stands on its own two feet and just because I personally choose to submit to the awe and wonder of the season does not mean anyone else has to, nor do I have to "defend it against all enemies."
Solution for the so-called "War on Christmas"
Here's a modest proposal: How about all these so-called Christians remembering that right now, we are in ADVENT, not CHRISTMAS, and saving "Merry Christmas" for Christmas Day. Personally, that is what I do. I tell people to have a "blessed holiday" up to Dec. 25, because technically, we ARE only in Advent at the moment. I save "Merry Christmas" for the actual day.
This one has been floating in and out of my inbox this week; I like it so much I'll share it with you:
A LETTER FROM GOD, FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON
Dear children,
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that my Son wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate my Son's birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival (although I do appreciate being remembered anytime).
How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate my Son's
birth just, GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER. Now, having said that let Me go on.
If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting my Son's birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made ALL trees. You can & may remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish!
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of my son's birth, here is my wish list. Choose anything you like from it.
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my Son's birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know -- they tell Me so all the time.
2. Instead of writing George (or Mary, or Harry) complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write to tell him "Thank You" for the thoughtful gesture, and that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
3. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of my son's birth, and why He came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that you and I both love them.
4. Pick someone that has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
5. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile -- it could make the difference. Also, you might consider supporting the local Hot-Line: they talk with people like that every day.
6. Instead of nit-picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. "Happy Holidays" does indeed include Christmas, so smile and say "Thank you." And even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas," no one is trying to stop you from wishing them one. So do it happily.
7. Here's a good one. There are individuals & whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them (and I suspect you don't) buy some food & a few gifts & give them to the Marines, the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me & they will make the delivery for you.
8. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence. Let people know by your actions that you are one of mine. A good start would be showing kindness, tolerance, and respect to everyone this time of year, including those who don't
celebrate this Holiday Season the same way you do.
P.S Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me & do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above & get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember.
A bigger God than we can even imagine
Hinnus speaks the truth -- and the truth, God, is bigger than we can even imagine. As a Christian, military officer, and Libertarian it boggles my mind how one political party, one religious sect, or one narrow set of beliefs could even begin to get their arms around what God is and just how powerful all of creation is in our lives.
There are glimpses of Christians -- fundamentalist included -- who see the problems with identifying with one party and with focusing narrowly on one or two issues. They see the power in a full ministry of loving God's children wherever they are, in whatever situation they find themselves. Fundamentalists can truly flex their political and financial muscle by expanding their efforts at relieving the hell of homelessness, hunger, poverty, exlusion, addiction, and abuse. When they finally see God is bigger than all of us combined, when they finally understand what God means when he talks of love, perhaps then we can have meaningful Christmas celebrations -- and others can have meaningful Ramadan feasts, and meaningful Hanukkah events.
And maybe, just maybe, they will find out God isn't Red or Blue, or even Purple, but is God.