Why is wishing someone well offensive
It is that time of year. That post where I get berated for being inclusive instead of exclusive. I hear how offensive it is to wish someone to be well, and to have a Happy Holiday. Yes, once again, more people are joining in on the faux War on Christmas. This game, started (as far as I know) by Bill O’Reilly, a man so whacked, that even the top brass at Fox News don’t like him, has now been carried on by others, including this year, a particularly idiotic piece by Michael Reagan.
I find it “particularly idiotic” because he is clearly transparent in his attack. He blames “a handful of secular progressives who loathe Christianity and any celebration associated with it.” Apparently, it would never pierce his thin skin to realize that a Jewish person may not want to be wished a “Merry Christmas” any more than he would like to be wished a “Happy Kwanzaa.” He doesn’t want to appear quite this crass, so he tries to bury the whole thing as people out to “destroy Christmas.” While I do not doubt or deny there may be a few nuts out there that have this thought, most simply would like to be recognized for their beliefs even if they aren’t Christian. Recognition that while a majority of people may in fact be Christian, we are not a theology, and that their rights and beliefs are not any better or worse.
For all his claims to the otherwise, nobody is actually attempting to stop anybody from having a Merry Christmas, or for Christians to celebrate and recognize Christmas as the high holy holiday that it is for them. They just don’t want to participate (and perhaps that is the problem for single minded morons like this).
He forgets, while claiming that it is “a birthday not a holiday” that the holiday has been around much longer. I won’t go into the details about previous silliness or the historical moving of Jesus’ birthday to coincide with the holiday, I have documented that previously, and most rational folks already know this. But apparently he doesn’t see the irony in his own statements:
My fellow Christians should join me in pledging never again to shop in any commercial establishment where the clerks greet us with that “Happy Holiday” greeting as an insult to our religious beliefs, just as we must defend the exhibition of the menorah or other Jewish symbols at Hanukkah.
Just what Jewish symbols is he supposedly defending by demanding that it is “Merry Christmas” or nothing? And am I the only one that finds it humorous that he complains that about people being “forced” into saying “Happy Holidays” but now he wants to blackmail commercial establishments by threatening to not shop their unless he is greeted as he expects. And he goes on to say, “Have a Merry Christmas. And don’t be afraid to say that loud and clear to everyone.” That’s right. Don’t give a damn about who you may offend, because you are a Christian, and as such have a right to offend whomever you wish, at least according to Reagan.
So why is this? Why is it that being inclusive to spread love to everyone so darn “offensive” to some Christians? Does “Peace on Earth and goodwill toward man” only apply to a select few? As the old saying goes, “Can’t we all just get along?” Do you really need to have a crusade?
Whether it is Happy Hannukah, Merry Christmas, Blessed Yule, Happy Kwanzaa, I wish you and yours the best for a happy and healthy Holiday Season.
Balancing Santa and reality
In some ways I consider myself lucky that at 8 years old, LatteGirl still believes in Santa Claus. At least for one more year we can keep this charade alive. Reality and real life will seep in soon enough and take away some of her childhood innocense, and anything that can beat that back for just a little bit longer is fine with me.
She is already feeling a bit conflicted with messages from both school and Sunday school, being told the Christian mythology that Jesus is the “reason for the season.” (Please, stop the e-mails, I am not condemning any religion, but the fact is that the celebration of Jesus’ birth celebration was assigned to conincide with the Yule season. And besides, it isn’ t the point). Like many people, the holiday season this year will be cut back a bit as we tighten our belts and deal with economic uncertainty. But how do you explain and rationalize that with a child that believes in Santa Claus?
We have told her (as we have over the past couple of years) that the more expensive the gifts she asks for, the fewer in number she will actually receive. However, in the past, she just accepted this at face value. Now however, we have to balance reasoning and questioning. Why? Santa doesn’t “buy” gifts, he “makes” them, so why does cost matter?
The expense has also put a crimp in one other tradition I had started with her a few years back, where I get her to pick out at the store, one gift that she would “really, really, really” like to have, purchase that gift, and then she puts it into the Toys for Tots collection bin. It serves at a reminder to be kind to those that are less fortunate, and also (I hope) reminds that giving isn’t just about giving up what you don’t want anymore. (After all it is much easier to give a toy that she doesn’t actually want or like, but I try to stress to her if she would like it, so would some other child that perhaps wouldn’t get such a nice gift). This of course is not as easy since her taste has gotten a bit more expensive. Sure, I would love to buy a Wii a donate it, but I just don’t have that kind of money to throw around. Also, now she queries why Santa give less to poor children.
How do you do it? How do you instill good values, teach about being good to others, teach understanding of economic issues, stay on budget, and still keep it so that it doesn’t completely destroy the magic? I am open to suggestions.
Pumpkin Pancakes
Since somebody chastised me on Twitter (Hi Sara) for mentioning these without giving the recipe, and I been stalling on posting because I really wanted to move away from political posting, I figured I would share what is our typical Sunday Morning breakfast in the Autumn, Pumpkin Pancakes.
Ingredients.
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tbsp butter (melted)
- 1 cup nonfat milk
- 1/3 cup pure pumpkin
(Shortcut if you like, or if you have pre-mixed Pumkin Spice in stead of the cinnamon, ginger and Nutmeg)
Happy Springtime
Happy Easter to those that celebrate such things, and to for everybody else (well in the northern hemisphere) welcome to Spring (welcome to Autumn for those “Down Under”)
She made it
Not that this is a big deal for many who have kids that they probably wish would go to bed, but for LatteGirl it was a milestone. You see she has been trying to be awake at midnight for a couple of years now, and never made it. First time, it was about 10:30 that she went down. Two years ago, it was 11:30, and last year 11:45. But this year she finally made it to midnight!
And when all was said and done, she wondered what the big deal was all about. We switched over from the Disney Channel’s Happy U Year celebration just a couple of minutes before midnight to bring in the New Year with Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, as had been a tradition of both me and TheWife, even predating our marriage. It has been increasingly difficult to watch Dick since his stroke in 2004, and this year it was so bad, that the wife just let out a little moan of sadness at the sight. It sort of took bit of wind out of the sails of the celebration, which of course, help confuse LatteGirl a bit more as to just why people go through this ritual. We tried to explain it, but the words just sort of fell flat. She was still happy she made it though. And so was I.
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