* As a Jew, I certainly do not mean to be presumptuous about this topic. However, an editorial in today's New York Times has prompted this post. The editorial is rather short, and is entitled "This Day of Good Cheer."
* Said the editorial writers of the Times: "Christmas is, for many of us, our only glimpse of what tradition really means. Our lives are, by and large, not the least bit traditional. If it feels sometimes as though Christmas is another country, that's because it is." I have absolutely no idea what that last sentence even means. Is the idea of Christmas now so alien to the New York Times, so passe, that it no longer fits with their view of today's America?
* As for the lack of tradition, I assume the Times is referring, at least in part, to their favorite news topic - gay marriage. No surprise that today's edition has yet another front page story on gay marriage, entitled: "Indiana Finds It's Not So Easy To Buck Gay Marriage Trend." Nor does the Times much care for the tradition regarding the sanctity of human life. And they seem to be more enamored with socialism than that outdated, traditional concept of capitalism. As for G-d and religion in the public square? Not a chance.
* The Times editorial continues with: "There is no need to draw a lesson from Christmas. Life offers lessons aplenty." So much for what the New York Times thinks of Christmas. You know, maybe some people need a lesson still, about things like "peace on earth, good will to their fellow man." News item today: two bombs exploded in Iraq, with the aim of killing Christians. One exploded near a church and killed at least 26, and wounded 38. Another exploded in an outdoor market in a Christian section of a town, killing 11 and wounding 21. Think the perpetrators might do well to take a lesson from Christmas?
* I, for one, prefer one of the "traditional" messages as stated in an 1897 New York Sun editorial, in reply to a letter from young Virginia O'Hanlon. It read, in part, as follows: "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy." Perhaps we can bring back the Sun and have it replace the Times.
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Did you know that Dicken's "A Christmas Carol" has never been out of print? For 170 years the message of real 'hope and change' for mankind is repeated again and again on screen, on stage and yes, on Kindle.
ReplyDeleteFor 163 of those years the paper whose motto is "All the news that's fit to print" has come to this. NYT's editorial writer's hollow 'bah-humbug' dismissal of Christmas as not being relevant and lesson-bearing is soooo wrong. Just ask any little child that strains to keep her eyes open until midnight when Santa will magically arrive to her house; she knows she's been a bit naughty and doesn't deserve it, but she HOPES he'll overlook that. That one thing she has in corner is hope. Hope in goodness, forgiveness and will to be better to do better in her little corner of the world 'cause Santa cares about that stuff. Are there any lessons from George Bailey, the hero in the movie "It's A Wonderful Life?" A man who had lost all hope found it again thanks to an angel reminding him of who he really was and that his life was very relevant to those in his circle of influence. Too bad for the Times! The message of hope for mankind isn't 'fit to print' anymore? Who died and gave them the final say? Any honest Christian knows and will tell you we swapped out "Saternalia" a pagan holiday and chose Christmas to reverently remember the birth of the Christ child (who was likely born in March or April.) The point is we observe the holiday and focus on the words of scripture that give us hope. I have it on good authority that some shepherds were heralded with the words 'tidings of great joy for peace on earth and goodwill to mankind.' Are these not the lessons we wish to teach our children? That being good and doing good matters. That hope is something we need and can't live without; that we should never give up hope or Christmas just because the New York Times or anybody else thinks we should. Merry Christmas to all...and to all a good night.