Invasion of the Secular Snowmen
12/18/2004 00:08 Filed in: Culture Watch
Say hello to the new politically correct symbol of the "Winter Festival Season."
I heard an interesting story from one of my students today. She said that recently when she was at her after-school job, she pleasantly greeted a customer with "Merry Christmas." After the customer was out of earshot, a co-worker sternly rebuked her for using that particular greeting.
"What's wrong with Merry Christmas?" she asked.
"You might offend someone," he said. "Not everyone celebrates Christmas."
Very quickly she replied, "Well, when I hear three hours of 'driedel, driedel, driedel' on the radio this time of year, I'll say something different."
Welcome to the post-Christian holiday season. Whoops. Can't even say that. To use the word holiday may offend someone since "holiday" comes from the words holy and day.
Anti-Christian bias is in full-swing this Christmas season. Don't believe me? Consider this...
- In the city of Denver this year, not only did the mayor ban the words "Merry Christmas" in the local Christmas parade, but also excluded a church from participating because their float is too religious.
- Target stores are not allowing Salvation Army bell ringers for the first time ever. The Salvation Army says they may lose up to $9 million. My suggestion--stay out of Target and let them lose $9 million.
- Lazarus-Macy's stores are no longer greeting their customers with "Merry Christmas" as official store policy.
- Christmas carolers were booted out of San Francisco's Union Square last week.
- A New Jersey school district bans even instrumental performances of any Christmas song , including ones about Santa Claus.
- School children in some schools this year are singing "We wish you a swinging holiday" instead of a merry Christmas.
As I look around the stores this Christmas, I see the words "Merry Christmas" less and less. But I see lots of "Happy Holidays" and references to "Winter Holidays." I feel like I'm living out the movie The Forgotten and pieces of my life are slowing disappearing. Christmas is going away, one carol at a time. Or perhaps you can compare it to some Orwellian vision of a future where words are redefined and history is recast in an effort to manipulate those who might want to think for themselves.
But guess what I'm seeing lots of? Snowmen. That's right, snowmen. Look around. They're everywhere. They're in people's lawns, in the stores, on television, and hanging from the light posts in many an American downtown. Why? Because they are religiously neutral. If we take away all the symbols of the holiday that carry any spiritual connection, all we're left with are snowmen, snowballs, and wreaths.
We were upset a few years ago when nativity scenes could no longer be displayed on the courthouse steps. We used to be afraid that Santa Claus had replaced Jesus as the true center of the holiday. We posted signs that "Jesus is the reason for the season." Well, now even Santa has fallen victim to out-of-control political correctness. You see, even good old St. Nick has Christian roots (Santa Claus = Saint Nicolas ). Christian trees are out, too because they have Christian connections.
But snowmen don't offend anyone, do they? They're happy, friendly, and pretty much a-theistic. Get ready to see lots more of them. I began to take notice last year that there were an inordinate amount of snowmen in Christmas decorations.
Now, please don't misunderstand me. If snowmen are your thing, if you like snowmen, that's fine. They're not of the devil, and if you have a snowman collection sitting on top of your fireplace, I don't think you're some godless infidel. So don't write me saying that I said that. I'm just pointing out the trend. I'm bringing it to your attention.
And I am confident that within a couple of years, some enterprising individual will start marketing a kneeling snowman that you can add to your nativity set.
Is this a big deal? Am I making something out of nothing? Am I being alarmist? Let me know what you think. I believe we are seeing culture shift even further toward a secular model. It's not just Christmas as we know it that's disappearing. Anything that has anything to do with Christianity is starting to be viewed not just with skepticism, but downright animosity.
Are the barbarians truly at the gate? I've got news for you--they've been there for quite a long time, and some have even come through the gate, warmed themselves by the fire, and pitched their tents. But we've ignored them, hoped they'd go away. But they didn't. And now they are starting to run the place.
What can you do about the erasing of Christ from Christmas?
1. When the word "Christmas" is removed from any area of the public sphere, politely voice your opposition. And let others know about it, so they can do the same.
2. Return all greetings of "Happy Holidays" with a "Merry Christmas" of your own. Don't be a jerk about it; just be vocal.
3. Use the secularization of the season as an opportunity for witness to it's true meaning.
4. And don't fall into the trap of commercialization and secularization yourself.
That is, unless you really want snowmen to become the symbol for the season. But I warn you. The snowman is a shallow symbol. Ultimately, although he is pretty to look at on the outside, he is cold and lifeless on the inside. And he is extremely transient when the heat is on...
I heard an interesting story from one of my students today. She said that recently when she was at her after-school job, she pleasantly greeted a customer with "Merry Christmas." After the customer was out of earshot, a co-worker sternly rebuked her for using that particular greeting.
"What's wrong with Merry Christmas?" she asked.
"You might offend someone," he said. "Not everyone celebrates Christmas."
Very quickly she replied, "Well, when I hear three hours of 'driedel, driedel, driedel' on the radio this time of year, I'll say something different."
Welcome to the post-Christian holiday season. Whoops. Can't even say that. To use the word holiday may offend someone since "holiday" comes from the words holy and day.
Anti-Christian bias is in full-swing this Christmas season. Don't believe me? Consider this...
- In the city of Denver this year, not only did the mayor ban the words "Merry Christmas" in the local Christmas parade, but also excluded a church from participating because their float is too religious.
- Target stores are not allowing Salvation Army bell ringers for the first time ever. The Salvation Army says they may lose up to $9 million. My suggestion--stay out of Target and let them lose $9 million.
- Lazarus-Macy's stores are no longer greeting their customers with "Merry Christmas" as official store policy.
- Christmas carolers were booted out of San Francisco's Union Square last week.
- A New Jersey school district bans even instrumental performances of any Christmas song , including ones about Santa Claus.
- School children in some schools this year are singing "We wish you a swinging holiday" instead of a merry Christmas.
As I look around the stores this Christmas, I see the words "Merry Christmas" less and less. But I see lots of "Happy Holidays" and references to "Winter Holidays." I feel like I'm living out the movie The Forgotten and pieces of my life are slowing disappearing. Christmas is going away, one carol at a time. Or perhaps you can compare it to some Orwellian vision of a future where words are redefined and history is recast in an effort to manipulate those who might want to think for themselves.
But guess what I'm seeing lots of? Snowmen. That's right, snowmen. Look around. They're everywhere. They're in people's lawns, in the stores, on television, and hanging from the light posts in many an American downtown. Why? Because they are religiously neutral. If we take away all the symbols of the holiday that carry any spiritual connection, all we're left with are snowmen, snowballs, and wreaths.
We were upset a few years ago when nativity scenes could no longer be displayed on the courthouse steps. We used to be afraid that Santa Claus had replaced Jesus as the true center of the holiday. We posted signs that "Jesus is the reason for the season." Well, now even Santa has fallen victim to out-of-control political correctness. You see, even good old St. Nick has Christian roots (Santa Claus = Saint Nicolas ). Christian trees are out, too because they have Christian connections.
But snowmen don't offend anyone, do they? They're happy, friendly, and pretty much a-theistic. Get ready to see lots more of them. I began to take notice last year that there were an inordinate amount of snowmen in Christmas decorations.
Now, please don't misunderstand me. If snowmen are your thing, if you like snowmen, that's fine. They're not of the devil, and if you have a snowman collection sitting on top of your fireplace, I don't think you're some godless infidel. So don't write me saying that I said that. I'm just pointing out the trend. I'm bringing it to your attention.
And I am confident that within a couple of years, some enterprising individual will start marketing a kneeling snowman that you can add to your nativity set.
Is this a big deal? Am I making something out of nothing? Am I being alarmist? Let me know what you think. I believe we are seeing culture shift even further toward a secular model. It's not just Christmas as we know it that's disappearing. Anything that has anything to do with Christianity is starting to be viewed not just with skepticism, but downright animosity.
Are the barbarians truly at the gate? I've got news for you--they've been there for quite a long time, and some have even come through the gate, warmed themselves by the fire, and pitched their tents. But we've ignored them, hoped they'd go away. But they didn't. And now they are starting to run the place.
What can you do about the erasing of Christ from Christmas?
1. When the word "Christmas" is removed from any area of the public sphere, politely voice your opposition. And let others know about it, so they can do the same.
2. Return all greetings of "Happy Holidays" with a "Merry Christmas" of your own. Don't be a jerk about it; just be vocal.
3. Use the secularization of the season as an opportunity for witness to it's true meaning.
4. And don't fall into the trap of commercialization and secularization yourself.
That is, unless you really want snowmen to become the symbol for the season. But I warn you. The snowman is a shallow symbol. Ultimately, although he is pretty to look at on the outside, he is cold and lifeless on the inside. And he is extremely transient when the heat is on...