War on Christmas

As someone who was raised in a Christian family, went to church on Sunday and sang in the choir, who has since abandoned religion, I bring a what I hope is a usefully objective stance to the Christmas holiday. Obviously it is, in the United States, predominantly a secular institution. The principal icon, the Christmas tree, is a pagan symbol. The other important icon, Santa Claus, is the embodiment of materialism. He delivers booty. The most important associated activity is buying stuff, the promotion of which is the major function of mass media and other advertising invoking the holiday and its symbols.

Yes, all the buying is supposed to be in a spirit of generosity -- you're buying gifts -- but you do it because you have to, the recipients may or may not actually want the crap they get, and it seems to me there are better ways to show affection and respect for people than to make an obligatory material offering. 

 

Yes, there are some people who do make a sincere effort to invoke a spirit of generosity on the holiday. However, giving homeless people a meal or a pair of socks doesn't actually solve any social problems. Don't get me wrong, I'm for it as long as we aren't about to do anything more meaningful. But it can also be an excuse or a diversion from recognizing the reality of inequality and want in the world, why it exists, and what could be done about it. 

The best news is that we do get time off and for those of us fortunate enough, an opportunity to see family and friends we may not often see. The holiday encourages reconnection and social bonding. That to me is the best reason for it. 

One of my college classmates died untimely -- he  had Type 1 diabetes which usually means a short life span. We took up a collection for a memorial on the campus, and considered what written message it should bear. One person -- it might have been his wife -- suggested that he was a Tom Lehrer fan, but I pointed out that I couldn't think of a Tom Lehrer quote that wouldn't offend someone. Everybody had to admit it. Anyway, here's his Christmas Carol. (Yes, I know, he's Jewish, but he still gets to have a take on it.)

Christmas time is here, by golly,
Disapproval would be folly,
Deck the halls with hunks of holly,
Fill the cup and don't say "when."

 
Kill the turkeys, ducks and chickens,
Mix the punch, drag out the dickens,
Even though the prospect sickens,
Brother, here we go again.

 

On christmas day you can't get sore,
Your fellow man you must adore,
There's time to rob him all the more
The other three hundred and sixty-four.

 

Relations, sparing no expense'll
Send some useless old utensil,
Or a matching pen and pencil.
"just the thing I need! how nice!"
It doesn't matter how sincere it
Is, nor how heartfelt the spirit,
Sentiment will not endear it,
What's important is the price.

 

Hark the herald tribune sings,
Advertising wondrous things.
God rest ye merry, merchants,
May you make the yuletide pay.
Angels we have heard on high
Tell us to go out and buy!

 

So let the raucous sleigh bells jingle,
Hail our dear old friend kris kringle,
Driving his reindeer across the sky.
Don't stand underneath when they fly by.