Refuge51

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/20/rol...tin/index.html
By Roland S. Martin
CNN contributor


Watch Roland S. Martin on a special edition of "Sound Off" on CNN.com Live at 11:10 a.m. ET Friday.

(CNN) -- This whole push to remove Christ from the Christmas season has gotten so ridiculous that it's pathetic.

Roland S. Martin says we should continue to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Because of all the politically correct idiots, we are being encouraged to stop saying "Merry Christmas" for the more palatable "Happy Holidays." What the heck are "Seasons Greetings"? Can someone tell me what season we are greeting folks about? A Christmas tree? Oh, no! It's now a holiday tree. Any Christmas song that even remotely mentions Christ or has a religious undertone is being axed for being overtly religious. And I'm sorry, forget X-M-A-S. Malcolm X? Yes. X replacing Christ? No.

Don't get me wrong; I'm very respectful of other religions. I don't want anyone to be afraid of discussing the Jewish faith when we address Hanukkah. And we shouldn't dismiss Muslims when the annual pilgrimage to Mecca is held during December. In fact, Americans are so ignorant of other faiths that we can all learn from one another.

But this seeming backlash against Christianity is bordering on the absurd, and we should continue to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

I know that may sound strident, but it's true. We spend an inordinate amount of time focused on shopping and buying gifts, but really, what does any of this have to do with the birth of Jesus? We have families all over the nation killing themselves to buy a tree they can't afford, running up their credit to buy toys and other gifts, all in an effort to make someone else happy.

What if families decided to forgo gifts, and instead, used their shopping days giving back to those in need? What if more of us went into our closets, grabbed old toys and clothes, repackaged them, and provided them as gifts to those without? Instead of gorging on food, what if we used some of the dough to feed those who are in need? What if we blew off those gift cards to electronic retailers and signed up with Networkforgood.org, and gave someone a gift card to their favorite charity?

Sure, I know I sound like a reincarnation of a flower child, but really, do we have to be so crass during the Christmas season?


Its time that we return to traditional values, and end this ridiculous charade. It's important that we take a fuller account of WHY we celebrate Christmas, as opposed to falling for the barrage of ads that tell us what is most important.

Parents, don't be so consumed with the notion that your children will have a terrible Christmas because the tree isn't overflowing with gifts. The true love that you show them is more important than anything else.

America might be the king of capitalism, but secularism must never become so prevalent that our religious traditions are discarded.

Roland S. Martin is a nationally award-winning journalist and CNN contributor. Martin is studying to receive his master's degree in Christian communications at Louisiana Baptist University, and he is the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith." You can read more of his columns at www.rolandsmartin.com.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

__________________
I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.
~George McGovern~

nroberts

And right off the bat he proves himself to be entirely ignorant of what he speaks.

Refuge51

A lot of people don't like Roland Martin.

__________________
I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.
~George McGovern~

nroberts

Yeah, I'm sure. But I just don't care one way or the other. He's obviously ignorant of what he speaks though. The 'X' was first used as shorthand for Christ by the Christians themselves. You don't even have to be that knowledgable about history to know this.

The_Heretic

Since the day of Christmas is in fact the celebration of the brith of Osiris and Isis and only four days after the Celtic celebration of the winter solstice, I say it is possible to remove the central figure out of any holliday, even Jesus.

__________________

John McCain: "He's in Iraq... with a few centuries to kill."





You won't fight for the Bill of Right? Fine! I won't fight for you in the ballot box!

Refuge51

Yes and here's the link:
http://www.classbrain.com/artholiday/publish/Xmas.shtml

__________________
I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.
~George McGovern~

Refuge51

And like I've said a thousand times, Jesus wasn't born in Dec., nor does the Bilble ask us to celebrate his birth.

__________________
I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.
~George McGovern~

djack

Well if they made up his birthday how do you know everything else isn't made up. You know a Japanese woman froze to death looking for the money Steve Buscemi buried in the snow in Fargo.
Some people take works of fiction as fact.

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The_Heretic

Hell, when Japanese celebrate Christmas it definitely has Jesus removed from the picture.

In fact, prior to Charles Dickens' book A Christmas Carol the holliday was barely observed at all. So it's not the end of the world if Jesus slips off of Santa's Christmas radar.

__________________

John McCain: "He's in Iraq... with a few centuries to kill."





You won't fight for the Bill of Right? Fine! I won't fight for you in the ballot box!

Refuge51

Who are 'they'? The Bible doesn't mention Jesus' birthday as being in Dec. It mentions the time of year of his birth and I believe that's estimated to be around October.It doesn't say a word about celebrating the birth of Jesus. Christmas didn't even originate in America. So who are 'they'?

__________________
I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in.
~George McGovern~