Christmas Bickering

It is that time of the year where we are supposed to be valuing our time with our families regardless of which religion or, lack there of you follow. Where family that you don't get to spend time with the rest of the year comes around to cook heart attack inducing food, drink beer, and bullshit about different occasions.

Unfortunately it is also time for another yearly tradition that to be honest really just makes me sick. I tend to think of myself as a reasonably open minded guy. I don't care if the homosexual community wants to get married, making marijuana legal doesn't hurt me at all, and I can really care less what religion you choose to follow (obviously if you found a man-boy love, kitten-killing religion I'm not going to be very supportive..). However, this time of the year always brings out the most embarrassing aspects of humanity where everyone reverts to a "My way is right, yours is wrong, do it my way" way of thinking - that is more obnoxious then the same argument over who should win American Idol.

I'm referring to the Atheist/Agnostics VS Major religions. More specifically Christianity. I work for the government so saying "Merry Christmas" is not allowed based on federal law pertaining to the separation of state and church. So I have to hear all the Christian following hordes that I work with go on a rampage of how Christianity is the religion of our country, and if you don't like it get out, and blah blah blah. It's ridiculous for MANY reasons. Christmas is NOT a Christian holiday. The holiday itself (the date it's on, the giving of gifts, the decorating of the Christmas Tree, even the f'ing Eggnog comes directly from the pagan holiday Yule. So drop that argument.

Atheist and Agnostics - Really, REALLY if it bothers you that much when someone says Merry Christmas as opposed to happy holidays you need to have some "you" time to re-think what it is that irritates you. It is tradition for it to be Merry Christmas. I don't identify with any religion. However, I have a hard time identifying with the atheist and agnostic belief system because I don't feel hatred towards religion. In fact I think religion is a fantastic thing. On top of fighting a battle that reallllly doesn't need to be fought, it's tradition. Are you going to take offense to foot ball teams dumping coolers of Gatorade on their coaches? It's the same concept as having the ACLU sue to remove crosses. It really doesn't hurt you. This country was founded on the right to practice whatever religion you're following free from persecution, and our constitution guarantee's that right. Allow people to practice what and how they want without getting all butt hurt about it. Why can't you take a page from the Pagans - who the modern day holiday was stolen from - drink some eggnog and chill the fuck out.

So how come while the holiday season is supposed to be about loving our fellow man, and enjoying being with our friends and family, we would rather call the ACLU, get in shouting matches at the mall, or force others to hear our views on why it needs to be our way, and no other way is acceptable.

This holiday season, regardless of your belief system I hope you can understand the holiday enough that you can wish someone of a faith that is different from yours a happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Yule Tide, or Holidays.


Merry Christmas Everyone,

Will