Depoliticizing Christmas

We’re pleased to see that the huffing and puffing on the part of supposedly Christian radio and TV commentators to the effect that the “secularist elite” is trying to “cancel Christmas” has largely subsided this year. Our guess is that it’s a non-issue now precisely because it was a non-issue a couple of years ago, when all the huffing and puffing was at its most noisome level and few took it very seriously. “Hey, we don’t mind if you wish us ‘Merry Christmas!',” said the atheists, Buddhists, Jews, Muslims, Wiccans and assorted others—and that was the end of it.

Can we agree that Christmas is no longer just a Christian holiday? That it’s become a national holiday that belongs to all who want to participate in it, including many non-Christians? We believe so.

For Christians, of course, it retains its deep emotional impact as the day that celebrates the birth of Jesus. For others, it’s a day for celebrating the birth of a boy who grew up to become a great spiritual teacher, one honored by all religions for his love, mercy and wisdom. And for many of us, Christian and non-Christian alike, it’s a season for celebrating family life and giving of ourselves to others.

And so it is, and always will be, a holy day for all Americans. We have to think Jesus would have enjoyed such a diverse celebration of his birth. We at the Chico News & Review wish all our readers the merriest of Christmases.