Holidays lose their magic

[burythehatchet]

I am a non-Christian immigrant who has been an American for 35 years. This is NOT a religion bashing or Christian bashing thread. If you are inclined to be offended by religious topics, read no further.

When I was 10 years old I arrived in America. While I was aware of "Father Christmas" in my native country, the holiday season was new to me. It was absolutely enchanting to me, the sense of peace and brotherhood that I felt during the holiday season. The experience was further enhanced by the magic of the music, and the wonders of winter. A boy running around the streets of New Delhi doesn't see a whole lot of snow. Peeking out of my bedroom window and seeing the pattern of frost on the window was indeed a magical experience.

Over the course of time I adopted all the protocols; the gift giving, the tree, the parties, etc. Where I grew up I was exposed to both Christmas and to Judaism (my Jewish friends all agreed that Hannukah was lame because you got 8 crappy gifts instead of one good Christman present).

Overall, for 33 years, the holiday season has been a wonderful time of year for me, someone who adopted the holiday spirit.

It is for this reason that I am so disappointed that most of the good feelings exist only in my memory now. The first time I noticed this feeling was last year when The Passion was released. The somewhat militantly Christian reaction I experienced in Tennessee at the taime, was scary at a very core level, as though a mob was gathering. That feeling went into the background after last year's holidays, but never left. Now its back. I feel it again. A sense of raging Christianity, as it is depicted and fanned by Fox.

In fact, I would go so far as to say this viral strain of Christianity is equally vile as radical Islam or Hinduism.

What a loss. Another comfortable myth shattered.

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[villager]

1. no, you are right

these Fundie lunatics are devouring America

[rkc3]

2. That's why I tell them to eat me.

[villager]

3. it works, if you're a wafer!

;-)

[LisaM]

4. Thanks for figuring this out for me

I have been trying really hard to find some holiday "magic" this year and it has not been easy. I manage it mostly at night - seeing peoples' lights on their houses when I walk my dog, a downtown caroling event, and watching the better Christmas movies - but something is different this year.

[Booster]

21. My friend and I noticed this last night, when we went out to dinner

on a very busy street. Hardly any stores had any signs of the holidays in their windows and the street itself just had very few lights on the trees. The feeling of apathy is everywhere; like we know we're all doomed and just can't shake that feeling of dread.

[rurallib]

25. There is something in the air

My family feels it too. Some tension you could cut with a knife. People are on edge or apathetic. I don't know. This is looking like our worst winter holiday ever.

[knowbody0]

5. welcome to amerika

the passion=pure propaganda. though i did not see this film, some of the kids around here talked to me about it. what were they thinking with all the sadism and violence. absolutely horrific hate inspiring crap.
this year im giving every single loved one a copy of the constitution and a ceremonial meal in memory of a country that was once guided by the greater good

[SmokingJacket]

6. That's why this "seige on Christmas" stuff is so infuriating

It's turning a nice holiday into an occasion for more divisiveness, bitterness, and polarization.

I used to enjoy sharing Christmas with Christians -- I'm not religious but I'd sometimes go to church on Christmas Eve because it was beautiful and it was so inclusive.

Guess they're not into sharing it anymore.

[burythehatchet]

7. Its always been about sharing with those you love

and it is a huge relief to be able to share your perspective and know that you're not alone.

[indigobusiness]

8. I just added you to my Buddy List.

Hope you don't mind.

[burythehatchet]

9. That's awfully nice of you

:)

[mark11727]

10. Forget FOX... no matter what they say, that is NOT the "real" America.

For that matter, forget "The Passion", because that's not any kind of Christianity I grew up with.

For a real flavor of Christmas, pop into a Catholic Church on Christmas morning... if it's anything like the little church we have here, it'll be beautifully decorated with poinsettias and holly. The choir will have the time of their lives, singing... The littlest of children will be antsy to get home and start rippin' gifts, if they haven't done so already.

If you live anywhere near NYC, see the tree at Rockefeller Center.

Forget FOX.

Buy or rent It's a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, and A Christmas Carol.

Have an eggnog.

Hang some mistletoe.

Hug a Republican and shout Merry Christmas, Mister Potter!. OK, maybe that's going a little too far, but you get the idea.

Let the magic happen.

[burythehatchet]

11. Funny you mention that

Although I am not Christian there is a very nice Catholic church around the corner, St. Thomas More, that I pop into from time to time. It's very nice and they have an Indian priest as well!

[MarianJack]

12. I Am a Christian...

...who is bothered by the same things as you, burythehatchet. For the last few years I have been disturbed by the increasing commercialism of a holiday that is, with Easter, a cornerstone of the faith of millions of people the world around.

For me it seemed to start to get REALLY bad in '01, when we had the "show you're a loyal American by buying my product" craze after 9/11. I really HATE that Halloween starts after labor day and Christmas starts after Halloween. In the mix of this, Thanksgiving gets left out (probably because its not a gift giving or card sending holiday. YET!)

This radical Christianity thats taken hold since **'s "re-election" is very disturbing, even to many Christians. My wife and I thought that "The Passion" was a great movie. We do, however hate that it has become a rallying point for the fundie's hate-mongering and that we've allowed it to happen. If the fundies would pull their heads out of their collective rear ends, they would realize that the venom that they spew is totally contrary to the preachings of Jesus and the purpose of his death. In all truth, we find most of the "religious right Christians" who advocate falwell's "evangelical revolution" to be so hopelessly stupid and brainwashed that we don't even bother to talk reason to them.

In our family, we do keep the spirit of, and meaning of Christmas alive and present. Since our little boy is almost 5, there is also a lot of the Santa stuff, too.

I'm sorry if I ramble, but your post touched me. I guess that my message to you is that we have to keep the spirit ourselves for the forseeable future, just like with so many other things. I believe that the dark days we are now in will end and end soon.

Until then, please accept my family's best wishes to you and yours during this season. Just because the righties are taking their "mandate" as reason to spout hate is no reason we, as citizens of the world, can't relate to each other with respect and love.

Be well and try to be happy. Better times are coming.

[burythehatchet]

13. Thanks for the thoughtful post

You hit it on the head when you say "we have to keep the spirit ourselves for the forseeable future, just like with so many other things.

I believe that we are entering a time where our beliefs must necessarily remain alive. Sort of like a candle in the wind, we have to protect that flame until better times.


on edit:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[stellanoir]

14. In complete respect of your sentiments

As a 13th generation American, I dismissed my familial Christianity in my early years. I sought out every other faith finding a modicum in truly of all of them. Yet I truly feel that the only way we will acheive true peace is through a real none dogmatic spirituality which hinges quite simply on the fundamental belief of reverence towards all life and no killing.

This holiday is best observed as it was originally. Towards the celebration of the return of the light on the darkest of days, as it was in the days of old.

Happy Solstice !

[burythehatchet]

18. Spiritually, Stellanoir, I'm right with you

I support your position of walking the individual path and observing the Golden Rule. What can be very nice about the holidays is the opportunity to express the meaning of love. I guess my complaint is that the current environment seems a bit toxic to the spirit of the holidays

[stellanoir]

26. I know what you mean

I've been overtly generous in recent years, yet this year, I've bought absolutley nothing, even for my darling 13 year old child. It's very hard to rally when there is such a plethora of corruption and malfeasance in the world.

Nam Yo Renkio anyway.

May all beings be happy, that is.

[bush_is_wacko]

15. I have been noticing this trend

for a lot longer than a year. I live adjacent to a town with two gigantic churches. I've lived in this area most my life. As these churches have grown (they each have a membership of at least 4000) my life, my children's, lives and many other's that have lived in this community have felt a growing sense of being unwelcome. The members of this church have created neighborhoods in every nook and cranny of this small community. They band together at our restaurants and now seem to own a large portion of the small businesses in this area. THEY THINK THEY OWN THIS COMMUNITY. If they don't recognize you, you are automatically assumed to be an EVIL non-Christian! If you tell them you don't want to join their church and that you do not agree with their version of religion you are fair game for whatever they can come up with to make you miserable. I have been thinking for about ten years that this has looked like a deliberate migration. The ministers are Texans. (I live in Colorado) Many of my new "neighbors" have southern accents, some which I cannot identify. One of my "neighbors" preaches from the top of his lungs all weekend long from his backyard, while he is doing yard work!

I don't want to leave my native born area. Nor do I want to leave my native born country. My family has been here since the beginning of this country, but I feel so LOST here!

[burythehatchet]

20. I've always wondered about those very large churches.

I would want my religious instruction, if I cared to receive some, in a private, intimate setting. Diiferent strokes..

Happy Holidays!

[bloom]

16. If it makes you feel any better

my fundie brother thinks Christmas is too commercial and all, too.



But I'm sure he also thinks that Christians have a right to be annoying.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

17. i agree with you

we always celebrated christmas even in india and even when to mass (though my parents are hindu)

but this current administration is making christmas bitter and acrimonial.


they should consider taking a lesson from christ!

[burythehatchet]

19. he..he..remember Father Christmas?

you're probably too young. :)

Happy Holidays!

[La Lioness Priyanka]

22. you know you are doing a bad job of escaping your red state

leave already!

[burythehatchet]

24. I will be moving to DC this summer

can't wait

[Swamp Rat]

23. It's a trick. The Rovian spin machine is at work here.

They are pushing our buttons on purpose to get us riled up. By shoving down our throats fundamentalist x-tian beliefs and bigotry we are forced to respond. HOW we respond, though, is the question we must ask ourselves.

If they whine about nativity scenes, the we can say, "oh no, we really like your cute little Jesus house, but since it is on public property, we will put a baby Mohammad nativity scene next to it. And on the other side, the punk rock atheists will put up a tribute to Syd Vicious as the baby anti-christ."

[NC_Nurse]

27. Thank you for a thoughtful post...

I too feel less peace and good will this holiday season. I thought it was just me and the stresses in my life; but I do think you are right. I do not consider myself a mainstream religous person of any faith, but I have always been a very spiritual person and loved the Christmas season for all the good things it represents....peace, joy, love, generosity and tolerance. Now these things seem very far away indeed. Too much politics mixed with religion makes Christmas another divisive event/money-making opportunity.
Sigh....

[burythehatchet]

29. Being a Christian, do you feel resentment towards the radicals

like Falwell and Robertson? To me, they are the people who are the principal hate mongers

[OneBlueSky]

28. like everything else in this country, Christmas has been taken over . . .

by the corporations . . . retailers rely on the Christmas shopping season for a huge percentage of their annual gross sales, and the whole thing has become nothing but an advertising and buying orgy . . . it was a lot different in my youth, when the holidays were actually looked forward to and celebrated as a time of peace and understanding . . . these days I dread the thought of Christmas, hate the house decorations, and can't wait for January when all this nonsense will be over (except for the after Christmas sales, of course) . . .