Like the umpteenth annual rerun of a tired old Christmas TV special, the grumpy old elves of the far right are always happy to unwrap the myth of the so-called “War on Christmas” every year.
The Red Deer Advocate must be desperate to fill up space on the comment page, if it resorts to printing the lazy, dishonest bloviatings of Jim Sutherland on the subject, obviously cribbed from the likes of Fox News loudmouth Bill O’Reilly.
No, Virginia, there is no War on Christmas.
It’s just a false outrage being ginned up by the far-right in order to stir up fear and loathing among the dwindling demographic that was soundly beaten in the 2012 U.S. presidential elections.
What evidence does Sutherland present for this so-called War on Christmas?
Simply the fact that some people say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
Well, guess what, you sour old Grinch, Christians celebrate “the holidays” and “the holiday season” at this time of year.
Are you aware that there’s more than one holiday being celebrated? There’s a little thing called New Year’s Day a week after Christmas.
Who does Sutherland blame for this phoney War on Christmas? He cites some unnamed “lunatic” who wants to be (gasp!) “inclusive” (Horrors!).
In fact, the “Happy Holidays” greeting was invented by retailers who wanted to increase their clientele — and their profits — by extending the holiday shopping season to people of other faiths.
You would think a right-wing fanatic like Sutherland would approve of the profit motive.
The claim that there is some sort of conspiracy to destroy Christmas is belied by the pervasive advertising, public decorations, commercial promotions, television specials to which we are all subjected. O’Reilly and his disciple Sutherland imagine a legion of offended multiculturalists who hate Christmas.
In fact, the ones who exhibit peevish defensiveness are the mean-spirited right-wingers who feign offence when somebody wishes them “Happy Holidays” with the best intentions.
Who is Sutherland, or anyone else, to dictate how we are to celebrate the holidays?
Who is he to say that some holiday greetings are appropriate and others aren’t? Christmas has always been a celebration of generosity of spirit, of good cheer, and peace on earth, goodwill to all men and women and children.
I suggest that Jim Sutherland stop spiking his egg nog with so much bitter gall. Shame on the Advocate for printing this ugly, divisive, derivative, repetitive drivel to spoil our holidays.
Happy holidays, Merry Christmas, and best wishes for the holiday season.
Richard Banville
Red Deer