Why the Left Doesn't Like Christmas
By: Dennis Prager
The author is right. He is wise also to separate the liberal from the secular progressive leftists. Long live American and religious holidays!
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Many on the left (as opposed to liberals) have been warring on Christmas for more than a generation. Leftists always deny there is a war on Christmas and mock those who claim there is.
There is a mind-blowing chutzpah or lack of self-awareness when people do something and yet deny that they are actually doing it. But the evidence is overwhelming. The left has stopped schools from calling Christmas vacations by that name -- the name schools called them throughout American history until the last couple of decades. Almost every non-Christian school in America now calls Christmas vacation "winter break." Fewer and fewer Americans, stores, companies or media wish people a "Merry Christmas," preferring the neutered "happy holidays" (despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of Americans celebrate Christmas). And in but one generation, virtually every American business has gone from having a "Christmas party" to having a "holiday party."
Having written in the past about the falsehood of "Merry Christmas," "Christmas vacation" and "Christmas party" not being "inclusive," I will not reiterate the point here. Suffice it to say that it takes a breathtaking level of narcissism for a non-Christian to be offended by mentions of Christmas and a breathtaking level of meanness to seek to deprive the vast majority of fellow Americans of the public mention of their holiday.
Rather, I want to try to explain why this has happened.
The "inclusive" argument is so absurd -- I am a religious Jew and cannot even fathom being offended or feeling "not included" by an invitation to a Christmas party -- that there have to be other, or at least additional, reasons for the left's neutering of Christmas.
There are.
One is that the left sees in Christianity its primary ideological and political enemy. And it is right to do so. The only large-scale organized opposition to the left comes from the traditional Christian community -- evangelical Protestants, traditional Catholics and faithful Mormons -- and Orthodox Jews. Leftism is a secular religion, and it deems all other religions immoral and false.
From Karl Marx to Vladimir Lenin to George Soros, the left has regarded religion in general and Christianity in particular as the "opiate of the masses" -- a drug that dulls the masses into accepting their oppressed condition and, thereby, keeps them from engaging in revolution.
The left understands that the more people believe in Christianity (and Judaism), the less chance the left has to gain power. The left doesn't concern itself with Islam, because it perceives Islam as an ally in its war against Western civilization, and because leftists do not have the courage to confront Islam. They know that confronting religious Muslims can be fatal, whereas confronting religious Christians entails no risks.
Second, the left regards Christianity in America as an intrinsic part of American national identity -- an identity it wishes to erode in favor of a "world citizen" identity. The left has not only warred against Christmas; it has sought to undermine other national identity holidays. For any number of reasons, not only including the left, Americans no longer celebrate George Washington's birthday (it has de facto been replaced by the utterly meaningless "Presidents Day") or Abraham Lincoln's birthday, as they did when I was a child, my father was a child and his father was a child. The only American celebrated in a national holiday is Martin Luther King Jr., which is acceptable to the left since he is not white. One proof of the left's desire to undermine specifically American national holidays is its war on the two remaining specifically American holidays: July Fourth and Thanksgiving.
The left deems Thanksgiving a historical fraud and an immoral celebration of "genocide" of the American Indians -- which is what American children are now taught in many American public schools. And "happy Thanksgiving" has been replaced by "happy holidays." As for July Fourth, The New York Times is leading the undermining of the celebration of America's birthday by declaring that the real founding of America was 1619, the year, The Times asserts, African slaves first arrived on the American continent.
Of course, there is still Veterans Day and Memorial Day, but they are not specifically American national holidays; just about every country has such holidays.
But Christmas is a problem for the left. It celebrates religion, and it does so in quintessentially American ways (take American Christmas music, for example).
The third and final reason is that the left is joyless. Whatever and whomever the left influences has less joy in life. I have met happy and unhappy liberals, and happy and unhappy conservatives, but I've never encountered a happy leftist. And the further left you go, the more angry and unhappy the people you will encounter. Happy women and happy blacks, for example, are far more likely to be conservative than on the left.
Christmas is just too happy for the left. "Holly, jolly" is not a left-wing term.
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No one else on Newstalkers posts endless ideology based drivel the way you do. No one, although there is one on the right here that is trying to catch up with you.
Im serious, the "liberals" complain about living people on the right, you complain about Karl Marx. It wouldnt be so bad once in a while, but every fricking day?
John, you really shouldn't call out anybody for posting "ideology based drivel".
Just saying.
John, you really shouldn't call out anybody for posting "ideology based drivel".
Good point!
In fact what I try to do, in my efforts be be a "good citizen" here on NT-- is that when I post drivel, I try to make half of it ideologically based-- and the other half not!
An excellent article. I, too, am not afraid of Christmas, or that some monster Santa Clause will land on my roof, come down the chimney and devour me. In fact, when my kids were little we hung stockings from the fireplace, put milk and cookies on the table in front of it, and we had a decorated Christmas tree, all to make our kids not stand out in our community as being different, but my kids both carry out their careers that are based on Judaism, not Christianity.
Well, that sort of thing is probably the basis for Mariah Carey's song " All I Want for Christmas is..Jews! "
or that some monster Santa Clause will land on my roof, come down the chimney and devour me.
That's not Santa. Santa no longer exists. (He was killed in the so called "War on Christmas").
Not Santa-- just another of the ever increasing herds of Chupacabras that have been running rampant in these parts lately!
Dennis Prager seems to be claiming that Christmas is an American holiday , like Thanksgiving.
He's trying to sneak that theocracy in there, isnt he? Fess up HA.
Dennis Prager is such an easily triggered snowflake. The mere idea of inclusion puts his panties in a wad.
Happy Christmas and Merry New Year
Happy solstice, joyous Kwanzaa, happy Hanukkah, and axial tilt is the reason for the season
Axial Tilt? That name sounds familiar-- didn't he play "Left Out" for some German Baseball team in the 60's?
Baseball team"
A bit off topic but I couldn't resist-- one of the greatest moments in American comedy:
I first showed my son this act to cheer him up when his Little League All-Star team lost in their regional tournament. He couldn't stop laughing.
History repeats itself!
You can reserve that one for yourself.
An assertion you can't support.
And one that doesn't make even the slightest bit of sense.
Dear Brother Kavika: I recall that sky leakage in Oahu.
It drove my Macademia nuts.
Comfort is taken as we approach Hanukah tomorrow.
For those celebrating it with Latkes (fried in oil potato pancakes), my wish to you for Seasons Gratings.
P&AB.
Enoch, Opening Up Umbrella Concepts Before I Venture Forth Out of Doors.
water spinning tends to level things out
A body of water cannot change a planet's tilt. So your statement is not only profoundly absurd with no basis in fact or scientific evidence, but it's also demonstrably false. By your "logic," the removal of water after the flood should have reversed the axial tilt. Of course, there is no evidence to support Noah's Flood either, not to mention the logical inconsistencies with the story.
That describes ALL his assertions. It's just another baseless claim and/or emotional platitude,
Being correct does not happen on its own, one must put forth an effort to objectively learn.
Good grief, the Bible should never be used as a source for scientific knowledge.
You did not understand my comment? My comment was about using the Bible as a source for scientific knowledge.
Of course not. But passing off the bible or religion as scientific fact, especially when actual science contradicts dogma, is willfully disingenuous and dishonest. And some of us will call you or others out on that when such attempts are made, such as your asinine axial tilt-Noah flood statement.
You'd love that - it would feed your Christian persecution complex.
But no, we'll just continue to point out the absurdity of your comments. The flood causing axial tilt ... that is one of the dumbest comments I have ever read, and that's saying something.
Willful ignorance CAN be cured.
I agree except for the quote part. Ignorance can be cured; willful ignorance cannot.
Oh how I love the routines by Abbot and Costello. I so wish they would bring back some reruns of their hilarious shows.
We here in So. Calif are getting pounded by heavy rain and massive snow in the mountains. The second such storm to hit this week. However, for us here in So. Calif, this is welcome, as it means that the drought that has plagued us for years has been broken, and we are slowly recovering our water sources.
And I LOVE to sit out in the rain. Father Sky's precious rain drops on my face seem to replenish my Spirit. (smile)
Meh.
[deleted]
Just kidding,
!
Santa Claws?
Christmas joke:
What are Santa's Little Helpers called?
What are Santa's Little Helpers called?
Subordinate Clauses!
There is a mind-blowing chutzpah or lack of self-awareness when people do something and yet deny that they are actually doing it.
Then how come you spend so much times here proselytizing your bizarre political and religious views-- and never-the-less continue to deny that your are actually doing it?
LMAO!
I hereby nominate comment #10 as the Best Comment of the Month!
(Or maybe even of the entire year actually!)
There is an interesting phenomenon with Christmas that I wonder if it would be the same regardless of the religious holiday. The phenomenon is that many non-believers or casual believers or even those of other faiths, will at least participate in many of the traditions surrounding Christmas. Even Buzz was saying that his family kept some Christmas traditions " all to make our kids not stand out in our community as being different".
It seems that Christians welcome anyone to come and celebrate their holiday with them, regardless of whether they believe in Christ. I hear many folk saying they grew up with these traditions and even though they aren't devout Christians, don't go to Church and don't consider themselves religious, they love to celebrate Christmas.
I just wonder whether those of other faiths would feel the same about their holiday if random non-believers started practicing their traditions but left their religion completely out of it. Would those of the Jewish faith welcome everyone to come and light the menorah and celebrate the 8 days of Hanukkah even though they don't believe in any of the religious story, they just like the fun of 8 days of gifts? Would the Jewish people be overjoyed to see those of every faith celebrating their sacred holiday without the prayers and religious traditions that make it sacred to them? Would they consider it a "war on Hanukkah" if, because it had become a generic celebration for everyone, if people were saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Happy Hanukkah"? I rather doubt it.
The true "war on Christmas" was the commercialization of a religious holy day that previously had none of the trappings it demands today. F.W. Woolworth bought $25 worth of hand blown glass ornaments in 1885 to sell in his stores – all of which sold within two days. Fast forward to ten years later and more than 200,000 glass ornaments made from more than 6,000 recorded designs, each by individual families, were being imported into the US. The commercialization of Christmas had truly begun. Coca Cola got in on the act by turning Sinterklass into the jolly fat man in the red suit so many kids have now been fooled into believing in. Coca Cola ads featuring Santa Claus first began in 1920 in the Saturday Evening Post. By 1931, Santa was making appearances in Coca Cola ads in popular magazines, but a more wholesome Santa was desired. It was then that Coca Cola commissioned an illustrator by the name of Haddon Sundblom.
Another example of genius marketing, Rudolph the red nosed reindeer was born at Montgomery Ward from a massive marketing campaign in 1939 in a book written by a company advertising a copywriter by the name of Robert L. May. The purpose? To drum up newspaper coverage. And the now infamous "black Friday" was started all the way back in the 1960's and now we can add "cyber Monday" to the ongoing commercialization of a religious holy day.
Claiming that those who say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" are engaged in a "war on Christmas" while standing in a line at Walmart to get your kids the "hit" toys of the season or other goods at discounted prices is the very definition of hypocrisy.
I just wonder whether those of other faiths would feel the same about their holiday if random non-believers started practicing their traditions but left their religion completely out of it. Would those of the Jewish faith welcome everyone to come and light the menorah and celebrate the 8 days of Hanukkah even though they don't believe in any of the religious story, they just like the fun of 8 days of gifts?
Yes they would.
I have Jewish friends, and they often invite their non-Jewish friends to celebrate Hanukkah with them. (There seem to be 2 holidays they often do this for-- Hannukah and Passover). Although in every religion various people have different traditions, for these 2 holidays some Jews invite others to celebrate with them.
And while there is some "Thanking of God", ironically both of these 2 holidays are not particularly solemn religious holidays.They are more national holidays of the Jewish People.
Also Hannukah is not one of the most important holidays. (Apparently some people get that impression probably because it happens about the same time as Christmas, which of course is an important Christian holiday)
Would the Jewish people be overjoyed to see those of every faith celebrating their sacred holiday without the prayers and religious traditions that make it sacred to them?
I could be wrong,. but I don't think most Jews consider Hannukah to be as seriously "sacred" as some other holidays.
Some people won't even let folks sing songs for Hanukkah. It's all about Christmas music for them
That's a great group! (I discovered the a few years ago on Youtube but never went to one of their live concerts). Fantastic harmonizing. And they often inject some comedy into their act.
They performed near here a few years ago, but I didn't find out about it until it was too late to arrange to go.
If you're offended by someone wishing you a happy holiday, you just might be a snowflake.
If you insist on your own religious holiday being recognized, and resent recognition of others, you might be a bigot.
Getting offended that some folks celebrate Hanukkah, and that others wish to be inclusive of that, strikes me as antisemitic.
How could this post possibly have qualified for removal as having no value? It was perfectly relevant, and had much, much more value than the seeded article and it's phony manufactured crisis does.
I move that the removal be removed.
Thanks, Dig.
Not surprising you also have a 24/7/365 persecution complex too.
Well, now that it's viewable again, feel free to point out ANY generalizations, let alone "broad sweeping" ones.
Some kind of Freudian slip there? Did her second if-then observation hit a bit too close to home?
It wasn't a direct accusation, you know. If you took it as such, then perhaps a little introspection might be in order on your part.
Christmas has become more of a general holiday and less of a religious holiday, so the greeting Merry Christmas has become more of a general or seasonal greeting.
I am not religious and I use it. To me it means have a good time and enjoy yourself in late December
This non-religious lefty celebrates Christmas every year.
Lights, tree, Santa, elves, reindeer, presents, stockings, cookies, eggnog, fuzzy warm vibes, the whole shebang -- with no religious overtones at all.
The only thing I dislike about it sometimes is the hassle of trying to find useful, meaningful gifts for family members who never really want or need anything that they don't already have. That can be a chore. Thank goodness for cheese logs, assorted chocolates, and scratcher lottery tickets. :P
P.S. Dennis Prager is a moron.
Hickory Farms beef sticks, calendars and the ABC store are my Christmas go to places
Same. I'm at my parents' for Christmas right now. We have a big dinner, gifts for the kids, cookies, and yours truly is the one who brings along all of the Christmas CDs (even ones with religious songs).
We've cut back on the gift-giving, and decided to focus more on spending time together as a family. I imagine Jesus would approve.
My favorite Christmas songs tend to be the religious ones - mostly because of the classical music and the harmonies, I suppose. Although I do listen to a lot of Transiberian Orchestra. That, Nutcracker Suite, and Arthur Fieldler and the Boston Pops are my favorites. I always break out some wine and Christmas music when I'm decorating my tree and wrapping presents.
I'm finally getting around to decorating my mom's big tree today; the past few years we've just had a 4 foot tree for her, but this year we put that up on her table and she said she still wanted a bigger tree. I put it up last week but didn't have a chance to find the family ornaments in my basement and bring them over.
Indeed. As the last one of my own family to still be living, it is a time of many memories of Christmas' past. As I still have those, they give me great comfort and joy.
nOt sure if i should be offerin' my pinion since i am new here but i'll just <cough> giver a shot.
hāligdæg is an old timey English word that means, "holy day", or "Holiday". Seems to me that, "happy holy days" would be the same as merry Christmas.
as'ta war on christmas. I did some searchin' and discovered dat the only law ever passed in opposintin'ta "Christmas", was passed in 1659. I'll post it below.
We would be remiss not to point out that the one and only time Christmas was actually banned on what would later become U.S. soil, it was by Christians.
In 1659, the Puritan lawmakers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony followed the example of their brethren in England by issuing an edict outlawing the observance of Christmas (and other “superstitious” holidays):
Why? Because, as befitted their name, the Puritans found feasting, wassailing, gift giving, and wishing one another a merry Christmas ungodly and sinful (we suspect not even the secularized greeting “Happy holidays” would have been acceptable to this lot).
Despite a 22-year ban on celebrating it (the law was repealed in 1681), Christmas survived unscathed to eventually become the most popular (not to mention durable) holiday celebrated in America.
https://www.snopes.com/news/2017/11/29/the-war-on-christmas/
Welcome to NT StinkWeed Pete. We are always happy to welcome new comers. I appreciate your comment on Christmas and related information. Thank you!
I wouldn't be surprised if the Puritans found being "Happy" to be sacriligeous!
I love Christmas. I am a Pagan that celebrates Yule on the winter's solstice and then celebrate Christmas on December 25th. I just like to cook big meals for my family, drink lots of wine & have a good time. My daughter is a practicing Catholic, attends Mass & she is very LEFT. So guess the title is wrong.
So you're calling HA a communist for constantly attacking non-Christian cultures?
Which would be the easily triggered, overzealous Christians who don't give a crap about our Constitution and who (due to an irrational persecution complex) want to make Christianity a national religion, trampling on the rights of those who are not Christians, and constantly attacking the cultures people who aren't Christian fundies.
Our unique exceptional American culture and values are not fanatically religious.
American "culture" is that of welcoming the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse, the homeless, the tempest-tost, regardless of what faith, race, nationality, culture, skin color or gender.
What "culture" is it that you believe is being disrupted?
Most of the "left", liberals and progressives, profess to be Christians and happily celebrate Christmas, though most also honor and respect other Americans religious holidays as well, because that's true American culture and values.
And the fact is, Christmas wasn't even a national holiday until 1870 which was nearly a hundred years after our founding. So trying to claim anyone is attacking or disrupting "specifically American holidays" is just plain ignorant. Besides, more than 160 countries celebrate Christmas. A few countries refer to the holiday as Family Day, including Angola and Uruguay. Some countries--like Jordan and Pakistan--designate December 25th as an official holiday only for Christians. How and why would Christmas be "specifically American" again? I don't see it, but that's perhaps because my head isn't stuck in the sand like those making such sad and uninformed claims.
By all means, specify precisely what those cultures and values are! Then explain precisely how it's being disrupted! This should be good.
Which religion, then, in your view, should be the foundation moving forward? I presume you would say Christianity and, in fact, your particular denomination of same. Why should we not also adopt Islamic views? Why not mandate women wear extremely conservative clothing, not leave the home unless accompanied by a male family member, etc.? (I left out far uglier factors.)
If religion is to serve as the guiding light for our society, how do you determine which specific religious rules and traditions are the chosen guiding light?
Maybe to you. Certainly not to me,.
Not in our government or laws. But that's just Constitutional.
Still waiting for you to answer the challenge: specify precisely what those cultures and values are! Then explain precisely how it's being disrupted!