Heart and Soul of Christmas Denied
Bonnie Alba
December 07, 2007
Jing-jing-jing-aling! Aah, sweet music to the retailers’ ears this season of the year. Yet there are signs that Americans are pulling back from parting with their hard-earned, expensive dollars. Businesses have grown to depend on consumers’ seasonal spending in the last three months of the year.
There’s another little characteristic of the season. It’s a declared National Holiday, isn’t it? It’s called “Christmas” which is slowly disappearing from public awareness in the name of “political correctness.” There’s always the possible threat of lawsuits from individuals or minority groups abetted by the ACLU who dislike this annual American tradition.
With the decrease in emphasis on the “reason for the season,” retailers wearing “PC” on their foreheads are doing themselves harm. How? Let’s imagine we all join the PC crowd for future seasons and put to death any public mention of Christmas:
Holiday Season” only, between Thanksgiving and the ringing in of the New Year. Why buy gifts? Why take time off from work?
The banal “Happy Holidays” greeting would be accepted by all Americans---what does that mean? What holiday, what celebration? Of what --Winter?
Hallmark and other card companies would certainly suffer from less emphasis on the tradition of exchanging Christmas cards. Toy companies, who are already taking a beating on their flawed imports this year, would suffer the most from “no need to buy all those toys” for children.
Charity giving: Except for the serious Christian giving which goes on year round, charities would probably suffer from decreased gift giving.
Good for Christians and churches: Most likely churches would pull back from all the commercialization of the season and actually celebrate Christmas within the religious community with more worship, praise and fellowship.
There are numerous factors which negatively affect businesses and the economy. The ACLU and atheist-humanists strive on erasing all reminders of Christmas and God from society, government institutions. Surely some of them own and operate businesses which they rely on for income?
The commercial reason for buying gifts is only part of the consumer equation. The motivation and foundation of this seasonal gift giving comes from the Bible’s example of the Three Wise Men of the East who followed a Star seeking a child prophesied centuries before. They came bearing gifts for the child called Jesus, the Christ; the Anointed One. He was God’s Son and eternal Gift to all mankind.
So it is that Christians buy gifts as a heartfelt expression of our love for God by giving to our loved ones, friends, those in need and many charities.
Now if the season is intertwined with “Christmas” and involves the minds and hearts of Americans, then why would you, the anti-Christmas business-owner want to put it to death? This intimidation has resulted in American public schools decreasing Christmas tree and decoration purchases for classrooms and gifts and card exchanges among students and staff.
That’s millions of unspent and saved consumer dollars over the years. Not good for businesses. But parents probably enjoyed a sigh of relief, not having to spend much on their children’s school Christmas.
Some retail management reasoning is that consumers will never change, they have a shopping habit during this season. And just because they kill the foundation for the spending, consumers will keep on spending anyway.
We Americans may appear like sheep being lured to the shearer with sweet enticements, but we’re waking up to this madness of buying and spending -- driving us towards the black hole of debt. We’re not just “consumers.” We’re not numbers to be counted on your statistics by how much money we spend. We are Americans who also shop--with hearts for others.
Retailers, you might want to pay attention to what a gentleman wrote to our local paper. He stated it very clearly. He and his family had gone to a nearby Mall intending to shop for Christmas gifts. Some stores were sparse on their ‘Christmas’ decorations. They listened in vain for ‘Christmas’ music and there was no Santa Claus available for the children. He stated, “It was as if they said, ‘Christmas, what’s Christmas? Just give us your money and get out.’” Needless to say, they left the Mall without a single gift.
This man and his family are just the tip of the iceberg. How many millions of other Americans are sensing that something is missing in the season’s shopping experience?
He ended his letter with wise guidance to malls and retailers, “Now all you need is some heart and soul.” I agree. Merry Christmas!
2007 Bonnie Alba
comments: tttalba@hotmail.com
Aiken, SC,, letter to the editor, 12-05-07, AikenStandard.com/
Note: Last article, “Battling Hate Crimes Against Christmas” contained an error. Correction: News story claiming HUD told Florida grandmother she couldn’t use angel on tree---Not! According to Nedd Kareiva, Director, stoptheaclu.org, he contacted a U.S. Justice Dept. representative who said it was the owner of the nursing home who was responsible.
There’s another little characteristic of the season. It’s a declared National Holiday, isn’t it? It’s called “Christmas” which is slowly disappearing from public awareness in the name of “political correctness.” There’s always the possible threat of lawsuits from individuals or minority groups abetted by the ACLU who dislike this annual American tradition.
With the decrease in emphasis on the “reason for the season,” retailers wearing “PC” on their foreheads are doing themselves harm. How? Let’s imagine we all join the PC crowd for future seasons and put to death any public mention of Christmas:
Holiday Season” only, between Thanksgiving and the ringing in of the New Year. Why buy gifts? Why take time off from work?
The banal “Happy Holidays” greeting would be accepted by all Americans---what does that mean? What holiday, what celebration? Of what --Winter?
Hallmark and other card companies would certainly suffer from less emphasis on the tradition of exchanging Christmas cards. Toy companies, who are already taking a beating on their flawed imports this year, would suffer the most from “no need to buy all those toys” for children.
Charity giving: Except for the serious Christian giving which goes on year round, charities would probably suffer from decreased gift giving.
Good for Christians and churches: Most likely churches would pull back from all the commercialization of the season and actually celebrate Christmas within the religious community with more worship, praise and fellowship.
There are numerous factors which negatively affect businesses and the economy. The ACLU and atheist-humanists strive on erasing all reminders of Christmas and God from society, government institutions. Surely some of them own and operate businesses which they rely on for income?
The commercial reason for buying gifts is only part of the consumer equation. The motivation and foundation of this seasonal gift giving comes from the Bible’s example of the Three Wise Men of the East who followed a Star seeking a child prophesied centuries before. They came bearing gifts for the child called Jesus, the Christ; the Anointed One. He was God’s Son and eternal Gift to all mankind.
So it is that Christians buy gifts as a heartfelt expression of our love for God by giving to our loved ones, friends, those in need and many charities.
Now if the season is intertwined with “Christmas” and involves the minds and hearts of Americans, then why would you, the anti-Christmas business-owner want to put it to death? This intimidation has resulted in American public schools decreasing Christmas tree and decoration purchases for classrooms and gifts and card exchanges among students and staff.
That’s millions of unspent and saved consumer dollars over the years. Not good for businesses. But parents probably enjoyed a sigh of relief, not having to spend much on their children’s school Christmas.
Some retail management reasoning is that consumers will never change, they have a shopping habit during this season. And just because they kill the foundation for the spending, consumers will keep on spending anyway.
We Americans may appear like sheep being lured to the shearer with sweet enticements, but we’re waking up to this madness of buying and spending -- driving us towards the black hole of debt. We’re not just “consumers.” We’re not numbers to be counted on your statistics by how much money we spend. We are Americans who also shop--with hearts for others.
Retailers, you might want to pay attention to what a gentleman wrote to our local paper. He stated it very clearly. He and his family had gone to a nearby Mall intending to shop for Christmas gifts. Some stores were sparse on their ‘Christmas’ decorations. They listened in vain for ‘Christmas’ music and there was no Santa Claus available for the children. He stated, “It was as if they said, ‘Christmas, what’s Christmas? Just give us your money and get out.’” Needless to say, they left the Mall without a single gift.
This man and his family are just the tip of the iceberg. How many millions of other Americans are sensing that something is missing in the season’s shopping experience?
He ended his letter with wise guidance to malls and retailers, “Now all you need is some heart and soul.” I agree. Merry Christmas!
2007 Bonnie Alba
comments: tttalba@hotmail.com
Aiken, SC,, letter to the editor, 12-05-07, AikenStandard.com/
Note: Last article, “Battling Hate Crimes Against Christmas” contained an error. Correction: News story claiming HUD told Florida grandmother she couldn’t use angel on tree---Not! According to Nedd Kareiva, Director, stoptheaclu.org, he contacted a U.S. Justice Dept. representative who said it was the owner of the nursing home who was responsible.
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