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- G e n d e r G a p p e r s T M
HAPPY KWANUKAMAS
Once again it is the time of year when nearly everyone celebrates some
sort of solstice holiday. These celebrations are unique and generally spiritual.
Emboldened by four more years of Bush, religious conservatives have declared this a Christian country and are accusing anyone who disagrees of "taking the Christ out of Christmas." Along with this, they are pushing creationism in schools. They have declared a culture war against everyone who does not agree with them. They have made spiritual beliefs political. Methyl bromide will be the poison of choice for our tomatoes and strawberries. It is an ozone-depleting pesticide that had been scheduled to be phased out worldwide next year, but not in Bush's America. There isn't any evidence that Liberals/Progressives are trying to eliminate the Christ in Christmas. Everyone can celebrate their holidays as they choose inside their own homes and decorate outside as they wish. Those who believe that all religions should be respected, and all religions are a part of America, just ask that civil/political celebrations do NOT favor only one religion. So why are the rychus ones screaming? They know very well that the big corporations that finance their political endeavors took the Christ out of Christmas years ago by making it a commercial holiday. Look at their decorations. Colored lights, Rudolf, Santa Claws and all sorts of popular, non religious cultural icons, but only seldom does a religious icon grace the exterior of their homes or their shops. Rather, their decorations call to mind the pagan beginnings of this season. Despite all of this, it is apparent that Christ has been not only removed from Christmas, but the political leadership in Washington, DC have desecrated the values he taught. Whether it be preemptive wars or torture or environmental assault, conformity to Bush faux-reality rules the rychus ones. The killing fields of Iraq continue to point up policy that makes swords out of plowshares. There is no room for the Prince of Peace anymore in a land where tolerance and respect for others is deemed unpatriotic. There is no homely stable allowed to host a nation bent on living the values of President Abraham Lincoln [1861 - 1865] "with malice toward none, with charity for all." 2004-052 Copyright 2004 Renee T. Louise and Ruth M. Sprague, Ph.D. These articles may be republished for noncommercial use only, provided that they are copied intact, and that this copyright notice is attached. Address all queries to: twanda@sover.net. |