<Update>
Our governor has denied clemency to Stan Williams. I can't imagine how he'll sleep tonight knowing that a man will die in less than two hours and he could have stopped it. Reminds me of Bush and Karla Faye Tucker. I'm grateful I'm not in that position. I never could be. We need to be praying for these men, our leaders. For strength, for peace, for courage. And for the integrity to listen for the leading of God and then do what God says to do.
</Update>
<Rant>
So, I'm a Christian. And I'm sure that when you read the title of tonight's rant, you're thinking to yourselves... "Oh geez, another Christian complaining that we're all 'taking the Christ out of Christmas.'" But au contraire, gentle reader. I am actually here to complain about the complainers.
For whatever reason, 2005 seems to be the year that a bunch of Christians decided to take offense at the seemingly innocuous December greeting, "Happy Holidays." I keep seeing it pop us as national news, for heaven's sake.
Just last week, the Washington Post ran this story on how "religious conservatives" are angry at President Bush for sending out cards with a generic end-of-the-year message, wishing his close friends and supporters a happy "holiday season." Check out this oh-so-mature response from Joseph Farah, editor of the conservative website WorldNetDaily.com: "Bush claims to be a born-again, evangelical Christian, but he sure doesn't act like one. I threw out my White House card as soon as I got it." Of course, no one is mentioning that Presidents have gone back and forth on this for years... The Clintons never proclaimed "Merry Christmas" on their cards. Neither have the current Bushes. Not since the first George Bush have the cards said "Merry Christmas." Where were the angry Christian masses then?
Our dear Jerry Falwell is boycotting - again - and threatening legal action against anyone who would dare to "muzzle" them and their constitutional rights to say "Merry Christmas." Tell me: Where are these people who are trying to ban Christmas? I watch TV, I surf the web, I shop in stores... There is no conspiracy here. I see and hear LOTS of "Christmas." Listen to the radio! I have never been persecuted for wishing people a "Merry Christmas," and I live near ::gasp:: San Francisco! Here's David Batsone's take on it, from Sojourners Online. I agree with him.Here's the deal: We live in a postmodern, multicultural society. That is a simple fact. And you know what? I really do hope that my Jewish friends have a Happy Hanukah. I pray that my African-American friends have a wonderful celebration of Kwanzaa. And I pray for all of us to have a very merry Christmas.
Yes, I believe that following Jesus is the path to God. Believing in and following Jesus has saved me. I pray that everyone will come to know the joy and peace that can be found in Christ... but I cannot and will not try to force that on people. I will not fight for my "rights" to be a Christian. Our nation is not a "Christian nation," because nations cannot be Christians; only people can. I pray that people will see what Jesus has done in me and be attracted to God as a result. But I will not win people to Jesus because I'm fighting them over whether our kids are on "Christmas Break" or "Winter Break."
What a waste of time and energy! Perhaps Falwell and Co. could have used their advertising/legal budget to help feed the hungry or fight AIDS in Africa instead. That kind of activism will win friends and draw people to God.
</Rant>
That's all for tonight. Merry Xmas.