There’s an old saying that goes: if
something looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and talks like a duck,
then it must be a duck. But as the latest campaign in the unwavering
war against one of the most sacred days of the year demonstrates, this
simple litmus test might not always apply.
The cold wind blows
as beautiful snowflakes fall to the ground; houses are adorned with
twinkling lights; on street corners everywhere fraternal and church
groups are selling freshly cut evergreen trees. It looks like Christmas.
Radio
stations are eagerly deviating from their normal formats and breaking
most of the rules of modern, homogenized radio to play the “sounds of
the season”—either intermittently or 24/7. I hear many of my
favorites—Joy to the World, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing, Blue
Christmas or Little Saint Nick—streaming through my car
speakers…clearly, it sounds like Christmas.
When you combine the
music, weather and scenery with the tangible excitement exemplified by
little children waiting to tell the jolly fellow dressed in red what’s
on their “wish list,” it sure feels like Christmas.
Christmas
has always been my favorite time of the year. It is a chance to reflect
upon the greatest gift God has granted each—our life—in the context of
the humble life Christ assumed when the Word became Flesh. I treasure
the wonderful memories and good times that come from being with family
and friends. This year is extra special for my wife and me because it
is our daughter’s first Christmas. Just thinking about this challenges
me to control my anticipation as much as waiting for Santa does most
children.
But if you pay close attention to many of the ads on TV
and radio, the jingles played between songs, the wording of most
greeting cards, and the general attitude afforded this time of year,
you can call this holiday many things: but none dare call it Christmas.
We
are all too familiar with the scenarios: atheist sues city over
nativity scene; ACLU says portrait of the Madonna (the Mother of God,
not the singer) covered in cow dung is protected speech, but elementary
school Christmas play is hate crime. And so it goes year after year. It
is absurd and frustrating, but should not be too easily dismissed as a
“phase” we will get past if we just ignore the problem.
There is
good news and bad news in this battle. The good news is that this is
not the most hostile society has been toward Christianity and its
sacred traditions. The bad news is that we’re on a collision course to
letting the past repeat itself. The time to take a stand against future
persecution is now.
One of the aforementioned classic holiday
tunes serves as the perfect example of the ghost of Christmas
persecution past and what will become the ghost of Christmas
persecution future if we don’t soon wise up. If you, like me, have been
tuned in to the local station playing all Christmas songs all the time,
you’ve undoubtedly heard “The 12 Days of Christmas” several times by
now. Apparently, radio programmers didn’t get the “memo” about not
using the “C-word” in public.
“The 12 Days of Christmas” is more
than just a whimsical, well-rhymed song. It was actually written during
a period in England (1559-1829) when it was illegal for Catholics to
practice their faith. It was designed as a “catechism song,” with each
verse delivering a coded message about the fundamental tenets of the
faith. The idea was that Catholics could sing the song without fear of
retribution, but the memory aids built into it would help the children
learn the faith.
The “true love” mentioned in the song represents
God the Father, not an earthly suitor, and the recipient (“me”)
represents the baptized person. A few other examples from the song
include: the partridge in a pear tree was Christ on the cross; two
turtle doves symbolized the Old and New Testaments; four calling birds
signified the four evangelists—Matthew, Mark, Luke and John; ten lords
a-leaping stood for the Ten commandments; and the 12 drummers drumming
denoted the 12 points of belief expressed in the Apostles Creed.
It
took an act of the English Parliament in 1829 to end the undue
persecution of Catholics in Britain, but as another saying goes, those
who are ignorant to history are bound to repeat it. While it is true
that a key component of the Christian faith is to endure suffering,
American Christians would be foolish to turn a blind eye to harbingers
of a new period that outlaws the belief in Christ.
Less than
200 years have passed since the emancipation of Catholics in England.
Now we live in a world where the worship of self and material goods is
celebrated; where those who seek to honor our country’s Judeo-Christian
heritage are ridiculed at best and castigated at worst. And now, we are
told that in the name of “tolerance,” Christians and their holidays
simply can’t be tolerated.
The fact is, you cannot have
Christmas without Christ. That’s not to say that individuals cannot
celebrate December 25 in some secularized way— that is their
prerogative if they so choose. But it does not give others the right to
rob us of the true origin and nature of the celebration. So, Merry
Christmas to you all!
Copyright © 2005 by Nathan Tabor
Nathan
Tabor is a conservative political activist based in Kernersville, North
Carolina. He has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s
degree in public policy. He is a contributing editor at
TheConservativeVoice.com and is on over 250 stations daily with
AConservativeMoment.com. Contact him at Nathan@nathantabor.com.
