Politically Correct Christmas!

Here's a stocking-full of holiday advice: Be wary, the politically correct police are on the prowl. 'Tis the season to be extra loud about being an atheist. It's the time of year when those who don't believe in a God shove it down the throats of all of us who do. Eleven months out of the year the agnostics and atheists don't give hoot nor holler whether or not people know they deny a creator (with the exception of Bill Maher, of course). However, when Christmas rolls around those who wish to squelch the joy of the season are out and about declaring there is no God. And the rest of us sit and take it. Why has it become so passé to admit a tie of Christianity to the season of Christmas? Today it seems the act of actually celebrating the birth of a significant baby warrants more legal action than it does cheer. No matter where you turn, the societal standard seems to be to erase Christmas from the equation this time of year. "Merry Christmas" was once unashamedly on the lips of everyone I met, but now I hear mostly "happy holidays" or "seasons greetings" in the attempt not to offend the people who, in my humble opinion, are just looking for attention. I guess despite the truckloads of offending remarks we are constantly dumping on each other every other day of the year, it's the general consensus that December is the month when we're not allowed to offend anyone. Imagine my surprise when I turned on the TV and saw a commercial for a satellite dish company where the people on the screen were actually singing "Merry Christmas." I say give the satellite dish folks five out of 12 days of free labor from leaping lords, dancing ladies, piping pipers, drumming drummers and milking maids. My initial thought after seeing the advertisement was, "Good for them." But then I began to consider the 20 percent of U.S. citizens who aren't religious and who are increasingly the loudest of the population. Don't get me wrong; I have no sympathy for that one out of five. I am just fearful for the programming providers and the backlash they may receive from that ever-so-monstrous minority. I wouldn't doubt a boycott by the religion-haters against DISH Network for their unabashed display of merriment. And while scrolling through the upcoming Christmas television programming, I noticed ABC will be showing "A Charlie Brown Christmas" this year. Good for ABC. I wonder how long a network can get away with showing a cartoon that actually quotes the bible? How long will the agnostics and atheists let that slide? Consider this: If our nation was a school yard, the 80 percent of inhabitants that identify with a religion would be the general population of pupils. In light of their differences, the children would still play and learn together. The 20 percent of agnostics and atheists would be those surly, socially inept bullies who, rather than trying to make friends, would push the other kids around and get some sort of sick pleasure out of intimidating them. Even though the majority of the little kids are not bullies, they still pander to those terror-tots who push them around. I say screw those bullies. Any person worth their salt should stand up and be proud of who they are and why they celebrate this season. Some might want to boil me in my own Christmas pudding and bury me with a stake of holly through my heart. Well, I say there's nothing more comfortable that sitting in a tub full of hot pudding, and there's nothing more decorative than a sprig of holly on your chest. Don't let that 20 percent push you around. If someone acts offended by your remarks, throw it back in their face and tell them you are offended by their taking offense to your beliefs. Giving them a taste of their own medicine should shut them up. Besides, we all need to get a good "Merry Christmas" out of our mouths before saying it becomes a crime. And don't think that won't happen considering the path our nation is taking these days. It's sad that these days a person will get more flack for attempting to spread cheer than they would if they spread a "bah humbug." Don't be afraid to think it, write it, say it or scream it. Merry Christmas!