The "War on Christmas"--seriously.

I've posted a couple things about how I don't agree with the wall-to-wall Christmas worship--seriously, it stops being about religion when it starts being about decorations, and who has more access to the public square, and making people say "Merry Christmas" and all that. I celebrate Christmas, after all--I just have developed an antipathy to a lot of Christmas music because it's playing all the time. Even in the Thai restaurant where I ate my supper this evening. My husband was like, "Oh great, Christmas music, just like I've been hearing all day." And I was all like, "Rum-pum-pum-pum"

(Okay, "The Little Drummer Boy"--I can not stand this song. I picture Joseph sticking his head out of the manger: "What's with the drums? We got a newborn in here! He's sleeping in heavenly peace. Silent night, the ass I rode in on!")

But I can still enjoy Dickens' Christmas Carol. I respect that other people have a religious basis for celebrating, even if for me it's mostly about spending time with family and selecting thoughtful gifts for them. I still enjoy the basic idea of a holiday that kind of honors our inner Santa, and beats back our inner "Grinch." I like it. I don't have to believe to like it. But I also don't have to harsh anyone else's buzz to like it, because that is uncool. I feel bad for people who get wrapped up in the "War on Christmas" thing, thinking secularists are trying to take away your fun just by pointing out that you live in a multicultural world. Actually, you can still have all the fun you want. The talking heads like O'Reilly are the ones who make you "mad about Christmas". Here I am, happy unbeliever with my Christmas fruitcake and cognac. There are you, "Did I just hear 'Happy Holidays' from that Old Navy cashier? The nerve!" (It just isn't worth it. Buy your fleeces for your nieces, and move on.)

Who exactly is brimming with "fa-la-la"?

Anyways, on to secularists celebrating with their own reasons for the season. Atheists also feel thankful for lots of things, like science and the pursuit of knowledge in general, and the humanist cause of people working things out amongst themselves to better our experience on this planet. In West Chester, PA, The Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia erects a "Tree of Knowledge" with book covers that illustrate, well, freethought.

Ever since the Tree of Knowledge first joined the Christmas Tree, The Crèche, and the Menorah, this display has been the center of controversy. Many Christians have claimed that the inclusion of humanist values next to the Jesus Crèche is an attempt to “steal” Christmas. It seems that many Christians are of the opinion that Christians own the winter season. They do not.

Winter is a time of year in which the days get shorter and significantly colder. People are prone to depression during this time of year and as a result, the idea of bright colorful celebrations and gift giving started long before Christianity. Atheists aren’t trying to “steal” Christmas any more than Christians stole Saturnalia… oh wait, never mind.

Over the last two years, the Tree of Knowledge has been vandalized by loving Christians and demonized in the local newspapers and blogs in some of the most hateful ways. This year, the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia had to fight new regulations designed to bully their display off of the courthouse lawn. One new restriction was on the height of the display. No display can be higher then 10 feet tall… except for the Christmas Tree. Clearly the County endorses one religion over all other religious viewpoints. So instead of the 18 foot Tree of Knowledge, FSGP had to get a smaller 10 foot tree.

Another regulation on when the displays could go up was apparently changed at the last minute so that the Crèche could get the ‘first come first serve’ space preference and push the now smaller Tree of Knowledge to a less visible spot under the branch of a larger nearby tree.

Why would it be wrong for secularists to also want to share good tidings? No one wants to "steal Christmas". We just want to share. If people want to be respected for what they believe--what is the problem with respecting what atheists believe?

Really, come by the tree and check out the book covers--better yet, get to a library and check out the books. But don't be hating on the tree. It just means atheists also want to share good things with friends and family during holidays. How weird is that?