CKNW Editorial
for December 20, 2000

It’s happening more and more each Christmas, isn’t it … all vestiges of Christ are being expunged from the holiday on the grounds that non Christians might be offended.

Let’s get one thing straight from the start … this is not a Christian country and never has been. Now you might have thought it was when I was growing up – Sunday’s were devoid of almost all commercial activity thanks to the Lords Day Protection Act which was inspired by Christian pressure. But we were never a theocracy.

Moreover, I don’t recall any of the Jewish community, or other minorities being coverted to Christianity because the official day of rest was not Saturday but Sunday. Nor, indeed, do I hear complaints about Christ in Christmas coming from the large non-Christian communities in our midst but rather from noisy busybodies who see any religious expression as somehow interfering with their notions of how democracy works.

Let’s also get something else on the table – many if not most of those standing up for the traditional reasons for Christmas haven’t darkened the door of a church in years. To them it’s a great opportunity for a cover for their own bigotry. It’s much like the Northern Irishman who claims that marching through Catholic districts in marching season isn’t anti-Catholic but merely freely using the Queen’s highway.

While Canada is not a Christian country it has a strong Christian tradition … and it’s a tradition that in a religious context has been much eroded or one might say added to. Rudolph and Frosty have nothing to do with Christianity … nor does the Christmas tree or mistletoe. Bing Crosby singing White Christmas or Nat "King" Cole doing the Christmas Song could hardly be described as Christmas carols. What has developed over the years, in the English speaking world, is sort of an amalgam of paganism, Christianity, commercialism and new customs. Christians and non Christians alike have made this happen but Christians are now being told by those in authority that their role is to be eliminated insofar as public expression is concerned. Department stores are dropping nativity scenes … the Christmas holidays are becoming the winter holiday … kids concerts are free of any taint of Christianity … all in the name of multiculturism.

What has happened, of course, is that white "higher purpose persons" have decided that in a multicultural society there will be no expressions of cultural heritage except by minorities. This position is not being taken by the Asian Community nor by the Jewish Community who have a long experience in the English speaking world of keeping their own traditions alive inside a more numerically dominant group. Jews – and I daresay most non white Canadians as well - have confidence in their own traditions and fear little, if at all, that their little children will come home from school demanding to start taking Christian communion.

The Christmas story is only found in Luke, by the way, and many Christianity students feel that this tale need not be taken too seriously, let alone literally. It just happens to be a very beautiful story about which much lovely music has been written. If the big celebration was at Easter time I could understand the argument that the story is part of a Christian mission statement for that celebration goes straight to the root of Christian dogma. Christmas is after all not a statement – except one of peace and goodwill which could scarcely offend anyone – but is the celebration of an anniversary.

I am a Christian and make no special plea for Christianity at this time of year. I do plead the Christmas message of peace on earth and goodwill towards all … and I do plead that my faith’s contribution to the festivity, which is to say the birth of Christ, continue to be honoured.

Is there anyone of any other faith out there that truly feels that their children, taught their faith at home, will, because of a nativity play to the accompaniment of out of tune little voices, leave the faith of their fathers? I don’t believe there are.

We cannot and should not, as a society, discriminate against Christmas because it has become so commercialized that without it thousands of business would fail and unemployment would dramatically rise. This is the manifestation of a free society and while Christians may deplore it, they must accept it and, if they wish, ignore it for more solemn private observance. On the other hand, it would be a denial of our history and the contribution of Christianity to the great holidays if Christ and the Christian message were removed.

Ever since Jingle Bells was written and before, Christianity and the public at large have been able to share this great holiday, each making contributions with none in fear that harm would come to anyone.

Let’s have the kids concerts and Christmas plays – I daresay that most non Christian cultures would not be in the slightest bit offended to see one of the children playing a role in a nativity scene but would be happy to see their children speaking the words of peace.

Now if we Christians could only get our fallen brothers and sisters to mind their own business and just butt out maybe we can all, Christian and non Christian alike, go back to sharing an annual moment which has always, for a short time at any rate, made us all a little bit better.