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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us December 21, 2005 One day for a simple return to peace, goodwill This holiday season is an especially troubling one, when the national debate rages about whether we can still call Christmas “Christmas,” and what is acceptable celebration and what is not, as if there is a Rudolph’s Red Nose chance of people agreeing on anything. Ah yes, the reason for the season: to find yet another thing to fight about, to divide us and to make us even more angry? You mean we can’t even have fun during Christmas anymore without offending everyone? What’s next, offense over puppy dogs and bunny rabbits? Apparently so. If you say “Merry Christmas,” you might offend those that don’t celebrate it. You can say, “Happy Holidays,” which is certainly just as easy to say as “Merry Christmas,” so that’s not a big deal. Is it? Well, it sure is to the folks who are determined to celebrate Christmas even if they have to shove Christ down your unbelieving throat. We might be better off just not saying anything, because any wish of good tidings can be turned into a political statement, and any gift of kindness and appreciation is turned into a policy statement on capitalism, materialism, consumerism and many more of the dreaded isms that rule our greedy, mixed-up world. After serious consideration, we developed our editorial policy on all of the above: Bah humbug. Ppphhtttt! Enough already. (Stomp feet, cover ears, shout blah blah blah loudly) and any other highly immature responses. Just make the nonsense stop. We refuse to be part of this overdose on controlling everything. When has everything gone way too far? When society feels the need to dictate how and what people celebrate. We happily celebrate Christmas, or the holidays or any of the other specific holidays, just as we happily endorse those who do not celebrate Christmas, or the holidays, or other specific holidays. We have no desire to convert or criticize others. That said, last we checked, Christmas remained an approved holiday. We like holidays. Christmas is secular, happily we add — so that as many as possible feel included. It is also religious, which is very important for some. It is ironic is that the foundation of the religious aspects of Christmas is a god’s deep abiding love for his creation, so much so that he came to live in it. In light of the current beef over the holidays, this isn’t a bad message to remember, especially those so ardently determined to force everyone to celebrate as they do. May we suggest that everyone take a deep breath. This is the season of giving, so give those who disagree with you a break. The one thing that is very clear is people need a time out. They need a day for rest, for kindness, for friendship, for love. However that is, whatever that is, do it well and with great joy. One would hope that we can agree on just that. Enjoy whatever you do. Peace on Earth and goodwill to all. The holiday season is still just as simple as that. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Free Music Downloads Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks Online Casinos FREE Entertainment Guide Calenders 2006 Calendar Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products best online casino tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Myspace Layouts cortisol; weight loss Diamonds Futures Broker Bad Credit Loans Auto & Personal Loans Search Engine Optimization Southern Oregon Loans Sportsbook Ztech Media Hosting Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Security Systems Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Student Loans Bonus Casino ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Mailing Lists Mystery Shopping Jobs Debt Consolidation Loans Canadian Pharmacy Casino Gambling Sites Backpacks Click Here .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams