A Dickensian Defense of Christmas

At this time of year, A variety of organizations--such as the ACLU--and other cold, narrow souls wrap themselves in the cloak of public morality and virtue and renew their yearly attack on Christmas and its related symbols. It’s not that they’re the embodiment of Ebeneezer Scrooge, no; they’re taking on this crusade for the good of us all, so that we may live up to our highest and most cherished principles:

Average Citizen: Oh yeah? Like what?

Christmas Crusher: Like what? Well, uh, like, uh, diversity!

AC: Diversity? What’s that supposed to mean?

CC: Well, uh, like, you know, so like no one feels, you know, left out...

AC: Don’t you mean inclusiveness?

CC: That’s it! Inclusiveness. And diversity.

AC: But Christmas doesn’t leave anyone out.

CC: Yes it does! It’s about the birth of...of...you know...

AC: Of?

CC: (Choking and gagging) ...of...

AC: C’mon, you can do it...Je...

CC: Hack! Je...

AC: ...suuuuus...

CC: ...suuuuus...(choke)...

AC: Oh never mind. You don’t have to say it. Why does celebrating the birth of Jesus leave anyone out?

CC: Whew! It violates the First Amendment!

AC: That’s just silly. You can still enjoy Christmas even if you’re not a Christian.

CC: No you can’t! No you can’t!

AC: Now you’re being childish.

CC: Am not! Am not! You are! You are!

AC: That’s it. I’m taking my candy canes and going home.

CC: Candy canes? Could I have one of those...?

One of the great joys of America is that we are free to celebrate common holidays, common traditions, as we please. One may experience Christmas as the most joyous, meaningful religious observance, merely take pleasure in the generosity of gift giving, or simply enjoy a day or two of sleeping in, and as Thomas Jefferson said in speaking of the American religious tradition, it neither picks our pockets or breaks our legs. That is part of the simple genius of the Constitution, and the wonder of Christmas.

Charles Dickens said it best in “A Christmas Carol”:

“Nephew!” returned the uncle, sternly, “keep Christmas in your own way and let me keep it in mine.:

“Keep it!” repeated Scrooge’s nephew. “But you don’t keep it.”

“Let me leave it alone then,” said Scrooge. “Much good may it do you! Much good has it ever done you!:

“There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,” returned the nephew. “Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round--apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that--as a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good and will do me good; and I say, God bless it.”

Because of common beliefs and celebrations, Americans remain the most generous people on Earth. Christmas is, in large part, the inspiration for this national generosity, as well as being a reflection, in countless nativity scenes, beautifully adorned trees and billions of twinkling lights, of the innate kindness and good will of Americans.

So let us leave those who will not keep Christmas alone, but let us also demand that they leave us alone as well. It’s the American way. Sadly, that’s a large part of what so bothers them. But with good will toward all, let us join with Tiny Tim, who said, “God bless us, every one!”