The Season of Coercion

It's Christmastime once again! All the decorations are up, lots of pretty things are out and about, everyone is jolly, and a feeling of well being is saturating the populous of wherever. Yeah, I could have been more poetic than that, except I'm a little pissed off. Big surprise right? Well let me explain why.

Not only is Christmas the season of giving, but its also the season of ...

PUSHING

image courtesy of:http://hem.passagen.se/

I don't mean pushing as in the shoving variety, I mean the projection of your beliefs on the unsuspecting. Now don't get me wrong, this does not concern political correctness around the generic terming of holidays so catholics, christians, jews, muslims, buddhists, paganists and whatever else there is don't break out and riot. I hate all this nonsense of "Happy Holidays" and other politically correct buzzwords manufactured so as not to offend anyone who might otherwise raise a ruckus.

If I go to your house (or country) and you say nothing but Happy Hanukah or Hail The Fangorious Maw of Cthulhu I'm not going to get offended. In fact, I think it's pretty hard to offend the average person with religious stuff. It's your house, I'm a guest, I'll play your games and eat your food, human flesh or no. 

What I don't understand is why people seem to get so offended in the first place. Is this just the media blowing this stuff out of proportion Like really, did the fact that someone put up a Christmas tree and manger diorama on their lawn really ruin your "Holiday" experience? I highly doubt it.

 If someone raises a christmas tree that offends your faith, raise a giant golden cow idol bigger than tree and see who has the bigger balls, then go give each other presents to say "No hard feelings." I think if we all had a little more empathy for each other's differences and quit acting like faith is all that big of a deal we'd all get along a lot better.

But anyway, political holiday correctness isn't what I wanted to discuss. The topic of this post deals with giving children of third world countries presents that include shirts, lego, pens and paper, and christianity among other things.

Yup, you can't do a good deed without that shyster shyster Jesus trying to get his mitts into your pie. I recently did a news story on a program called "Operation Christmas Child" organized by Samaritan's Purse. Basically, you pack a shoebox full of presents for a needy child aged 4 to 14 from a third world country.

 I fully support the idea behind the program, because for $20 to $30 (that includes your $7 shipping fee) you can really pack that shoebox full of great stuff for kids. Some people have probably even spent upwards of $100 or more. With older kids you can even pack in tools like hammers and screwdrivers.

It's a great program, and you only need to look at the photos on Samaritanspurse.ca to see the joy these boxes bring kids. The only thing I don't like is this:

"Do you put christian literature in the shoeboxes?

No. Separately from the shoe box, “The Greatest Gift of All” storybook is offered to the children when possible and when culturally appropriate. This booklet tells the story of God’s greatest gift to the world – His son Jesus Christ. Each shoe box gift is given unconditionally, regardless of whether the child or parent chooses to receive the booklet."

Okay okay, I know I'm overreacting, it's nice that these Jesus-folk are doing something good for the needy, and not (apparently) pushing their religion too hard. I'm just always so disappointed when great programs like this have to be associated with the church. Why aren't human beings good enough to do something for each other, rather than in the name of an alleged "Spirit in the Sky?

I have my beliefs, and you have yours, let's hold hands and be friends whether they conflict or not. It's the season of giving right? I know Christmas has strayed far from where it originated (actually, I'm not even sure where it comes from. All these bible debunker things I keep reading and watching have kind left me muddy on the issue) but I think where things are at right now aren't that bad. The Christmas season is like a pre-booked holiday, and if it isn't it's no big deal if you take time off. Unless you're one of the unlucky Christmas slaves, much akin to those owned by Santa Klaus. 

image courtesy of: http://www.nuekol.org.uk

video of the week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyyEeEh6Tt8