Part comic geek part news junkie. The Political Cartoonist is the place to read the opinions of the increasingly notable Nicholas Ivan Ladendorf. As well as find out about the latest content to his art and political site
The blog combining two passions most people could give a rat's ass about.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Meh Humbug
I don't celebrate Christmas (I don't plan to have a celibate Christmas either). There's two main reasons for this: I don't like whole gift mandate thing and I'm an atheist. I don't care for Christmas as a religious holiday. I don't care for it as a cultural holiday.
As someone who doesn't care about Christmas I want to talk a little about this whole war on nonsense. Like a lot of nonsense it comes from Fox News.
Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas
The reason why big companies and media outlets say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas is because of Chanukkah and other coinciding holidays. They are all religious holidays so it isn't some secular plot.
Religious vs. Cultural
Very little of the things we think of as being part of Christmas have anything to do with religion. Some atheist and agnostics celebrate it. I don't because other than egg nog it doesn't have any appeal to me. And as I understand it I'm not fully appreciating the egg nog because I don't drink alcohol.
I don't think there is anything wrong with celebrating something from your childhood even if you do not hold your parents beliefs. We are pretty big about Halloween even though I don't believe in spooks and goblins.
Most of society looks at Christmas as primarily a secular activity whether they admit it or not. The actual Saint Klaus did not give presents to every good boy and girl on Christmas. He anonymously donated to poor families. The part in the bible about Jesus over turning tables in the market wasn't because there was clearanced items for his birthday
Christian American
I know a lot of this war on Christmas stuff comes from secular groups fighting to remove the nativity from government property. I have mixed feelings on this. I don't personally care enough about such petty disputes to take action. On the other hand there are people out there that egg on secularist by claiming that this is a Christian country.
It isn't and it shouldn't be. Breaking down the seperation of church and state only cheapens both. The same is true for the whimsical holiday and religious tradition of the week before new years. Secularizing it is more about including those who don't share the faith than "oppressing" the majority who do. This season is supposed to be about warm feelings from humanity when it is so cold outside.
Comics
I've poked fun at Christmas a couple of times. I used to make holiday gags to promote MENTAL
and for my graduation I created a comic with a different perspective on Christmas (unintentionally political) "And You Thought Christmas was a Victimless Crime
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