Open Letters on Christmas

Here are draft letters I decided to write which can be used by parents or anyone in order to voice his/her demand that Christmas be respected and made aware of instead of diluted.

Christians must not remain silent!










To Public School System:




Dear Sir/Madam,

I write out of concern for the education our youth are receiving today in regards to Christmas. Our youth are being taught falsehoods regarding the holiday; namely, what it entails. While I understand that Christmas is a religious holy day in the Catholic Church, it is still a holiday in the United States of America that deserves respect and a proper introduction in an academic setting.

In fact, it is the only legal holiday found in 5 USC § 6103 and should therefore have the deference and prominence it deserves; especially in the educational setting. Replacing 'Christmas" with "Happy Holiday" or calling children entertainment programs "Holiday Show" is being academically dishonest. Our youth deserve to learn the reality of the historical events that comprise Christmas and why it is important in American culture.

Christmas is about the birth of Christ Jesus, the founder of the world largest faith and the philosophical inspiration of many prominent figures in history as well as law-makers and academics throughout the centuries. It is not about a snowman or elves. Propagating the latter is intellectually dishonest and insults the intelligence of our youth as well as parents.  Teaching our youth about the birth of Christ is no different than teaching them historical facts regarding Buddha or Confucius.

Moreover, it is offensive to dismiss the major themes of Christmas in order to appease those of other faiths or of no faith. The task of a school is to educate, not to withhold information from the youth. Since Christmas is the only legal holiday, it is rational to teach its significance in the world and American culture just like it is rational to teach the significance of the Emancipation Proclamation and the American Revolution.

Teaching on Christmas is not an endorsement of religion for teaching on the birth of Christ is not the same as teaching the theology surrounding it. Students learning about Christmas would not be getting indoctrinated anymore than learning about Nazism encourages hate. Those of other faiths or of no faith should not feel threatened learning about Christmas for it is the only legal holiday around this time.  As Americans we should learn about our customs and laws.

With respect to Jewish holidays such as Hanukkah or African American customs such as Kwanzaa; these are not legal holidays and representing them in the school setting while ignoring Christmas is irrational and offensive to Christians.

Why represent these ideas and ignore the one that is protected under US federal law and is also designated the only federal holiday in December?

I hope you will reconsider your stance on Christmas in the educational setting and will not deprive our youth of this information on this holiday which is legally protected and is part of our American culture.


Regards,

Concerned Citizen

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To Law Makers/Public Servants:


Dear Sir/Madam:

Thank you for your service to our nation.  Our nation was founded upon religious ideals that stem from the Jewish and Christian faith.  Unfortunately, a tenet of the Christian faith is under attack and this concerns me.  This tenet was made into a legal holiday by law makers.  I am of course referring to the Birth of Christ or Christmas.

For the last couple of decades, Christmas has been slowly diluted from the public square.  Despite it being the only federal holiday that has legal protection, it is being disrespected and replaced by other holidays that do not share the same legal status.  It bothers me that our law makers are forced to remove Nativity scenes from government buildings, forced to refrain from saying 'Merry Christmas,' and/or include symbols of other traditions in order to be politically correct.  This action disregards the fact that Christmas is the only federal holiday that should be recognized under the law (5 USC § 6103).  A comparison would be raising the flags of each nation represented in the American population at the White House when only Old Glory should be raised with dignity.

There is no logical reason to remove a Nativity scene and replace it with a Jewish symbol, Kwanzaa symbol, or even a satirical atheist one when the latter do not represent federal holidays sanctioned and protected under federal law.  Moreover, it is disturbing that ideas that are not even mentioned in the Constitution are used as grounds to ban Christmas in schools or government settings; namely "separation of Church and State."  The motto of the United States of America is "In God we Trust."  This motto is found in many courtrooms as well as the currency of the nation.  Americans understand this to be a reflection of our traditions and history, not an endorsement of theism.

That being said, it is irrational for Christmas to be diluted from the public square and ignored in schools since like the motto of the United States, it is protected and sanctioned under federal law.

As a law maker, I humbly request that you protect Christmas and push for policies that give it the proper dignity and deference it deserves.  It should be taught in schools like any other holiday is taught.  Displays reflecting its meaning should not be removed or prohibited since the holiday is sanctioned and protected under federal law.  Americans should not be afraid to say 'Merry Christmas' to others.  Moreover, other traditions should not be allowed to trump Christmas under the guise of religious freedom or religious equality.

I honestly believe that our Founding Fathers would not question the idea of Christmas being taught in schools or represented in government settings.  These would not be a government endorsement of religion because citizens are free to choose or reject religion.  Christmas itself is reflective of an historical event, not a particular dogma or doctrine.

Again, thank you for your service to our nation and please keep my letter in consideration.



Regards,
Concerned Citizen

        

Kwanzaa

Around Advent and Christmas time we hear about different "holidays" that are celebrated.  Hannukah is one of them which deals with the festival of lights, or when the temple's lamp gave light for 8 days despite its short supply of oil.  The other one that is spoken about and taught in schools is Kwanzaa.

What is Kwanzaa?

Kwanzaa is a holiday created by Ronald McKinley Everett, also known as "Maulana Karenga."  He is a philosopher and professor at California State University.  He formulated the "Kwanzaa" holiday as a response to the holidays already celebrated and how he saw them as an attempt to take away African identity since Africans celebrate them as well.  He considered Jesus to be psychotic and that Christianity was a "white religion" that was imposed on Africans.

Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits of the harvest" was started by Karenga in 1966.  It was meant to be a holiday for African Americans to celebrate either alongside Christmas or as a replacement of it.  The theme stems from the radical Black nationalist rhetoric of the time.  Its sole purpose was to animate the African American community to rediscover their African roots and foster respect for one another while at the same time creating animosity towards whites.   

Ironically, Karenga was arrested and sentenced in 1971 for felony assault, sexual assault and false imprisonment.  Karenga abused, raped and held captive women.  He used water boarding torturing techniques on them.  Karenga admitted to the crimes claiming that the women were trying to kill him.  In 1975, he was granted parole and continued studying feminism and African studies.   

African culture is very different from American culture.  It is a collectivistic culture which stresses community life and adherence to social customs, beliefs and African philosophy.  Africa has many cultures within its borders, but the idea of community over self is found pretty much in each of them.  This is a sharp contrast to American culture which is more individualistic.

Kwanzaz emphasizes the "Nguzu Saba" or the Seven principle of African Culture.

1. Umoja - means unity and stresses African Americans to be united not only with each other, but with their heritage
2. Kujichagulia - is self determination. It calls for African Americans to discover the self and what they can contribute to themselves and others.
3. Ujima - is community work and responsibility. It stresses the need for working together and being responsible individuals while avoiding being selfish.
4. Ujamaa - is cooperating with Black business enterprises.  It calls for the support of African American businesses and promotion of them as a community.
5. Nia - is self purpose.  It calls for a discovery of one's potential and how it can contribute to a community while holding on to traditions.
6. Kuumba - is inspiration or creativity.  It calls for the use of innovative ideas in order to keep African heritage and community alive and relevant as times change.
7. Imani - is Faith.  It calls all to have Faith in God, each other and oneself and realize the importance of how faith can help in times of trouble.

Each of these themes are recollected upon by lighting a candle on the Kinara, which is a candle holder that holds 7 candles.  The middle candle is black, and the others are red and green.  A common cup is used to symbolize unity and the offering of libations.  Vegetation such as corn and other crops are used to decorate the Kwanzaa celebration.  They symbolize the gifts of the Earth and the work done to obtain them.  African music may also be incorporated into the celebration.

My thoughts on Kwanzaa:

Kwanzaa is obviously a repackaged Afro-centric version of Christmas and Hannukah.  It was started as an attempt to get African Americans to replace Christmas due to its "alien" source of introduction to the African people by Europeans.  The sole purpose of it was to create a sort of social warfare between African Americans and those of European descent.  

Christianity is portrayed as a "white" religion and Jesus was even insulted by being labeled "psychotic." This is far from the truth. Christianity is a religion for all, not a particular race or ethnicity. In the genealogies mentioned in the Gospel, women; some who were not even Jewish, are mention indicating that all are part of Christ's family: Jews, Gentiles and Women. Jesus came for all peoples in every place and every time. As
Galatians 3:28 beautifully states:

 "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

We are all ONE in Christ Jesus.  There is no White, Black, Latino, Asian, Indian form of Christianity.  We are all ONE.  In light of this, there is no need to create these gimmick holidays in order to stir divisions among peoples of different racial backgrounds.

The celebration of Kwanzaa is beautiful if reflective on faith and one's culture, but not needed by Christians.  Our race, our communities, our individuality are upgraded in Christ Jesus who was born of a Virgin, died on a Cross for us all and rose from the dead showing we need to trust no one else but He who is above life and death.

Jesus was not psychotic.  What psychotic individual would preach love and heal the sick?  What psychotic individual would stress unity, peace, and agape love?

I am bothered by how Kwanzaa is pushed upon children in schools.  Christmas is the sole religious holiday recognized by the United States federal government.  Yet Kwanzaa and Hanukkah are overly emphasized as the "holidays" of the season.  Meanwhile, Christmas is watered down to a mere tree or snowman - Santa Claus is even left out in today's schools.   

Christians must fight back and demand that Christmas be respected and truly observed in schools and the public square despite its religious tones.  It is only fair.  "Christ" is already in the word "Christmas" so what is the problem with going more into detail on this holiday which is officially a federal holiday?

There is nothing wrong with teaching kids of all faiths or no faith what Christmas is and why it is important to over 3 billion people on Earth.  No one is asking them to be baptized or accept Jesus.  

Source:

http://www.amazon.com/The-quotable-Karenga/dp/B0007DTF4C

 Karenga, Maulana (1967). "Religion". In Clyde Halisi, James Mtume. The quotable Karenga. Los Angeles: University of Sankore Press. pp. 25. 23769.8.

Happy holidays..yeah right!.. it's MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Christ Jesus is the Reason for the Season, not Commercialism, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivus and all these other distractions. Christ is the reason why we even get days off to celebrate, decorate and enjoy time with family and friends in December. It is unfortunate that other cultures choose the same time to celebrate their recent customs such as Kwanzaa and so forth. Even Atheists attempted to create their own "holiday" by adding to Festivus a few years ago which was a ridiculous attempt and childish I must say.


Christmas is the ONLY legal holiday, not Hanukkah or Kwanzaa.  This is not an attack on my brothers and sisters in the Jewish and African communities, so don't misinterpret please.  What I am trying to convey is that Christmas is the only day that is legally a holiday in the United States of America and therefore should be respected and treated in a unique way instead of pushed aside.  

It is so ridiculous how people try to change the words "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays."  Some even have gone so far as to change the words to the song, "We Wish You a Merry Christmas"  to "We Wish You a Happy Holiday."   This is an epic capital "SMH" or "Shaking My Head" trigger.  When Stupidity, Bigotry and Secularism mix, we get these results.  


Christmas is the official legal holiday so therefore it is: Merry Christmas.  If that offends anyone, then they need to get over it because it is the law. 


 There is no valid reason to ban Nativity Scenes in Cities or Towns, or use Snowmen, Wreathes and Santa Claus to replace Christ.  It is not "Snowmenmas," or "SantaMass,"  it is CHRISTmas.    

Jesus Christ, Son of God - Son of Mary took on the form of sin to save us from sin and ourselves. 

This is His Birth Date!   

Christians stand up for our Lord!   Say Merry Christmas, not Happy Holidays.  Remind others that Jesus is the Reason for the Season.  Do not be afraid!  




“I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God. But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God. - Luke 12:8-9




Let us allow Christ to continue to be born in our hearts at every moment and not forget that He will return like a thief in the night-unexpected.