Ah, nothing brings out the sense of entitlement in some people like the holidays!

From the so-called War on Christmas to the war on Starbucks cups, a good sense of moral outrage can really stir up the spirit of the season in some. 

This year, in addition to anger over not being wished a Merry Christmas twenty-eleven times a day, there is indignation that radio stations would DARE not play “Baby It’s Cold Outside” (which promotes premarital sex?)  as well as fury over the beloved Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer being labeled offensive. Of course, your bitching all year long about bullying and then standing up for a show that portrays Santa and even the poor little reindeer’s dad bullying him is just a wee bit hypocritical. And do you really mean to tell me that Santa, who knows when you’re sleeping and knows when you’re awake, has no clue about the Island of Misfit Toys? 

Let’s face it, some of you are just pissed because for once you’re not getting your way. Oh, you don’t mind others celebrating Kwanzaa or Hanukkah but you wish stores would have more sales for those holidays so you could save some money. You’d have a major tantrum if Walmart closed for Eid al-Fitr.

I have been admonished to try and understand the viewpoints of others, particularly those who feel as though their way of life is being taken from them. And I have tried. But, truth be told, I can’t get past the reality that these people who I have been encouraged to understand could care less about me, or anyone else for that matter. 

I have been told that this is not who we are as Americans, but that’s not true either. White people came into the Americas killing and enslaving brown and black people, we turned away Jews fleeing genocide before and during World War II, and now here we are insisting that migrants fleeing violence that we are in part responsible for are nothing but thugs that don’t deserve to live here. 

You can listen to Baby It’s Cold Outside, Rudolph, and hundreds of other songs that I used to like but now make my skin crawl (like “Every Breath You Take” by the Police or “Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix) in ways that don’t force your misogyny and hatred on the rest of us, so nothing is being taken from you. Put on your grown-up panties and deal with it. 

If you truly want Christ in Christmas, show it in your deeds instead of just your words.