Graham's Christmas Address
Futile to argue about what the meaning of Christmas, in a traditional sense, is - is it a Christian holiday, a co-opted pagan one, something to do with throwing reindeer guts at stuttering children? - because history means nothing if the ideas being represented can’t stand on their own two feet. For some reason, this has become a particularly hot topic this year with the Sun’s ridiculous campaign against the secularization of Christmas.
I am permanently surprised by newspapers’ ability to make people believe things that they can see aren’t true. A letter into the Metro recently saw a Muslim woman saying that her workplace has decorations up, a Secret Santa and Christmas holidays, and she isn’t offended by any of it. Unfortunately, the message of the letter turned out to be “so why is everyone else?”, which sums the whole situation up - never mind that your town is covered in decorations, that everyone you know is celebrating, that every workplace you see has decorations up, it’s always someone else, somewhere else, who’s spoiling things for everyone!
None of the stories about councils secularizing Christmas actually check out, obviously - they’re standby stories that get pulled out every time a tabloid wants to raise some phoney outrage in its readers, like the story about the nursery that’s banned ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’ for being racist, another “it’s political correctness gone maaaaaaaad!” story that reliably gets recycled every year or two. They rely on that very un-Christian wish we have to feel superior to other people, which is why people who believe in them never bother comparing them to what’s happening in their town, or at their workplace - it’s some other idiot who’s responsible. A lot of them are imported from America, where Fox News’ shrill coverage of ‘The War on Christmas’ is rapidly becoming some sort of seasonal tradition. It’s no coincidence that the Murdoch papers have been the most vociferous in promoting the British ‘War on Christmas’.
What annoys me about this is that Murdoch’s got away with doing exactly what he fraudulently claims to deplore - he’s hardwired Christmas into an excuse to bash minorities and score political points. In addition to supporting Bin Laden, plotting suicide attacks and trying to ban piggy banks, teh ev0l Muslims are now trying to ban Christmas! Just like the Sherriff of Nottingham!
Well, I’m having a great Christmas. I’m in contact with my friends, I’m getting some good writing done, I’m watching films and episodes of Ripping Yarns with my granddad. I have a Christmas tree and a wreath up, and my cards are tacked up all around the room. I’m listening to some of my presents, and I love seeing the look on people’s faces when they see I’ve got them something unexpected. Let’s face it, most people in this country aren’t religious and view the concept with some suspicion, so I suspect I’m far from alone in my loosely secular Christmas.
Christmas is about getting a card with a message like this -
Hope you had a wonderful Xmas and enjoy your present. Thanks for being such a super friend and putting up with all my drunken slur for so long!
That, my friends, is Christmas. Doesn’t matter what you believe in, that’s what it’s all about. So eat your dinner and drink your wine and remember to phone up at least two people and tell them how much you care for them, and remember that Rupert Murdoch and his minions absolutely can not lay a single finger on your festivities.
Though it’s been said, many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you.
“It’s not Lo-Fi or Hi-Fi - it’s My-Fi and hopefully Your-Fi too.” ~ Jarvis Cocker
I am permanently surprised by newspapers’ ability to make people believe things that they can see aren’t true. A letter into the Metro recently saw a Muslim woman saying that her workplace has decorations up, a Secret Santa and Christmas holidays, and she isn’t offended by any of it. Unfortunately, the message of the letter turned out to be “so why is everyone else?”, which sums the whole situation up - never mind that your town is covered in decorations, that everyone you know is celebrating, that every workplace you see has decorations up, it’s always someone else, somewhere else, who’s spoiling things for everyone!
None of the stories about councils secularizing Christmas actually check out, obviously - they’re standby stories that get pulled out every time a tabloid wants to raise some phoney outrage in its readers, like the story about the nursery that’s banned ‘Baa Baa Black Sheep’ for being racist, another “it’s political correctness gone maaaaaaaad!” story that reliably gets recycled every year or two. They rely on that very un-Christian wish we have to feel superior to other people, which is why people who believe in them never bother comparing them to what’s happening in their town, or at their workplace - it’s some other idiot who’s responsible. A lot of them are imported from America, where Fox News’ shrill coverage of ‘The War on Christmas’ is rapidly becoming some sort of seasonal tradition. It’s no coincidence that the Murdoch papers have been the most vociferous in promoting the British ‘War on Christmas’.
What annoys me about this is that Murdoch’s got away with doing exactly what he fraudulently claims to deplore - he’s hardwired Christmas into an excuse to bash minorities and score political points. In addition to supporting Bin Laden, plotting suicide attacks and trying to ban piggy banks, teh ev0l Muslims are now trying to ban Christmas! Just like the Sherriff of Nottingham!
Well, I’m having a great Christmas. I’m in contact with my friends, I’m getting some good writing done, I’m watching films and episodes of Ripping Yarns with my granddad. I have a Christmas tree and a wreath up, and my cards are tacked up all around the room. I’m listening to some of my presents, and I love seeing the look on people’s faces when they see I’ve got them something unexpected. Let’s face it, most people in this country aren’t religious and view the concept with some suspicion, so I suspect I’m far from alone in my loosely secular Christmas.
Christmas is about getting a card with a message like this -
Hope you had a wonderful Xmas and enjoy your present. Thanks for being such a super friend and putting up with all my drunken slur for so long!
That, my friends, is Christmas. Doesn’t matter what you believe in, that’s what it’s all about. So eat your dinner and drink your wine and remember to phone up at least two people and tell them how much you care for them, and remember that Rupert Murdoch and his minions absolutely can not lay a single finger on your festivities.
Though it’s been said, many times, many ways, Merry Christmas to you.
“It’s not Lo-Fi or Hi-Fi - it’s My-Fi and hopefully Your-Fi too.” ~ Jarvis Cocker