"Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all... "And a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great (not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country or is the only "AMERICA" in the Western Hemisphere), and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, or sexual preference of the wishee. "(By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.)"At least Wal-Mart has gone back to saying "Merry Christmas."
Catholic Exchange Forums » Politics
Submitted for your consideration, a comment on the state of the season in the US
(48 posts)I post this under "politics" because of the PC nature.
Posted 1 year ago #
How come you ignore animals and trees?
Posted 1 year ago #
I believe that their inclusion is implicit. Feel free to tack it to a tree or staple it to your parakeet.
Michael
"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried"
"The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese." - GK Chesterton
Posted 1 year ago #
We are the human race, birds the avian, dogs the canine, and trees the arboreal.
Michael
"The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried"
"The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese." - GK Chesterton
Posted 1 year ago #
Ouch! Ouch!
Posted 1 year ago #
"Trees" are included in the shadow of the penumbra of "winter solstice."
Old Sigma
Posted 1 year ago #
What can you expect of calling the season anything but what it is?
'Absurdity-in, absurdity-out' . . . old computer jargon
I remain your obedient servant, but God's first,
Pristinus Sapienter
(wljewell @mail.catholicexchange.com or ...yahoo.com)
PS: I thought only fantasy constitutional rights are of the 'penumbra'?
Posted 1 year ago #
Whatayamean?
Posted 1 year ago #
John Regan,
I think that we are all a bit 'touched' in the head, under this topic . . .
Even your 'ouch' post fits well and needn't have any meaning, at all.
I remain your obedient servant, but God's first,
Pristinus Sapienter
(wljewell @mail.catholicexchange.com or ...yahoo.com)
Posted 1 year ago #
And, given PC/political correctness . . .
. . . nearly a given, so expectable, that there is no meaning.
I remain your obedient servant, but God's first,
Pristinus Sapienter
(wljewell @mail.catholicexchange.com or ...yahoo.com)
Posted 1 year ago #
Thanks for clearing it all up (or should I say "for up-clearing it all" to avoid a preposition at the end?.
Posted 1 year ago #
We're all for up-clearing here, John - just keep it Christocentric . . .
And, may He Who never sleeps, that He love us in every instant and event bless you and yours this Birthday of Jesus, our beloved Christ, and until He welcomes all of you Home over the years . . .
I remain your obedient servant, but God's first,
Pristinus Sapienter
(wljewell @mail.catholicexchange.com or ...yahoo.com)
Posted 1 year ago #
Happy Holidays you bunch of Jesus Freaks!
I looked at my kid's school calendar for December and what did I see:
Dec 15: Hanukkah starts (with a Menhora)
Dec 23: Hanukkah ends (with a Menhora)
Dec 25: Happy Holidays (with a snowman picture)
Dec 26: Large red arrow (followed by "KWANZA" across dec 27, dec 28 and dec 29) followed by a Large closing red arrow on jan 1st.
Sure it is a public school but if we show the holidays for other faiths and cultures, can we not mention Christmas (even if we shorten it to X-mas, or even ?-mas)?
GK - God is good!
Posted 1 year ago #
What is really aggravating is that Kwanza amounts to nothing about nothing - an artifice of dubious value.
I remain your obedient servant, but God's first,
Pristinus Sapienter
(wljewell @mail.catholicexchange.com or ...yahoo.com)
Posted 1 year ago #
I would not disparage Kwanza, per se.
One of the wonderful things about Catholicism is it recognizes we are not pure spirit -- we need traditions and tangible things to ground us, reassure us, and orient our worship of God and the handing on of the faith. For those from European, Middle Eastern, and Asian backgrounds, the family and cultural traditions are rich and especially meaningful. Some of us have voluntarily given up our family and cultural traditions.
For Americans of African descent, they are in a unique position of having had their personal family and cultural heritage forcibly removed from them due to the legacy of black slavery. Kwanza, however short of the mark, is an attempt at recognizing this reality and trying to piece together some African-American heritage and tradition for this group.
It is an effort in a right direction and can be a good basis for evangelization!
Posted 1 year ago #
I was talking with a friend about similar convenient omissions of Christmas eventhough Chanukka and Kwanza are simultaneously recognized. She asked, "Are we that threatening?"
And I answered
YES
We ARE that threatening. Because Christianity is FOR EVERYONE. Chanukka is only for the Jews. Kwanza really is only for the African-Americans. THEY don't desire that all be one. It would make no sense for a Jew to hope others become Jewish, and it certainly is useless for an African-American to with those that are not ... to be. But a Christian, by baptism, is called to evangelization. And the message of Jesus Christ IS for ALL.
So, please, in each omission, recognize their recognition (even if only subconscious) that Christmas is a threat to their way of being. If Christmas is legitimate, then their refusal to believe is not.
Posted 1 year ago #
The "penumbra" rivals The One, almost anything imaginary can emanate from it. (Treat this as Ultra Secret, we wouldn't want Congress to discover it nor would we want the Court to realize the far reaching consequences of their horrible, but nevertheless timid foray into rule by decree.)
Old Sigma
Posted 1 year ago #
Kwanza borders on a fraud.
It is similar to the polyanish view painted of the origins of the European nations here in the western hemisphere.
It is in the same category as according veracity to the myth of the ecological Indian.
It only fails to rival by extent and practice the sleight-of-mind foisted on part of the world back in the 7th century. No more dare be spoken as the evil-doers, though not violent per se & sui generis, are everywhere.
A wise builder does not build on sand.
A fantasized heritage is no less a fantasy for focusing on heritage.
Yes, JMO, in case anyone were to wonder if I am trying to convince anone else.
Old Sigma
Posted 1 year ago #
For Catholics, an erroneous practice searching for truth, such as Kwanzaa or the Germanic tribes worship of trees, can be a basis for a dialog of evangelization with the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, or it can be an opportunity to tell all those involved just how wrong and foolish they are.
The choice is ours.
We can end up with either Christmas trees or religious feuds.
Posted 1 year ago #
I have to admit that I am not a good evangelizer, one on one. I have not the consummated, committed humility nor the perfected patience for it. Most others break into self-justification mode, or their own evangelical blather, and my next sentence - bitten at tongue tip - tends to be - "I refuse to argue, or to pretend to discuss or debate - with one whose brains an ass would feel retarded to own."
So, I write - if it convinces any other(s), Amen, and again I say, Amen! Alleluia! - by God's will and grace. If not, it will do fine for helping God to save my pathetic soul. My soul's the only one I REALLY have to worry about.
Fantasy-landers, pagans, hedonists, 'libertarians', marxists, socialists, tree-huggers, family-tree gapers, elitists, 'principalities', consumer-materialists, etc., et al, ad nauseam, - yea, even as He came in divisive ways, brother-from-brother, father-from-daughter - such can have whatever God manages to lead them to. If the Devil takes the hind-most - and, they are all caught, hung-up, in the rear - it has been their own choices that have yielded what they will have eternally.
I remain your obedient servant, but God's first,
Pristinus Sapienter
(wljewell @mail.catholicexchange.com or ...yahoo.com)
Posted 1 year ago #
"...with one whose brains etc."
ROFLOL
Old Sigma
Posted 1 year ago #
TFM "...an erroneous practice searching for truth, such as Kwanzaa or the Germanic tribes worship of trees..."
So what do you know about Kwanzaa?
I'd appreciate it if you would explain to me how it embodies a search for any sort of truth outside of the "we came from there" category.
And, you know, it isn't like the Navaho or Pueblo origin myths. It is based in historical time so its more like a history of the US which had only vague references to a warrior named Washington and a magician named Franklin.
(I'm sorry. I can't control myself on this topic.)
Old Sigma
Posted 1 year ago #
Are you insinuating, Sigma, that the pretended and pretensive 'minorities' tend to be bottom-feeders, as intellects go? That any story of their deep backgrounds depend upon Indo-European appendages to have much traction? That in actuality their stories aren't simply 'lame', but without 'limbs' of transport?
There - I said it for both of us . . . ;)
I remain your obedient servant, but God's first,
Pristinus Sapienter
(wljewell @mail.catholicexchange.com or ...yahoo.com)
Posted 1 year ago #
When our Lord came, He ate with tax collectors and sinners; He touched lepers and dead bodies. It was scandalous in part because the religious people believed that they had to remain separate from the impure to avoid being made impure. Jesus reversed the flow and made the impure clean with His touch. They did not make Him impure; He cleansed them and healed them.
If the Vicar of Christ can go to be a Christian witness at the Blue Mosque in Turkey, then could not a well-formed Catholic use a colleague's observance of Kwanzaa to preach the gospel? Or should we remain separate to avoid becoming impure?
As I understand its observance:
• Kwanzaa is celebrated after December 26, based on the Christian calendar, not the lunar calendar observed to mark Chanukah. This is good to point out.
• It involves lighting candles -- an opportunity to bring up how it is like when the Light of the World entered into human history when the Word became flesh.
• The seven values of Kwanzaa are celebrated with family around the table. Kwanzaa is imitating how the family of God gathers around the table of the altar at Mass.
• Usually, a passage or poem is spoken or read which relates to what the principle means and how it relates to their life. This could be seven excellent chances, not only to point out how it is like the reading of sacred scripture at Mass, but also to point to how these values point to the truth of the gospel.
• The unity cup is passed around the table, creating another chance to point out the truth of the cup of the new and everlasting Covenant.
• The seventh value, on January 1st, is Faith. This is a good time for the wrap-up of how Kwanzaa, a recent man-made custom is, without even knowing it, in reality trying to see what Jesus came to bring two thousand years ago.
Let's not be too timid to reverse the flow. Let's be Christ to the world.
"If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion." ~ St. Maximilian Kolbe
Posted 1 year ago #
Are you insinuating, Sigma, that the pretended and pretensive 'minorities' tend to be bottom-feeders, as intellects go? That any story of their deep backgrounds depend upon Indo-European appendages to have much traction? That in actuality their stories aren't simply 'lame', but without 'limbs' of transport?No. At least I didn't intend to. It is just that I know a little about the origin of the Kwanzaa concept, a modern myth that the "inventor" tried to pass off as authentic. It is a "pot pourri" of unrelated folk belifs with dashes of fiction added. The American black community was to a certain degree duped by that man, much as many of the indigenous peoples have been duped by the Settler culture. When you have been robbed of your cultural heritage it is difficult to spot impostures. Think of it as a certain empathy.
- Regards,
- Old Sigma
Posted 1 year ago #
could not a well-formed Catholic use a colleague's observance of Kwanzaa to preach the gospel?Certainly. That is in keeping with the history of Catholicism muscling in on anything it can bend to its purposes. (Perhaps that's a bit to strong.) In any case, the problem I have is the representation of authenticity. There ought to be an eighth "observance" -- the seeking of truth where the true origins of the charade are studied. Instead of this bow to cultural correctness, why not find and celebrate the true heritage of the American black community? I suspect because it would be a little strong to illuminate their mistreatment. And, it might prove difficult in those circumstances to preach the Gospel, especially the part about there being neither slave nor free before Christ. The black community in America has a very rich history of adherence to Christianity. Why not acknowledge and celebrate that true heritage instead of this mish mash of Jewish and Christian symbolism?
- Regards,
- Old Sigma
Posted 1 year ago #
Old Sigma,
There will indeed be an "eighth day" of truth-finding and charade-studying.
It's called Judgment Day. There will be some big suprises for many of us that day, I am sure.
Posted 1 year ago #
I send you to the following link for quick answers to questions as to if we should celebrate Kwanzaa or not in the spirit of inclusiveness. Its short, but brings up some very good points.
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2000/0012qq.asp
Wikipedia was the best I could do...
Ron Karenga created Kwanzaa in California in 1966, during his leadership of the black nationalist United Slaves Organization (also known as the "US Organization"), in order to give African Americans an alternative holiday to Christmas. He later stated, "...it was chosen to give a Black alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society."
All the same, I'd rather celebrate Christmas!
Posted 1 year ago #
Hit the wrong button.
Christmas is a celebration of a deeper history for all of us including African Americans. The Ethiopian from the Acts of the Apostles gives testimony to the early history of the Christian faith in Africa. It isn't something foisted off upon them.
If a celebration of Kwanzaa is what some people need, we should feel a bit saddened by this, because a true celebration Christmas-the Christ Mass-would actually give them much more.
Posted 1 year ago #
Thanks for the link. It is crucial that the Catholic evangelizing be well-grounded in the Faith and be knowledgeable about why and how Kwanzaa is false.
I guess I did a poor job presenting my view on this -- I am in complete agreement with celebrating the truth of Christmas and rejecting the falseness found in Kwanzaa.
The point I am trying to make is that we are called to go beyond separating ourselves from those in error, but to engage our neighbor in love and give them the gospel.
So let's not just saw that old "Kwanzaa is a fake holiday" log. Let's rekindle the memory of the movement started 2,000 years before Kwanzaa that leaps well beyond merely "unity" and "faith" to proclaim that we are all equal before God.
If all we do is keep our neighbor at arm's length and we point out the falsehoods in Kwanzaa, we push our neighbor away, we keep them in darkness, and we hide our light under a bushel basket.
But if we put our arm around our neighbor and we point out the hints of truth in Kwanzaa, we bear witness to Christ and invite our neighbor to enter into the truth of the gospel.
Posted 1 year ago #
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