Post Christmas Special

Some larger chain stores are succumbing to the anti-Christian sentiment of political correctness. I've noticed the decline of Nativity sets and other decorative items avoiding the meaning of Christmas. At Top Food and Drugs you can find "holiday wrap" and at Fred Meyers you can find "gift wrap," but you do not find "Christmas wrap." The designs of the wrapping paper are of the pagan and secular aspects that have commercialized Christmas over the last few decades. It is difficult to find designs that actually depict the true themes of the origin and true meaning of Christmas.

Our schools remove Christ while promoting other religions. Teachers are infringing upon copyright laws by changing words to songs removing references to God. Our government is forced to deny traditions that have existed since before America was born. Minority groups seek to deny the display of the Christ child. They win by the majority's failure to speak out in favor of our American heritage.

Commercialization was the common complaint but now it is that the true meaning of Christmas is being ignored by the offerings of Christmas merchandise. Over eighty percent of Americans, of all walks of life and religions favor, keep Christ in Christmas. Some say to mention the real meaning of Christmas is to avoid offending other religions. Nonsense, Christianity has contributed to the civilization and greatness of America. Christmas is "Christ's mass." To remove Christ from the Christmas season offends American tradition. Denying American tradition offends the majority of Americans.

Roger W Hancock Auburn, WA

Me, I'm not bothered by religious references to Christmas, both because they're more palatable than the endless seasonal sermons on behalf of that even more destructive god, Mammon, and because they often recall aspects of Christ's legacy most Christians in this country tend to forget the rest of the year. Prince of Peace, Peace on Earth...it's really just about the only time "peace" isn't considered a bad thing by a lot of people who claim Jesus in their lives. Somebody, sometime, has got to remind these folks that Christ was a pacifist, a rebel, a materialism-hating revolutionary. Or, as Gandhi is quoted as saying: "The only people in the world that don't know Christ was a pacifist are Christians." Merry Christmas!

Funding Peace

In response to Barbara Tomlinson's letter (Break the Law 2Day!!) encouraging folks in the activist community to urge US servicemembers to desert, I would ask her is she going to pay these servicemembers' bills after they desert? Too many people in the peace movement have tried to frame military service in a moral framework, when most people who join the service do it because of bread and butter issues. It is simply a way to have a steady pay check, health insurance, and the possibility of a post-high school education (no matter if it's in a trade school, community college, or four year university). If people like Barbara want working class young people in this country to stop fighting for GWB's empire, she (along with the rest of the peace movement) are going to have to stop organizing for peace, and start organizing for union representation, universal health care and fully government funded post-high school education.

Alex Bacon (USCG 2001-03), Seattle

Also, I'd like to point out an item in our Activist Calendar in this issue of ETS!: a Sunday, January 25th meeting of the volunteers who run the Seattle Draft and Military Counseling Center. Some peace activists do understand why folks join the military, and they put their time and effort into helping folks transition out of the military and into better jobs.