Jesus was a Palestinian

Lingswaran Singh

This article is for non-Muslims only. 18 PL : contains elements which include religious, social or political aspects that people may find objectionable. Readers discretion advised. Hatreds do not ever cease in this world by hating, but by love; this is an eternal truth.

Source http://www.cnn.com

The adults they count on to provide reliable information about the world introduce them to Santa. Then his existence is affirmed by friends, books, TV and movies. It is also validated by hard evidence: the half-eaten cookies and empty milk glasses by the tree on Christmas morning. In other words, children do a great job of scientifically evaluating Santa. And adults do a great job of duping them. — Jacqueline Wooley

I bet many of you love Christmas. Now a lot of people think that Christmas is a Christian tradition, I cannot argue against that as Christmas is a celebration observed by the Churches. However, the distinction must be drawn for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and the birth of Santa Clause.

Now, some of you may ask what the difference is?, some may assert that both the characters are a myth. I totally understand that, however I am calling the bluff on the icon of consumerism. The other one, well I am certain he has no time for mindless consumerism crap when there are innocents being killed not too far away from Bethlehem.

Just as I cannot argue against the fact that Christmas is a Christian tradition, I also cannot argue against the fact that Christmas is a Germanic Pagan tradition. Prior to Christianization, the Germanic People celebrated a midwinter event called Yule. Christianity came about and absorbed a lot of the pagan traditions into the modern Christmas celebration.

Do take note that Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January. They then abstain from eating meat and dairy and some fast like the Muslims for the next 40 days. This period is called Advent, also traditionally observed by many western churches.

I have got nothing against Pagans, I would just like to point out how capitalism uses religion, traditions, and what not to fuel consumerism. Santa Clause is that icon of consumerism. Though some base Santa Clause on the Christian Saint Nicholas, yet many Christians object to the contemporary gift giving culture which Santa is an icon of.

Our jolly old Saint Nicholas reflects our culture to a T, for he is fanciful, exuberant, bountiful, over-weight, and highly commercial. He also mirrors some of our highest ideals: childhood purity and innocence, selfless giving, unfaltering love, justice, and mercy. (What child has ever received a coal for Christmas?) The problem is that, in the process, he has become burdened with some of society’s greatest challenges: materialism, corporate greed, and domination by the media. Here, Santa carries more in his baggage than toys alone! – Carol Jean-Swanson

Source http://www.coca-cola.co.uk

Some object the idea of Santa Clause for perceiving it as solely a Coca-cola marketing ploy. Yes Coca-cola did use the fat man in the red suit to sell cola, but the whole red suit idea came from the father of American cartoons Thomas Nash and Clement Clarke Moore a professor of Oriental and Greek literature, the guy who wrote the poem “A visit from Saint Nicholas” also popularly known as “It was the night before Christmas”.

I am sorry if I spoiled Christmas for you, but perhaps Christmas is not about all of that at all. Perhaps Christmas is just an excuse to bring the family home, to show affection and care to ones we love, just a date to share joy and happiness by giving. For some it maybe a whole religious experience, to commemorate the birth of a great man.

Yet the truth must prevail, and therefore I believe we should be honest to children and not mislead them. Christmas in the 21st century is a celebration of consumerism. The perfect example of how far capitalism manipulates the masses to create a market, to push the profit margins up. Even the Son of God is not spared from their greed to make more profits.

With all that said, like the Grinch that stole Christmas, I wish all of you Feliz Navidad, Happy Yuletide, and have a blessed Advent. Pray for the innocents that died not far from Bethlehem not too long ago, and remember the second commandment “’Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”