By Donald
H. Harrison
How do the words of that carol go? "Peace on earth, goodwill to
men"? Two disturbing articles in today's (Saturday, Dec. 18) Los
Angeles Times indicate that for some people, at least, there appears to be a
silent proviso to these words. They apparently believe the saying really
is "... goodwill to all men who agree with our religious beliefs.
Otherwise, hit the road! Go to Israel or wherever else you non-Christians
may have come from!"
One story written by Ellen Barry from Raleigh, North Carolina, tells of a
campaign to persuade merchants that if they use the all-inclusive "Happy
Holidays" greeting instead of "Merry Christmas," they will be
boycotted. As Pastor Patrick Wooden of the Upper Room Church of God in
Christ puts it, with a turn of phrase: "Our position is, If they want the
gold, frankincense and myrrh, they should acknowledge the birth of the
child."
In the same newspaper's Calendar section, an article by media critic Tim Rutten
reports that L. Brent Bozell, president of the Parents Television Council,
believes that Hollywood has "virtually no respect for religion."
Employing a rhetorical device to appear not to be saying what he really is saying,
Bozell adds: "Is it because Hollywood is Jewish and taking care of its own?
No, I don't think that. In the general public and in Hollywood, there is
an understanding that respect is owed to Jews. It's as simple as that.
That same respect ought to be paid to other faiths as well."
Rutten went on to report that earlier in December, Bill
O'Reilly contended on his Fox radio show that "secularists" wanted to
cancel Christmas. To a Jewish caller, who voiced reservations about
religious celebrations in public schools, Reilly responded "come on, if you
are really offended, you gotta go to Israel then," Rutten reported.
To Pastor Wooden, I'd like to say "Merry Christmas" not because out
here in California I fear your boycott, but because I respect your theological
beliefs. Like Jews all across this country, I don't share them, but I
respect them. I sincerely hope that you and your family will derive
"comfort and joy" from the teachings of Jesus. Correct me if I'm
wrong, but I tend to associate his teaching with the Golden Rule—"do unto
others as you would have others do unto you."
If you were living in a country where your religious beliefs were not in the
majority, but the minority, how would you feel if someone made a special effort
to be inclusive—to acknowledge that both you and your religion make an
important contribution to that country? I imagine you'd feel pretty good
about that. Then, suppose, someone decided to penalize people in
that country for acknowledging the contributions of any religions but theirs.
How would you feel then?
I'd like to also wish L. Brent Bozell "a Merry
Christmas." I fear that life has been quite hectic for him lately, so
hectic that he hasn't noticed how many specials about Christmas fill the air
waves. If he feels that the entertainment industry isn't addressing the
religious beliefs of Christians, please let him count up the number of
"Christmas specials" that will run before and through December
25th. Then let him tally the specials about all other religions combined
shown in any given year. I'm sure he will realize that the Christian
message gets far more air time in America than any other. I have a
suspicion that Hollywood understands the demographics of the American audience
even better than he does .
To Bill O'Reilly, I'd also like to say "Merry
Christmas." I read that Christmas is a time for people to take stock of
themselves and to right any wrongs that they may have done to other people. I'm
certain that O'Reilly didn't mean to suggest that people with views that may
vary from those of the majority ought to leave America. Was there not a
time when the majority in this country was opposed to any further
immigration from Europe? An era when folks with good Irish names like
O'Reilly were unfairly reviled? An epoch when popular opinion failed to
appreciate the contributions that sons and daughters of diverse nations would
make in building this country?
Oh, and another thought I'd like to address to these three
gentlemen. When it rolls around again next year, if you'd like to wish me and my
fellow Jews a "Happy Chanukah," or even "Happy
Holidays!" most of us would reply to you the same way.
"Thanks!"
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