Christmas shame

The following poem was sent to me in an email, so I do not know the author, though I wish I did. Sometimes it takes poetry and satire to illuminate parts of our culture that are dark or dangerous. So in the spirit of the poem: Merry Christmas to all! May we remember the reason for the holiday and live accordingly.

'Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
See, the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
"It might hurt people's feelings," the teachers would say.
"December 25 is just a 'Holiday.'"
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit,
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X-Box, an iPod -
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down,
At Lowe's the word Christmas was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas, it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that are used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, now Darden, now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen,
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith,
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded,
The reason for the season - it stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree,"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say.
Shout "Merry Christmas!"
Not "Happy Holiday."

I am tolerant of all faiths and believe that all people should be free to believe and worship their God according to the dictates of their conscience. So I hope that no one will take offense this year when I greet you with a hearty "Merry Christmas." I'm not forcing my faith upon you, and I don't expect you to believe as I do. But please understand that I believe that Christmas was created to celebrate Christ; and since Christ was (and IS!) the embodiment of love, know that my expression to you is out of love for Him and reflects my love for you.

So Happy Thanksgiving, and very, very soon, Merry Christmas - from the miraculous pulse of my beating heart.