A Truce in the War on Christmas

I've never been convinced there ever was a war on Christmas, but some of the pundits like to think so and I'll go along just for fun. I am now calling for an unconditional truce in this "bloody battle" taking place in the season of warmth and love. My unconditional truce simply asks to acknowledge that we simply don't need this war of words in this special season.

One of the ways we can all enjoy the season more is to embrace a tolerance for one another and understand that the Christmas season can have a special meaning for all of us no matter what we believe in, or don't believe in. I always try to see the world in larger contexts than just my own experiences and customs. I try to find value in the ways of others- even others who are very different from me, or might even consider me to be their enemy. I've discovered that trying to think that way gives me a much better appreciation for the wondrous variety of life all around us.

To illustrate the point I'm sharing a Christmas song with you, one I bet you've never heard before. It's called White Wine in the Sun. It is an original song by an Australian musician, satirist and commentator named Tim Minchin. Tim tells us why Christmas has a very special meaning to him. Tim rejects the traditional meaning associated with the religious aspects of Christmas, and sings of  the very touching, deep meaning he has found in this holiday. It's about family; or he puts it, "the people who make you feel safe in this world".  When I first heard the song I was reminded that no matter what our beliefs may be, it might be good to realize the Christmas season can mean something different to us all. We are not all Christians- some are Jewish, some are Muslim, some Hindu, some hold to Native beliefs, some are non-believers- but all deserve good will. I hope you will enjoy this Christmas song in that spirit.

A WARNING for the very religiously sensitive among you. There are few lyrics in the song that are unflattering to organized religion (downright critical really)- but like I said, Tim is a satirist and a commentator. Nonetheless he provides us with a different prospective, and tells us there can be more than one "Reason for the Season". Perhaps that's the only way to really have a truce in the War on Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings. I hope you are with the people who make you feel safe in this world.