I originally wrote this for my high school newspaper, circa 1999. There was a minor outcry from offended parents, but my journalism teacher stood firm. I hope that you have a joyful Christmas. And if you received an Amazon gift card or two, don’t forget to order a copy of my new book,
Dear Don, I love how you can still sound like an angry teenager after all these years. I'd love a specific story about one event in your life that proved to you beyond a doubt that Christmas is the best holiday for you. 🎁
For me, such a finish would transform an immature rant, which is implied by everything you've said here, into an uplifting experience that conquers the doubts that depress many people at this time of year.
All of your objections about Christmas practices are your objections. They’re not everyone’s objections. What counts is your opinion of the good, why it’s good, and what that specific good has done for you.
Despite everything you don’t like about Christmas, there must be that underlying incident, that one event in your life so precious and full of meaning, that despite all your guff, you put Christmas alone on the highest shelf of the holiday wall. Tell us how that happened, please.
Some decades ago, my city's Christianity-leaning newspaper assigned me to write a history of Christmas article. I wrote a history of Xmas article, complete with it's Roman origin. Surprisingly, they published it without editing except for the title. A copy is buried in an over-stuffed closet in my home. God willing, by next Xmas, I will have summoned the spirit to dig it out.
I do find it interesting how we are shaped by past events, Christmas being one of the more memorable times most of us experience annually. Fifty years ago I too was bothered by other people's determination to rewrite our times to suit their biases. Forty years ago i stopped fighting them and chose to ignore their silliness instead and I'm now, personally, far more comfortable just 'doing my own thing.' As you elaborate, there was a time when market factors shaped our culture while today, regrettably, activism and fear of being offensive does. .
Dear Don, I love how you can still sound like an angry teenager after all these years. I'd love a specific story about one event in your life that proved to you beyond a doubt that Christmas is the best holiday for you. 🎁
For me, such a finish would transform an immature rant, which is implied by everything you've said here, into an uplifting experience that conquers the doubts that depress many people at this time of year.
All of your objections about Christmas practices are your objections. They’re not everyone’s objections. What counts is your opinion of the good, why it’s good, and what that specific good has done for you.
Despite everything you don’t like about Christmas, there must be that underlying incident, that one event in your life so precious and full of meaning, that despite all your guff, you put Christmas alone on the highest shelf of the holiday wall. Tell us how that happened, please.
Good work, Don. And Merry Christmas!
Re: Don't forget to order a copy of Effective Egoism -- I already did. I'm enjoying it a lot!
Not bad for age 17. Merry Christmas, Don!
Very fun! Thanks, Don, you brightened my Christmas morning.
Some decades ago, my city's Christianity-leaning newspaper assigned me to write a history of Christmas article. I wrote a history of Xmas article, complete with it's Roman origin. Surprisingly, they published it without editing except for the title. A copy is buried in an over-stuffed closet in my home. God willing, by next Xmas, I will have summoned the spirit to dig it out.
I do find it interesting how we are shaped by past events, Christmas being one of the more memorable times most of us experience annually. Fifty years ago I too was bothered by other people's determination to rewrite our times to suit their biases. Forty years ago i stopped fighting them and chose to ignore their silliness instead and I'm now, personally, far more comfortable just 'doing my own thing.' As you elaborate, there was a time when market factors shaped our culture while today, regrettably, activism and fear of being offensive does. .