Left Agenda

So, Jesus is a toy? Oh, that's so much better!

The White House is a government building, right?  It is a part of the United States and not a part of the vast talking-head, gospel of prosperity Evangelical church, right?  It’s not religious in any way, right?  Well, of course not but that doesn’t mean that religious activities don’t happen there.

The supposed taking place of religious activities isn’t what’s at issue, but the seemingly misunderstood dictation of what must take place.  The only thing that must take place, given that it’s a government building, is that equality is presented.  If religious spectacles are to be shown than equally religious spectacles should be shown as well, along with other belief or lack of belief systems.  I don’t know how many that is, but it seems like it would take up another building entirely to have a holiday scene for each religion that in any way celebrates something that takes place over the winter.

Now, while celebrating Christmas is of course rooted in the Christian church’s theft/appropriation of  paganism and its observances it only seems natural that those same observances would continue to be reappropriated at a later date, which they has.  Now!  I celebrated Christmas as a child and I know many people that do too but with absolutely no connection whatsoever that in anyway celebrates some little fake baby being born by an unwed mother.  Nothing about Christmas is about Christ.  While that rattles in your brain for a while let’s move onto the point.

Why in the world is someone getting upset about the prospect of the White House not putting up it’s “traditional” nativity scene with little Jesus, all the hay, and some little tart next to him?  Why is that important?

Renowned children’s book author and Faux News’ own “cultural” analyst, Eric Metaxas seems to be shitting a brick about the idea/rumor/possibility that the WH won’t have its “traditional” nativity scene.  Children’s books aren’t the only thing that Metaxas has published.  Aside from those, he’s been published in a myriad of magazines and recently published Everything You Always Wanted to Know About God (but were afraid to ask) and the sequel, Everything ELSE You Always Wanted to Know About God (but were afraid to ask). I suppose that when he said “Everything” it meant only what would fit into the first book.  So, it’s nice to see that Metaxas has such a close relationship with his imaginary friend that apparantly god/dog doesn’t mind him giving out all of his secrets.  Kind of like a ‘enquiring minds want to know’ kind of thing.

Pictured with America's beloved bigot, Rick Warren. Ahhh, Christmas and killing homosexuals go together so well, huh Warren?

So, off the deep end he’s gone (or maybe he’s been there for awhile) and now he’s ranting about a little minuscule nativity scene that may or may not get put up in the WH.  The part that speaks volumes is the title, “Jesus Nearly Banned at White House Inn”.  Uh, did he say, “Banned?”  And what-the-fuck “Inn” is he talking about?

Also speaking volumes; straight from the Horse Ass’ mouth:

I was reading the New York Times Sunday Styles section yesterday (yep, I’m straight) when I came across an article about embattled White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers — she’s the one who broke with previous White House tradition by inviting herself to the state dinner when she should have been at the door keeping out the loopy riff-raff.

But in the twelfth paragraph of the article there was a real bombshell: It said that earlier this year at a luncheon with other previous White House social secretaries, Ms. Rogers claimed that this year the White House would have a “non-religious” Christmas celebration. (For those of you confused by that, it’s just like a “non-religious” Yom Kippur celebration, or a “non-Irish” St. Patrick’s Day celebration, or an “international” July 4th celebration.)

First, let me be the first to point out the incredibly unsubtle bigotry and stereotyping of homosexuals.  Secondly, does Metaxas protest too much?  Third, what really seems to be getting Metaxas’ girdle in a bunch is the “non-religious” part of WH Social Secretary Desiree Rogers’ words.  Then, by setting up a few false comparisons he’s able to deftly move into how by “non-religious” the WH is specifically targeting Christianity and American tradition.  Hmm…

A quick word on tradition.  If the only reason you have for doing something which others are calling to end is to say that it is “tradition” then you’ve already lost the argument.  ”Tradition” is what keeps minorities from having the same rights, women from having equal pay, bigotry in power, and majority rule a continuous policy.  Tradition is bullshit, usually.  If tradition is all you’ve got for a defense, then you’re lying about your true motivation.

I hope Metaxas has a nice Christmas this year.  I will, but without the tree or any other Pagan attributes.  I think I’ll eat a lot of food, drink a lot of alcohol, and maybe watch Religulous.