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November 25, 2005
The Bramble Bush
by Kevin Morford

How to Celebrate Christmas

     A front page story in the Anchorage Daily News last Wednesday (Nov. 23) reported on a “Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign” which has been announced by Liberty Council, the reactionary legal organization. The group promises to sue anyone who spreads “misinformation” about how Christmas can be celebrated in schools and public spaces. How could I possibly pass up an opportunity like that? Here is some valuable information about how you can celebrate Christmas in schools and public spaces.

     Christmas can be celebrated by writing a school essay about its pagan origins. The Christmas tree, mistletoe, Yule logs, and other symbols of Christmas were all used in celebrations of the winter solstice long before anyone in Europe had ever heard of the Christian religion. The church chose December 25 for the celebration in part to take advantage of that existing tradition. What better way to celebrate Christmas than to acknowledge its ancient origins as a winter solstice festival?

     You can organize a Christmas demonstration on public property in support of the separation of church and state. Keeping the meddling hands of government out of the very personal decision each of us makes regarding our religion, or our lack of religion, is an essential element of personal autonomy and liberty. Helping to keep American Taliban leaders like Falwell from dictating how Christmas and religion must be practiced in the United States is a great way to celebrate the season.

     If you are so inclined, you can make snow angels on the school lawn. You can also make snow devils, or tramp out quotations from Madeline Murray O’Hare if you like. Freedom of religion and of expression does not end at the schoolhouse property line, and government may not favor any one set of religious expressions over another, even during Christmas.

     You can work to politically organize the homeless who live in public shelters, and register them to vote. Empowering the poor to stand up for themselves will help them in the long run much more than just giving them a Christmas meal.

     Christmas can also be celebrated by making a donation of time or money to a student group such as the Gay Straight Alliance, or Students United for Peace. Gift giving is a long established Christmas tradition, and students who work to improve the world we live in deserve whatever support we can give them.

     A couple of years ago, I spent the day after Thanksgiving, which is Buy Nothing Day, singing anti-commercial Christmas carols with other people on public and private property. I even wrote these alternative lyrics to the Jingle Bells tune:

Dashing through the malls, in a frantic shopping spree
empty out your bank account that stuff you buy ain’t free
your household budgets wrecked, you’re drowning in red ink
its better if you make your gifts and pull back from the brink, oh

Buy nothing, buy nothing, don’t you buy a thing
stay at home with those you love or join with us to sing, oh
Buy nothing, buy nothing, don’t you buy a thing
stay at home with those you love or join with us to sing

     We had a lot of fun singing songs that day and not spending any money.

     There are lots of creative ways to celebrate Christmas. Find ways that fit your life, and celebrate with gusto. Don’t feel that you need to be locked into anyone else’s limitations. If Jerry Falwell and his cronies think that this is misinformation, I’ll be right here waiting for their lawsuit.

     Happy holidays.







Kevin Morford is a political activist and an attorney in private practice in the Anchorage area.  He can be reached at kmorford@insurgent49.com.
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Editor's Desk
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Red Alert
by Soren Wuerth

Alaskan In Exile
by Neil Zawicki

The
Bramble Bush
by Kevin Morford





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in-sur-gent (in sur'jent), n. 1. a member of a group which revolts against the policies of its leadership.