Sunday, February 17, 2008

Saving Christmas

Christmas could use more allies like Paul Goertz.

Goertz, a 48-year-old construction worker who lives in Seattle, initiated the Save Christmas Rally two years ago. Last year’s Save Christmas Rally focused on raising awareness and public support for this nation’s Christmas traditions and keeping Christ in Christmas.

Goertz also works to encourage other American cities and towns to hold similar events.

The Washington Daily News learned about Goertz and his Save Christmas Rally by way of a 2006 news release found on a Web site last week. Attempts to access that Web site in recent days have been unsuccessful. Even so, the message Goertz sent out in 2005 and 2006 remains relevant this year.

“Political correctness is destroying our most cherished Christmas traditions,” said Goertz in the press release. “Our children are losing an important part of their American heritage. Unless we do something now, our children will live in a sterile world of ‘holiday’ presents, ‘holiday’ trees, ‘holiday’ cookies, ‘winter’ school concerts and ‘winter’ school breaks. Last year a local elementary school replaced its Christmas tree with a ‘giving’ tree — and then even that was replaced with a ‘giving’ counter! Store clerks were instructed to say ‘happy holidays’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas.’”

Goertz is an American who’s fed up with the increasing number of attacks on Christmas.

“Last year, I was fed up with the assaults on Christmas,” Goertz said in 2006 when he explained why he started the Saving Christmas Rally. “This year, I am hopeful. So many people have pledged their support.”

Simply put, his mission is to preserve and protect Christmas traditions that have been a part of American culture and heritage for more than 200 years.

“I want people to use the traditional Christmas greetings of ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘Peace on Earth and goodwill toward men.’ These greetings have always been all-inclusive and non-discriminatory,” Goertz said. “Americans of all backgrounds and cultures can share these greetings of peace and joy. They are greetings of love — God’s love for every man, woman, and child.”

It’s not difficult to imagine Goertz sending a Christmas card to the national headquarters of the American Civil Liberties Union just to remind that organization he and others like him aren’t about to give up their beliefs associated with Christmas just because there are some people who don’t believe there’s a reason for Christmas to even exist.

For those who celebrate Christmas, it’s not about forcing those who don’t believe in Christmas to believe in the reason for the season. It’s about believers celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ and the gift of eternal life the Light of the World offers. They have the right to celebrate. Just as nonbelievers have the right not to celebrate.

Two authors who have written books supporting the nation’s traditional values at Christmas are supporting Goertz.

Brenda Verner, author of “101 Ways to Have a Christian Christmas,” and Michael Class, author of “Anthony and the Magic Picture Frame,” have taken up the Saving Christmas Rally cause.

Class, a Seattle resident, points out that Christmas is a federal holiday.

“Every Christmas, the president of the United States lights the national Christmas tree on the White House Lawn. Wishing our fellow Americans a ‘Merry Christmas’ has been a tradition for more than 200 years — it’s an inclusive message of God’s love. We must preserve the best of American culture and traditions for our children and grandchildren. We must not forget who we are,” Class wrote. “I wrote a history book in which my son travels into the past to meet some of America’s heroes. They teach him that the purpose of life is to live a life of purpose, and doing the right thing always matters. Well, Paul Goertz is doing the right thing today. I support Paul’s efforts and the Saving Christmas Rally. I encourage all Americans to join him.”

Well said.

And, by the way, Merry Christmas!