It seems for the past decade or so, Christian crusaders have increasingly bemoaned any effort by organizations and corporations to expand campaigns of Christmas Consumerism to encompass non-Christians.  Stores have changed “Christmas Sale!” to “Holiday Sale.” Companies have changed the ”Christmas Party” to the “Holiday Party.” Public Schools change “Christmas Break” to “Winter Break.” And so on.  And so on, while most of the country yawns.

But is it a big deal?  As O’Reilly once sounded the alarm,

See, I think it’s all part of the secular progressive agenda -– to get Christianity and spirituality and Judaism out of the public square. Because if you look at what happened in Western Europe and Canada, if you can get religion out, then you can pass secular progressive programs like legalization of narcotics, euthanasia, abortion at will, gay marriage, because the objection to those things is religious- based, usually.

indeed.  One day, you’re looking for 1/2 off bath towels at Macy’s Christmas Sale.  The next?  You’re shooting smack with your married gay Dutch friends, while euthanizing an out-of-work Santa Claus.  It’s a slippery slope. And so O’Reilly and the other blowhards started calling out companies taking the “Christmas” out of “Christmas Shopping Extravaganza.” Stores like FAO Schwartz, Toys R’ Us, and Jack’s House of Secular Shit for Kids.

Of course, there is no bigger symbol of secular progressivism than the Toys R’ Us Giraffe!  Damn that giraffe and his “Holiday Sales.”  Because at Christmas time, when I’m buying a dozen pairs of socks or “Grand Theft Auto XI – Rickshaw Massacre,” I want these purchases to be in the name of Christ.  He and no other.  But without huge cardboard signs saying “CHRISTMAS Sale,” all the spirituality is removed from my purchases!  It’s like I’m wandering aimlessly down aisles of cheap plastic + plush toys (made in China) without the constant reverence to Santa Cl-, excuse me – Jesus Christ.

Which brings me to the Humanists.  As the AP reported:

Ads proclaiming, “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake,” will appear on Washington, D.C., buses starting next week and running through December. The American Humanist Association unveiled the provocative $40,000 holiday ad campaign Tuesday.

Pretty simple message, right? “Be good for goodness’ sake.” It’s like it’s right out of a jingle or something!  Not a bad message for city with a high crime rate. Why is the A.H.A. doing this?

“We are trying to reach our audience, and sometimes in order to reach an audience, everybody has to hear you,” said Fred Edwords, spokesman for the humanist group. “Our reason for doing it during the holidays is there are an awful lot of agnostics, atheists and other types of non-theists who feel a little alone during the holidays because of its association with traditional religion.”

Makes sense to me.  I am not qualified to state whether or not seeing this ad while running to catch the bus in December D.C. sleet will bring any comfort to non-theists.  But at least the explanation is rational.  Of course, certain people just love complaining, and the American Family Association is really good at it.  The story continued: 

The humanists’ entry into the marketplace of ideas did not impress AFA president Tim Wildmon.

“It’s a stupid ad,” he said. “How do we define ‘good’ if we don’t believe in God? God in his word, the Bible, tells us what’s good and bad and right and wrong. If we are each ourselves defining what’s good, it’s going to be a crazy world.”

Yes. No one should define “good” except the Bible’s ghost writers. Not individuals. Not parents. Not teachers. Not Webster’s F’ing dictionary.  Because we don’t want a “crazy” world where people exercise independent thought, or fail to be militant about the proper titling of department stores’ ad campaigns.

Maybe the “Liberty Council” can give us more Christian clarity:

“It’s the ultimate grinch to say there is no God at a time when millions of people around the world celebrate the birth of Christ,” said Mathew Staver, the group’s chairman and dean of the Liberty University School of Law. “Certainly, they have the right to believe what they want but this is insulting.”

The ad does not state “there is no God.” It asks why you need to believe in a god in order to be a respectful, compassionate, decent member of society.  And perhaps that’s the point. You don’t. But of course the outraged ones don’t want that point made, and the over-zealous believers rarely traffic in reason.  I don’t want to disparage anyone’s religious beliefs.  “To each his own.” Exercise all you want. Just don’t forget other people have a right to the use the pool. Or even the side of a damn bus.