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Bah Humbug!

Should Christians be discouraged from celebrating Christmas publicly? Of course not! Christmas is for everybody. I can remember inviting a Jewish friend to my parents' Christmas celebration several years back, and I don't remember him turning down any gifts. He drank plenty of wine and ate a pile of cookies, and everyone was merry and cheery as could be. Christmas is a positive, fun, special occasion, and there is no reason to discourage anyone from celebrating it.

Many people claim that there is no longer "Christ in Christmas" and that it has become a material, meaningless holiday. While I agree that many people focus way, way too heavily on store-bought presents instead of spiritual charity, I think it is still obvious that the sentiment behind Christmas is one of sharing and giving. While it may discourage devout Christians that there is not as much Christ in Christmas as they may like, I think it's great that it has evolved into a holiday that accepts both Christians and non-Christians in an accepting, giving environment.
Many people want to be friends with whomever they want to be friends with, and do no want to have to hide or deny their religious views and celebrations from one another. I feel that it is a sign of progress that different people can bring their unique cultures and backgrounds together and share and celebrate together. Additionally, many non-Christians grow up in households that celebrate Christmas, and while they do not share the religious views their parents did, they want to pass on the tradition of Christmas to their own children. It's time for everyone to lighten up and allow Christmas to mean to others whatever it may, and not take this personally. Your Christmas can be all about Jesus, and someone else's can be all about Santa Claus. Who cares? To each his own. The only time celebrating Christmas publicly should be discouraged is if it is done for the purpose of excluding others, or purposely making others feel uncomfortable. It's a no-brainer that there is no Christmas spirit in behavior like that.
Let Christmas be a positive day, a positive season. It is a time of acceptance and joy, and of giving the benefit of the doubt. It is not a season of judgment, nor is it anyone's job to decide who is more deserving of being allowed to celebrate. There is no Christmas scorecard.

Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad, and Mazel Tov!

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