As a part of Hitch's "Scrooge You" article, he cites this article, saying, essentially, that when
Christians are arguing in favor of celebrating Christ in the public
square, from Christmas music in shops to greeting card corrections,
they are essentially committing the same terrible, terrible deed as
the North Koreans celebrating the birthday of Kim Jong Il:
Let's just say that the birth of the Dear Leader is
indeed celebrated as a miraculous oneâ€"accompanied,
among other things, by heavenly portents and by birds singing in
Koreanâ€"and that compulsory worship and compulsory
adoration can indeed become a touch wearying to the spirit. ... Our
Christian enthusiasts are evidently too stupid, as well as too
insecure, to appreciate this.
Coming from England, Hitchens knows well that there have long been
traditions in place in both English-speaking countries, revolving
around Christmas
specifically. Though I
will not be signing any petitions with Bill O'Reilly, I'm no less a
Christian enthusiast who can't help but wonder why people have made
the conscious decision to omit Christmas.
Those who similarly wonder are just being culture conscious, and
further are aware that the established culture does not spring from
the collaboration of public entities, but from the persuasive
ability of the few. The criticism levelled at these people is
simply an indictment of their often populist, or simply angry,
rhetoric -- but the commodification of Christmas, and its supposed
interchangeability with other winter holidays will obviously work
people up, for fine reasons, none of which Christopher Hitchens
refutes but for an argument that to do so would victimize himself
and other athiests like him. Why, Mr. Hitchens, you've been found
guilty of what you yourself have charged Christians of.
Too bad.
topics:
North Korea