OPINION by Rick Thompson
Merry Christmas and #happyholidays to all.
Many religions celebrate this time of year. The holiday is no longer primarily a day of God, it is a cultural celebration experienced (willingly or not) by every person in Western society.
Consider our traditions: we give gifts, like this peanut butter-and-jelly cookie made by my niece; we wish strangers well and compliment their red cap or ugly sweater; we reflect, review, repair and renew relationships; we assess our past year and boast of unrealistic plans for the year to come; we indulge in the celebratory boons our world provides, like food, booze and cannabis. And we give, give to charity, to our relatives, to each other and to those we may never meet but whose life is lesser than our own.
So, Christmas without Christ is still America on her best behavior. And in 2020, best behavior has been hard to find.
Happy holiday season to you all, and this year let’s keep these traditions of love and grace alive for a little longer than normal.
