The right to proclaim, "bah humbug."

Excuse me while I climb onto this soap box for a little extra height...

The right to proclaim "bah humbug" is protected speech. I just said so.

But really this post is going to delve into some dark territory, so hang on. Most of you will disagree with me, but that's never stopped me. And I'm sorry I've not been writing. Playing tends to get in the way of all that work.

Today, my fellow Scroogians, let us discuss this video shown on Bill O'Really's show last night from a Louis Farrakhan presentation:

<iframe width="500" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zOMel6DoCzU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Yes, Farrakhan is Muslim. No, he's probably not into the American version of Christmas. Yes, I bet he's reverent to Jesus as most practicing Islam are. 

No, I don't disagree with a thing Farrakhan says.

A lie has a negative effect on anyone that is made to believe what is false.

There is no such thing as Santa Claus. (Sorry to the two of you who will argue as to the "spirit" of said Claus, but no, he's not real.)

Next Farrakhan steps into the idea that you are educating your children to look to a white man to give your children what you cannot. His audience, we can likely assume, is black. 

It's a darn good point. Mommy can't give me food, so look to the white man to sign my welfare check. Do take a moment to recognize Farrakhan doesn't use Mommy and Daddy, or just Daddy. And kindly remember, tying a child's Christmas joy to a jolly Santa Claus might accidentally cause a child to believe the big white man owes him.

Now let's take color out of this discussion for a minute.

We (middle-aged parents clutching our wallets in fear for our's and America's future) gave our children everything for Christmas. I did half of what the rest of my community did on average, and it was still way too much. Guess where those Christmas-is-when-I-get-everything-I-want kids are now? Uh huh. They are the Occupy Movement. They are living off student loans and demanding they shouldn't have to repay them.

Jolly old Santa Claus isn't that old. Christmas trees are a little older, but still a pagan ritual. (How odd that O'Really would ignore the Santa statement in the video above and only comment on the tree.)

Christmas is by historical reports a couple of thousand years old. The date December 25 was determined in 349 AD to incorporate pagan rituals into the Christian tradition. Think of Pope Julius as a brilliant marketing executive content to fudge the truth a bit to get what he needed - an expanding base. (Oh, wait. That would make him a politician. Imagine that.)

What do you think O'Reilly (yes, I do actually know how to spell his name) is going to say to Pope Benedict's news that most of the nativity story is tradition as well? 

Here's my final point: we don't do ourselves or our children any favors by making them to believe lies. Maybe unwinding the Christmas we've created in the last 100 years is exactly the kind of thing we must do to save America. 

Challenge your family to dump one tradition that's simply a pain in the butt. For my girlfriend, dumping Santa when her son was young was no problem as he freaked out at the thought of a stranger sneaking into his house while he was sleeping. (Talk about the mixed messages we provide! Don't talk to strangers. Trust fat white men dressed in red to sneak into your locked house and give you toys.) I bet you can easily find your own to dismiss.

Then, spend a few minutes as a family identifying the one thing that makes it Christmas for you. Declare that thing your tradition and gradually eliminate the others. You'll like how much you enjoy your time together when the overwhelming expectations are dissolved.

Our family eventually got around the majority of gift giving by instituting year end bonuses. We put a dollar limit to our gift exchanges. We make more stuff, or give framed photos, or even resort to the old-fashioned coupon book. It's made it easier.

So when I say, "Bah! Humbug!" don't worry about me. We still do Christmas, but in our own way. But, I declare myself free to reject the lies perpetuated in this season.

*steps off soap box*

(And good grief, you do not want to get me started on the second part of that video: PSY's visit to the White House.)