Ben Stein on Christmas

I received an email a few days ago with Ben Stein's comments on this time of year and the Christian celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I just heard the man say on Neil Cavuto's show that these are indeed his words and he stands by every one of them:

Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating heart:

I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important? I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is, either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise's wife.

Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are. Is this what it means to be no longer young. It's not so bad.

Next confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?

I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

He has a point, several salient ones as a matter of fact. Neil Cavuto went on to say that people are shopping more at stores with Christmas decorations and say Merry Christmas rather than the ones that say Happy Holidays. Isn't that interesting?

I conduct an experiment every year. I say Merry Christmas to everyone I meet all during the season. I try to take note of those who say it back to me. So far . . . since December 1st, only two and neither of those were at the businesses I frequent. This saddens me so deeply.

Jesus Christ, the Redeemer and Savior of mankind was born 2007 years ago. Whether it was in December or April, it really doesn't matter. We, as Americans, and all Christians around the world, celebrate this holy night on December 25th. May I share a little of what Christmas means to me?

The birth of our Savior shows me that I have a loving Father in Heaven who loves ALL His children so much, He sent His only Begotten Son to teach the gospel, pay for the sins of the world, break the bands of death and redeem the world.

The birth of our Savior shows me that I have a loving Savior and Redeemer in my Lord God Jesus Christ.

The birth of our Savior shows me that I matter.

The birth of our Savior established the eternal chain of family, from Adam and Eve to the last child born on this earth, whomever and whenever that may be.

The birth of our Savior gives us hope, joy and peace which permeates to the very center of my soul.

Why wouldn't I celebrate the birth of the Son of God who descended from His heavenly throne in order to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39, Pearl of Great Price)

Today on LDSBlogs.com:

We Stand Not Alone
Saviors on Mount Zion
John A. Widtsoe: Mormon Apostle and Scientist
Orson F. Whitney: Mormon Apostle, Poet and Historian