ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, December 16, 1996 TAG: 9612160109
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
Taking 'Christmas' out of holiday
THE NEWSPAPER'S use of the expression holiday spirit, rather than the familiar Christmas spirit, suggests my response.
The word holiday formerly meant a Holy Day. But holiness is hard to find anywhere in public arenas these days. No longer do we celebrate Christmas in our schools, or place Nativity scenes on our courthouse grounds, or display Merry Christmas greetings in our hospital buildings, or hang the Ten Commandments on our schoolhouse walls. Officially, we are now almost as Godless as atheistic Russia was under the communists. How can we possibly be happy while we are, as a nation, trying to lock Christ out of his Christmas?
The Supreme Court's attempt to separate church and state is brilliantly set forth in a 337-page book titled ``The Myth of Separation'' by David Barton. I hope every home will buy this wonderful book in time for Christ's Easter resurrection service next spring.
HOSKINS MALLORY SCLATER
ROANOKE
Ringing bells are for sales
THE ``spirit'' of holidays has been removed to make way for cold hard cash and many sales. Stores remain open, depriving their personnel of time off with their families.
I grew up in a time when business places closed by noon Christmas Eve and no one worked Christmas Day. We didn't have a lot ourselves, but my parents always managed to share what we had with others who had less.
I was taught that Christmas holidays were just that - holy days and were observed by attending church on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day was spent with family and friends, and none had to leave to go to work.
It's too bad we have become so materialistic that we no longer have time for the spiritual. Our children and grandchildren are the losers.
JEWELL N. TRENT
ROANOKE
The season is too long
IT'S WORN out! Stores decorated and carols being sung before Halloween - too much.
EMILY HONTS
FINCASTLE
Remembering Christmases past
PRAISE the Lord, some of it is still active. But we have reached too deep into our monetary resources in trying to please family members and others with gifts that are beyond our reach, and questionable as to whether they were warmly received.
The true spirit of Christmas took place years ago in our country schoolhouses. We all said a speech and we sang Christmas carols. At the end of our program, gifts were given out from a natural Christmas tree decorated with strings of popcorn. Seldom was the value of a gift more than 5 or 10 cents. We went home joyful, and that night we dreamed sweet dreams.
Families who were visitors were in no hurry to leave, finding excuses, pressing matters. The Christmas dinner, with a country flavor, cost little because the food was produced on the farm. We didn't put much money into Christmas because we didn't have it, but we got a lot out of it.
We go all out today to have a sociable big Christmas, and suffer headaches for the next 365 days wondering how we are going to pay the bill. Commercialism has largely replaced the Christ child lying on the hay.
EDWIN R. ROBERTSON
PEARISBURG
It's hanging on an Angel Tree
AT STEWARTSVILLE Elementary in Bedford County, the Christmas spirit is alive and well through the many volunteer hours and community sponsorship of the Parent-Teacher Association Angel Tree.
The school office looks like the North Pole as the multitude of packages arrive for our angels. The community response has been wonderful over the years, and the Angel Tree committee chairs thank each ``Santa'' who has made the Angel Tree a part of their Christmas tradition.
NICOLE SHEPPARD
VINTON
Holiday spirit available all year
WHAT, indeed, has happened to the holiday spirit? I suppose we must first ask what the holiday spirit means to us. Being a person who appreciates the simplest of definitions, I have several ``simple'' definitions to share.
I believe the holiday spirit means the spirit of giving, not necessarily by expensive measures, but a gift from the heart and soul and a fond remembrance of one who's loved. It encompasses the delight in being with and among family and friends, especially those whose company you may not have been able to enjoy during the year.
And, most important, the holiday spirit contains the essence of what Christ himself would love to teach us all - the joy of reaching out to a person who may not have as much as we; of sharing the story of Jesus Christ to one who may not be familiar with it; of striving to touch the hearts of all persons surrounding us with just a little of the joy we hold within ourselves.
What has happened to the holiday spirit? It's on every street corner, in every church, and in the hearts and minds of everyone we know. Perhaps we should all try just a little harder to bring it out in ourselves and those around us. It's there, all right, all year round.
Dec. 25 is the birth of our Lord, but he's in our lives from our birth and throughout the rest of our lives. The holiday spirit doesn't have to stop on Dec. 26 - we can enjoy this feeling every day! All we need to do is try a little harder to remember that.
MARTI RODECK
ROANOKE
Givers always are in the spirit
TO ANSWER the question, we must first define what the ``holiday spirit'' is.
To me, it means giving. In society, there are givers and takers.
Givers have the ``holiday'' spirit all year round, as part of their nature; takers do not have this spirit. Christmas offers an opportunity for takers to somehow purge themselves of their guilt and selfishness, much as the guilty feel forgiven in the priest's confessional.
As to what has happened to the Christmas spirit can be answered thusly: It has been diminished. For givers, the spirit is always there. They are defined as those who live by the Golden Rule, who live and let live, are kind and practice forgiveness.
The population of takers has increased. Why? A poll taken in December 1991 of 4,809 people showed that in 1987, 71 percent said that government should help those who cannot help themselves. In 1991, that figure dropped to 57 percent, in spite of the fact that economic conditions had improved considerably since 1987. Therefore, what has ``happened'' is that most Americans are more cynical and less compassionate today.
A large percentage of jobs today offer low wages and few, if any, benefits. Schools are turning out unskilled people who cannot meet the more rigorous demands of the marketplace. The cost of living has increased and income hasn't kept pace. Thus, a higher degree of anxiety is more prevalent. As a consequence, self-preservation - a basic instinct - has, for so many, overcome altruism as people become more fearful for their future.
Givers at Christmas give from the heart; takers give from a sense of obligation. One's conduct during the year determines which group one belongs to.
JACK E. BYRD
HARDY
Many hearts keep it alive
IT HAS been assaulted by commercialism and other religions, but it is alive and well in many, many hearts.
Christmas is the celebration of Christ's birth, even if some people try to take him out of the picture. The holiday spirit is actually alive all year long in the hearts of believers. We need to remember that Jesus Christ came to us, not Santa Claus.
MARGARET O. MILLER
BOONES MILL
Sharing has gone out of style
EVERY YEAR during this season, I feel swept into a current of tinsel-trimmed television commercials, print advertisements and "mall fever.'' It used to begin soon after Thanksgiving, but has now started before all the Halloween candy has been eaten. The Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa season has become less a season of brotherhood, peace and amazement and more a season of "what will I get this year?"
We are quickly losing sight of the true meaning of this holiday. And to me, that meaning is showing our thanks to God for what we do have by sharing with those who aren't as fortunate.
When the Salvation Army no longer has enough volunteers and is forced to advertise to pay people to ring their bells, then we have truly lost sight of the holiday spirit.
LYNDA R. KNEZOVICH
ROANOKE
A blessed birthday
WE HAVE forgotten whose birthday we celebrate on Dec. 25. It is more blessed to give than to receive. That's the key to the Holy Spirit.
Celebrate Jesus' birthday!
FRANCES P. JOHNSON
COVINGTON
Wise men are still seeking
TOO MANY seek the holiday spirit(s) from a bottle instead of seeking the holiday spirit in a manger.
Remember, ``Wise men still seek him!''
HAP PENDLETON
SALEM
Every neighbor for himself
I BELIEVE the holiday spirit has been lured by the billions of dollars in advertising to an atmosphere away from the teachings of Galatians 5:14, ``You shall love your neighbor as yourself,'' into a materialistic philosophy of ``What's in it for me?''
I hope and pray our direction may be refocused to where it used to be, and should be again while there is still time.
PHIL T. PAFFORD
ROANOKE
Too many miss the party
OUR SOCIETY has so commercialized the holiday season that it smothers the holiday spirit in so many people. My pastor's sermon on Dec. 1 stated what I have felt for so long. He said, ``Are you going to miss the party?'' We get so involved in shopping, decorating, cooking, programs, parties, etc., that on New Year's Eve you suddenly realize you missed the party. We need to slow down and concentrate on the true meaning of the season.
Promoting peace, good will and glad tidings are attributes that lift the spirit of the giver and receiver, not just during holidays but for all days. Don't miss the party, and you will have the holiday spirit all year.
MARGARET TYREE CALDWELL
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Long : 199 linesby CNB