This Filthy, Secular, CBC

[ed_rex]

It's 8:36 on Christmas Eve, 2006.

I am a atheist, laughing at the idea of god from the first time I heard the concept. Worse, I am a leftist - a "social democract" some days, an "anarcho futurist" on others.

A couple of weeks ago, some judge in Ontario declared that a Christmas tree in the main entrance to her courthouse was an affront, of some sort.

A number of times, over the last few years, a good friend of mine - albehim, a conservative, religious, friend - has bitched about the securalism of CBC Radio, a sewer-ful of atheist and leftist nonsence.

And yet, he is not the rabid neocon the first three paragraphs may suggest to you he is; no more, than the fact I am not a fan of the current US or Israeli administrations makes me "anti-American" or "anti-semitic".

My friend, a serious Christian, wonders why his tax-dollars don't pay for more than 1 hour per week - on one of three radio channels - of our country's Public Broadcaster don't deal with with religious issues.

Rhetorically, he was right. Religion - serious religion - is intensely personal. Given that I (and the CBC) live in Canada, it is not even remotely clear whether "Regigion" is in favour of, or opposed to, gay marriage - Which churcyh are you asking? Which husband, which wife?

And yet, even such a "politically conscious" (if not - thank "god" - "politically correct") institution as the CBC has a sense of perspective.

I repeat: I am an atheist. Your Christ-son-of-God-@ct is nothing to me but a pretty story.

Well, and a pretty story that was written really well.

And which story was one of the basis of my civilization.

Point being. That hideous, secular beast, the CBC has nearly blanketed this 24th of December Carols, with Bible Readings, with all sorts of CHRISTmassy programming.

And good on them.

I am not a Christian, nor am I an apostate, but that tradition is mine, as it is for most of the people in this country.

But you know what? Most of the people in this country are (at least vaguelly) Christian. It is appropriate - it is right - that that tradition is acknowledged by the public's broadcaster. CBC Toronto's Metro Morning works day and night to seek out Toronto's multiplicities of race, creed and religion - because of Metro Morning, I know when Kwanza is happening, when Jews light candles, and when Muslims won't eat while the sun is astride the horizon. But for a couple of days, it is right to acknowledge the majority culture and celebrate that tradition.

Like I said, I am not a Christian. From what I have read, I see no reason even to believe there was, around the year 0, a baby born who would become a great teacher; there is no tangible evidence for the existence of Jesus at all.

But most people in this country think I am wrong. And yet, they are not telling me that I shouldn't think they are wrong. They don't even want me to march in their parades.

But if it hasn't happened yet, someone is going to write a Letter of Complaint because the CBC is playing "holy music" tonight.

And when that happens, I will join with the Christians and say, "Bugger off."

Comments

That's the Theory

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

And if the tree had been a creche, I would agree with the judge.

But even if you leave aside the Christmas Tree's pagan roots (no pun intended) and pretend it began as a strictly Christian symbol, in North American (or at least, in Canada) it has become an almost universal symbol of this ... holiday, which happens to fall around the time of the solstice.

I don't think the judge was acting from malice, but from stupidity.

[steelcaver.livejournal.com]

Not everyone thinks of it as a holiday, but that's a whole other story. As I said, we're talking about a courthouse here. I wouldn't expect to see any seasonal decor up in a courthouse. They're supposed to be solemn and serious to a fault, not festive. Call it foolish, but I don't see a courthouse as a place for celebratory decorations.

Re: That's the Theory

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't expect to see any seasonal decor up in a courthouse.

That's missing the judge's point - she wasn't banning the tree because it was "seasonal" but because it was religious. And in 2006, I don't think a Christmas tree is religious anymore, if it ever was - though, granted, it does refer to a Christian holiday.

My Logic:

[steelcaver.livejournal.com]

The decorated fir tree originally referred to the pagan Yule holiday, not Christmas (note the lack of fir trees in the middle east), but decorated trees of varying sorts have been used in religious ceremonies for time immemorial. Yule was primarily a Winter Solstice celebration, so I think of the tree as seasonal, Christian revisionists be damned.

My Position:

[steelcaver.livejournal.com]

Justice is supposed to be secular. Regardless of how the tree is viewed, whether religious or seasonal, it is indeed an invocation of a religious festival - and thus has no place in a court of law.