Okay, I was going a bit crazy here...I like some of the writings and Christian viewpoints Coulter espouses in her work -- but the divisiveness is not necessary.I don't love Ann Coulter. And now that Ann Coulter has dissed the so-called African-American holiday called Kwanzaa, calling it "a lunatic blend of schmaltzy '60s rhetoric, black racism and Marxism," I don't love Ann Coulter all the more for being a white woman bold enough to diss a Kwanzaa celebration in a manner that I always thought but dare not spoke of.
I get the Kwanzaa cards in the mail around Christmastime and never appreciate the attention they take away from the birth of Jesus. Kwanzaa supporters will say it's all complimentary, but like Ann Coulter writes, I believe we've been duped into giving credence to some fake fight-the-power holiday.
Kwanzaa kinda reminds me of the fake red-black-and-green-Africa-on-a-leather-medallion sporting brothers who went to Florida A & M University with me, the kind who chided me for reading Cosmo -- a "white girls" magazine, after all, they'd say, as they summarily dissed their Nubian queens to the high heavens.
They were false facades to an ideal, not the real thing itself. And Ann Coulter has now exposed the window dressing of Kwanzaa for what it really is: A way to detract from Christ's birthday celebration, with its supposed worthy community principals shrouded in African (or at least African-sounding) names.Bah humbug to Kwanzaa. Ann Coulter just exposed what I'd been thinking for years. Coulter is a smart lady who doesn't apologize for being intelligent and conservative and sexy and alluring while she blows the liberals out the water with their theories of "no religion" and such.
I stood in Borders blown away by Ann Coulter's on-point observations in Godless: The Church of Liberalism
. While I admit that Ann Coulter's comments dissing the most prominent 9/11 widows were over the top, I'm right in line with Coulter on this Kwanzaa thing.And I love the way Ann Coulter closes her recent article criticizing Kwanzaa with this Bible verse: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28).
That's what I'm saying, Ann...
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Comments
You might want to gather some addition support from a black organization called Bond.....www.bondinfo.org
The founder and president, the Rev Jesse Lee Peterson said, “Kwanzaa was designed to separate blacks from Christmas and Christianity. Kwanzaa is anti-white and anti-American. Black Americans need to make a choice between the Prince of Peace and the Marxist Karenga.”
Just read your blog article concerning Ann Coulter's comments about Kwanzaa.
I am a 53 year old black man who can relate to your experience with Cosmopolitan magazine. I had similar discussions with people in the 1960's wondering why I preferred the Beatles and Rolling Stones to Motown.
Unfortunately I guess that is where the common ground you and I share ends. That experience was a key factor in the development of my liberal outlook on life. The status quo accepted by the establishment is not necessarily the best way for the individual.
Ann Coulter makes an apparently good living writing books where she demonizes and denigrates people with different beliefs. As far as I am concerned, she bears as much resemblance to legitimate political commentary as professional wrestling does to the athletic achievements in the Olympic games. At least, pro wrestlers no longer pretend they are truly competing.
Several years ago Ms. Coulter appeared on Chris Matthews' Hardball show on MSNBC. He pressed her to name a single liberal or Democrat who was a "traitor". Naturally, she could not. Treason is a crime. In fact it is the only crime explicitly defined in the Constitution. I presume that if Ms. Coulter or you, or any one of us was driving down the street and saw someone wearing a ski mask enter a 7-11 carrying a shotgun, we would notify law enforcement immediately.
Likewise, if you or Ms. Coulter or anyone else actually believes in the "treason" she claims, then you should head to your local FBI office and report the person or persons involved in the crime. To be unwilling or unable to do this is a stark illustration of precisely how completely devoid of intellctual honesty those treason claims are. You are certainly entitled to support any opinions and pundit you choose.
Personally, when I want an intelligent, informed presentation of a conservative viewpoint I will read Pat Buchanan or George Will or Bill Buckley. As a life-long liberal and Democrat I can say that I frequently disagree with them, but always respect their schoarship and analysis which is always presented within a context of civility. Except of course for Mr. Buchanan's unfortunate "take back our culture" outburst at the GOP convention in 1992. Supposedly, then-First Lady Barbara Bush was as offended as anyone. Oh well, no one is perfect.
In my opinion, Ann Coulter is nothing more than the other side of the same coin that gave us Ward Churchill. But such is the state of discourse in 21st century America. Facts no longer matter. Myths and distortions laced with psychotic hostility towards your fellow citizens is the rule of the day. If you don't like what they stand for, call them a "traitor". Who cares if it is really true? It will sell lots of books. Truly sad.
In closing, I have to note the irony in your last sentence concerning Jesus Christ. Throughout recorded history, people with the least popular, most radical ideas that ended up making the world a better place have been routinely villified and treated as criminals by their ruling governments; Christ, Dr. King, Mohandas Ghandi, women's suggrage advocates (especially Victoria Woodhull), and the Founding Fathers just to name a few
If a 100 years from now, Kwanzaa and its 7 principles are still going strong, and present a positive family-strengthening experience for black families everywhere, then like it or not, you wil have to add Mr. Karenga's name to the list of "criminals" who made the world a better place.
True to form, Ms. Coulter's commentary was long on irrational hostility and severely lacking in substance. Otherwise, I presume she would have explained to us all exactly what it is about the following principles that she finds so distasteful. She claims to be some kind of super patriot when it suits her agenda, but does not hesitate to portary the FBI as some kind of villain when she needs to do that in order to make her point. The woman is not even ashamed of being a hypocrite.
Umoja (Unity) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kuumba (Creativity) To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (Faith) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
Anthony R. Cheeks
Manteca CA
Paula,
Okay so I'm really busy at work today -- :-). I just had to comment on your article about Ann Coulter and Kwanzaa. I think we as Christians waste an extreme amount of time arguing and fighting over the "true meaning" of Christmas. It's like fighting over the true meaning of Halloween -- Christmas and Halloween are both pagan tradtions that have nothing to do with Christ and the redemption of our sins. All comments like Ann Coulter's do is create more division among people -- oh, and sell more books and articles.
Amber
Why Some Christians Don't Celebrate Christmas
Many feel that Christmas marks Christ's birthday and that it honors Him. After all, can 2 billion professing Christians be wrong? At the same time, some few Christians don't observe Christmas, believing that Jesus didn't sanction it and that it dishonors Him. Who is right—and why? by Jerold Aust
One day, years ago, someone asked me why I kept Christmas. "The Bible says to keep it," I responded.
"Somewhere in the Gospel of Luke, it speaks of the nativity scene. An angel told some shepherds that were keeping their sheep in the fields at night that the baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem. I think they went to see Jesus at that time.
"That was the first Christmas! And that's why I keep Christmas, because the Bible supports Christmas, the birthday of Jesus Christ."
"That's not true and here's why," my friend replied.
I soon learned that the Bible didn't teach Christmas. I also found that its origins have nothing to do with the Bible. It was an important lesson about things I'd long assumed to be true.
Just because some 2 billion people—roughly 1 billion Catholics and another billion in Protestant faiths—observe Christmas, does that make it right? Does it really matter one way or the other?
Why do so many people observe it?
If you were asked, "Why do you celebrate Christmas?" how would you respond? Many would say Christmas honors the birthday of Jesus. Others feel that Christmas is a good Christian family get-together. Many do it simply because they've always done it.
Christmas can appear tantalizing to the eye and ear. People appear happy, generous, full of good cheer. Twinkling lights decorate many houses. Santa Claus and his reindeer are pictured as poised to lift off from snow-covered front yards or rooftops, although in the southern hemisphere and tropics there is no December snow.
The colorful, peaceful-appearing Christmas scene can be intoxicating, addicting.
Shoppers pack stores, browsing for gifts they hope to buy at bargain-basement prices. Soaring strains of "White Christmas," "Silent Night" or "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" resonate everywhere.
The December weather of the northern hemisphere might be frightful outside, but the feeling and warmth inside is delightful.
Christmas trees with twinkling lights and bright, sparkling ornaments create a mystical and glowing environment. Entire families want to experience the special mystery that only comes with the Christmas season. There is no religious holiday quite like it for the millions everywhere who observe it.
Was Jesus really born on Dec. 25?
But stop and ask yourself: Was Christ really born on Christmas Day?
After all, the Bible nowhere tells us the day of His birth. In fact, most credible secular historical writings tell us that Christmas, more than 200 years after Jesus' death, was considered sinful: "As late as A.D. 245 [the early Catholic theologian] Origen . . . repudiates as sinful the very idea of keeping the birthday of Christ" (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th edition, 1910, Vol. 6, p. 293, "Christmas").
In A.D. 354, a Latin chronographer mentioned Christmas, but even then he did not write about it as an observed festival (ibid.).
There is no biblical evidence that Dec. 25 was Jesus' birth date. In fact, the Bible record strongly shows that Jesus couldn't have been born then.
For example, Luke tells us that the shepherds were keeping their sheep in the fields at night when Jesus was born.
"And she [Mary] brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night" (Luke 2:7-8, emphasis added throughout).
But late December is Judea's cold and rainy season. Would shepherds actually keep their fragile flocks out in the open fields on a cold late-December night near Bethlehem?
No responsible shepherd would subject his sheep to the elements at that time of year when cold rains, and occasional snow, are common in that region.
"The climate of Palestine is not so severe as the climate of this country [England]; but even there, though the heat of the day be considerable, the cold of the night, from December to February, is very piercing, and it was not the custom for the shepherds of Judea to watch their flocks in the open fields later than about the end of October" (Alexander Hislop, The Two Babylons, 1959, p. 91).
Luke also tells us that Jesus was born at the time of a census ordered by the Roman emperor (Luke 2:1-3). The Romans were brilliant administrators; they certainly would not have ordered people to journey to be registered at a time of year when roads would have been wet and muddy and traveling conditions miserable. Such a move would have been self-defeating on its face.
The belief that Jesus was born on or around Dec. 25 simply has no basis in fact, even if 2 billion people have accepted it without question. As the famous playwright George Bernard Shaw said, "If 50 million people believe a foolish thing, it's still a foolish thing."
Does Christmas really honor Christ?
If the Christmas holiday is an important celebration to honor the birth of Jesus Christ, why is it nowhere mentioned in the Bible? Why didn't Christ instruct His closest followers, His 12 chosen apostles, to keep Christmas? Why didn't they institute or teach it to the early Church?
Before you answer, consider that Jesus gave great authority to His 12 apostles, assuring them that they will hold positions of great importance and responsibility in His Kingdom (Matthew 18:18; 19:28; Luke 22:29-30).
But since Jesus never taught His apostles to keep Christmas, nor did they ever teach it to the Church though they had years of opportunity to do so, shouldn't that make us question whether Christmas is something Jesus really wants or appreciates?
So how did Christmas become such a widespread practice if the Bible doesn't sanction it, if Christ didn't observe it and if He never taught His disciples and the early Church to celebrate it?
True origins of Christmas
Most people never stop to ask themselves what the major symbols of Christmas—Santa Claus, reindeer, decorated trees, holly, mistletoe and the like—have to do with the birth of the Savior of mankind.
In the southern hemisphere summer climate of December, few people question why they observe a Christmas with northern hemisphere winter scenery!
The fact is, and you can verify this in any number of books and encyclopedias, that all these trappings came from ancient pagan festivals.
Even the date, Dec. 25, came from a festival celebrating the birthday of the ancient sun god Mithras. (If you'd like to learn more about the origins of the many customs and symbols associated with Christmas, request our free booklet Holidays or Holy Days: Does It Matter Which Days We Keep?)
Jesus never told His followers to celebrate Christmas, but He did warn us not to adhere to false, man-made religious doctrines: "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Mark 7:7). The truth is, Christmas and other non-biblical religious holidays constitute vain or empty worship of Christ.
The Catholic Encyclopedia indicates that the Christmas season came from an ancient midwinter festival that occurred at the time of the winter solstice.
Interestingly, the previously noted Origen, despite the early period in which he lived (ca. 182-251), never even mentioned it (The New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967, Vol. 3, 1967, and "Christmas and Its Cycle," The Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913, Vol. 3, "Christmas").
Tertullian, another Catholic theologian who lived at about the same time (ca. 155-230), referred to compromising Christians then beginning to join in the pagan midwinter festival celebrated in the Roman Empire, which eventually evolved into what is now Christmas:
"The Saturnalia, the feasts of January, the Brumalia, and Matronalia are now frequented; gifts are carried to and fro, new year's day presents are made with din, and banquets are celebrated with uproar; oh, how much more faithful are the heathen to their religion, who take special care to adopt no solemnity from the Christians" (Tertullian in De Idolatria, quoted by Hislop, p. 93).
In time Catholic religious leaders added solemnity to this pre-Christian holiday by adding to it the Mass of Christ, from which it eventually came to be known by its common name of "Christmas."
A matter of whether, not what
The purpose of The Good News magazine is to share with you the living truth of Jesus Christ. A true Christian cannot decide what he will obey, only whether he will obey God's truth.
We strive to publish God's pristine truth; people who read that truth have to decide what to do about it and whether they will honor it. Our commission from Jesus Christ is to teach the truth of God and to welcome as disciples and fellow workers those few who hear and obey the truth. We hope the truth about Christmas starts you on the road to true happiness and God's purpose for you.
History shows that Christmas does not represent Christ. It misrepresents sound biblical teaching and is in opposition to God's truth. God wants us to worship Him in truth (John 4:23-24), not fable.
In Deuteronomy 12:28-32, God told His people to worship only in the ways He commanded, telling them "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." He explicitly ordered them not to copy or adopt the religious practices of the pagans, calling such practices "abomination[s] . . . which He hates."
Yet hundreds of millions of men, women and children unwittingly observe Christmas, not knowing or caring from where it came. They assume that 2 billion Christians can't be wrong or that it doesn't matter how we worship God so long as our intentions are good. But why should we think we honor God or please Him when we worship contrary to His commands?
Crucial questions only you can answer
The crucial question is, do we worry more about what others think or about what God requires? Also, can other human beings give us salvation? If honoring God's truth determines our salvation, then why honor men over God?
Jesus Christ said to those who appeared religious but denied the power of His true teaching, "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46; compare Matthew 7:21). Since Christ is opposed to Christmas, why would any thoughtful Christian observe it?
Walking in Jesus' footsteps in a world that doesn't is never easy.
But it is much better and eminently more rewarding than following the empty ways of the world.
God tells us in 1 John 2:15-17: "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." GN
Ann Coulter and Kwanza was very interesting. I'm a 42 year-old white female and am currently going back to college to get my teaching degree in History/Social Studies for High School. I truly am for people being able to think for themselves and hope to challenge my students to do so--to think outside of the box and to be willing to challenge so-called norms, stand up for what they believe in etc.
I am very interested in social studies, minority histories, etc. and I'm a Christian. As a woman, I appreciate it when other women take a stand for what they believe in. I have not read Ann Coulter's book, but your article has certainly prompted me to do so. Thank you for having the guts to let your voice be heard.
A refreshing read....!!!
Jami
Thank you, Ms. Mooney, for a fabulous article! I’m not black, but I am quite familiar with the fellow who started the bogus holiday from his reputation. I feel that black Americans get ripped off by those telling them what to think or do or feel, how to vote, who to like, where to live, etc. I work for a County criminal justice agency, and have worked with so many kids who could have benefited so much from conservative and Christian values, but instead were instilled with a victim mentality that led them into disrespecting that which did not belong to them.
Thank you again, and I’ll look forward to following your writing. My father was a Managing Editor of the newspaper here in town, so I kind of know good writing when I see it.
MK
WOW SIS!
i JUST read your 'piece' on Ann Coulter i had to do a DOUBLE TAKE...i couldnt BELIEVE u actually agreed with her and u 'love' a white woman who could give a damn about u or 'us' as a people...
Kwanzaa isnt about HOLIDAY or even necessarily a 'celebration' its about the principles and us trying to live it DAILY...
if we did just like other successful and more UNIFIED groups we would have more say over how are schools r run and children are educated not to mention we would support MORE of our own businesses and of course the economics in OUR community...
for u to take such a stance is TRULY scary ((especially for a black woman)) sadly i'm NOT suprised tho...
reading further it seems u have some issues from your past with fellow black folk with this kind of comment 'the kind who chided me for reading Cosmo -- a "white girls" magazine,'
I see u getting your 'grind' on with these blogs and i do thank u for the information about getting 'paid' but dang sis...
with your views and values i wonder if u r tryin to get on FOX news or sumthin connected to that..i was just about to subscribe to your blog, but after reading this i think not...
bad enough we got white folk dissin somethin they dont even care to understand but for a 'sista' to defend...well i thought we had condi for that *smh*
I'm glad you took the time to email me. I'm just calling out the fakery of only those black folks who purport to be so "pro black" but in reality abuse black women.
This is a farce. This is not love.
Being able to respect and observe others beleifs has no effect on my Christianity and I think that is the biggest issue among Christians today.
be peaceful be peotry
That would be like Rush Limbaugh making fun of drug addicts or George W. Bush making fun of someone else's diction.
By the way, Christmas originally was the pagan Roman holiday of Saturnalia. The Christians took over this highly popular orgy of food, wine, and sex and turned it into something far less interesting. When right-wing Christians agonize about the true meaning of Christmas, I wonder how they would feel if they only knew.