KKO [kanya-kanyang opinyon]

Let's Tell The Real Meaning of Christmas!

T'was the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying, Nor taking a stand.
The Politically Correct Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say,
December 25th is just a "Holiday."

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit,
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CD's from Madonna, an X BOX, an i-pods
Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas;
It won't touch your ears. Inclusive, sensitive,
Di-ver-si-ty are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your "Dream Tree"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say;
Shout "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" Not Happy Holidays!

*****
This poem is from an e-mail my Ninang sent me. Nagsimula kasi yung issue sa isang usapin sa States na palitan ang greeting para sa Pasko, para naman maging mas angkop ito sa panahon ngayon. Politically-correct, ika nga.

Naisip ko tuloy yung isang usapang nangyari sa amin nung isa kong kaibigan, tungkol sa isang issue na naiinvolve ang kanya-kanyang religious beliefs. Naisip ko tuloy, medyo may point nga yung gustong mangyari ng US, kasi hindi naman lahat ay Christians, Catholics. At lalo namang hindi lahat ay naniniwala, let alone may, Pasko. Pero naisip ko din, hindi naman siya masyadong malaking issue kung Merry Christmas ang sasabihin mo o Happy Holidays. Kanya-kanya lang yan eh. Hindi ka naman babati ng Merry Christmas kung ang relihiyon mo ay hindi naniniwala sa Pasko, pareho lang ng hindi ka naman babati ng Eid'l Al Fitir sa hindi nagcecelebrate ng Ramadan.

Parang malabo, pero actually, madali lang. Ang bottom line lang naman eh hindi na importante kung ang Pasko para sayo ay panahon para kay Kristo o hindi, panahon para mag-shopping para sa sarili mo o mamahagi ng biyaya sa mga hindi ganon ka-swerte, at kung dapat politically-correct ang iyong pagbati. Ang bottom line, kanya-kanya lang talagang opinyon yan. Depende lang yan kung tama yung opinyon mo o hindi. Joke!

Which brings me to another topic. Galing kasi sa isang issue (na naman) yung nasabi ng kaibigan kong si Christian na, "I always thought that giving and sharing was a universal thing." Tama siya doon, kasi kahit saang doktrina ka tumingin, yun yung tinuturo na isa sa mga pinaka-importanteng gawain na pwede mong gawin sa iyong kapwa. Kaya medyo hanggang ngayon nalalabuan pa rin ako sa ideology ng isa pang kaibigan tungkol sa isang isyung hindi ko na idedetalye. Basta may kinalaman sa pagtulong at sa religious belief na dapat hand-in-hand diba, pero medyo hindi faithful sa idea na yon. Pero sabi ko nga kanya-kanya lang yan, kaya tatantanan ko na.