(Cross posted to One America Committee Blog)

Yes, Virginia, there is a war on Christmas. I’ve been there and seen it. It isn’t pretty. But before I tell you about it, let me say a word to my brothers and sisters that seek to be in touch with a greater power through their Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or other traditions, the war is against your faiths as well.

As I went to the shopping center a few days before Christmas, a large SUV gunned it, racing for a parking spot. Apparently they needed to be sure that they would get the shiny trinket before I did. I imagine they were listening to a conservative talk radio host bewailing shopkeepers that didn’t wish their customers ‘Merry Christmas’. They should be complaining about shopkeepers that don’t pay a livable wage or don’t provide healthcare to their employees.

Whether or not people wish us ‘Merry Christmas’ is a distraction from the meaning of Christmas. Instead of focusing name games, we need to focus on helping the people around us and helping bringing peace to our world.

Kim gets this. For Christmas this year, she went to Our Voices Together and donated to Seeds of Peace as her present to me.

Our Voices Together “is a nonprofit organization founded by people who have lost family members or friends to terrorist acts.” Their board includes the Chair of Islamic Studies at American University serving along side an Episcopal Priest.

Seeds of Peace “is dedicated to empowering young leaders from regions of conflict with the leadership skills required to advance reconciliation and coexistence.” We need to be promoting reconciliation and coexistence instead of dividing people based on who says what at the shopping malls.

The war on Christmas doesn’t end on Christmas day. We still need to be working for peace and economic justice every day of the year. So, whether we are donating to international peace organizations or food to local food banks, whether we are helping rebuild the lower ninth ward, or working on electing leaders that will bring about change through their example and through changing policies in Washington, we need to focus on how we help people around us and not simply on word games about how a shopkeeper greets us at the store.

Merry Christmas everyone.