Four-week Pause and the Return of the So-called “War on Christmas”
COVID-19 case numbers are exploding across the country, and my state is no exception. Since the federal government with its lame duck President continues to do shockingly little beyond a “pray it away” policy, the Governor of my state has declared a four-week pause for the counties with the worst case numbers, starting tomorrow. Far from being a total lockdown, it simply means that gyms and some other businesses/gatherings involving large numbers of people indoors will not be operating for a few weeks. Full-service restaurants and many other indoor businesses can continue, but at 75% capacity with masks and distancing required.
Since this four-week pause is a decisive, scientifically-based move intended to save lives, it has of course met with all sorts of objections from the public. My inbox is quickly becoming the unwilling recipient of “She Can’t Take Away Christmas!!!” and “We REFUSE To Let Her Put Our Holidays On A Shelf!!!” emails. These are largely coming from Chambers of Commerce, mind you, not MAGA or other right-winger groups. Since this is my blog, I would like to address these fine folks.
First. Nobody is taking away your Thanksgiving, your Christmas, your Boxing Day, your Saint Swithun’s Day or any other day on the calendar. November 26 will still arrive, as will December 25 and every other day.
Second. Nobody is taking away your rights. You have the right to observe the holidays of your choosing within the bounds of the law. This has always been the case; nothing has changed. The bounds of the law adjust to respond to the current situation. If your observation of Easter involves slaughtering lambs with a fully automatic rifle within city limits, well, your local police department might have something to say about that. It’s not about you or your beliefs, it’s about public health and safety.
Third. Nobody is waging war against your holidays. In all my life I have never heard any politician of any ilk declare they are anti-holiday. Any holiday, take your pick.
Fourth. You have spent your whole life up till now in a cushy, affluent, privileged lifestyle. You have grown accustomed to doing certain things at a certain point in the year, and you associate this time of year with rich food, good drink, and lots of socializing. Coronavirus doesn’t care about any of that. The priority is that you (not to mention millions of other people) survive to see more holiday seasons, not that you get to feel good because it’s “tradition”. So you miss out on one season of doing exactly what you want; big deal. Cry me a river. You will miss a lot more than one Christmas if you die of COVID-19.
Fifth. If you’re really dead set on getting into the holiday spirit, why not try helping for once instead of indulging (or whining that you don’t get to indulge). Buy or make Covid Masks and donate them. Give blood to the Red Cross. Donate money to a charity, any charity, there are millions of good charities out there. Reach out and call or chat with people you know live alone or are otherwise lonely. Find a pen pal and write to them. Find a person that needs something, and then give that thing to that person. Whatever God or thing you might worship, I’m pretty sure they have never said “I want you to honor me by hanging out with your friends, stuffing yourselves, and getting drunk.” But there’s a good chance they have advocated for helping those in need, one way or another.
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