Political
Footnotes
by
Stuart James

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IPS Features Staff

International Press Service

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

 Recently, I was watching television and I saw a commercial reminding the viewer of the true meaning of Christmas. The commercial starts with a shot of a Christmas ornament with a painting of Santa Claus. He is red cheeked, with a big white beard, with a round button nose, and a red fur trimmed hat. The smile on Santa with his rosy red cheeks invokes a positive response, Christmas is around the corner. The ad then pans over to a cradle ornament, with the baby Jesus. The shot of the baby Jesus invokes the true meaning of Christmas, reminding those of us who are Christians why we celebrate Christmas.

The narrator of the commercial implicitly creates the message that Santa Claus represents the commercialism of Christmas. The commercial then reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas—the birth of Jesus Christ.

I would propose that Santa Claus and baby Jesus both have the power to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas. I think for the true meaning of Santa is consistent with the reason Christians celebrate Christmas, and that Christmas is a celebration of birth, Christmas is a celebration of giving, a celebration of the good in all of us.

Santa Claus is a symbol of giving. Santa Claus is a selfless person who, according to legend, delivers gifts to children around the world--he gives gifts without a price tag, he gives gifts without asking for something in return--he symbolizes the age old saying that it is better to give than to receive.  

I believe Santa Claus would be a spiritual man. As a spiritual man, every time he gives he reminds us what Jesus gave-Jesus certainly thought it was better to give than to receive. 

I think Santa Claus, moreover, would be a spiritual man who understands the positive nature of giving-Santa Claus would condemn the commercialism of Christmas, he would gently remind us about the true meaning of Christmas. His actions of giving would speak loudly about the true meaning of Christmas.

So, this Christmas I suggest that Santa Claus is more than just a commercial advertisement; he can, and should be, a reminder that Christmas is more than gifts--Christmas is a celebration of birth, it is a celebration of giving and asking for nothing in return.

Times may change but the celebration of Christmas remains constant.  For those of you who believe Santa is nothing than a commercial symbol and for those of you who believe he encompasses the spirit of Christmas, I leave you with the words of John Church written in response to a little girl named Virginia.  After reading this message I think you will agree that the spirit of Christmas rings true in every word Mr. Church wrote in 1897, and that his words have the same meaning now as they did when they were written:

"DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, 'If you see it in THE SUN it's so.'
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?

VIRGINIA O'HANLON.
115 WEST NINETY-FIFTH STREET."

In response Mr. Church wrote:

“VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except [what] they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, VIRGINIA, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.”