What Makes A "Good" Christmas?

(CBS)  Just nine shopping days to Christmas? Our contributor Ben Stein doesn't think that's a good way to count down, or to THINK, about the holiday.

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I keep seeing in the newspapers that it might not be a "good" Christmas because while visits to stores are up, purchases per visit are down very slightly.

There is also some fear that it might not be a "good" holiday season because fears about the housing correction will scare shoppers into keeping their wallets zipped.

I'm fascinated by this, because I have looked through a Concordance of the Old and New Testaments and I do not find the word "shopping" even once.

I'm not sure when the idea got to be dominant that a "good" Christmas was about total spending, but here respectfully are some alternative suggestions:

Maybe a good Christmas for this most blessed of nations would be when we as a nation and as communities made sure the homeless had a warm, safe place to sleep.

Maybe a good Christmas would not be about buying your kids the latest gizmo for listening to obscene lyrics, but about teaching them that if they are fortunate enough to have extra time or extra money, they can help out at the old age home or at the local animal shelter.

Maybe a good time would not be buying your parents sweaters they will never use, but taking a trip to see them and telling them how much you appreciate that they spent the heart of their lives taking care of you, feeding you, teaching you, putting a roof over your head, warming you with their love and concern.

Maybe the best time of all would be telling your husband or your wife or love partner that you would be lost without him or her and that you're sorry for the selfish things you did that year, and you'll be better next year.

Christmas and Hanukah presents rarely fit and rarely are to your taste. They sit in your closet and collect dust forever.

But gifts in this special, sacred time of love and caring to your family, your friends, and your neighborhood - those are never forgotten. They bring peace of mind for years.

And I seem to recall from my vanished youth that this is the holiday of the prince of peace, not the queen of diamonds.

[vegnik]

Ben Stein is acting like a so-called Jew for Jesus and I found it reprehensible that he said it and that CBS gave him the giant megaphone to do so.

I don't mind people celebrating their own holidays; in fact, I think it's great. But when people essentially say that certain (religious) holidays are universal, I draw the line.

I am not Christian and do not and do not want to celebrate Christmas, which is a Christian holiday. It's not my story, not my tree, not my Santa. If it's yours, go and enjoy, but please leave the rest of us out of it and definitely don't contribute the long tragic history of Christian persecution of non-Christians.

Ben Stein and CBS should be ashamed of themselves; more importantly, they should learn for the future.

[michellem99-2009]

This is what Christmas is to me talking to my senior by phone.Having a simple meal..Being grateful for what I have. Sending out cards. Being with my long time friend and room mate. Yaking with ye. I don''t care about gifts. It is better give than get. Yer give of ye when we all yak on this here board. Thank ye and peace of Christ be with ye..

[logicanada]

Amen, Mr. Stein. ...and Merry Christmas to all.

[lbudzin]

Thank you, Mr. Stein. I may not always agree with your commentaries but definitely agree wholeheartedly with this one. May you and yours have a blessed Holiday Season!

[lbudzin]

Thank you, Mr. Stein. I may not always agree with your commentaries but truly agree with this one. May your and yours have a blessed holiday season. It''s comforting to know that there are those out there who have not lost sight of the real meaning of this holiday season.

[quatrops]

55 comments so far. About 50 of them offer absolutely NO reflection on what Stein had to say. They are, instead, pro and con arguments about whether or not it is appropriate for a Jew to be commenting on what Christmas has become in Western culture and what might be a healthy alternative.

How awesomely sad that is !

Do ANY of you disagree that what Stein had to say was absolutely on target and offered some nourishing insight into contemporary culture?

My Christ (a Jew, by the way) would be saddened by what the celebration of his nominal birthday has become. But I believe His sadness at that would pale in comparison to that which He would feel about the bigotry extant in complaints about the religious identity of the author.

His message was about love, acceptance, and tolerance; not the hate underlying the message of you complainers.

[johenk]

WAY TO GO BEN! IF ONLY MORE PEOPLE WOULD THINK LIKE YOU DO - CHRISTIAN, JEWISH OR WHATEVER RELIGION YOU ARE (I AM CHRISTIAN).

THIS IS A HOLY TIME FOR ALL TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER NOT KILL EACH OTHER.

COME ON PEOPLE, WAKE UP AND SMELL THE ROSES!

[lajones06]

For some Christians, Christmas is less about Jesus and more about the reason to spend. You do not have to be a Christian to understand the meaning of the day. Jesus was not born a Christian, he was born a Jew. Be with family and friends and enjoy the holidays.

[shadowseraph]

Christmas is a Christian holday, but when we forget its meaning, so does everyone else. If we remembered whose b-day it was a little better, we might have a significantly less commercialized view of it, and we might start doing the things that Mr. Stein has suggested. Jesus would like that. God bless you, sir.

[lajones06]

the e-mails about ben stein being jewish and that he not comment on anything christmas is ridiculous. they are proving his point more than ever. is there really an argument for going into debt and spending until we have absolutely everything we want? the true meaning of this time of year transcends religion, or should, and does not belong exclusively to christians or people with a lot of money. those who are without means may have a good christmas if they have love in their hearts much more so that a wealthy family and two new matching cars. if christmas is just about the gifts, then why wait until december 25th? i also hope that the families celebrating the jewish holidays are spent with the true meaning in mind.