Posted by Russ Sims(WA) on December 15, 1998 at 24:45:00:
Thankyou, thankyou! thankyou! Sometimes it takes an absurd story to illustrate the lunacy of everyday life. And you’re right: it is scary. Hits too close to home…
A Scary Christmas Story (Long) - Posted by Soapymac
Posted by Soapymac on December 14, 1998 at 21:54:19:
There are times when Christmas can mean so much. There are also times when biting satire can make you think about what this time of year, to the Christian world, should really be like. For all you seasoned citizens out there…do you remember the record put out by a comedian named Stan Freiburg(sp?) that took a look at Christmas?
My pastor sent me this. I think it’s in the same line as that record. (And I didn’t vote for my pastor’s new computer hookup, either!)
Subject: A Scary Christmas Funny
JESUS & THE ELVES
And Joseph went up from Galilee to Bethlehem with Mary, his espoused wife, who was great with child. And she brought forth a son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn. And the angel of the Lord spoke to the shepherds and said, “I bring you tidings of great joy. Unto you is born a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
“There’s a problem with the angel,” said a Pharisee who happened to be strolling by. As he explained to Joseph, angels are widely regarded as religious symbols, and the stable was on public property where such symbols were not allowed to land or even hover.
“And I have to tell you, this whole thing looks to me very much like a Nativity scene,” he said sadly. “That’s a no-no, too.”
Joseph had a bright idea. “What if I put a couple of reindeer over there near the ox and ass?” he said, eager to avoid sectarian strife.
“That would definitely help,” said the Pharisee, who knew as well as anyone that whenever a savior appeared, judges usually liked to be on the safe side and surround it with deer or woodland creatures of some sort. “Just to clinch it, throw in a candy cane and a couple of elves and snowmen, too,” he said. “No court can resist that.”
Mary asked, “What does my son’s birth have to do with snowmen?”
“Snowpersons,” cried a young woman, changing the subject before it veered dangerously toward religion.
Off to the side of the crowd, a Philistine was painting the Nativity scene. Mary complained that she and Joseph looked too tattered and worn in the picture. “Artistic license,” he said. “I’ve got to show the plight of the haggard homeless in a greedy, uncaring society in winter,” he quipped.
“We’re not haggard or homeless. The inn was just full,” said Mary.
“Whatever,” said the painter.
Two women began to argue fiercely. One said she objected to Jesus’ birth “because it privileged motherhood.” The other scoffed at virgin births, but said that if they encouraged more attention to diversity in family forms and the rights of single mothers, well, then, she was all for them.
“I’m not a single mother,” Mary started to say, but she was cut off by a third woman who insisted that swaddling clothes are a form of child abuse, since they restrict the natural movement of babies.
With the arrival of 10 child advocates, all trained to spot infant abuse and manger rash, Mary and Joseph were pushed to the edge of the crowd, where arguments were breaking out over how many reindeer (or what mix of reindeer and seasonal sprites) had to be installed to compensate for the infant’s unfortunate religious character.
An older man bustled up, bowling over two merchants, who had been busy debating whether an elf is the same as a fairy and whether the elf/fairy should be shaking hands with Jesus in the crib or merely standing to the side, jumping around like a sports mascot.
“I’d hold off on the reindeer,” the man said, explaining that the use of asses and oxen as picturesque backdrops for Nativity scenes carries the subliminal message of human dominance. He passed out two leaflets, one denouncing manger births as invasions of animal space, the other arguing that stables are “penned environments” where animals are incarcerated against their will. He had no opinion about elves or candy canes.
Signs declaring “Free the Bethlehem 2” began to appear, referring to the obviously exploited ass and ox. Someone said the halo on Jesus’ head was elitist.
Mary was exasperated. “And what about you, old mother?” she said sharply to an elderly woman. “Are you here to attack the shepherds as prison guards for excluded species, maybe to complain that singing in Latin identifies us with our Roman oppressors, or just to say that I should have skipped patriarchal religiosity and joined some dumb new-age goddess religion?”
“None of the above,” said the woman, “I just wanted to tell you that the Magi are here.”
Sure enough, the three wise men rode up. The crowd gasped, “They’re all male!” And “Not very multicultural!”
“Balthasar here is black,” said one of the Magi. “Yes, but how many of you are gay or disabled?” someone shouted. A committee was quickly formed to find an impoverished lesbian wise-person among the halt and lame of Bethlehem.
A calm voice said, “Be of good cheer, Mary, you have done well and your son will change the world.”
At last, a sane person, Mary thought.
She turned to see a radiant and confident female face. The woman spoke again: “There is one thing, though. Religious holidays are important, but can’t we learn to celebrate them in ways that unite, not divide? For instance, instead of all this business about ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo,’ why not just ‘Season’s Greetings’?”
Mary said, “You mean my son has entered human history to deliver the message, ‘Hello, it’s winter’?”
“That’s harsh, Mary,” said the woman. “Remember, your son could make it big in midwinter festivals, if he doesn’t push the religion thing too far. Centuries from now, in nations yet unborn, people will give each other pricey gifts and have big office parties on his birthday. That’s not chopped liver.”
“Let me get back to you,” Mary said.
Re: A Scary Christmas Story (Long) - Posted by Rob FL
Posted by Rob FL on December 15, 1998 at 21:02:34:
Great story Soapy. I think everyone needs to remind themself what the true meaning of Christmas is. It is the birthday of Jesus. It is NOT presents, stockings, or Christmas dinner despite what the Wall Street geniuses will tell you. The first Christmas was quite different as Soapy has wonderfully (and humorously) pointed out.
Happy Holidays.
Re: A Scary Christmas Story (Long) - Posted by michael
Posted by michael on December 15, 1998 at 19:29:01:
Thank you Soapymac,
It was a great story. It brings to mind what is really important at Christmas time. To me it is my family and friends and the relationship I have with them. PC and all that aside we should realize the importance of treating others like Christ would. I gave my tenants each a turkey this year with my sincere appreciation for helping me to reach my deams through real estate. Spiritual growth often takes a back seat to enjoying what we have in this country and the love we have to share.
Re: A Scary Christmas Story (Long) - Posted by Jim
Posted by Jim on December 14, 1998 at 23:01:49:
That was GREAT! ROFLMAO!