TV Christmas Specials – From The Good Old Days
While recuperating I have been watching television more than
usual, and naturally at this time of year, there are plenty of Christmas
specials to choose from. My wife and I
were watching the Clay Aiken Christmas show last week and I took particular
notice how many songs were performed that contained even a remote religious
theme – two. Yes, only two. Am I the only member of the TV audience that
notices these kinds of things? I think
not. But the impact was reinforced a
couple of nights later, when we caught an old re-run of a Lawrence Welk
Christmas special. As some of you older
readers can well guess, the selections were almost all religious in
nature.
Yes, I know the networks feel they must be “politically”
correct today and a variety of carols is always nice. I also know there are many other prevalent
religions that practice their beliefs here in America at the present time. And I want you to know, I have absolutely no
problems with other religions. After
all, I am half Polish, half Slovak and a
true Catholic “hunky” at heart. But this
is CHRISTmas! As in CHRISTian and as in
CHRIST. It’s difficult to even acknowledge
the Holiday without the religion.
Without the birth of Christ there would be no Holiday.
We have all heard many times that the Holidays are way too
commercialized and that many of us have lost the true meaning of Christmas, but
those two television specials opened my eyes even further. I want to know – Who do the networks feel
they are offending if those in control of programming allow songs or carols
that involve the birth of Christ? After
all, if a person isn’t celebrating Christmas, they’re not about to watch a
Christmas special, regardless of the carols selected. Personally, I would not tune into a show that
involves the celebration of an event that I didn’t believe in. And I doubt few non-Christians would do the
same for a television special that involves the birth of Jesus.
You see, before we sang “Frosty the Snowman,” the “Twelve
Days of Christmas” and “Jingle Bells” there was a Holiday that Christians
celebrated because it involved the birth of their Savior. And way before Santa and his reindeer, and
before tree decorations became popular, there was a baby born in Bethlehem who
was called Jesus Christ. I hope the
executives at the major networks won’t lose sight of “religion” in their future
Holiday specials. After all, we wouldn’t
have a Christmas Holiday if it weren’t for a phenomenal event – the birth of
Jesus. Let’s not be afraid to sing about
it!
Note: The above story was never submitted to the paper as part of the Po's Peek column. It was an early attempt to write, nothing more. circa 2004
