Hope It's Not a Godless Christmas for Obama, Too

on December 1, 2011 at 8:04 PM

As I write this, the Obamas are lighting this year's National Christmas Tree in a televised ceremony with Kermit the Frog, Big Time Rush, and Ellie Goulding. This year's tree is a 26-foot-tall blue spruce from New Jersey. Everyone will sing and hold hands just like the little Whos in Whoville and I just hope to GOD Obama remembers to mention our dear Lord and Savior this time, or there will be hell to pay from the Christian conservatives!

You remember what happened when President Obama neglected to mention God in his Thanksgiving video, right? Commentators couldn't stop jabbering about how awful it was. Even though he mentioned God in the written address, and even though he's not even the first President to leave God out of Thanksgiving, you would have though he'd sung "Running With the Devil" by the reaction from religious-right pundits.

When did we get so holier-than-thou? I don't know, but the stakes for wearing your Christian devotion on your sleeve are higher than ever. So I hope -- for all of our sakes -- that Obama manages to slip in a Jesus or a Lord or something. Mention little baby Jesus, even! Something along these lines:

Today we gather on this Christ-loving occasion to light a tree, formerly a pagan ceremony a sign of our devotion to God (the Christian one, not Ganesha) and his great gift to us all. And now I'd like to tell you again the story about when I was saved by God's loving grace, because Americans just can't get enough of that. Let us all pray -- TO GOD.

That's good, right? Obama should totes hire me as his new speech writer! I would rock at it. I smell a second term, everybody!

But is it enough? Even if Obama does mention God, he probably won't mention him enough times, or loudly enough, or in the right tone of voice. Or people will find reasons to complain about something else. Let me think, are amphibians objectionable on religious grounds? I seem to recall something about a plague of frogs in the Old Testament. Watch out, Kermit. And Obama, don't forget: Little Baby Jesus cries when you forget to mention his Daddy.

Do you think people will find reasons to criticize this year's National Christmas Tree-lighting ceremony?

Image via izik/Flickr

About the author Adriana Velez

is a staff writer who dabbles in food, parenting, news, entertainment, molecular biology, and anything else that that pops into her head. She lives with her husband and elementary school-aged son in Brooklyn, land of urban farms and artisan everything.

Filed Under: barack obama, in the news, media, white house

Comments (38)

tuffymama

on Dec 1, 2011 at 8:08 PM

Why is it not okay to poke fun at or make examples of members of any religion but Christianity?

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Caera

on Dec 1, 2011 at 8:43 PM

Adriana, you're an idiot. You should be Obama's speechwriter. You two would work well together.

ethans_momma06

on Dec 1, 2011 at 8:46 PM

I have to say, I am becoming very annoyed with how religion is pushed onto our politicians. As if they don't meaninglessly/thoughtlessly utter 'GOD BLESS AMERICA' enough. I'm very religious and the pressure others are forcing onto people PUBLICALLY (specifically the president, of whom I am not a fan) really disgusts me. It goes against the fundmanetal intrests this nation was founded on,and if that weren't enough it goes against the principles of (specifically, in this case) the major branches of Christianity. Mathew 6:5-6 for anyone interested. It's wrong for Christians to shove how devout/involved religiously they are, and it's wrong for them to push others to do the same.

Nonmember comment from K

on Dec 1, 2011 at 8:52 PM

Dear fellow christians. Christianity is not the only religion and no politician is obligated to even believe the same as your let alone say what YOU think they should say about the God YOU think they should say it about. Get over it.

butterflymkm

on Dec 1, 2011 at 9:02 PM

I don't think she was poking fun at Christians. Just certain holier than thou conservatives. I agree with Ethans_momma, I wish it wasn't such a big deal WHAT religion our president is. Jesus Christ himself could fly down from Heaven, pat president Obama on the back, and tell him he thinks he's doing a great job leading the country, and some Christian conservatives would still find an issue.

Nonmember comment from Kristi

on Dec 1, 2011 at 9:04 PM

Ugh, I'm sure they'll be on him for something. Honestly there were a number of Republicans who didn't mention god in their press releases (and since when did holidays require these?!) and you didn't hear any uproar over that. Honestly, I don't' care what you believe in, but can christians please stop making a big deal about someone either not believing in what they do OR not doing it often/loudly enough?

RockerMommy21

Hilarious

BraysMama08

on Dec 1, 2011 at 9:07 PM

As a Christian I really don't care for that fact that people lump Christians all together. I would never dream of forcing my religion down someone's throat and I certainly don't want others doing it to me. I agree with the nonmember comment from K above. I really don't like to see people bashing Christians either. Why on earth can't people just let others be.