The Assault on Christianity

Recently Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen sent out his annual holiday greeting card. No shocker there, as many governors and politicians mail countless greeting cards to their constituents. But of course, with this issue, controversy has arisen. The card features a picture of a young Muslim girl that the governor encountered last year while in Afghanistan. The greeting card has riled many conservatives because the card’s context is of wishing those whom received the card “Merry Christmas.” “Merry Christmas” evidently does not mix too well with the Islamic faith, at least according to the conservatives. The back of the card states the following:

"May the peace and joy of this Christmas season be with you and your loved ones throughout the coming year. While it may seem odd to put a portrait of a young Muslim woman on a Christmas card, this Season reminds us that He loves His children most of all. May the miracle of Christmas help bring peace to this young woman and her wounded land.”

Reverend Maury Davis, a conservative minister has been the governor’s most outspoken critic in reference to the card and its substance. He believes that the card is not clear enough in stating that Jesus loves all people. He also disagrees that Christmas is not about honoring all religions. I am not putting words into the good reverend’s mouth, but my definition included honoring all religions, as the goal of Christianity is to bring people together as one, especially around the holiday season regardless of faith. I believe that Governor Bredesen’s goal was filled with good intentions and not that of malice in insulting other people’s faith, including Christians.

This is a case where politics has stammered into the way of religion. The depiction of a Muslim woman on a holiday greeting card is not wrong; it is further emphasizing the position of Christianity. In the age of vilifying politicians based on their personal beliefs, words from those like Rev. Davis are absolutely uncalled for. Granted, the man is the governor of Tennessee, but I am sure that he disclosed his religious beliefs at sometime during his campaign. People knew what they were receiving when they voted the man into office. Picking apart a simple greeting card wishing everyone a Merry Christmas is utterly ridiculous (not to many people can spell that word for some odd reason) because there is a Muslim woman on the front of it.

The American public has received the wrong idea about Islam in “W’s” war on terror. Only a slim number of those belonging to the faith are apart of the radical sect that perpetrates acts of terror against us “infidels.” The Bush Administration would have you believe that everyone of the Islamic faith is evil and hell bent on dominating the world. I disagree with some aspects of Islam, but I do not despise those who are apart of it. The last time I checked, both Christians and Muslims worship the same God, whether it is “Allah” or Jesus Christ. The basic disagreement between Christianity and Islam is over whether Christ was the true savior. I do not want to debate religious doctrine, as that battle is constantly waged in our own minds. But the point is that conservatives like Rev. Davis are skewing the fine line between politics and religion. His words are an insult to Christians and Muslims alike. Can’t we all just get along and drop the rhetoric? I know that is impossible, but it is the principle that counts, especially from those claiming to tout their beliefs on the "Christian right."