Missing
December 27, 2010, 7:43 am
Posted by Robert P. Imbelli
Those, fortunate enough not to have to venture out in the blizzard-challenged Northeast, can catch up on accumulated newspapers. They might even pause over The New York Times “Christmas” editorial.
The newspaper of record suspects something happened in Bethlehem. “To Christians everywhere, Christmas comprises, above all, a decree from Caesar Augustus and in the same country shepherds abiding.” But, beyond these facts, the Times is not prepared to pronounce. It might be construed as partisan editorializing.
Perhaps someone with a poetic turn might update Robert Southwell’s “The Burning Babe” and offer a meditation on “The Missing Babe.”
Needless to say “Holy Family Sunday” passed unmentioned.
This newspaper of record refuses to record that “above all” Jesus Christ was born – to them this event is a myth – by not pronouncing that historical event, they show their partisanship.
Recently, a student in a World Religion class asked a visiting Rabbi whether he ever worried that perhaps Jesus was the Messiah – the Rabbi responded that when he dies and Jesus welcomes him, he’ll say “oops” and ask for mercy – that is the perfect “pronouncement” for the NY Times editorial on the last day: “OOPS”.
“All the good stories about Christmas — from Matthew and Luke or from Dr. Seuss — remind us that Christmas can be kept “anyhow and everyhow” (Dickens again) as long as there is charity and humility in the celebration of it. Charity, humility, good will and a prayer for peace.”
Not bad. As john writes: “S/he who abides in charity abides in God and God in her.”
Incredible. It seems that the NYT doesn’t even realize that the Gospels aren’t just “stories” to us but they actually tell us some facts. And the facts aren’t about pretty trees or a Grinch or candles or the sentimental feelings of fellowship, however valuable they are. The facts are about sin and redemption and a child who is God who loves us.
What do they teach those kids in those elites colleges anyway? Do they think the early Christian martyrs require no explanation at all? Do they think the papacy needs no explanation? I mean how it could survive in spite of its own history?
Last week in the NYT Dick Cavett told a story about an awful instance of rage he experienced one Christmas when he was a child. He seems to think that that is what is typical of Christmas, and the comments on the piece were all approving of his “truthfulness” aboutthe day. They neglect to notice that he also accuses the chief man involved in the story of probably raping his wife regularly and he (Cavett) informs a bunch of people in Nebraska that that their mother probably didn’t really love them — and, get this, he names the father by name. I thought of writing to the Times in protest what was at best an invasion of privacy, but I just wrote a nasty comment to Cavett. But I hope those people in Nebraska sue the Times blind for handing on a story that is only probably true.
The NYT ain’t what it used to be.
It seems that the NYT doesn’t even realize that the Gospels aren’t just “stories” to us but they actually tell us some facts.
Ann,
As I just said in Peter Steinfels’s thread, I don’t think the decree from Caesar Augustus or “shepherds abiding” are facts, which is the reason I disagree with Peter about the editorial. The fact is the birth of Jesus, not colorful details from the Infancy Narratives.
David N.==
I don’t know whether those stories are literally true or not, and I don’t really care. But I do believe that God was made man in Jesus, that they love us, and that we are called to love them and all other people, that we are sinners and are redeemed. None of that is trivial. I might be wrong about Jesus, but I don’t “believe in” pretty post cards or lovely hymns or dumb white snow. And, yes, I think all religions have the right to have their best beliefs respected, not just Christianity. But too often the people at the Times don’t seem to have a clue as to what religion is all about.
Some years ago there was an article in theTimes about “the Church of Craft”. People would get together on Sunday mornings to make things together == little art works (if they were lucky). They called this a “religion”, apparently because there was good fellowship in the group, Sheesh.
I think I would understand the point of this post better if you made a suggestion as to what you think would have been appropriate for the Times to write.
Abe,
how about reference to the fact that our Christian brothers and sisters celebrate “above all” the birth of Jesus?
Can you imagine a reference to Hanukkah that speaks of Antiochus Epiphanes and the Menorah, but makes no mention of the Maccabees? Now that would be “shocking.”
Yes, I suppose that would be fitting. Frankly, I don’t think they avoided direct stating that for the sake of political correctness, but rather that their reference to shepherds and Augustus was meant to be oblique and breezy (read twee).
Journalists seem generally lose around 50 IQ points the moment they take on a religious topic; this is especially noticeable in the casual bon-pensant bigotry of the Times’ editorialists. Another reason why Big Media is fast following the dinosaurs.
My reaction is the same as Abe’s. “To Christians everywhere, Christmas comprises, above all, a decree from Caesar Augustus and in the same country shepherds abiding.” That’s an awkward and not especially inspiring sentence, but it’s also an allusion to Scripture, which makes it rather difficult to claim the NYT was trying to leave Jesus and religion out of the picture altogether. Where you smell “political correctness,” I see a writer trying to be cute as (s)he takes on the thankless task of writing an “editorial” about how December 25 is Christmas Day. For heaven’s sake, maybe they didn’t say “Christmas marks the birth of Christ” because they didn’t want to insult readers’ intelligence?
Thankless. Hmmmm.
Perhaps the NYT could learn much from the WSJ about Christmas (and Thanksgiving) editorials. They’ve published the same classics for years.
“Another reason why Big Media is fast following the dinosaurs.”
Big Media is being replaced by the digital revolution. But there is hardly the quality of the NYT.
“The newspaper of record suspects something happened in Bethlehem. “To Christians everywhere, Christmas comprises, above all, a decree from Caesar Augustus and in the same country shepherds abiding.” But, beyond these facts, the Times is not prepared to pronounce. It might be construed as partisan editorializing.”
Fr. Imbelli, I mean this in the most complimentary sense: that paragraph is positively Neuhausian.
Jim,
no wonder it aroused such ire! :-)