The Angry Christmas Blues: A Festivus for the Rest of Us

I've been thinking about not celebrating Christmas this year.  Not because of the commercialism and the disconnected traditions.  And not because I don't like Jesus.  (because I do... I believe all the "big things" about Jesus....  Incarnation... Son of God....  Resurrection.... 2nd coming etc.).  But Im thinking about boycotting the holiday primarily because the churchies are screwing it up for me. Last week one of our Senators decided he would no longer participate in the Christmas parade because they had taken Christ out of the name. On first glance, it looks like if you love Jesus it's the only right thing to do.  But the problem from my perspective is that it's not the type of thing Jesus did.  Rather Jesus seemed to be humble and other-person-focussed.  He never would have demanded his own holiday. However, he did participate in the religious holidays of his time (jewish). Our Senator believes evidently that Christ would never participate in a "parade of lights" celebration.  And as a representative of Jesus on this earth he's decided to hold the world hostage by denying us his presence until Christendom is fully restored to it's rightful place as King conquering religion of the world.  And evidently, short of following Jesus' humble example and his command to Love, he has decided to use any means necessary to make it happen.  Manipulate.  Coerce.  Isolate....  Pout.....  Just like Jesus would do.  (sarcasm). I'm always amazed at the difference I see in how Jesus did things compared to how many of his followers do them.  The kingdom doesn't come by force or manipulation.  According to Jesus, the kingdom comes by Love. Jesus said his Kingdom begins in the heart, and works inside-out.  Many of his followers seem to think it works outside/in with pressure and political power garnering loyalty and support as the primary "way" of doing things.  (Loyalty is not always the best of all values; remember gangsters are loyal). It's the old, rah rah, "let's win America back for God", mindset that has everything to do with steam-rolling the "competition" rather than loving "the people",  (at a sacrificial cost if necessary) which is what Jesus did.       I've been looking at Festivus recently as  a substitute holiday.  I like the real, raw dorm-room quality of it.  Airing of grievances?  Feats of Strength?  The efficiency of substituting a tree (old pagan trickle-down tradition) for a beautiful, solid, high strength-to-weight ratio aluminum pole.  Besides, it seems less militant and somewhat flexible enough that one might incorporate Jesus in the celebration should one so choose. And ultimately that's the point isn't it?  That instead of being manipulated or coerced into the tradition, that one might freely choose?  Isn't that how Jesus did it?