• About
    • About Us
    • What We Cover
  • Advertise
    • Advertise
    • Our Advertisers
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • Send News
  • Subscribe

Oak Ridge Today

  • Home
  • Sign in
  • News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Police and Fire
    • U.S. Department of Energy
    • Weather
  • Sports
    • High School
    • Middle School
    • Recreation
    • Rowing
    • Youth
  • Entertainment
    • Arts
    • Dancing
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Premium Content
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds

Guest column: Christmas Spirit

Posted at 8:51 am December 24, 2014
By John Ragan Leave a Comment

John Ragan

John Ragan

On Christmas Day a century ago, at several locations along the Western Front of the World War I conflict, soldiers from both sides of the Great War emerged from trenches to meet in peace and camaraderie in no-man’s-land: the war-torn spaces between the opposing trenches. In the days leading up to Christmas, troops on both sides had sometimes joined in singing Christmas carols, the melodies rising to mix in the frigid air over the battlefield.

When Christmas Day dawned, instead of exchanging artillery barrages and bayonet charges, they traded handshakes, gifts, and holiday wishes. One location even enjoyed a friendly game of soccer.

Briefly, on a European battlefield where death and bitterness had reigned supreme, there was peace on earth and good will toward men. Though it was for only a day—a Christmas Day—hatred gave way to recognition of humanity’s brotherhood.

Advertisement

Some historians declare the story is misleading, because the so-called Christmas Truce was not a lasting one, nor did it occur everywhere along the front. The brutality of war soon resumed—and so, they say, the truce was no truce at all, and to believe it had any meaning was delusion. Stories of a Christmas Truce are false advertising about the power of Christmas. Bah, humbug! (I quote them here.)

Unfortunately, not all cantankerous “realists” are historians. For example, there are the professional “cultural critics” and “public intellectuals.” These groups constantly attack Christmas complaining about the commercialism associated with it.

By their estimates, Christmas shopping, Christmas glitz and glamor are horrible. But, by far, Christmas profits upon which some businesses live or die are the absolute worst! This commercialization is so pervasive, these critics claim, as to have completely overwhelmed whatever “spiritual” dimension might have resided in Christmas. Of course, the “public intellectuals” maintain the whole thing is really only a “social construct” anyway.

Really?

Advertisement

These complaints bring to mind the old adage about “throwing out the baby with the bath water.” Wait… is that baby they are trying to throw out is the Christ Child? No doubt, crass commercialization is very bad—but there’s a difference between commercialization and celebration.

I can’t say as I much enjoy the commercial pressures now associated with the Christmas season. Truth be told: they feel, to me, something like an assault, a campaign against my Christmas season sensibilities and faith. That faith tells me there’s a true spirit of Christmas, and it’s about the arrival of the Christ Child and the singing of angels, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.”

With the advertising barrages of Christmas commercialization raining down all around me, my impulse is to dive for cover into an emotional trench. But you know—sometimes I hear Christmas carols emerging from the commercialization camps, and even from the camps of culture critics.  And I feel the need to cross over into no-man’s land—cautiously—to shake a few hands, share a greeting of “Merry Christmas.” And I think that often, those who market Christmas can’t help but be affected by the real reason for the season.  Because…there’s just something about the Christmas Sprit that breaks through, when it’s least expected, even when battle lines seem to have been already drawn.

Advertisement

Historians and critics may say the Christmas Day Truce was irrelevant to the outcome of World War I. But I disagree. True, the war continued on its terrible path. But the Truce taught us something about our common humanity—and it reveals the underlying power and potential of the Christmas season.

That thing we call the Christmas Spirit is more than just jovial cheer, and it’s certainly not embodied in commercialism. What is it then? What can draw men out of freezing trenches and into the potential line of fire, risking their lives to seek peace and brotherhood? Well, that could only be the True Spirit of Christmas—the Spirit of God, seeking to draw us to Himself.

May all the joys of the Prince of Peace belong to you and all your loved ones during this blessed season. Happy Christmas to all!

John D. Ragan is State Representative in Tennessee’s District 33.

Filed Under: Guest Columns, Opinion Tagged With: Christ Child, Christmas, Christmas carols, Christmas Day, Christmas Day Truce, Christmas season, Christmas shopping, Christmas Spirit, Christmas Truce, Great War, John D. Ragan, Spirit of Christmas, Western Front, World War I

Advertisements


 

Join the club!

If you appreciate our work, please consider subscribing. Besides helping us, your subscription will give you access to our premium content.

Most of our stories are free, brought to you by Oak Ridge Today with help from our members—advertisers, subscribers, and sponsors.

But some are premium content, available only to members. Those are in-depth, investigative, or exclusive stories that are available only on Oak Ridge Today. They generally require at least four hours to report, write, and publish.

You can subscribe for as little as $5 per month.

You can read more about your options here.

We currently offer five primary subscription options to readers, and they include benefits.

Basic

  • Basic monthly subscription ($5 per month)—access premium content
  • Basic annual subscription ($60 per year)—access premium content

Pro

  • Pro monthly subscription ($10 per month)—access premium content, get breaking news emails first, and submit one press release or public service announcement per month
  • Pro annual subscription ($100 per year)—save $20 per year, access premium content, get breaking news emails first, and submit one press release or public service announcement per month

Temporary

  • Temporary access ($3 per week for two weeks)

We also have advanced subscription options. You can see them here.

We also accept donations. You can donate here.

If you prefer to send a check for a subscription or donation, you may do so by mailing one to:

Oak Ridge Today
P.O. Box 6064
Oak Ridge, TN 37831

Thank you for your consideration and for reading Oak Ridge Today. We appreciate your support.

Commenting Guidelines

We welcome comments, but we ask you to follow a few guidelines:

1) Please use your real name, including last name. Please also use a valid e-mail address.
2) Be civil. Don't insult others, attack their character, or get personal.
3) Stick to the issues.
4) No profanity.
5) Keep your comments to a reasonable length and to a reasonable number per article.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these guidelines. Comments held for review, usually from those posting for the first time, may not post if they violate these guidelines. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Thank you also for reading Oak Ridge Today and for participating in the discussion.

More information is available here.

More Opinion

Letter: Submarine Veterans base commander ‘very disappointed’ with festival this year

To the Editor: The Smoky Mountain Submarine Veterans, the Knoxville chapter of the United States Submarine Veterans, has had a booth and performed a Tolling of the Boats Ceremony at the Secret City Festival for the … [Read More...]

Five ways to foster resilience in young children

By Marjorie Alcorn: Home Visitor Healthy Families Tennessee/Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee East Region Resilience is defined as the ability to thrive, adapt and cope despite tough and stressful times. It’s a natural … [Read More...]

Letter: Oak Ridge Country Club responds to comments made at Council meeting

Editor's note: This is a letter sent to Oak Ridge City Council by the Oak Ridge Country Club in response to comments made during a City Council meeting in January, when Council considered whether to provide $120,000 for … [Read More...]

Opinion: How far can we move the needle?

By Ron Woody The buzz around the Roane County Courthouse and School Board has been what will our leaders do about the future of education in Roane County? The initial discussions were about consolidation of high … [Read More...]

Billy Paul Sams

Letter: Anderson County Bar Association wants to name law library after Billy Sams

Editor's note: The Anderson County Bar Association and legal community is proceeding with an effort to name the Anderson County Law Library after Billy Sams because "you never saw him without a book in his hands." Here … [Read More...]

More Opinion

Recent Posts

  • ORAU launches new app with a variety of resources available, including hundreds of STEM internships, fellowships and research opportunities
  • Disposing of uranium waste could cost at least $7.2 billion
  • Y-12 now getting power from Pine Ridge substation
  • Man sentenced to 8 years after fleeing, crashing, attempting carjackings
  • Three Ohio residents die in two-vehicle crash
  • DOE picks Idaho for nuclear test reactor
  • TBI investigating man’s death
  • Luminarias to feature peace messages
  • Oak Ridge tennis court dance is Thursday
  • DOE bus tours restart in Oak Ridge

Search Oak Ridge Today

About Us

About Oak Ridge Today
What We Cover

How To

Advertise
Subscribe

Contact Us

Contact Oak Ridge Today

Copyright © 2022 Oak Ridge Today