If you want to know which parts of Christmas are worth keeping, and which ones are commercialized candy, just ask me. I can tell you.
See, in Qatar, they don't allow Jesus Christ in public. They're Muslims, and evangelizing a Muslim is illegal. So, any Christmas decorations you see have, by legal requirement, little if anything to do with Jesus. Come to Qatar, and you will see a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer (actually, they're humongous, hanging in the middle of City Center mall, but you get the idea). You will see brightly-wrapped boxes with bows. You will see artificial Christmas trees, bells, colorful lights, and banners inviting you to various Christmas parties. You'll see children laughing, people passing, meeting smile after smile. And on every street corner you hear...the mosque, announcing another call to prayer.
When it comes to Christmas in Qatar, Jesus is conspicuous by His absence. Don't let this happen to your Christmas!
Posted by jon at December 24, 2003 03:23 PM