The Christmas Show (Show 040)
First of all, Merry Christmas!! We hope that everyone is having a wonderful holiday season. And in the true spirit of Christmas, Mosley discussed Leonard Peikoff’s article, “Why Christmas Should Be More Commercial” located here for Show 040. Here’s an excerpt:
“…Christmas as we celebrate it today is a 19th-century American invention. The freedom and prosperity of post-Civil War America created the happiest nation in history. The result was the desire to celebrate, to revel in the goods and pleasures of life on earth. Christmas (which was not a federal holiday until 1870) became the leading American outlet for this feeling.” –Leonard Peikoff
As Dr. Peikoff says, Christmas is a time to celebrate and enjoy the world. It is not a time of sacrifice (or of mindless giving for the sake of giving), but a time to be proud of what you’ve accomplished and spending time with those who are a value to you.
Make it a good one!
January 2nd, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I wish Dr. Peikoff would have cited his sources for the origin of Christmas, because some of these “facts” seem awfully slanted and opinionated. Also, I’m not sure how he was the one blessed to understand the true meaning of Christmas, since as everyone knows, Christmas means something different to everyone.
I thought his statement about it being a “time to be proud of what you’ve accomplished and spending time with those who are a value to you” to be too general, since really, isn’t the above statement representative of the Objectivist lifestyle every day and not just Christmas?
Peikoff may be her legal heir, but as far as I’m concerned he’s part of a separate field of Objectivism and not the true form of it at all, yet people continue to kiss his feet. Disgusting.
January 2nd, 2008 at 4:04 pm
He could have cited his sources, but I don’t think his view about the origin of Christmas is too controversial. In high school, I was taught that Christmas was placed around the time of the ancient winter festival, Saturnalia, in order to help transition the culture to Christianity, as Peikoff mentioned. And searching Google, it seems like that’s the general consensus.
And the statement you quoted was actually just my paraphrasing. While an Objectivist would do those things throughout the year, holidays are times to place special attention on them. For example, we have Veteran’s Day to focus on honoring our veterans, even though we truly honor them throughout the year.
With regard to Dr. Peikoff, he generally makes clear when he’s speaking of Objectivism, Ayn Rand’s personal views, or of his own views. And in my experience, he’s a credible source of all three. If you disagree, you’re free to, but please substantiate your view.
January 15th, 2008 at 11:35 am
It was just an opinion and I don’t need an essay to support that, so this sentence will have to do. And FYI I did read the entire article, unfortunately.
It was also printed in Pittsburgh’s City Paper as a mocking of what the Christmas season has become and was supposed to be funny, however I’m sure it also gave part of the city a bad impression of Objectivists, which I find Peikoff is behind quite often. It’s this laughable, when it’s not supposed to be, side of Objectivism that began to give me doubts over its authenticity and directed me to remain faithful only to a Randian point of view and not her heir or any other interpreters. I refuse to comment any further on that remark, for it’s too long of a discussion.
You guys are doing a good job, but it’s articles like this one that perpetuate the greedy bastard image of Objectivism and I would just like to see more positive and less cold hearted debates so real, emotional people can relate and so more people aren’t turned off.
January 15th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
You found this article laughable even when you considered yourself an Objectivist? And you find it cold-hearted? Would you care to explain why?