Archive for December 14, 2008

Is There a War on Christmas?

Most of you will have heard of the theory of the “War on Christmas,” popularized by such conservative luminaries as Bill O’Reilly, that Christian religiosity and holiday celebrations are increasingly marginalized in modern America, as stores exchange “Merry Christmas” for greetings like “Happy Holidays,” and Christmas specials get pushed off the air.

I don’t buy it. I admit it’s hard for me to get behind any narrative of modern American culture that casts Christianity as the oppressed minority. And it’s also hard for me to view Christmas as disappearing from the national consciousness, when even cynical, snarky, generally liberal 30 Rock runs a hilarious (and heartwarming) Christmas special. But have I missed the boat?

Here’s my theory of the case, in the alternative: any degree to which either Christianity or the religious message of Christmas are downplayed in the modern media is purely incidental to rising multiculturalism in America. The nation is more diverse, and, quite simply, (1) there’s money to be made in making them and their traditions feel welcome by exchanging “Merry Christmas” for the only slightly less effusive “Happy Holidays,” and (2) this trade-off occurs less than one would actually expect, given America’s religious diversity. The only oppression I see in exchanging a specific, Christian holiday message for a general, abstracted holiday message is that Christianity no longer dominates the airwaves, but is, rather, merely the loudest of a number of holiday voices. That’s not oppression. That’s the consequence of national growth. If the religious right’s problem is multiculturalism, and new voices in the national dialogue, why not just come out and say it?

Or, perhaps more importantly, why use a season of celebration as a way of saying it? Whining about a “War on Christmas” is a surer way to kill the message and spirit of the season than acknowledging other cultures.

Holiday Gifts #1: Mont Blanc Fountain Pens

Are you one of the lucky few with money to burn this holiday season? I’m not… but if you are, and if you’re looking for a gift for someone who spends their days writing (say, a student, a lawyer, etc.), may we suggest fountain pens? Not only do fountain pens still exist, but they’re also significantly more fun to write with than your everyday, disposable ballpoints: an elegant weapon, of a more civilized age.

But if you’re going to buy a fountain pen, it’s important to know what not to buy. While heavy-hitter brands like MontBlanc are probably the most visible & recognizable fountain pens around, they’re also some of the worst, and the most expensive. Most MontBlancs are shockingly fragile, made of an easily scratchable, lightweight resin (to get around these deficiencies, MontBlanc advertises its resin as “luxurious” – gag), and waaaaay overpriced. In short, buy a fountain pen, but avoid MontBlanc.

There are a few exceptions. The MontBlanc Boheme fountain pen – shown below – is one of them. It’s made of the same disappointing resin, but there’s less of it, and the pen’s compact size and novelty make up for it. You see, the Boheme is one of the few retractable fountain pens that actually manages to pull of the whole retraction gimmick without compromising the pen’s lifetime or usability.

Although the gemmed clip is ridiculously pretentious – and likely fake – the gem isn’t an indispensable part of the model. If you want to get one of these pens, just go to your local pen store (avoid the MontBlanc stores: they’re pretentious and marked-up), and ask for the black/platinum/no-gem model (ditching the gem also shaves $50 off the price). It writes fantastically, cuts a simple profile (sans gem), and, in the 5+ years I’ve had mine, it’s proven quite durable even for daily use. Fountain pens are, after all, meant to be used and loved: if you bend the nib, that’s what pliers and fine motor skills are for!

Retracted; cartridge out.

If you’re not convinced by the Boheme, but want to stay within the MontBlanc brand, there’s always the rubberized Starwalker: it’s similarly durable and writes well, though it’s not as clever as the retractable Boheme. But outside of these two pens, and the ridiculously expensive but always quality limited editions, stay away from MontBlanc if you’re in the fountain pen market. There’s better out there for less: but that’s for another edition.

Next time: the Rotring 600s, and why eBay isn’t useless.