By: Chris Rivera

The majority of Filipino Americans are Roman Catholic, thanks to the Spanish settlers that “Europeanized” the archipelago, so we are supposed to say grace before every meal, honor thy mother and father, and attend weekly mass. Catholics are supposedly very conservative, so much so that Americans are afraid to elect a Catholic President. If we are so gosh darned conservative, why are we progressively losing Christ in our lives?

Why do I keep hearing “Let’s put Christ back into Christmas?” Wasn’t he always there? When did Christmas, supposedly Jesus’s birthday, stray from being just that? When did we stray from the manger and end up in Best Buy (which I am guilty of)? Are we so jaded by all the holly, pine, and tinsel that we forgot who we owe this holiday to? Are we so busy with all the Christmas parties we have to go to we forgot Him at home? Are we so frustrated with all the long lines at the local Walmart that we forgot He’s right there in line, with you? By the way, say a prayer next time, and He might open up lane 12 for you.

Nothing has changed. Why have we? Okay, maybe not so much us, but our way of thinking. I remember when I was little, everything was special. The time we spent wrapping gifts was always memorable, because we wanted each recipient to feel just as special as the next. We would fight over what Christmas carol we would play next on the cassette tape player because singing about the coming of the Christ made us feel so good. Even just the warmth of the fireplace reminded us our Savior.

Nowadays, Christmas cards are bought in bulk because it’s easier that way, just as long as Baby Jesus, Santa, or one of his reindeer is on the cover. When was the last time you stopped to notice what was on the wrapping paper that once enveloped your brand new Xbox 360 with Kinect? Oh, you didn’t? I forgot the last time I heard someone singing along to a Christmas carol at the grocery store. Christmas is so bland, maybe even vague to most Americans. It is what it is. It is time off from work. It is the same music playing in every store. It is spending a lot of money on gifts for others.

Maybe 2012 is a good year to start to refocus Christmas. Let’s remember WHY we are giving. We are thankful to someone for something. Let’s remember the work that others do for us. Let’s remember those who we will never meet, and allow us the freedom to enjoy Christmas day. Thank You, Lord, we’re (apparently) out of Iraq. We’re (apparently) on the upswing of our double bellied economic slide, also known as the double dip recession. Gas never hit $5, like they said it would. Kim Jong Il is Kim Jong Nil, which I heard brought about mourners from South Korea, which I hope is a sign of good things to come in that nation. Oh, and did you hear? The IPhone 25vsg2…my point is, with so much to be thankful for, let’s thank the right guy.

It is now 2015, but it might as well still be 2012. Much is the same. Early November was just a snippet of the type and magnitude of what terror lies everywhere, and we, Americans, are just as vulnerable as the next nation. It seems as though we are more focused on what hasn’t or what wasn’t, instead of what can be. What can be is the impact that the individual can make. This world is populated with 7 billion individuals, not one singular mind. If we want to make change, we can make it happen, but it starts with me, and I’ll happily be first in line. We create the reality we live in. If we truly want to live in a world where Thanksgiving means gluttony and retail sales, and Christmas means a day off, then welcome, here it is. I’m fairly certain that wasn’t the original intention of these special days. If you are lucky enough to have some time off this season, please take some time to reflect on your true intentions and motives. I will do the same.

By the way, think this one over: since 2010, how many versions of the iPhone have been released? I know of many people that keep up with each version. Guess how many phones I have had in the past 5 years? The answer is 2, and I’m just fine.

As always, the expressed written opinions and views are solely those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect those of ARC3Media, LLC