An Enigmatic Christmas

posted by Zach Patton

The Christmas card sent out this year by TN Gov. Phil Bredesen is befuddling some people in the Volunteer State.

The cover of the card depicts a portrait (by Bredesen himself!) of a young Muslim girl that the governor says he saw on a trip to Afghanistan last year.

On the back, Bredesen writes:

"While it may seem odd to put a portrait of a young Muslim woman on a Christmas card, this Season reminds us that He loves His children most of all.

"May the miracle of Christmas help bring peace to this young woman and her wounded land."

It's a beautiful and striking portrait (even if it seems a little familiar). And, you know, props to Bredesen for sending out a very, I guess, progressive Christmas card.

Church leaders are saying the governor's message is unclear and may even be anti-Christmas.

I'll admit, it confounded me when I first read it, but not for the reason I think it's bothering most people. I first read the card as saying, "...this Season reminds us that He loves His [Christian] children most of all [and not Muslim children]." I really don't think that's the governor's intent at all, but it did confuse me for a bit.

Comments

[ivan swift]

why not ask the gov what he meant, if anything special, about the card? maybe he was just plugging his paint by numbers talents. some of the prachers who dont like the card probably dont like the fact that he got reelected more than they dont like the card.

[Jim]

Maybe Gov. Bredesen isn't trying to "say" anything at all. Maybe he recognizes that there are more similarities between the world's major religions than there are differences and that no matter what name one attributes to the deity, the overarching commonality is that God/Yahweh/Allah loves His children and wants peace and prosperity for all.

Shame on you Zach Patton for your cynical parentheticals.

[Lurker]

I sincerely hope he didn't send a Christmas/Holiday card out with a copyright statement on the front of it!