December 08, 2005

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An Arizona Reader Asks If American Workers Aren’t The Temporary Ones

A Reader Questions The Word “Christophobia”; Peter Brimelow Defends It

From:  Eric Kessler

Re: Peter Brimelow’s Column: “Announcing VDARE.COM’s War Against Christmas 2005 Competition”

In a recent article, Peter Brimelow uses the word "Christophobic" to describe people who oppose Christmas or the use of the word "Christmas."

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines phobia as "an exaggerated usually inexplicable and illogical fear of a particular object, class of objects, or situation." 

Thus, a phobia is a fear. Christians often describe themselves as "God-fearing."  So, if anything, it would make more sense to describe Christians as "Christophobic."  Non-Christians are not people who fear Christ.

Since "phobia" is usually a clinical term, it should not be used casually to describe any type of aversion.  For example, although I support gay rights, I would never refer to people who oppose gay rights as "homophobic"; I would simply refer to them as "anti-gay" or something similar.  Otherwise, people who want to reduce immigration could be called "immigrantephobic," people who oppose drunk driving, "alchoholophobic," and people who oppose illegal drug use, "drugaphobic."

Rather than using the term "Christophobic," you should use the term "Christmas-adverse."

Note that "Christmas-adverse" is not the same as "Christ-adverse."  Jehovah's Witnesses are Christmas-adverse but certainly not Christ-adverse. 

I, on the other hand, am not Christmas-adverse, although I am Christ-adverse.  I do oppose the use of symbols that are too overtly Christian (or Jewish or Muslim) on publicly owned property, but this does not apply to department stores, which are privately owned.

Merry Cmas!