In a place called the Holy Land,
In every church, school and book,
Now they call it the Middle East,
Scholars gave it another look.
They used to call it Christmas then,
But the geniuses gave it an “X,”
It seems it was all just a myth,
Some lies from evil men, a hex.
There was no Christ Child, only a man,
No God and given son,
Christmas a festival of gaudy lights,
No meaning, just a time of fun.
All I learned as a boy from Mom,
Now exposed as just a lie.
No Savior born in Bethlehem,
Nowhere to go when you die.
But tonight in the Holy Land
There are men who pray.
They face reality every day.
No place for feet of clay.
So giggle at my manger scene
Erected every single year,
The soldier on bended knee,
Out where hard men fear.
Believe what you want tonight ,
Just laugh when I pray .
But I thank God a Son was born
On that blessed day.
Peace on earth, goodwill to men,
Keep your powder dry.
No debate about the gift from God
Out where good men die.
Merry Christmas, and God bless you all.
Maj. Mark A. Smith, U.S. Army (ret.), served in Vietnam and Cambodia. He was a Prisoner of War.
