Guess what! He IS already here!!! I know what you mean, but my pastor just mentioned last week that we shouldn't need to wait until Christmas to sing Away in a Manger. Is it any less true the rest of the year?

It's one of those both/and things.  Of course Jesus is here!  He's with us always, until the end of time - you and I both get that.   But during Advent we have a chance to wait with confident hope for our Savior, participating in a small way in what the Jewish people did for thousands of years.  It's a little like Holy Week, where we participate in the Passion of our Lord by reenacting liturgically what he did for us on the Cross.  I think one of the not-so-great things about our society is that we have no concept of the value of waiting, of delayed gratification.  Some things are worth waiting for.  I think Christmas is one of them.

Come on..I've waited 11 months already!

I don't think our society has much of a need to wait for Christmas.  This is mostly because we don't live in a Catholic America with liturgical "waiting" for God.  In fact, I think this tendency that you have so eloquently addressed is a product of Capitalist America.

If commercials didn't advertise Christmas shopping, businesses would be doing themselves a disservice.  It really comes down to game theory.  You have a group of players (businesses) trying to obtain the most points (money) possible.  How can they ensure a win (significant profit)?  They advertise!!  Now, they don't wanna over-do it, 'cause that could annoy the majority of the potential consumers.  But it seems that over time, the businesses have determined a good rule of thumb on quantity: starting advertisement around late October for the day after Thanksgiving. 

Be it known, this is the result of optimization from the players' points of view, which employ a dollar-valued objective function.  And again, this optimization is based on the MAJORITY of potential consumers, and so if a few (like you) are annoyed, they really don't care too much.

In sum, we have the consumer Christmas season starting before Halloween.  And after a month of this, it is inevitable for the Christmas itch to spread into premature celebration.  Is this bad?  Liturgically, sure.  For society?  No.  Not everyone is cognizant of the true meaning of Christmas.  Most "Christians" prefer to focus on the "brotherhood of Man" aspect.  And so anticipation isn't really that bad to them.  

Should we be offended?  They are the majority.  Should atheists be offended by the printed "In God We Trust" on our currency?  Meh... I think this is part of the reason for the PC tendency towards the expression "Holiday Season."  This way, we really don't tread on the nerves of the sensitive.  In the end, I don't think it is something to get too wrapped up in (haha... like presents in wrapping paper... im done).  If you don't wanna hear Christmas music yet, turn it off.  That's what I do to Polka.

MDoS

Hey, long time no see... (still) I miss going to Youth Group with all of you guys! You absolutely have to fill me in on what you do, what you sing, who was there, and everything! Oh my gosh!

Just a few days ago at school, I go to Carroll, a really awesome group came into our chapel and they sang songs, they did a skit, and told us a little bit about themselves, but because we had a shortage in time I didn't get the chance to know more about the group. Their name was NET, (they were group 6) and I honestly cannot remember what it stands for, but I was really excited about learning more.

That was the night you guys all went to Youth Group, so I called Mary. And Mary told me that you used to be a part of NET, and I thought that was really cool, I was actually wondering if you could give me some information on their where abouts and so forth. So, could you help me out a bit? Please?

With all the love my tiny heart could give,

~Brianne~

Ha ha ha... Look how much of an idiot I am... I saw on your subscriptions NET Team 5, was that the team you were once with? Maybe I will leave them some comments about how well their fellow members are doing, but I would still appricate it if you could write me back with a bit of info.

Thanks again-

~Brianne~