A few years ago I was listening to Christmas music when the traditional carol came on, "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen," and I found myself thinking, Who cares if the gentlemen are merry? I had probably had a conversation that day with a woman in prison who was abused from early childhood, or one whose six-year-old son had run away from home on Thanksgiving morning. Shouldn't we be singing about the children? I wondered. The gentlemen can surely take care of themselves. Questioning what we sing--especially in this season--is nothing new. The beloved Christmas song "O Holy Night," which … [Read more...] about Rethinking Merry Gentlemen and Other Carols