DrTdaxp

You beat me to the Robert Earle Keen, I had to do South Park instead…

J,

The refrain (“War is over”) is either factually wrong (if it is supposed to be a factual claim), blasphemous (if it is a religious claim), or saccharine (if it is a hope with the future tense removed).

Sean,

Remember to put the lights on the tree [1], too!

Steve,

Haha! Fake Steve Jobs beat me [2], but that didn't stop tdaxp!

[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gKzXlqsOeE&feature=related
[2] http://fakesteve.blogspot.com/2007/12/still-finest-christmas-song-ever.html

I think you're having trouble listening to the song.
The song pokes at our celebration by contrasing it with “what have we done.”
“war is over, if you want it” I don't understand how you can't see the song as a plea for action. Whether it be action for all the diverse people of the world or action in creating peace. While you're out celebrating keep in mind what is going on. It's a pretty simple message. Probably why children are singing it. I don't think it's intended to be a criticism of specific policies in any specific time. It's a general call to remember the strife in the world while we celebrate and encourage the people to do something during the next year to create peace and end strife. It's a pretty simple message.

The band that covered it is in our age group. That, and its lack of identifying place or personal names in the lyrics suggests that it is, indeed, more than just a Vietnam song.

Other good Christmas songs:
Christmas in Sarejevo by Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer (I forget who made it. Honestly, if you can't keep a sense of humor during the holiday season, you're better off hibernating.)
Snow by Loreena McKennitt (she also covers several Christmas Carols on her albums, some of them several hundred years old).
What Child is This (based on Greensleaves, by Henry VIII) and Oh Holy Night (Unknown. It was my mom's favorite though).
Gaudete, Gaudete and Aspen Glow (Former is hundreds of years old, latter is by John Denver. Never even heard of them until they were covered on a compilation from the Projekt label).

Michael,

“it is, indeed, more than just a Vietnam song”

Obviously true. My criticism was to J's point, “I don't think it's intended to be a criticism of specific policies in any specific time,” which is just as obviously false.

J,

“Once again, you just pick and choose phrases rather than looking at an argument as a whole.”

If your point is that I question what you actually say, rather than some vague impression of your argument as a whole: half right. I question what you say and the vague impression of your argument as a whole.