Christmas Greetings, and the World Is Insane
Last year at about this time I ranted about attempts to eliminate the vestiges of Christmas from Western society lest the easily offended be offended. I am an agnostic and these efforts and their successes then offended me; they still do. The long Judeo-Christian history and culture of the United States have contributed greatly to our heritage and behavior. As they are progressively diminished we all suffer.
Today, most think “Merry Christmas” is ok, but “most are still likely to say ‘Happy Holidays’ rather than risk offending someone.” Still:
As Americans crowd stores nationwide, most still prefer being greeted by signs that say “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays.” According to the latest Rasmussen Reports survey, just one-out-of-four Adults (24%) like “Happy Holidays” instead. Sixty-nine percent (69%) prefer that stores use signs that say “Merry Christmas.”
Nina Totenberg recently apologized on NPR for referring to a Christmas party.
Last year, I began the article with a quote from a piece of satire. This time that seems unnecessary.
Here is an anti-Christmas sampler for 2010 — but first a word from our sponsors Abu Dhabi:
An Abu Dhabi luxury hotel that boasted an $11 million Christmas tree decorated with gold and gems admitted Sunday it may have taken the holiday spirit a bit too far.
A statement from the Emirates Palace hotel said it regretted “attempts to overload” the Christmas tree tradition by adorning it with premium bling including gold, rubies, diamonds and other precious stones from a hotel jeweler.
Returning to the United States, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has warned school officials in Tennessee that wishing folks “Merry Christmas” is bad and that they should instead wish them “Happy Holidays.” It apparently did so in response to “a number of complaints” about school party activities. A secret amendment to the First Amendment prohibiting offensive speech has apparently been disclosed by WikiLeaks. Happy Saturnalia, ACLU. Commerce Claus Santa Claus has some pretty coal lumps wrapped up for you in plain brown paper; don’t burn them, they emit carbon dioxide. But you already knew that.
A bank in Texas affiliated with JP Morgan/Chase was directed by corporate officials to remove a Christmas tree from the lobby. The tree had been donated by a friend of the bank manager:
[To] ensure that everyone who visits Chase branches feels welcome and comfortable, the bank’s policy is to use only decorations supplied by the company.
“We appreciate the thoughtful gesture from [the donor] … ” Hassell said. “Unfortunately, we’re unable to keep it [the tree] on display for the remainder of the holiday season.” JPMorgan Chase ensures that decorations are “something everyone is comfortable with, regardless of how they celebrate the season,” Hassell said.
Nor are Christmas trees permitted in Orlando, Florida, toll booths:
Holiday decorations of any kind have been banned from all toll booths along the 460 miles of toll highways run by the Florida Turnpike Enterprise, which is part of the Florida Department of Transportation, a local spokeswoman said. … The ban was put in place several months ago after some motorists complained about decorations. … “Some Christian organizations complained about Halloween decorations,” said spokeswoman Christa Deason.
Turnpike leaders have now decided to ban holiday decorations of any kind, she said. The Florida Turnpike does not spend any money on decorations for any holiday.
An examiner for the Federal Reserve Board ordered a bank in Perkins, Oklahoma, to remove all “religious signs and symbols.”
And, in Once Merry Old England, the Red Cross has banned Christmas stuff — other than merchandise which it sells — from its four hundred and thirty shops:
Staff have been ordered to take down decorations and to remove any other signs of the Christian festival because they could offend Moslems. … The charity’s politically-correct move triggered an avalanche of criticism and mockery last night — from Christians and Moslems.
Christine Banks, a volunteer at a Red Cross shop in New Romney, Kent, said: “We put up a nativity scene in the window and were told to take it out. It seems we can’t have anything that means Christmas. We’re allowed to have some tinsel but that’s it.
“When we send cards they have to say season’s greetings or best wishes. They must not be linked directly to Christmas.
“When we asked we were told it is because we must not upset Muslims.” … Mrs Banks added: “We have been instructed that we can’t say anything about Christmas and we certainly can’t have a Christmas tree.”
One of the country’s most prominent Muslim politicians said: “It is stupid to think Muslims would be offended.” Despite their multiculturally sensitive piety:
British Red Cross leaders have … not extended the ban to their own profitable products. Items currently on sale include Christmas cards featuring angels and wise men and Advent calendars with nativity scenes.
The spokesman said: “The Red Cross is trying to be inclusive and we recognise there are lots of people who want to buy Christmas cards which they know will benefit us.”
Strangely, the Young Men’s’ Christian Association has failed to fall in line. Indeed, in Savannah, Georgia, it probably seems a bit like Christmas:
[T]he Islands YMCA has placed angels on the Christmas tree with the name of a child and the child’s Christmas wish list. Islands YMCA members choose an angel and buy a gift for the child.
“It is an important part of the YMCA’s Christian [GASP!] mission. It gives our members an opportunity to give back to deserving children and help families that need help during this Christmas season,” said Mark Simons, executive director of the Islands branch of the YMCA.
In Leesburg, Virginia, something of a compromise has been reached. Ten spots on the lawn of the historic county courthouse were reserved for Christians and atheists:
Selection is done strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. This year, the atheists grabbed an early lead. They submitted four applications in July, before the Christians realized they were behind and finally put in for a creche in August.
The atheists ended up with six out of 10 positions on the lawn, including the most visible location at King and Market streets. A weather-beaten Nativity scene has filled that spot for at least four decades. This year, it’ll be occupied instead by a banner reading, “Celebrating our Constitution: Keeping Church and State Separate since 1787.”
The problem arose strangely:
The controversy initially had nothing to do with atheists. It began two years ago when an interfaith organization recommended including Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh symbols along with Christian ones in the December displays. … Christian groups immediately protested, and some say they thought atheists secretly influenced the committee. Regardless of whether that’s true, the public clamor then galvanized the atheists, as well. They insisted that if the creche were reinstated, then nonbelievers’ statements needed to be accommodated.
The article does not say whether any Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh symbols are being displayed. Still, many folks seem somewhat happy.
Even things like this strangely bother me: some folks who boarded their dingy and used the oars to break through the ice in a Maryland river to rescue a stranded deer — it may have been a distant relative of Rudolph — were fined by the Natural Resources Police for not wearing life jackets.
Much of the world seems to be getting certifiably insane. Perhaps I have been paying too much attention to the ongoing efforts of the lunatics in North Korea to remain in charge of their asylum and have gone nuts myself. Freedom? What would Speaker “Are you serious? Are you serious?” Pelosi say? If I could focus more on life here in Panamá, where political correctness has barely raised its head, it might be better. Still, in the spirit of Xmas Christmas, I retain a bit of hope that at least in some parts of America and Europe where sanity seems to be vanishing it may eventually prevail. Maybe by January of 2012?
Till then, here are some neat carols for Libruls. To everyone else, Feliz Navidad!
It isn’t about offending non Christians
It is about offensive Christians who think they own the holiday
I say take back Christmas and BUY gifts
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas… :: ))
This is probably difficult for you, so try to concentrate. The “holiday” is CHRISTMAS. CHRISTIANS do “own” it, but most of us are thrilled to share it w/everyone. No CHRIST, no CHRISTMAS, no FEDERAL “holiday”. But here’s an easy 1st step for those who are “offended” by CHRISTMAS, its decorations, the word MERRY, red & green, Grandma’s fruitcake or shepherds in the fields tending their flocks & looking for a bright star: report for work like it’s any other day…..your boss is sick of forking over a day’s pay to whining hypocrites. Now, Merry Christmas…..to ALL!
carolannie,”This is probably difficult for you, so try to concentrate.” Lighten up, I do believe that Ozzy was being facetious. Have you never heard of satire? Merry Christmas.
“carolannie … I do believe that Ozzy was being facetious.”
Sure doesn’t sound like it to me either!
Well said carolannie.
Hope ALL had an AWESOME CHRISTMAS!
well, even GOOGLe treats Christmas as a cute holiday…open the google page and it’s,..dumb..don’t wanna offend anyone ya know.
I really have had enough of Christmas and what it means here in the US. Everyone expects presents and crap, and it gets worse each year. Retailers want us to buybuybuy…the media tells us how well we are doing as spending is upupup. I want Christmas to be what it was, not what it is.
Christians certainly do own Christmas,
just as the MSM owns lieing to the public,
and muslims own IED’S.. We have managed to make a mockery out of a very important holiday to a particular religion.
Well Anonymous, I would think that you being a responsible adult you would be able to make whatever you want out of the Christmas holiday. You don’t have to submit to the retail fervor nor the out of control spending. Man (or woman) up and do what you want without being so PC.
Nice comparisons, IED’s and that’s comparable to overdone efforts by retailers?
You can ae what you like of your own Christmas, there is no gun (or IED) to your head making you comercialize it. This isn’t about Christian behavior, not anything like that.
It’s about bitter scolds endlessly complaining that they can’t force their version of Christmas or nonChristmas on everone else.
To those who are so angry about how OTHER folks celerbrate Christmas…
Just do it your way, and leave us alone. I tune out the commercials, get gifts for my kids, follow my and my wife’s traditions and just leave it at that. Being so bitter about other folks Christmas plans is way overboard. Let it go, and focus on your own Chrismas like everyone else.
Or do others being happy bother you too much?
I’m a Conservative, AND a Jew. To me, Christmas is a giant syrupy pain in the ass full of lousy TV and wretched music. That said – who cares> The country is 80+ percent Christian. Nobody is making me go to church and worship a Jesus I don’t believe in, or buy into a fake fat man in red, so y’all go have fun. Wish each other, and me, a Merry Christmas. It isn’t ever meant as anything but pleasant, and I’d have to be a hypersensitive dolt to choose to take offense at it – and make no mistake, those who get all offended are CHOOSING to take offense at it.
To tell the truth, even though I am DEEPLY of the opinion that church and state be separate, I don’t care if the town square puts up a Nativity Scene. This isn’t 11th century Europe; I know the townfolk are not coming to my door to kill the infidel Jew. I’m cool with it. My people are religiously about 1% of the country – why the heck should the rest of you have to hide your religion to avoid bugging me? As long as there are no pogroms, forced conversions, or religious killings, what is there for me to complain about?
I gotta tell you, though, Christmas music sucks. SUCKS. We should know know, Irving Berlin (M.O.T.) wrote most of it. Anyway, you folks go eat some ham and enjoy the day. Merry Christmas. Now, will someone pass me the Chinese food?
I’m a Jewish lady (albeit non-religious), however I think that Christmas music is some of the most glorious music on the planet… The Hallelujah Chorus by Handel, the entire Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky, the classic carols from England, Germany, etc. (Silent Night, G-d Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, many others)…. totally stunning!
Gorgeous music belongs to everyone, just like stunning art and architecture belong to everyone …
I am also a Jew and love Christmas music, especially the religious music. O Holy Night is beautiful, if that doesn’t thrill you, your soul may be dead. Music that is in praise of God should be able to touch anyone even if the specifics of the belief system aren’t quite the same. Irving Berlin was a genius. What I do agree with Rambam (I wonder how Maimonides would respond to his impassioned post) on is the pogrom thing. For once, Jews are safe. Here in America we are safer than almost any time in history anywhere on the planet. So Hallelujah.
Merry Christmas.
Here’s another Jew who loves Christmas music (and Christian masses by Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, whoever); Western art music is one of the great achievements of Western culture, and what’s not to enjoy? Some of the folk music of the West is also great, and that definitely includes Christmas carols.
It’s also a lot of fun to go out to the movies on Dec. 25th–no lines, let me tell you–while most of our fellow-countrymen are happily engaged otherwise.
We have a tradition of watching the fabulous 1951 British version of A Christmas Carol called Scrooge, starring Alastair Sim. I recommend it to one and all! Merry Christmas, everybody!
If you have younger one’s around (or even if you don’t) the Muppet Christmas Carol is very fun. Michael Caine plays Scrooge. Kermit is Bob Cratchett.
If Jingle Bell Rock and I saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus belong to everyone, you keep my share of it.
I think the designation “art music” took care of that comment, remarkably clever though it indeed was!
It seems Rambam dislikes “I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus,” “Snoopy’s Christmas,” & “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” which, it must be admitted, are not “Good King Wenceslas” or “Silent Night.”
Exactly. I object to the syrupy sludge, and also to over-playing of it, but most of you have missed my main point; I don’t ask that my tastes be legislated. In this age of DVRs and mp3 Players, I can avoid almost all of it. Prior to these devices, dealing with Christmas for me was like forcing an albino to go to the beach without sunblock. I might also add that the above posters know damn well that any sane objection does not include the obviously high quality of classical hymns and such (although the March of the Sugar Plum Fairies could do with fewer playings), but to the diabetes-inducing dreck that is played ad nauseum every Winter. I’d have thought somebody might LIKE the fact that a non-Christian (for once) isn’t pushing to limit YOUR choices and enjoyment. Talk about missing the point.
A couple of side notes:
1 – No, Dr. L, I am NOT a Scrooge, and that idiotic term is overused every year by people who don’t understand it. Literally, the term references someone with no love or charity in their hearts for their fellow men. The book hardly mentions religious belief at all, and it’s lessons are not just for Christians. The common usage (and clearly what Dr. L meant) refers to people who voice ANY objection to the over-the-top inundation of Xmas themes and tunes that has to be endured every year, and I DO mean endured. This isn’t opposition, I am not (say) a Yankees fan living in Boston who hates the local thing. I am rather like a non-baseball fan living in Red Sox country. If you have no personal interest, you get tired of it pretty quickly. There is no need to castigate or punish someone who doesn’t want to play, which brings up point two…
2 – On some occasions, the majority needs to learn how to back off and not materially punish people who are in the minority. That’s one of the fundamental concepts of our system of government. I agree with posters here who are tired of minorities trying to limit or prevent majorities from living their lives, that is why I don’t object to Christmas displays and so forth. However, there are are real times when it goes too far. When I was in public grade school, I was annually forced to sing in choirs that vocally praised Jesus Christ. I’m not talking about schlock like Rudolph, I mean songs with themes like ‘Our Savior’. I was both socially and scholastically punished for refusing to do so. I don’t even ask that such songs be excluded (and I reasonably could), but simply that non-believers not be REQUIRED to participate. You might see how a childhood full of such experiences could turn someone into a snotty ACLU-loving Christmas-hating type (which I nearly became), but keep in mind that it was snotty, self-righteous, overbearing types that tended to make them that way. The crappy attitude of Dr. L is one of the real reasons there ARE so many actual Scrooges and loony lefties trying to diminish freedom and choice today. Instead, I am a liberty lover who ACTIVELY defends HIS countrymen’s rights to choices and activities that I am best indifferent to and at worst absolutely opposed to! How’s THAT for being a Scrooge, Dr. L?
In almost every case (socially, politically, economically, historically) conservatism is the superior and adult choice. If we didn’t believe that, we wouldn’t frequent this site. However, the biggest reason there are not MORE non-WASP conservatives in this country is that WASPs can be so damned arrogant and condescending and exclusionary. THAT is why few Latinos, Blacks, et al, sign on, and why the Democrats can get away with the lie of calling us racists. For many non-WASP moderates and conservatives (or those who would be so) it’s the snide little Dr. L crapola that creates the roadblock. Granted, the Left makes WAY too big a deal of it, and it IS foolish not to vote for the side that makes sense, but you will notice that most people would rather eat tasty and unhealthy food than nutritious Brussels sprouts. In short, the American IDEAL and DREAM is what I am grateful to and for, NOT individual American snobs who make it pretty condescendingly clear that I should be grateful to THEM that I am even allowed to live here among them. Now, you can get all huffy about that observation (which is the typical reaction), or you can make a minor attitude adjustment, act on it, and sign up about 50 million more potential conservatives who are often made to feel like you don’t want them to play.
Not to worry. 2 years and it will alllll be gone.
Sorry–too long a post to wade through.
But I thought you might like to know that it’s really ad nauseam–nausea being a 1st declension noun in Latin. There’s no -um ending for that type of noun.
Geez, what a Scrooge.
Merry Xmas to you, Mr. Rambam. To everyone else, including the nice Jewish ladies who said sweet things about our beloved carols, may you have a Very Merry Christmas!
– I know I am. We had a lovely time at church last night. It was packed to SRO. They had a manger scene with real animals on the alter, including two genuine camels (I kid you not). There was a rooster, too, who kept interruption the parson’s sermon at the most inappropriate moments. We all sang the old carols together, and shared the peace, the warmth, and the hope that this Christian holiday is all about.
And now it is Christmas day. And we have a nice ham baking slowly in the oven. The house is festooned with lights and decorations we’ve gathered through the years. I’m sipping a Tia Maria cordial and my stomach is growling for MORE holiday grub.
Like Tiny Tim put it, God bless us everyone!
Rambam, you obviously don’t listen to the Christmas music I do!
Try this sublime “O Magnum Mysterium” by the American composer, Morten Lauridsen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KvrbYZB2vY
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
Alleluia.
(O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!)
Rambam, even if you don’t particularly like the words, the music is exquisite.
I don’t mind the words at all, but that isn’t the point. The above tune is not what is commonly played when you wander the mall. Barking dogs are. Don’t trot out Tchaikovsky and the Masters when I’m dumping on Gene Autry. The two are not comparable.
And FOR CRYING OUT LOUD already, it was a throwaway joke at the end of a serious post! Doesn’t anybody have a flipping sense of humor anymore? Does anybody want to seriously defend Christina Aguilera’s latest mangling of Puccini’s Greatest Hits as the epitome of Western Civilization? I make a serious and little heard point that the mainstream should have the right to enjoy themselves without suffering the constant whining of the disaffected, topped off with a (attempted, apparently) bon mot that Jingle Bell Rock stinks, and THAT’S what gets discussed? Oy Vey!
Thanks for finally clarifying/backing down, Rambam (though I don’t think you really are he)!
What you originally wrote was “Christmas music sucks.” That’s what brought disbelief and disagreement.
What you say NOW is, “Christmas music played in the mall sucks.” Well, sure! I have never heard any music played in a wonderful version that I enjoyed hearing in any mall, anywhere (unless it was on a rare occasion when they had local musicians performing live). That’s one of the best reasons to stay away from malls whenever possible!
Even when a mall plays something bearable and arguably a classic, like Bing Crosby’s White Christmas or something (not my idea of “Christmas music,” mind you), they ruin it by playing it over and over.
No one can disagree with disdain for “Christmas music played in malls,” and in fact I wonder why the malls keep doing it; they must think someone likes and responds to it, but I wonder.
Rambam, oy vey, indeed!
But you’re the one who wrote, on December 25—no qualifications—“To me, Christmas is a giant syrupy pain in the ass full of lousy TV and wretched music. . . I gotta tell you, though, Christmas music sucks. SUCKS.”
That’s what I was responding to—with an exclamation point: ’talk about lightening up! (In your later posts, I altogether understand what you’re saying about the schlocky junk music we too often hear at Christmas. But, if that’s what you meant, you should have said it. And, in these PC times, about all the music that’s allowed in the public square is the junky stuff. Too bad for all of us.)
I get you. I take your comments in their intended spirit. Don’t let it get to you. Some folks need to relax a bit. When you get down to the nitty-gritty, you’re on our side. Some people are too quick to make an argument out of any gruff comment. Merry Christmas.
I’m a devout Christian, and yes, there is lots of really bad christmas music out there for general consumption. If you’re in public, you probably won’t hear anything but meaningless secular tripe pretending to be Christmas music, but in reality only feel-good sap at best with nothing about the reason Christians celebrate Christmas. However, that is all businesses and radio stations play these days. The worst of it was written in the last 100 years. 98% of it is banned from my house.
try listening to Handle’s Messiah – the entire text is taken from Isaiah.
It just occurred to me that Christmas is the most gloriously successful religious holiday in the history of the planet.
Ozzy: I recommend George C. Scott in “A Christmas Carol.”
Just another non-Christian celebrating Christmas, and “God bless us, every one!”
Just whom is it that everyone is afraid of offending? Its seems to me its only a bunch of angry elitist bullies everyone is submitting too! Say Merry Christmas or what ever you like to say. If they don’t like it tell them to get their daddy to sue you!
Exactly, this “might” thing is ruse by liberal groups to get the changes THEY want without having to actually make a case. Let’s find a ‘someone’ who IS actually offended first. Then, we should take it to court to decide whether this person’s rights outweigh the second amendment rights of hundreds of millions. Notice that Christians aren’t demanding that the atheists take down down their offensive banners on our holy day. Tolerance.
I’m an Atheist. and I agree completely. The First Amendment says,
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”. It simply means that the govt can’t promote any specific religion, but they must allow everone to practice their religion. The YMCA? Are they serious? It’s the Young Mens CHRISTIAN Association! Of course they have Christmas decorations. And a bank? A bank is a private business, not connected to the govt. They can put up anything they want. If you’re offended then withdraw your money and put in in a Jewish bank, or a Muslim bank, or an Athiest bank.
When are Americans gonna get their common sense back?
Schools are an arm of the govt and should not be openly displaying Nativity scenes etc. But students can, and many do, quietly bow their heads and say grace before lunch in the cafeteria. To tell them they can’t would be “prohbiting their free exerceise” of their religion. The ACLU once went to court, and won, for students who had been meeting in a circle around the flagpole in the morning before classes and praying. The school district said they couldn’t. The ACLU brief pointed out that they weren’t proselytizing or demanding other kids join them; kids could just ignor them and walk past on their way into the building. The ACLU believed they had a right to do this and the SCOTUS agreed.
Like anything else, This too shall pass. Wait a few years or a decade and Americans will come to their senses.
From Richard, a proud Atheist!! (full disclosure: I was born Jewish).
“Much of the world seems to be getting certifiably insane.”
Estoy de acuerdo.
Les deseo a todos una Navidad muy feliz.
“Nina Totenberg recently apologized on NPR for referring to a Christmas party”
Uh-huh. I reckon folks need to get the full story before buying a line like that:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/reliable-source/2010/12/rs-_nina_totenberg.html
I’m curious about why conservatives like to bang on about the west’s “Judeo-Christian tradition”. The entire concept of that unified religious tradition is 20th century invention. Talk to the founding fathers about a “Judeo-Christian tradition” and they’d have wondered what the heck you were talking about. The religion of the colonies was protestantism. Even Catholicism was an outsider. Even at the turn of the last century, defending Dreyfus was something that “Leftists” did. Conservatives were relatively late to join the fight against antisemitism.
Get stuffed Mathew.
Thanks for that, mike.
Of course, you have to have actually read the Hebrew Bible (in any language, naturally) to understand how important to Christians who actually read it (by which I mean Protestants like the bulk of the American founders) is the whole history and experience of the Jews. Such Christians saw themselves as reliving, re-experiencing the travails and successes of the Jews as written down in the Bible. This makes for fertile ground for the appreciation of the Jews, such as Jews have experienced in America, “Gentlemen’s Agreement”-type cold-shouldering notwithstanding.
Such Christians saw themselves as reliving, re-experiencing the travails and successes of the Jews as written down in the Bible.
Uh-huh. Did they know this back then? Or is this something we only discovered later? If that WAS their philosophy, I would be very curious to know how ACTUAL Jews felt about that.
This makes for fertile ground for the appreciation of the Jews, such as Jews have experienced in America, “Gentlemen’s Agreement”-type cold-shouldering notwithstanding.
Aah, that’s nice. Wrong, but nice. Officially, historically, Jews did have more protection than they had in europe, but I think you’re glossing over the history of antisemitism a wee bit.
Silly nonsense, my dear man, if I may say so!
No offense, but what do you think “New Jerusalems” and so forth are all about? Or referring to one’s own congregation as “the children of Israel” and all that? They saw themselves as in a long continuum from the ancient Hebrews on down; the fulfillment of the ancient Hebrews, to be sure, which actual Jews might see as a bit presumptuous or something. But the actual point here would be that these ancient guys in the Bible they read were venerated by them. Ever notice the names they used, both place names and personal names? Geez, how do you miss that?
Matthew, I read the article on its posting on-line date. Don’t you think if this were anything besides spin Ms Totenberg should have “clarified” herself MUCH closer to the start of the flap, and not wait several days?
“Talk to the founding fathers about a “Judeo-Christian tradition” and they’d have wondered what the heck you were talking about. The religion of the colonies was protestantism.” —– It might be of interest to you to note that Protestant is a Christian religion, and therefore does fall under the umbrage of “Judeo-Christian”. There were many signers of the Declaration who were Deist, but I would wager that they still considered themselves believers in the same ethic, if not actual belief, of a “Judeo-Christian tradition”.
“Matthew, I read the article on its posting on-line date. Don’t you think if this were anything besides spin Ms Totenberg should have “clarified” herself MUCH closer to the start of the flap, and not wait several days?”
Two things:
(1) as it points out in that wapo article, she was on holiday in jamaica, and she had to be contacted before she even knew about the fuss.
(2) newsbusters only went feral on the story on the 20th. That response was published on the 22nd. Two days isn’t “several”.
In any case – an outright failure of the shouters to bother contacting her for an explanation isn’t her fault.
“It might be of interest to you to note that Protestant is a Christian religion, and therefore does fall under the umbrage of “Judeo-Christian”.”
Sure. All protestants are christians, but not all christians are protestants. Tell a ford man that chevrolets represent all cars and you will encounter disagreement. The founding fathers did not represent catholic traditions or orthodox traditions or jewish traditions – they overwhelmingly embraced protestantism. The didn’t represent christianity (any more than the pope represents christianity) and they sure as heck didn’t represent judaism.
Like I said, I think the whole “judeo-christian” thing is a 20th century invention. Originally it was an inter-faith attempt around the 20′s, but it only really took off in the 50′s and it’s become a virtual obsession in the last decade, mostly because it so noticeably excludes one other group.
I don’t think there IS a “judeo-christian” tradition, any more than there is an “abrahamic tradition”. I think they’re both recent inventions.
Now, before anyone jumps to conclusions – I’m not taking a swipe at jews. I’m pointing out my suspicion of a politically expedient attempt to whitewash centuries of religious chauvinism with a hyphenated fudge.
“but I would wager that they still considered themselves believers in the same ethic, if not actual belief, of a “Judeo-Christian tradition”.
And … what is that ethic?
We inject far too much modern thinking in the days of our founding. They were not influenced by Judio/Christian tradition but were relying on what the Bible taught which is also what we should do in this our day.
~ Am 5:21 ¶ I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.
22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.
23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.
24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.~
As in the days of Amos the people did not worship the Lord but the feast days.
Just as today many more worship Christmas than worship Christ.
There is a lot of little known history behind what our founding fathers thought about the Catholic. It was well understood that we were not in agreement on Christian doctrines so impossible to make any law that would do justice to church and state. They have completely different functions so the separation of church and state is an utter impossibility from the standpoint that a persons belief will not color his political action. When the church controls the state or the state controls the church we are under the rule of man. This has been the rule rather than the exception. As we have it a man is free to be a member of any denomination and it is certain that the doctrine that denomination holds will control what that member does. A Muslim will be as much under the control of his belief as a Catholic or Baptist will under his belief. We now have a Muslim in Congress and we do not ask him to check his belief at the door. Why should the Christian leave his doctrine at the door?
Interesting commentary overall. Somehow it seems to me however that many are missing the point. Christmas and its appreciation only as example>
The USA is reputedly based on the independence of its citizens from any assault from persons in official status, AND particulary those in the public pay, i.e. commentators in NPR, NPB and even the officees of government, unless they have in some way broken lawful restraints.
To me that means under the flag of free American that each of us is able to exercise our choices, ,for or against, whatever — without restraint from others which restraint is IN LAW an assasult.
Since the bossy boots who call themselves disguised, as in Red Riding Hood Grandma,liberals/progressives, who know better than the individual American citizen of adult leanings decided THEY should decide.
AND instituted a cultural device they called political correctness to softly compel, ie. fashion or what’s “with-it”, OR with hard compulsion, i.e. laws enforced against a RIGHT protected in the Constitution in First Amendment of free speech.NOT in that Constitution limited in Law to the Media or favoured by these bossy boots groups.
So Americans, NOT in public pay, are free to decide on their own what they think about, on what basis, and what to do about Christmas. Or for that matter any other holiday, religion based or otherwise.
There are many themes in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament which struck a chord in the founding of America and later on… the idea of a Promised Land, wherein oppressed people may be free (whether religious oppression, political oppression or economic oppression).
In addition, black slaves prior to the Civil War looked to the Book of Exodus as their touchstone. Black spirituals are laden with references to heroes of the Hebrew Bible (Moses, Joshua at Jericho, King David playing his harp, Daniel in the Lion’s Den)
I have the best solution. Just stop celebrating ANY HOLIDAY!!!!!! Then everyone will be happy. Of course, half of all the retail business will close, but what the heck, its all about being POLITICALLY
CORRECT!!!!!!
BTW, Merry Christmas to all.
so if Dec 25th was originally a big pagan holiday (2nd/3rd c) and we know Jesus wasn’t born on that date, why not give the 25th over to complete secularization and pick another day set aside to honor Jesus? If you take the info revealed since Christmas was started, the more likely date of his birth was around the end of Sept. If non-believers don’t see a difference(they mostly don’t) and wee see the handwriting on the wall from articles like this, then how about a Christian holiday, not based on a pagan celebration date, or encroached by Santa? The Jewish people have a civil and a religious new year, which sounds a lot wiser.
A good question but if the Lord wanted us to know when he was born we would have that information. Since we don’t there is a good reason that we are not to worship his birthday but yet can acknowledge it. Most of what we celebrate as Christmas has nothing to do with the Lord’s birth and it may well be that the Lord is calling that to our attention.
~ Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.~
Jesus was born and the circumstance of his birth is recorded yet when the wise men arrived at Jerusalem at a later date King Herod knew nothing about it but this incident set things in motion that are still in motion. When Jesus fed the five thousand that was acceptable. When he told them they must take his yoke upon them, that was unacceptable.
We hold Christmas much as the feeding of the five thousand but still reject taking up our cross to follow in His steps. We have invented all manner of devices and beliefs to walk after the flesh as the two going to Emmaus, Lu 24:13. Jesus was walking with them but his spirit was on the outside. As he opened the Scriptures to them that spirit moved to the inside. So Christmas should be when that spirit is born within ourselves.
The irony of all this tempest in a teapot is that the substitution of “Happy Holidays” for “Merry Christmas” accomplishes very little, linguistically speaking. The term “holidays” is a contraction of “Holy Days”. So, the question is: why are these days holy. Let me think….
Holy comes from the Germanic “heilige”, meaning venerated or worthy of worship. So, no matter how one attempts to twist his/her langueage to avoid the offensive connotation, something about these days are deemed to be worthy of veneration, whether it is the Saturnalia, the Winter Solstice, the beginning of the world’s rebirth, or even the (GASP!!) birth of the Christ child.
Come to that, a Christmas tree has no real Christian connotations. It is an EVERgreen tree (get it???!!!), offering hope of the continuation of life in the dead of winter. While the birth of Christ is associated with hope for life, many other traditions embrace their own hope for life, celebrated when annual life is at its low ebb.
Get over it, you blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!!! Your PC nonsense is tedious, meaningless, and demonstrates nothing more than your ignorance.
Richard: The YMCA has decided to call itself The Y from now on. The usual grounds were cited.
And the aforementioned Red Cross will be known as the Red Shhhhh!
Here is a picture of our pup, Shadow, wishing our foal, Sugar, a Merry Christmas. In the interest of inclusiveness, there is also a video presentation of that beautiful Islamic song, Jihad Bells.
A brief history of Christmas in Massachusetts:
On this day …in 1659, a law was passed by the General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony requiring a five-shilling fine from anyone caught “observing any such day as Christmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, feasting, or any other way.” Christmas Day was deemed by the Puritans to be a time of seasonal excess with no Biblical authority. The law was repealed in 1681 along with several other laws, under pressure from the government in London. It was not until 1856 that Christmas Day became a state holiday in Massachusetts. For two centuries preceding that date, the observance of Christmas — or lack thereof — represented a cultural tug of war between Puritan ideals and British tradition.
Background
Like other Massachusetts Puritans, the Reverend Increase Mather considered Christmas a “profane and superstitious custom.” The Boston minister wrote in 1687 that December 25th was observed as the birth date of Christ not because “Christ was born in that Month, but because the Heathens Saturnalia was at the time kept in Rome, and they were willing to have those Pagan Holidays metamorphosed into Christian [ones].” He was correct.
The English men and women who came to New England in the 1600s were familiar with Christmas as it was celebrated in Britain. The Christmas season began in late November and continued well into the New Year, coinciding with a natural break in the agricultural cycle. It was a time of feasting, excessive alcohol consumption, general merry-making, and “misrule” (the turning of social conventions upside down). Men of means were expected to open their homes and furnish those less well off with food and drink.
Massachusetts Puritans sought to put an end to the celebration of Christmas with all of its excesses. Almanacs published in the Bay Colony did not mark December 25th as Christmas Day.
While the Puritans succeeded in suppressing most holiday revelry, they could not quell it completely. The authorities condemned fishermen and other residents of the region’s coastal villages as irreligious; they behaved in unacceptable ways, from heavy drinking to “keeping Christmas.”
One Christmas conflict occurred in Salem in 1679. On the night of December 25th, four men entered the home of farmer John Rowden and helped themselves to seats by the fire, began to sing, and then demanded cups of the Rowdens’ pear wine. After being repeatedly refused, they pretended to leave the house, only to return and demand money. Turned out again, they continued their harassment, throwing “stones, bones, and other things” at the house and stealing several pecks of apples. These men were re-enacting the time-honored English tradition of “wassailing,” where lower-class revelers entered the homes of their social superiors at Christmas time. In exchange for singing and mumming, the uninvited guests generally received gifts of food, drink, or money. In England, the tradition had long fostered good will between people who occupied different rungs of the social ladder, but as the events in Salem indicate, this was not so in Puritan New England.
(and several more paragraphs on how the holiday evntually became more respectable at
http://www.massmoments.org/moment.cfm?mid=369
D-White… Blath…errr.
Merry Xmas to the Fence and the Tongue.
Oh what the hell, Merry Xmas D-White.
Xmas? What are you, some kind of Commie prevert?
Try some spruce beer to revitalize your natural bodily fluids:
http://larsdatter.com/18c/spruce-beer.html
Ho-ho-ho
Perhaps he is trying to demonstrate that today’s PC nannies are just as joyless and oppressive and as obsessed by nit-picking hobgobins as the 17th-century Puritans were. That they are of the Left rather than the theocratic Right seems to make no difference whatsoever with respect to their hatred both of liberty and of tradition.
For Massachusetts junkies: http://clarespark.com/2010/05/15/blog-index-to-anne-hutchinson-series/. Thanks to Dwight for alerting me to this valuable NEH-funded website on the history of Mass. If you don’t know the history of Massachusetts, you have no handle on the entirety of American history. You might want to search on my website for the Charles Sumner blogs too. And lots of material on the much abused Herman Melville, who wrote most of his greatest works in the Berkshires.
Here in the San Blas Islands of Panama, everyone was wishing all other boaters a merry Christmas this morning. While most are agnostic/atheist like me, we very much enjoy the holiday season because it is part of our American, Canadian, and European culture. It is a fun time to share with family and friends. Progressives just can’t stand seeing conservatives having a good time. Are they aware that the word holiday, which they prefer to use, is a derivative of the two words holy, and day? Maybe someone should tell them, then we can watch them squirm while inventing a new absolutely PC word.
Enjoy the San Blas Islands! My wife and I spent about a month there en route from Cartagena, Colombia to mainland Panama. They are a wonderful part of the world Here is an article we wrote for Caribbean Compass about our experiences there.
Hola Dan. Gracias por el mensaje. Read your article, and I can say that life here has not changed much. Just about everyone has a cell phone, and the Kunas frequently ask cruisers to charge them. Still no access to money. There is a bank in Nargana, but they only change large bills for foreigners. No atm’s. There is a road in now from the peninsular highway to Carti. Have been cruising since ’95, and after almost 3 years, I am still here. Must like it! We spoke before thru PJM a year or two ago when I was in Cartagena. Nice to hear from you again.
“Progressives just can’t stand seeing conservatives having a good time. Are they aware that the word holiday, which they prefer to use, is a derivative of the two words holy, and day?”
Are progressives “aware”? The last thing progressives were “aware” of was…..I’m thinking…..hmmm, progressives? aware?…..still thinking…..I’ll get back to you.
I won;t hold my breath for your reply RE: progressive awareness. Obviously, they are not aware that they are assisting in their own demise, and, or serfdom. Not even aware that they are the useful idiots that Lenin spoke of.
Hahahaha!
Great point carolannie. As my Dad used to say, they are educated idiots.
Me Miserable! Which Way Shall I Fly?
Infinite Wrath and Infinite Despair?
Which Way I Fly is Hell; Myself am Hell;
And in the Lowest Deep a Lower Deep,
Still Threat’ning to Devour Me, Opens Wide,
To Which the Hell I Suffer Seems a Heaven
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨. *
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ **
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨*o*
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨*♥*o*
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨***o***
¨¨¨¨¨¨**o**♥*o*
¨¨¨¨¨**♥**o**o**
¨¨¨¨**o**♥***♥*o*
¨¨¨*****♥*o**o****
¨¨**♥**o*****o**♥**
¨******o*****♥**o***
****o***♥**o***o***♥ *
¨¨¨¨¨____!_!____
¨¨¨¨¨\_________/¨¨
My experience has been 99% positive this year; When I respond ‘Merry Christmas’ to the trendy ‘Happy Holiday’s', most people reply with a more sincere ‘Merry Christmas’.
A nice bit of legislation for Congress to pass would be to mandate all business and government offices to remain open and fully functioning 24/7, ’364′ days a year. This includes Congress. When you are issued a social security number, you shall declare what religion you are. After that, you work your normal hours of work every day of the year, and take off only the holidays that your ‘religion’ observes. Atheists get NO holidays; No social security number, no holidays; And, naturally, NO MORE FEDERAL HOLIDAYS. And being deferent to Islam, no proselytes. [This actually saves the federal government ("We The People") holiday pay.] What do you want to bet that ‘sick pay’ goes through the roof?
And in honor of the most intelligent, competent, good looking, visionary President the United States ever had, name it Obamunism!
I also am an atheist and recently noticed that there is a religion called altheism — the religion of anti-religion? What is it about the little weirdo cult groups in this country that makes them so obnoxious and revolting? WHo the hell would protest an Xmas tree or anything decorative to celebrate what is trully a common, unifying holiday? I don’t care about the Christ in Xmas; it doesn’t bother me one bit, but then I’m not all about being offended by everything everyone else does. America is growing into a nation of twirpy little oversensitive groups that have nothing more important to do than whine and complain like immature little 3 year olds — the difference being that as adults they actually have the gaul to litigate, and clog our overwhelmed court systems with utter nonsense, merely to satisfy their own empty lives…speaking of which, what sort of life is it that is so devoted to such remarkably annoying habits? The Xmas tree is a symbol of Xmas. If its really so offensive, maybe a ‘holiday tree’ sign should be placed on it, just for clarity, and as a way of pacifying the aging thumb suckers out there who have nothing better to do with their lives than irritating their fellow human beings.
So, you’re blaming the Gauls for the litigation?? Phaw
Merry Christmas
Haven’t you noticed that these offendees are professionals that use offense as a strategy to sue for profit. For the most part there is no offense but the one they manufacture. We should not be moved.
I have to agree with this post. As a matter of fact, I posted something similar on my blog yesterday.
Political correctness has reached the point of insanity. I’m far from Christian but it’s Christmas. Get over it.
I’m not a huge fan of the pagan “Christmas” b.s. and it has become so monopolized by guilt and ‘spending/buying’ that any remnant of “Christianity” is pretty much lost on the whole damned thing.
When my daughter was born, I took a lot of heat for opting out of her ‘first’ Christmas (I refused to ‘celebrate’ it or ‘participate’). We were a young couple and broke and I found “Christmas” far too expensive and wasteful and ridiculous and since my child was too young to know what “Christmas” was yet (you know, “PRESENTS”), I opted out.
Sorry, but, I still think “Christmas” is effing annoying and cruel and stupid.
Signed,
Grinch Delia
Merry Christmas from Honduras-the leader of the free world. My wife and i founded and operate a Family Home (orphanage), and Christian school here. The reason is because we are born again Evangelical Christians. John 3:1-21 God has filled our hearts with His love for the poor, abandoned, abused, raped, beaten precious children. Psalm 27:10
I am aware that many who claim to be Christian don’t produce Godly fruit. Christianity should not be judged by them, but by the life Jesus lived. Only God knows the human heart, and every thing will be revealed in the final judgment. Revelations 21:1-8
Merry Christmas
bobbyhonduras@yahoo.com
What I really object to from the mindless, elitist bullies is the very arrogrant assumption that people are just as mentally weak and defective as they are themselves. Speak for yourselves only!
Nearly 100% of the people are perfectly capable of surviving the exposure of differing cultures, histories, cusines, festivals and celebrations. The dumbed down lefties have not noticied that the travel industry thrives on people who will pay hard earned cash to experience these differing cultures. And have a great time enjoying them.
Nor have the bullies so much as noticed the restaurants serving various, delicious cusines that are scattered thoughtout the country. It is perfectly evident and obivious that people are fully capable indulging in this exposure without any harm done to their senses. They even enjoy it.
So it is nothing more than mindless bigoty and a heart full of evil hate that impels them to viciously pronounce that people are too frail to endure exposure to the celebrations of the westen lands.
My suggestion to these kill-joy mopes, is to move into the waste lands of the world (there’s plenty of them)and hide yourselves away from the rest of the normal, well adjusted people.
We don’t want to hear from you anymore. You are total idiots and fools.
The worst thing about this holiday is having to listen to so much talk about it. It is now obvious that people are like chattering chimpanzees. They just love to talk about anything, as i am doing right now.
We really have more in common with the animals than we think
“The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has warned school officials in Tennessee that wishing folks ‘Merry Christmas’ is bad and that they should instead wish them ‘Happy Holidays.’”
No, they didn’t. The article linked has a headline that is misleading, at best, and an outright lie, at worst. But, ’tis the season to lie about the ACLU.
A clarification was provided by the ACLU on December 20th and reported here the day after I had submitted the article. However, it appears that
According to this this December 17th article,
School ended on December 17th to resume on January 3rd.
Does anyone else suspect that this might be a case of sour grapes from the principal? He gets a warning about specific behavior that has previously been frowned upon by the courts (ie school-sponsored prayer and evangelism) and decides to ban Christmas in response, blaming the ACLU for his decision. The ACLU had nothing to do with it, and the principal has been told to stop speaking to the press. One doesn’t have to be TOO cynical to wonder what’s really going on …
We’ve now got TWO ‘PC gone mad’ claims that are plainly bogus. In the same thread. Hmm. From experience, about 80-90% of ‘PC gone mad’ from the UK are bogus … Does the same apply to the US?
It might be sour grapes. On the other hand, he may have reacted as so many do to bullying tactics and threats of litigation. Such tactics often work very well.
Shouldn’t the separation of church and state pc folks object to “holiday” too? What is so “holy” about those shopping binge days?
The word “holiday” does not refer to the day being a “holy day” any more than “Thursday” is still Thor’s day. Both have religious roots that have long since been secularized.
The world is insane alright.
Some of the comments prove it.
BUT I have to add a note: I have noticed that some believe that the use of
“Xmas”
is reductive or offensive.
It is not so: X represents here the letter CHI, a letter of the Greek alphabet that is written like our x…and is of course the first letter of CHristos.
The use of X as a Christian symbol is very ancient.
#21 Waterwillows wrote: “What I really object to from the mindless, elitist bullies is the very arrogrant assumption that people are just as mentally weak and defective as they are themselves. Speak for yourselves only!
Nearly 100% of the people are perfectly capable of surviving the exposure of differing cultures, histories, cusines, festivals and celebrations.”
—————
OK, I agree, but some of the people here who grumble about signs in Spanish and mosques here and there might benefit from your advice as well.
I’m an Atheist and would like to wish all Atheists, Agnostics, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Protestants, etc. a very MERRY CHRISTMAS. Get over yourselves. If you don’t like people condemning you for your beliefs don’t be critical (and stupid) about theirs. It’s the golden rule folks, “do unto others………………). So Christmas is “in your face?” Only if you put it there.
To show how full of sh*t the ACLU, atheists and others really are, here’s a dirty little secret; gov’t employees, as well as most state and municipal workers not only get holiday pay for Christmas, but instead of receiving double time as they do for working other holidays they get 2 1/2X base pay. I dare these anti-religious crybabies to stand up to the civil service unions and challenge this!
You are officially AWESOME. TRUTH right in da face!
LMAO!
One of these years, I hope Christians do a John Galt on Christmas. Even for you agnostics.
Get your own holiday!
My prediction is it would be a disaster, about as successful and meaningful as Quanza. December would turn back into the brutish month it is, sans Christmas, or else the need for celebration would turn into savagery without the manger and the nativity scene.
Not that they would, but Christians would have people begging for Christmas, pleading for it, if they could just make it go away for a year or two. It would serve the PCists, agnostics, atheists and everyone else right.
As I said, get your own holiday if Christmas bothers you.
I posted this before, but it’s worth repeating.
One of the “Conspirators” at the Volokh Conspiracy (a libertarian law blog) posted this paraphrase bit of wisdom from a Jewish friend:
Worth thinking about.
C.S. Lewis always explained things better than most.
Christmas
“Just a hurried line…. to tell a story which puts the contrast between our feast of the Nativity and all this ghastly “Xmas” racket at its
lowest. My brother heard a woman on a ‘bus say, as the ‘bus passed a church with a Crib outside it, “Oh Lor’! They bring religion
into everything. Look – they’re dragging it even in to Christmas now!”
Here is an article with multiple examples of what’s been happening to the Christmas celebrations in the United States. It closes with this from the author’s brother in law:
I second the motion.
By the monstrous tenets of political correctness, the least among you is the most important. I hate immigration and I don’t care what anyone thinks of it. I have spent 6 years in my life in 15 different Third World countries – nice places to visit but you don’t want to have it in the US.
Can anyone name just one thing that recent immigration from Third World countries has done that makes America a better place?
I hear only negatives: don’t say Merry Christmas, a Sikh may be offended, I see 9/11, enabled by Arabs being able to move about the country with impunity, hidden amongst a sea of other immigrants.
I hear about Nigerian fraud gangs, Latino drug gangs and welfare and emergency room hogs. Comparing it to the old days of immigration is foolish since those people proved themselves to be exceptional and not grievance stricken and litigious morons.
In return the people most responsible for the America everyone wants to come to are marginalized, demonized as racist for not wanting this life and profiled at airports to ease the egos of overly sensitive and seemingly perpetually offended immigrants. Screw ‘em.
Sorry it’s so late but this is the best comment posted here. Right on!!
I am sick and tired of the white progressives and their religious, racial, ethnic and cultural minorities telling me and the rest of white America and those of us who are religious esecially Christian what we can and cannot think, say, believe, feel, and do. If the white elite progressives/regressives hate it here so much then they should leave; Cuba would be a nice place for them. Same for the minorities.
Because at some point in the not too distant future there will be a backlash against the white progressvies and their minority sheeple. This can not go on much longer.
“Can anyone name just one thing that recent immigration from Third World countries has done that makes America a better place?”
You’ve carefully qualified that question, but I’d like to point out that it’s a question that is asked periodically of every new group of migrants to most countries – as it has here in australia. In the US, at various times, hispanics have copped that question, as have chinese, italians, jews and japanese. In australia, germans have copped it, as have lebanese, south-east asians, italians, irish, greeks and chinese. ALL of those groups have been regarded as some sort of culture-destroying criminal scourge at some time or another. The impulse is the same every time – only the targets change.
The mistake is to assume that this has never happened before. It’s all happened before. The trouble is … memories are short. In 60 years, everyone will forget having had a problem with muslims and you’ll have moved on to the next bad guy, whoever that might be.
Christendom has had a problem with Islam for 1400 years more-or-less. I suspect that in 50 years it will be worse rather than better. Not that I’ll be around.
Doesn’t it say somewhere in the Constitution about no laws promoting a religion or restricting a religion, isn’t the ACLU promoting un-costitutional actions? And aren’t lilly livered officials avoiding the defence of said Constitution?
Funny how in business and in life, the managers and executives that practice the micro-management ideas are ridiculed and despised. Everyone knows just how difficult it is to function effectively with bosses like that.
Somehow, these ideas of micro-management have thrust themselves into what is being recognized as the politically correct holiday times. Instead of pleasing everyone the opposite is taking place where everyone is hating it. Being awkward with greeting others only drives the point home.
Each person should express themselves as they wish. Greeting others with whatever holiday they are enjoying should be taken with acceptance. If a person takes offense at a holiday greeting, they should also say so, but in the same manner the greeting was given.
Days are short, the weather may be miserable, travel may be quite difficult and staying inside gets old real quick. Just would wish that there were more holidays between the New Year and spring.
I kind of liked the way we did it in a unit I was in in the service. We had a calender that had something special marked for every day of the year. When we wanted an excuse to party we just checked the calender to see what it was we were celebrating. (Our unit was not operational at the time so nobody really cared what we did.) About the only people we offended by this were the guys in other units that kept trying to transfer over to our unit.
Isn’t it interesting that the Puritans tried to suppress Christmas and instead they have disappeared from the landscape yet the Holy Day remains. Guess God preferred people to celebrate His birth on the day He inspired the early Church to do so as, once again, it denotes the Son’s defeat of the pagan “sun” god who once ruled that day. Merry Christmas to the newborn King!
….to make everyone feel welcome and comfortable….
We will require gray unisex uniforms on all people. All walls will be painted beige. No music or signs of joy or laughter either, think of how it could upset somebody who is sad.
I can see it now, what a doltish world these people see. I see black and white usually, these people see gray….a dull dull dark gray.
I’m not participating……..MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Venezuela has my thoughts and sympathies. This article by a blogger there, Daniel, helps to put things in perspective, as to a less immediate degree does this. According to Daniel,
I worry a bit about Daniel and wonder how much longer he will be able to blog from Venezuela. My guess is not very much longer.
Things seem very different now than when I was there in the very late 1990s – early years of this century. Then, it seemed as though the Christmas celebrations were typical of those in predominately Roman Catholic countries. There is now far more Christmas spirit here in Panama than in Venezuela; even as an Agnostic I very much enjoy and appreciate it.
When I gripe about the politically correct assaults against the celebration of Christmas in the United States I need to remember that even now everything is far, far better than in Venezuela and, for that matter, many other places where the notions of political correctness are rather different. I hope that we can keep it that way.
to everyone here and at Pajamas Media Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We (parents & me) ust had my Jewish brother-in-law & sister, their kids and his parents over for Christmas. When I visit here for Christmas & the time is right, we go over to sister & b-in-law for Haunaka. I love potato latkes.
Nina Totenberg recently apologized on NPR for referring to a Christmas party.
Is Nina Totenberg now so desperate to belong to the self-designated liberal élite that she will say any dumb and nutty old thing ? She used to be fairly credible as a Supreme Court observer and commentator.
Is it advancing age ? Cognitive decline ?
Qué pasa, Nina ?
See post #7. She was having a dig at the DOJ, not Christmas. Newsbusters didn’t bother to ask her what she meant, the rightosphere just echoed the story without question.
I guess it was of those “Too Delicious to Check” stories.
I totally agree- these are “The Crazy Years”, as Robt. Heinlein said. Oh, btw, a wee boat is a “dinghy” rather than a “dingy”. The latter means, I think, something that is not quite clean.
I’m all for Christmas, I’m far less enamoured by the massive gluttony that’s replaced it.
It’s become a festival where all that matters is spending as much money as you can on the most lavish gifts, decorations, and massive meals.
On television and radio this is reflected by extremely tasteless “Christmas” music and movies that aren’t at all Christian, like National Lampoons Christmas (we had a choice of I think 5 such movies on Christmas day, the only (on the surface) Christmas related television at all.
All that to me is NOT Christmas. And I doubt it’s what the Church Fathers who came up with the idea something like a thousand years ago had in mind.
In my house you’ll find a small tree, no massive amounts of garish decorations, certainly no Santa dolls or Christmas gifts. Dinner is elaborate but mostly in style and the selection of foods, not the amount of it. It is a special occasion after all, so calls for some more luxury than normal.
The popular consensus is; Nobody likes being told BY THE GOVERNMENT, what to say on any holiday.
With the Congress we now have, I’m looking for a lottery style holiday calendar for all future years. That way Christmas could fall in February 29th of a year that is not a leap year! Halloween could be designated December 25th. ‘Christmas’ could end up being celebrated twice within a thirty day period.
So; Would that make you happy?
Nina Totenberg, human filth. No wonder she has won so many journalism awards. happy hanukah Nina
See post #7. It’s a beat-up.
Matthew, thanks for the reference. Let me revise my comment, Totenberg is human feces.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
p s and I checked
p p s, and this very nasty pig has a history of statements that justify the above description.
This is a typical death spiral of the aircraft, PC. However the religious will survive in the market place when it returns from Government control.
But it is also time to recognize that the Muslim religion, which is neither ecumenical nor shy and although still a minority, will promote their own version of religious signs such as “Allah is the one God and He had no son”, perhaps appearing at the President’s feast after Ramadan.
I agree with Miller on this one and on the crazy Wildlife officer who ticketed the people saving the deer. I think I commented on that before saying that as a former officer I suggested that the officer’s supervisor, if he’s smart, would be speed dialing the officer and the clerk’s office in order to void the ticket. Dumb doesn’t need to be followed up by dumb.
Let me address a slightly different issue: I prefer Happy Holy Days to “Seasons Greetings”. I am for any days set aside to advance the war against evil that rages in every human heart.
I despise PC anything and heartily refuse to take part in it. This sense that everyone should be entitled to be offended by anything and everything is insane and needs to be ignored. We are a christian nation, our principles and morals were founded on it. For those who are offended, look away; for those who have come to this country with other beliefs, accept our culture or move. It is really quite that simple.
I wonder if those people who removed the nativity scene know that the Muslims they were afraid to offend believe in the virgin birth of Jesus. In theory, Muslims should really have little problem with a nativity scene.
You are mislead. Islam does NOT teach of a virgin birth, but in fact teach God not only has *no* Son, but is *incapable* of having a son and anyone claiming it is an infidel.
To them “Jesus” was merely a prophet, and NOTHING more. To Islam, the most important prophet was Muhammad. reconcile that.
WOW! I am truly amazed at the plethra and depth of comments this topic has spurned. I am a radical devout christian. Let me first and foremost thank all the Jewish people who love chrisymas music and the ones who don’t as well. It is because of YOUR G_D that I have the privelege of being grafted in …even though you all don’t believ in Yeshua read Romans chpt. 11 in our new testament…go ahead it won’t hurt you it will show you why so many christans love you. 8 spent nearly a year in Israel living on east Mt. Of Olives among muslisms and Arabs and in the Old City as well. I learned a lot as an american and a christian from Arab Christians Palestinan Christians and yes Messanic Jews. I also lived in Mada Jordan and they celebrate Christmas there too. Let me say for all christians we are Sorry for what the Crusaders did and we owe The Jews a debt of gratitude. But beware you are Not as safe as you think in America…it is “5he Calm Before The Storm” for Christians and Jews in America! These comments about Christmas is the Tip of the iceberg! Because Jews will not read the new testament you have blinders on…but just read Your Prophets ..Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah Isiah, Hosea itNs all in there! You see actually all turmoil and trying to get rid of Everything Jesus and Christian was prophesied! And Guess What We Are Fulfilling It.! I Love It! And for ALL you Plitically Correct Folks …Those sweet peace loving Radical Muslims are gonna give you just what you deserve! By the time you figure it out it will be TOO Late!! Sorry about the caps but some things Need to be screamed…..Shalom …..By the way people call me “A Black Jew” I Luv It.
Please excuse the typos..it’s hard to type on these little phone keyboards and I got a call before proofing….thanks
I work in Saudi Arabia. For a Saudi owned company with a large majority of Saudi employees.
Far from being offended by greetings of “Happy Christmas”, our Saudi colleagues are not in the least offended and universally respond with a “Happy Christmas” of their own.
The only rational responses to the intolerant agitators allegedly offended by Christmas start with utter disregard of their demands and may include contempt, disdain, and/or mockery of their effort to impose their intolerance on others.
It is an engrossing and cognitive post. It has been very helpful in understanding of diverse things. I’m sure many people will agree with me.