Some people have had enough of “Ho-ho-ho!” We all know that Old Saint Nick has been under assault by aggressive secularists – and not just by those atheist Uncle Scrooges in Santa Monica. Ruthie Blum writes of this on Xmas day from the perspective of an American Israeli:
Today, so many decades later, Christmas is under assault, even in America, of all places. Who could have predicted that it would become a symbol of “offense” to those who do not celebrate it? Who could have understood that the fall of the shah of Iran and the rise of the Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 would be the turning point for Christians the world over?
As Jews, we always knew what that was like, though we didn’t expect that the worst anti-Semitism was going to arise from the marriage of radical Islam to the Left (a subject on which Andrew C. McCarthy wrote a chilling book).
But Christians?
Egg nogs first, perhaps, but read the whole thing on Israel Hayom.
What is the big deal?
Little story this year. My suburban neighborhood association has bylaws about what you can do. Those include what kind of roof materials which have been amended when better nice looking new things came on the market that came available when the cedar shake roofs were too much too keep up, you get the idea.
So there is something about “lawn signs and billboards” which have been taken by tacit agreement to include those small political signs you just shove into the yard. This year a few Obama supporters put those out and nobody said anything about it.
That was just ignored but the ponytail retired professor of something who walks his dogs every day noticed that one family had among the other Christmas lights and decorations a small sign saying something like “Jesus is the reason for the season” .
Now he gets upset and starts firing off emails to the board members about a violation of the rules.
The Jews in the neighborhood those who are active in our community were the first to respond. How can you limit what is obviously a non obrtusive religious expression, not offensive to us at all? He was shocked. Maybe he thought Jews would help him in a campaign to prohibit religious freedom. No. We know what this leads to and anyway do not object to Christians, Muslims or whomever being what they are. We participate with our Christian friends and neighbors on this joyous holiday.
Merry Christmas.
Shalom
As for Santa Monica: Read “The Umbrella Of The Gardener’s Aunt Is In The House.” It’s a brilliant book about the perverted, “artistic” desecration of a Nativity Scene in a tiny Montana town. Witty as all get-out.
http://www.amazon.com/Umbrella-Gardeners-House-story-Christmas/dp/0976808862/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356487279&sr=1-1&keywords=the+umbrella+of+the+gardener%27s+aunt
Shalom Mr. Simon, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you from the center of my heart for all the work you do and putting this fantastic team and forum together. I, for one, would be lost if not for PJMedia and PJTV. These are worrisome times indeed but I believe as a heretical Christian that Great I AM will protect all those who look for His way and His light in whichever path he provides.