Secrets of the City

I think the war over Christmas is a myth generated by religious conservatives so they can appear embattled. They play good defense.

What other religious holiday is celebrated for weeks, and actually closes schools for a week?

Last year, the 24/7 Conservative talk station, AM 1280 The Patriot had a commercial that went “We’re not afraid to say it — Merry Christmas.”

A Christmas greeting with a sneer and a chip on your shoulder. Lovely sentiment, buddy. Right back at ‘ya.

For a change, I’m agreeing with The Rat. Kersten’s tone really isn’t that conciliatory, either. Her “compromise” is that everyone say Christmas, to the exclusion of every other star in the constellation of late December holidays, including the entirely secular calendar new year.

Christians (yes you, the guy next to me reading the Gospel of John) who insist on foisting their definition of values should first take a look in the mirror, and figure out why they’re not the de facto standard.

When are all those stupid Christians going to learn you don’t put the baby Jesus in the manger until X-mas day?

It’s impossible for me to read Kersten and not hear the scolding, know-it-all voice of Stephen Colbert. She’s a hilarious parody of her own positions and she doesn’t even know it.

Bah humbug…I say Merry Christmas to everyone. My favorite response is “actually, I’m Jewish”, to which I respond, “ha, me too…Merry Christmas!!!”

Everyone who thinks Kersten is sincere and honest, take one giant step forward…not all @ once, please.

In the absence of Maz, I will scold myself for disrespecting such a decent Christian women, regardless of how disingenious she may be.

Wishing you Peace on Earth and all that other crap.

Is is just me or does anyone else find that the most vocal Christians who complain loudest about this imagined “war on Christmas” are, ironically, the least informed about the holiday? That Christ was not born in December; that the Christmas tree, and the choice of December for the holiday, are of pagan origin; that the establishment of Christmas as a national holiday does not mean that the US was founded as a “Christian” nation; that there still are Protestant denominations that do not celebrate Christmas. Do any of them also realize that the original Saint Nicholas was a Turk?

I still find it hilarious that christians think they have a monopoly over this time of year.

The only reason we celebrate now is because of the pagans and yule. Therefore, happy holidays is pretty much a more appropriate greeting for this time if you want to actually be mindful of what this time actually is. There’s no “war on christmas”, it’s just people digging their heads out of the sand.

I love christmas/the holidays because it’s so nonreligious these days – it’s all about family and togetherness and excitement and etc. If it was a purely religious holiday, I’d not pay any attention.

I’m most pissed off about the War on Hanukkah.

Everywhere you go, it’s Merry Christmas this and Happy Kwaanza that.

They’ve declared WAR on Hanukkah – we need Judah and the Maccabees now more than ever!

Those poor Christians – it must be tough being in the 90% majority in this country. I can imagine how isolating and lonely that must feel at Christmas time, what with everybody ignoring Christmas these days.

Sappy Solstice, y’all.

Rat, you are right on point.

For once!

MERRY XXXMAS!

I love Christmas and am endlessly annoyed by conservative commentators who want to drag a lovely holiday — that can either be enjoyed either as a religious or a secular celebration — into their invented culture war, just so they can claim further victim status. Hell, I’m a Jew, and I wrote a whole goddamn 3500 word cover story on Christmas this week.

The “War on Christmas” is a sham created by the right. But I liked that Kersten pointed out that Christmas has become a secular holiday in this country. It’s about the happy season and consumerism more than anything else. So what’s the big deal about wishing someone a merry Christmas when you don’t know if they celebrate? Nothing.

With that said, I just say “happy holidays” instead of “merry Christmas and happy new year” most of the time because as Jon Stewart says, “I have shit to do.”

Hey, I’m ALL for the Winter Solstice.

but mostly because I get Seasonal Asshole Disorder really bad and as of today, the days get longer. More light = less cranky Rhino.

Happy birthday to me!

You have so much to do, Matt, you’re getting a little sloppy on posting those links, aren’t you?? Holiday shopping keeping your plate full?

CHRISTMAS shopping, Jason!

Jeez, you just ruined Christmas for everyone.

Here’s the line from Kersten that bothers me the most:
American popular culture has appropriated Christmas, as it has Thanksgiving, and drained it of religious meaning.

What’s wrong with Thanksgiving, and when was it religious?

I’ve been brainwashed by the politically correct liberal conservative media. I can’t say the C word.

Well, Thanksgiving originated with the Puritans, but I expect that the natives portrayed as co-celebrators were still at least some kind of heathen, in part.

Oh, and it sucks to get on a bus at 7pm headed for “downtown”, but that means St. Paul, and you’re headed home.

This website says, it’s got the “True” Thanksgiving story, so it must be true.

A very Merry Christmas to my favorite jew-boy, Sparber!

And DeRooskie, please let me lnow what Jeanette Trompeter wants to find ‘under the tree’ this year.

What’s wrong with Thanksgiving, and when was it religious?

uh, probably when the pilgrims thanked God for their survival in the new world. Why do lefties insist on denying the religious foundations of this country? We know that when you give thanks, it’s to the government, but there really wasn’t much of a federal bureaucracy in 1621.

Why do lefties insist on denying the religious foundations of this country?

Fear of religious persecution?

Castration anxiety?

Common sense?

Historical knowledge?

Pick one!

Hee.

I’ll admit that “War on Christmas” is an inflammatory bit of rhetoric, but you’ve got to be downright stupid to deny the heart of the argument. Anyone else still have their VHS tapes from years back filled with network Christmas specials, Charlie Brown, et al.? Watch the commercials and try to find a “Happy Holidays” anywhere. I’ve got mine from 1990, and there’s not a one to be found. “Happy Holidays,” while an innocuous statement in and of itself, is a symptom of our “enlightened” society trying to pretend that the most major holiday in the United States is somehow not derived from a Christian observance.

I work in retail. Christmas, not Hanukkah, not Kwanzaa, not Ramadan, not Winter Solstice, not New Year’s, is what pays my salary. It drives our economy, it promotes peace and goodwill, etc, etc. It’s not even an argument about it’s sacredness, as presents and pagan-derived trees have nothing to do with the birth of Christ. (nor does the day. Most Christians know that Jesus wasn’t born in December… it’s part of the story that the shepherds were out, making it at least spring.)

I think it comes down to political correctness subverting an American cultural institution and putting the word “Christmas” in to the realm of profanity. It’s now considered offensive to recognize that the reason we all get together with our families and exchange gifts is because of a Christian holiday, and that’s pretty sad. Hanukkah is a minor holiday to Jews, Winter Solstice is a non-issue other than historically, so what other holidays are we wishing to be happy to people right now? “Holiday” is just a way for people to say “Christmas” without feeling like they’re giving even a cursory nod to the Christian majority in this country, and I think that’s kind of disrespectful.

It’s certain a case of overearnest sensitivity over malice, but the Christianity likes to pretend that it is an embattled minority in this country, and so I’m not overly concerned. Wish me a merry Christmas or a happy holiday and I’ll take the sentiment as it was meant — as a friendly gesture.

That’s all we’ve ever asked.

Merry Christmas, msparber.

Right back atcha.

Now where’s the nog?