Folks in my area are buying into the "War on Christmas" stupidity.

[Ladyhawk]

I overheard someone at PT saying he was miffed that a present he had been given said "Happy Winter Solstice" or something like that and not "Merry Christmas."

Are the fundies really going to make a big non-issue of this? I didn't think anyone would be dumb enough to buy into the so-called "War on Christmas" issue. Guess I was wrong. :shrug:

[bananas]

1. Are there "Merry Spaghetti Monster Day" cards yet? nt

[Salviati]

9. What day is that supposed to be...

...I couldn't find it on my calender :(

[wtmusic]

18. Every Friday is a religious holiday

and cards are considered blasphemous.

[Ladyhawk]

26. It's almost Friday! Woohoo!

I can daydream about the Beer Volcano and stripper factory in heaven. I'm assuming, of course, that the stripper factory produces male strippers as well as female. :)

[Tesha]

42. Well, Angelo Martinetti used to run through the streets of Boston...

> What day is that supposed to be...I couldn't find it on my calender :(

Well, Angelo Martinetti used to run home through the streets of
Boston every Wednesday, 'cause that was the day his mom was cooking
Prince (brand) spaghetti.

So I'd propose that every Wednesday be Flying Spaghetti Monster Day!

Tesha

[Spinzonner]

2. What will the Collateral Damage look like

[donheld]

3. Will this do? no Xtian statements

[China_cat]

22. How about this?

[chookie]

4. Okay, if I agree to wish them a Merry Christmas...

...in the same spirit must they agree to reciprocate by wishing me a Merry Chrismahanukwannazikah?

[Ladyhawk]

28. Good luck teaching your average fundy to pronounce that.

;)

[jobycom]

5. It's a pretty damn good strategy, don't underestimate it.

It's the new flag-burning issue. By making such a fuss, they are starting a fight and creating their own enemy. People will respond by refusing to say Merry Christmas, just because they are appalled by these heartless fundies. Thus, they make the "war on Christmas" real by fighting it.

And the war makes these sick bastards feel even more like persecuted victims, and they rally more around their leaders, creating a bunker mentality which shuts out all criticism of Bush, the Repubs, and everything else their leaders tell them to ignore.

It's not about Christmas, it's about creating zombies. Remember where the phrase about Kool-aid drinkers comes from. That's what Falwell and his evil ilk are trying to create.

It's brilliant mind-control politics, and sadly, we just can't win it. We will just have to live with this evil radical fundamentalist faction bent on destroying America and producing more Timothy McVeighs and Eric Rudolphs, and Usama bin Ladens.

[Erika]

6. The fundie followers aren't evil, they are just intellectually challenged

Their leaders are evil. The followers are just weak and silly.

[wildcat78]

16. That's true!

The folks at moody broadcasting is pushing drivel!

[jobycom]

49. They follow a man who lied to slaughter 100K innocent people

I'm not going to split hairs over it.

[Mutley]

45. So, our best hope would be to say Merry Christmas

as much as possible, then. Maybe they can muster up enough brain power to see the difference between what asshats like Loofah Man are telling them, and what they're seeing in their every day lives.

[jobycom]

50. I can't do it

My strategy is to frown slightly and not return any greeting. These bastards control too much already, they aren't controlling my religion and my holiday greetings. They can put their Christ in Christmas if their little black hearts desire it, but my holidays are my own business.

[Chicago Democrat]

7. Look its all distraction... But it happens every fucking year

and I am sick of it.

At the post office, old man wants "Christmas Stamps" not no 'holiday stamps'

So I ask for "Hail Satan" stamps just for a grin. No? How bout Curious George Bush Monkey stamps? No? oh well Ill take the Kwanza stamps and the Buddha stamps.

Do you know that there actually are Kwanza stamps? Hindi's, Buddhists, Brahmans, Sikhs and Jews anxiously await holiday stamps in honor of their holidays!

Ugh, all excuses to not talk about the war.

[wwcsmd]

33. Kwanzaa stamps on my new years cards...

For a while of my adulthood, I sent xmas cards, but, cards with either classical art images wishing peace, or, ones like humorous Patsy & Edina xmas cards bought from the local gay gift shop.

Being a person who's ADD/bad at doing things on time, I eventually started doing new years cards instead, just as a way to say hi to old friends, or, acknowledge relatives who'd sent me xmas cards.

Sometime in there, I started requesting Kwanzaa stamps from the post office. No, I don't actually celebrate Kwanzaa either, but, just my way of saying that xmas isn't all there is.

So, my xtian relatives who sent me xmas cards got, in reply, new years cards with Kwanzaa stamps. :)

[Meldread]

8. Same here, but much worse.

My local news paper devoted a page and a half to it, most of it inane ranting about how Christians all across America aren't outraged.

[LeighAnn]

10. Why should they be outraged? Jesus wasn't born in December

Why not just call it what it is, the winter solstice celebration, and quit pretending like Santa Claus has anything to do with God.

[Bluerthanblue]

54. bingo- point that out- and also

the 'traditions' they claim to be 'sacred' were actually- secular celebrations, which pagans 'reveled' in to help face the coming of winter-
Christmas, was, and is in truth, a pagan holiday- stolen by religion to entice non-christians to 'join' them.

[LeighAnn]

55. Right. They should be renouncing it

Instead they've turned it into a battle of "good" and "evil" with the War on Christmas nonsense, with them being on the wrong side.

[Sapphocrat]

11. What is PT?

Is this a new acronym? Am I totally un-hip? Does it stand for Pee Treepublic?

[DanCa]

14. Physical Therapy (nt)

[Sapphocrat]

15. *slapping forehead*

Ohhhhhhhhh! Thanks, Dan!

I should've known... I've been following these "overheard in PT" stories like an addictive soap opera lately.

[Ladyhawk]

24. I'm sorry. I should have spelled it out. :(

I was actually just going to the gym to do my physical therapy exercises, but it was easier to say I was going to PT. :)

[IChing]

12. A diversion to ignore real news, sorta of, a "1984 hate week" theme.

you need to get the masses fired up.

Terry Shavio was denied her christmas greetings because her blond sister was missing in some foreign country after she was denied her prayer in school because they taught evolution..

I don't know if that fit, but something like that.

[wwcsmd]

32. Yes, and yet another way to divide us...

I figured this out when talking to an old friend I'd grown up with. She's a Christian, fairly liberal socially, and not a ditto-head christian, more into it studiously (long story short) and/but considers it an important factor in her life --

I was asking about the prayer in school & the "under god" in the pledge issues, and as someone who's both christian-involved AND works in the public school system (in a southern state no less) she said that NEITHER were actually important issues to her or her peers, not something they thought were big deals or something they regularly discussed. Huhm.

Well, later in the evening's conversation, "liberal politics" came up since I proudly call myself a liberal. She brought up, as a "liberal issue," the release of "rapists and murders" from jail -- saying that was something she could NEVER support. And I asked, um, who wants to do that? And she said, "The Liberal Judges" -- huh? I told her that, as a liberal who knows a lot of other liberals, that "getting rapists and murders released from jail" was NOT a major liberal issue I'd heard of! (me: joke: haha: "No, we said we wanted our POTHEADS back! They were fun at parties! We miss them!" ;))

What I FIGURED from this, was, that BOTH sides were being subject to "misinformation for the sake of separation" -- make people think that "the other side" is all afluff with something "your" side doesn't get.

i.e. Tell "them" that "we" hate the christ in christmas; tell "us" that "they" are now going to put up a big stir to keep it in. Yet, when it comes down to INDIVIDUALS, MOST people aren't actually having a fluff about it at all...

Ya think?

[DanCa]

13. Ladyhawk heres how you have fun with a fundie at christmas

Wish em a happy birthday, and enjoy it as thier eyes gloss over as they try to figure out whose birthday your talking about. Seriously its a hoot.

[Norrin Radd]

20. Hey, isn't "Happy Birthday" Frosty the Snowman's line?

I suppose the Christian Wrong hates Frosty as well, because he was brought to life by a magic hat, and they believe any stories with magic in them are promoting devil worship (forgetting, of course, that devil worship is protected by the Constitution).

[AlienGirl]

17. Said by a generally open-minded Christian at work:

"When I wish people merry Christmas, even if they're Jewish or athiests, I have yet to have one say anything back but 'Merry Christmas to you too.'"

I pointed out to her that because *she* has said "Merry Christmas," they know she is Christian and give her the greeting for her appropriate holiday. She replied that she doesn't think of Christmas as Christian, but rather as a day of feasting and being happy together, and doesn't see why that doesn't apply to everyone equally.

For some reason, it kind of bothered me that she couldn't see how people might feel a little marginalized because she's assuming they celebrate Christmas. This woman is normally very open-minded and liberal, so I didn't argue with her about it.

The office's three Kool-Aid drinkers, of course, are *convinced* they are "under attack" by "secularists and The Media." :eyes:

Tucker

[wtmusic]

19. typical pervasive ethnocentrism

I hope she had a happy Ramadan anyway.

[AlienGirl]

21. Interestingly, her church and my synagogue and a local mosque

are all in the same Interfaith Alliance.

Tucker

[Ladyhawk]

23. "Kool-Aid drinkers, of course, are *convinced* they are 'under attack'"

This just blows my mind. I don't care if folks want to have a "Merry Christmas," a "Happy Chanukkah," a "Happy Kwanza," a "Happy Ramadan" or merely a "Wonderful Winter Solstice." I just don't get all the fuss. The fundies are pissed because they aren't allowed to shove their particular holiday down everyone else's throat? :shrug:

[AlienGirl]

25. Exactly so

The way I have heard it from various fundies is that they are pissed that they are "expected to be sensitive" to other cultures/religions. They see this as a tremendous imposition upon, I guess, their right to be assholes.

Tucker

[Ladyhawk]

27. As sad as it is, I am laughing out loud at your reply.

:rofl:

It's so true, though. I used to be one of those assholes. :) And if someone spelled it "X-mas"...watch out!!! Those devils were taking the "Christ" out of "Christmas."

:rofl:

If they weren't so successful with these stupid attacks and distraction tactics, it would be even funnier.

[kevinbgoode]

29. They are desperately looking for anything

that will make them appear to be a victim. Of course, their "victimhood" doesn't involve any real practical or material damage...just "spiritual," a rather dubious notion that appears and disappears as the religious right invokes it. . .just look at their court cases.....it's not about them suffering damages..it's about their spiritual being harmed if they can't cause others practical or material damages.

This has to be the stupidest campaign I've seen anyone embark upon...but a logical followup to their nonstop attack on Halloween in our public schools.

If anyone approaches me with that nonsense, they'll get a quick "Shut the f*ck up"....sorry...it may not be in the holiday spirit, but I'm sick of these people screaming about political correctness while demanding their own.

[AlienGirl]

30. And there is something it reminds me of

Apparently, there was once a country somewhere where the religious/ethnic majority, egged on by some popular radio guys and comic-book artists, decided that they were being "oppressed" by the religious/ethnic-minority citizens of the same country, and it got kind of ugly for a while.

Tucker

[Name removed]

31. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[regnaD kciN]

56. What's interesting (and ironic) about this...

She replied that she doesn't think of Christmas as Christian, but rather as a day of feasting and being happy together, and doesn't see why that doesn't apply to everyone equally.

...is that this is exactly the attitude that many in the (generally conservative) Christian movement are fighting -- that Christmas is just a generic winter festival more than a celebration of the birth (the fact of the event, not necessarily the exact day) of Christ.

And, personally, speaking as a progressive Christian, that's what ticks me off a bit, too. I have nothing against a generic, ecumenical (including atheists/agnostics as well!) celebration at the turning of the year. Nor do I mind when such a festival includes references to Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa (which really isn't religious, but still...), the solstice, or any other "holy days" that occur in the various faiths, as long as they are recognitions of their genuine meanings to those who follow that faith -- not insisting that the beliefs of that one group are "the way the world really is," but simply "what it means to those who follow that path." Why, this very afternoon, I was at Seattle Center during the ongoing "WinterFest," and enjoyed the inclusiveness and general celebration very much. What gets me, though, are (generally secular) celebrations that claim to be about "Christmas," but completely omit any mention of the birth of Jesus, reduce it to little more than songs about a red-nosed reindeer, an ambulatory snowman, walking in a winter wonderland, and, maybe, the appearance of a candy-tossing fat guy in a red suit who bears little if any resemblance to the real life St. Nicholas of Myra. I know that the conservative blowhards are fuming against "holiday trees" and wishes of "season's greetings," but I'd just as soon go all the way and make the secular events a celebration of an explicitly non-religious midwinter celebration, rather than let them call something "Christmas" that has nothing to do with it, and let those of us who are Christians celebrate the holy season appropriately (which, of course, would mean that it would only start at sundown on December 24th, and end on January 6th; I mean, we're really supposed to be barely midway through Advent right now...).

[wwcsmd]

34. "Why do you 'Hate Christmas''?"

Of late, when asked why I "Hate Christmas" (commercialism, forced gift policies, decorations, incessant xmas music in public places) -- by my xtian relatives --

My response has been --

Yeah, cause Jesus was ALL about, "I proclaim that you should celebrate my birth by Buying Crap."

When discussing xmas cards with my eyerolling-but-xtian sister, as in, why I no longer send them, she mentioned as a positive that she sends them because she likes to receive thm because she likes to decorate with them.

So I was like, yep, I'm sure Jesus would rather you spend your money buying cards so that *you have something nice to decorate with* as opposed to, say, spending that same amount of money to feed hungry children...

[Yollam]

35. I live in "ultra-left" San Francisco, and I've never heard that one.

Who says "Happy Winter Solstice"? It's like "Happy Full Moon" or "Happy High Tide". Who cares? Is that some kind of Wiccan thing?

There are churches all over San Francisco, Xmas decorations galore, and tons of people say "Merry Christmas" and some say "Happy Holidays". It's so funny, because according to the way the likes of O'Reilly describe us, there should be no churches, except for just a few with lesbian pastors, and a bunch of atheist re-education centers all over town or something.

What area of the country do you live in?

I wonder if the person who said "Happy Winter Solstice" said it because they knew that the receiver was a wingnut who would get bent out of shape over it?

[Avalon Sparks]

36. There out in full force writing LTE's

This is the third one I've come across in the Dallas Morning News this week:



Anti-Christmas bias

The hardware store, the department store and the grocery store are all in on it. TV networks, magazines and even newspapers are in the program.

What is this grand design?

Do not use the term "Christmas." It is to be, "Happy holidays," "How are your holidays?" or "Did you finish your holiday shopping?" At a store this past week I asked if the employee would be allowed to wish the customer a "Merry Christmas."

"No way," came the quick answer, as the employee looked around. We have now reached a level beyond reason. Now we must feel for the non-Christian; we must not shame them by using the hurtful term "Christmas."

I am ashamed that we have allowed this to filter into our lives.

How did this happen? Who made this decision? Are stores and media outlets so delicate that they now place the word Christmas alongside racial slurs such as "the 'n' word"?

What a horrible group of people they must be that they would be offended to say, hear or see the word "Christmas" during the Christmas season. I hope many of you readers will step forward with your comments on this stain that has been placed on Christmas.

Tom XXXXXXX, Arlington


My how seriously Tom seems to be taking this issue.

I gotta admit though it gives me some type of wicked satisfaction to see the fundies in such an uproar about this issue.... lol

[kevinbgoode]

46. The worst thing about this is that my first impression was

this letter writer wrote a fake one. . .I can't imagine any employee making that statement. And, as we all know. . .it is certainly part of the wingnuts modus operandi to manufacture lies as they see fit.

[NMMNG]

37. These fools need a reality check

Hanukkah begins on December 24
Kwanzaa begins on December 25
And of course Christmas is also on December 25

Christmas is not the only darn holiday in the month of December, so "Happy Holidays" is a perfectly valid greeting to issue, particularly if one is not sure which holiday a person celebrates. The problem is these selfish Fundie nitwits think the whole damn country should acknowledge only their holiday. :eyes:

[Porcupine]

38. Celebrate Jesus or I'll hit you!! n/t

.

[Swamp Rat]

39. Then, how 'bout "merry fucking christmas"

[DainBramaged]

40. They have nothing else, no issues, no voice, just a rally point

to keep their sheeple focused. They lost the war in Iraq, lost the war for their version of Democracy, lost the war on terror, lost the war on reform and lost the political capital and agenda they thought the 50+ MILLION of us would roll over for, and lost the government.

Next time they say anything, ask them why they are not inclusive and would shun our Jewish friends and others who celebrate this time of year. Ask them why the glitter, gifts, and word are more important than the message?

Jesus didn't sign an exclusive on the month of December, and he sure wouldn't be greedy about it if he had the opportunity.

[Raine]

41. Must suck

to always play the poor victimized person all the time, they're just professional victims.x(

[Mutley]

43. I love how the 'majority' in this country constantly whines about

being persecuted. Let's see, they own the House, the Senate, and the Presidency (hopefully not for much longer! :P ), but they're being persecuted. Okay. :eyes:

[DrDan]

44. it is sad

but it something easily understood

like the Pledge of Allegiance issue
or the prayer in school issue
or the 10 commandments issue

Something the reich-wing can finally grasp

[Walt Starr]

47. When told "Merry Christmas", I like to reciprocate with

"Cool Yule to you, too!"

[mattomjoe]

48. Last year's "war over Christmas" was bad enough, but it seems to be

getting worse. On two different shopping occassions, I've been greeted by the Salvation Army with a firm "Merry Christmas!" entering the store. Now, I'm in no way a "bah humbug!" kind of person, but in the midst of all this ridiculous bickering over the use of "Christmas", it stuck me more as a show of defiance as opposed to something sincere or genuine. And I could be wrong, but it just seems like they're hell-bent on re-asserting "Christmas" over the dreaded "Happy Holidays".

[SmokingJacket]

51. I can't believe that crap came back!

I was **soooooooo** relieved last year after the holidays were OVER and I didn't have to hear about it any more. Of course, last year was election year and they were feeling relatively confident.

This year they're losing, in a big way, so they've trotted this stupid straw man out again.

It's enough to make me start hating Christmas, which normally I quite like. I guess that's the strategy, huh?

[underpants]

52. Actually it is the _Homosexaul Illegal aliens who are stealing Christmas

Yeah I am surprised my mom has started sending me those BS emails that I KNOW she is passing around with her friends

[Ganja Ninja]

53. The afternoon guy on our local sports talk radio was ...

going off about it yesterday. He's a big time right wing asshole and seems to dedicate a show or two a month to shilling for the right.

I basically don't give a crap about their ranting. Only the totally brainwashed are buying into it and they're a lost cause anyway. The longer these morons live in their fantasy world the harder they'll fall in the end.

[triguy46]

57. Where are all the witches????

This just indicates the fundies are fumbling around without a focus for their bile and hatred. These little burps and sputters are indications that the fundie leaders, Dobson, Falwell, Roberston, and god incarnate *, have not kept a steady stream of witches supplied that can be burned. It just doesn't satisfy them to burn Hillary at the stake anymore. Clinton is fireproof at this point. They couldn't get a match to light Murtha. Kerry is flammable, but puts off too much smoke, not enough flames.

Where are the witches the fundies are so needing? They revert to this kind of secondary issue when there are not "people" to burn at the stake. Even winning Kansas for ID, was less satisfying than actually tying a heathen to the stake and burning them. They are in need of someone to focus on, issues just don't work the same, hard to tie them to the stake.

[seabeyond]

58. religious right taking christ out of christianity

this is going to be my knew line when i hear, take christ out of christmas, well fundies taking christ out of christianity. see how stunned they are with that one

[Skidmore]

59. I've begun retorting to people over asinine stuff like that,

"Exactly who is preventing you from decorating your home, attending your church and other public celebrations, and getting together with your friends and family to observe the holiday?"

[wixomblues]

60. How do you feel about Festivus?

[Rocknrule]

61. South Park's take on it:

Mr. Garrison: I heard there is no Christmas
In the silly Middle East
No trees, no snow, no Santa Claus
They have different religious beliefs

They believe in Muhammad
And not in our holiday
And so every December
I go to the Middle East and say...

"Hey there Mr. Muslim!
Merry fucking Christmas!
Put down that book the Koran
And hear some holiday wishes.

In case you haven't noticed
It's Jesus's birthday.
So get off your heathen Muslim ass
and fucking celebrate.

There is no holiday season in India I've heard
They don't hang up their stockings
And that is just absurd!

They've never read a Christmas story.
They don't know what Rudolph is about
And that is why in December
I'll go to India and shout...

Hey there Mr. Hinduist!
Merry fucking Christmas!
Drink eggnog and eat some beef
And pass it to the missus.

In case you haven't noticed
It's Jesus's birthday
So get off your heathen Hindu ass
and fucking celebrate!

Now I heard that in Japan
Everyone just lives in sin
They pray to several gods
And put needles in their skin.

On December 25th
All they do is eat a cake
And that is why I go to Japan
And walk around and say...

HEY THERE MR. SHINTOIST!
Merry fucking Christmas!
God is going to kick your ass
You infidelic pagan scum.

In case you haven't noticed
There's festive things to do
So lets all rejoice for Jesus
And Merry fucking Christmas to you.

On Christmas day I travel `round the world and say,
Taoists, Krishnas, Buddhists, and all you atheists too,
Merry Fucking Christmas, To You!

(Clapping)

Thank you Mr. hat