Comments on: Is There a War on Christmas?

By: Oneiroi

Oneiroi — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:28:03 +0000

I think the people who think there’s a war on Christmas are mostly just playing victims. I mean, it isn’t about people trying to steal away their meaning of Christmas, it’s about people trying to recognize that not everyone on this planet celebrates Christmas and the world doesn’t revolve around them or cater to them.

That being said, I support the war on Christmas.
http://gawker.com/5085989/atheist-ads-target-jesus-santa-babies

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:17:10 +0000

You know, if there were a War on Christmas, and one wanted to enlist in it, would it be more damaging to Christmas to never refer to it (as with the complaints about “Happy Holidays”), or to use it as often as possible in as irreligious as possible a setting, for instance in lieu of “excuse me” after burping?

Just a thought…

Also, “Happy Honda Days”, to the list of Commerical Advertising Wordplay With Happy Holidays.

By: Ian

Ian — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:02:07 +0000

I always wondered what the fundies would do if Muslims complained about a “War on Ramadan” or if Jews complained about a “War on Rosh Hashanah.”

By: Ames

Ames — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:35:56 +0000

By saying that their enemies hate Christmas, it’s just another way of trying to persuade the 80% of Americans who are in the middle and tolerant and nice that the theocons are on the same side they are.

Well said. That’s the problem. It’s such a damn effective strawman!

By: Steve

Steve — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 22:38:39 +0000

(1) there’s money to be made in making them and their traditions feel welcome by exchanging “Merry Christmas” for the only slightly less effusive “Happy Holidays,”

Or, in the case of Dunkin’ Donuts boxes, “Happy Holiddays”.

By: Steve Jeffers

Steve Jeffers — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:16:34 +0000

The US Christian right, a group with policies and beliefs so extreme that they’re practically identical to those of Al Qaeda on every matter of substance, has gained the influence it has by presenting itself as moderate.

The narrative of Fox News is that anyone who disagrees with them is a ‘far left extremist’. Despite all the evidence to the contrary (every poll shows that the vast majority of Americans want abortion, gun control, separation of church and state, evolution taught in schools), they say they are ‘moderate’ and speak for ‘real America’ and ‘folks’.

Everyone loves Christmas. Liking Christmas is, to put it mildly, a moderate position to hold. By saying that their enemies hate Christmas, it’s just another way of trying to persuade the 80% of Americans who are in the middle and tolerant and nice that the theocons are on the same side they are. American Christians have fallen hook line and sinker for the idea that because the right is Christian, it’s the same kind of Christian. Most Americans believe exactly what Richard Dawkins believes, to ten decimal places. Most Americans would not accept that, and would rather identify themselves with ‘fellow Christians’ who believe things that were laughed out of court in the 14th century.

The way to defeat this section of the right is simply to expose what they believe and how ridiculously far it is from what most Americans believe. The danger is that by doing so, moderates on the right, center and left end up seeming as shrill and ‘extreme’.

Elections are won in the middle. If the Republicans didn’t learn that lesson with Palin this time, they’ll learn it in 2012.