War on Christmas? BAH

[zapp]

Bill O’Reilly and his cadre of news anchor imposters at Fox News really did it this year. Not only did they create a debate where there was none, but they did so in such a way that would forever influence family debates around the Christmas Tree.

O’Reilly, the ever-popular host of a show so full of spin that he ought to have Maytag as a Sponsor, works day in and day out to find straw men to knock down. It seems that there aren’t enough real issues for him to focus on, so he instead creates imaginary boogiemen to bash, insult, and defame. These enemies, of course, ultimately are the generic liberals- those dastardly Americans on the left that number close to half of the US Population.

So, ultimately, he attacks half the US population with his carefully scripted diatribes against whatever imaginary evils they are perpetrating now. This time, it’s Christmas.

I remember growing up and hearing Happy Holidays all through my formative years. I remember that being spoken to me by Santas, by Salvation Army Bell Ringers, by Sunday School teachers, and yes, even by my hometown Methodist Minister, who, by the way, I remember looked very tired around that time of the year.

Back then, some 30 years ago, Happy Holidays implied no nefarious ulterior motive, no negative intent. Back then it was another way to offer positive greetings. Apparently now, however, it means that we are being too politically correct (PC), or all inclusive, which is a hallmark of liberals- trying to include everyone’s voice.

But the worst part of O’Reilly’s madness isn’t that he has co-opted Christmas as a platform for his own particular brand of insanity, it’s that there are millions of people who watch him, and will now wear the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ as a way to be bastards to their liberal friends and family.

I can only imagine the Christmas feast in homes across the US this year, with one side of the table conservatives, and the other half liberals, and this topic comes up. Then the inevitable argument occurs- and over something as stupid and trivial as Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays.

But, at least it does accomplish one thing: it helps to keep the focus off the REAL issues like the reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act, the Occupation of Iraq, the Debacle of Katrina, the Domestic Spying, and all the other Abuses of power that the government is engaging in.

And, perhaps that’s exactly what it was intended to do.

http://thetruthis.us

[tuvor]

1. I don't get him. He doesn't even pretend to be a Christian.

I liked him on Inside Edition, though. That was where his talents were best applied.

[mykpart]

2. This "War on Christmas" is meant to distract us

from noticing that people are still dying daily in a real war in Iraq. Isn't it ironic that the part of the world where Jesus was born is where we are waging war?

[KT2000]

3. Good post!

Liked this:
"But the worst part of O’Reilly’s madness isn’t that he has co-opted Christmas as a platform for his own particular brand of insanity, it’s that there are millions of people who watch him, and will now wear the phrase ‘Merry Christmas’ as a way to be bastards to their liberal friends and family. "

Hate to say it but he has been successful at infusing his insanity into my Christmas experience this year. Many times there have been "war on christmas" debates in the check out line started by some angry ass in line.

they want a war on everything so their hatred and fear can prevail - then and only then do they have any power.

[mykpart]

4. Yesterday I was shopping at Kohls when another customer

started telling me that Kohls was one of the stores that was ignoring Christmas. While she was telling me this, the store Musak was playing "The Christmas Song" and she was looking at ornaments with angels on them. I really can't understand people who will believe Bill O'Reilly over the evidence of their own eyes and ears.

[Porcupine]

6. I would just tell her to shut the F*#k up and look around.....

those aren't Easter Bunnies. What do they want; bloody Jesus on a stick? A crown of thorns selection in Xmassy colors?

Just Shut The Fuck Up about Christmas already. It's not like I can hide from it anywhere.

[BoneDaddy]

14. Jesus model

Jesus on the crucifix clothes model... one hell of a manequin.

[TWiley]

16. They have been stump trained

to "accept by faith alone" which actually means to believe something without any proof whatsoever, or to believe it in spite of trememdous proof to the contrary.

[sandnsea]

5. I got it from Dillards today

I read they were on the "good" list, and since my mother has spent thousands at Dillards and I started shopping with them online, I decided to ask whether they were buying into the "war on Christmas" nonsense and pressured into making the change. I didn't get an answer to that, only "We use Christmas in our advertising" (which is fine but not the question)... and a smug little "Merry Christmas", just to zing the point home. I will be calling corporate on Monday.

[CanChannelCassandra]

7. The Grinch is Trying to Steal Christmas Again!

Just maybe, if we all Love each other enough...
Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small! Will sing
to the glory of joy for us all!  And the grinch with his evil
and sneakety heart will be shown for the vile poisonous dart
that he thinks can turn us away from what's right, and make us
feel there's a reason to fight!
He cant keep the spirit of christmas from coming, somehow or
other it comes just the same. Because christmas it seems is a
little bit more than the statues you put up or the traditions
you keep, Christmas is not something you buy in a store,
Christmas is something a little bit more.
__________________________________________________________________
Love each other this Christmas. Love can cure the world. Use
it like a weapon on those hate-filled misinformed souls. It is
the best medicine both for you and for them.

[newyawker99]

9. Hi CanChannelCassandra!!

Welcome to DU!!  :toast:

[Raine]

8. Anyway I thought the term

HOLIDAY came from the word HOLY DAY! :shrug:

[rainbow4321]

10. Interesting screen grabs of his website (Christmas vs Holiday)

Found on an anti-O'Reilly blogsite:

http://oreillysucks.blogspot.com/2005/12/bill-oreilly-wishes-you-happy-holidays.html

[Raine]

11. "Holiday Gifts"

even he uses the term HOLIDAY!:rofl:

[B Calm]

12. Bill O’Reilly is no different than the rest of the right-wing talking

heads. He followed the right-wing talking points and created another wedge issue where there wasn't one.

[tsuki]

13. In my youth, fourty plus years ago, Falafel Boy would be wearing

bedsheets.

[TWiley]

15. It's the season to be angry fa la la la.

Tis the season of debate despite the mantra of "Peace and Good Will for all Men". The word "Holiday" literally means "Holy Day". Unfortunately, this reference does not specifically highlight the practice of America's most aggressive religious organizations. At least not in their minds. Do the actions of these fundamentalist groups amount to forced inclusion of their beliefs into other peoples activities?

http://tolerance.org/news/article_tol.jsp?id=1339
"There is no war against Christmas," said Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "There is no jihad against Christians. There is nothing going on around Christmas except these groups' incessant fundraising."

War againist "Christians" fact or fiction?
http://tolerance.org/news/article_tol.jsp?id=1126

[alarimer]

17. My mom believes this crap too

This morning we were getting breakfast and the cashier said "Merry Christmas" and my mom "Gee I never hear that anymore" or words to that effect. I have heard both Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays forever. I don't get exercised about it one way or another (partly because I hate this time of year- I prefer Bah Humbug myself LOL). I was also at Kohls today and heard many Christmas carols playing. OReilly is a fool.