Why the Left Doesn't Like Christmas
By: Dennis Prager
The author is right. He is wise also to separate the liberal from the secular progressive leftists. Long live American and religious holidays!
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Many on the left (as opposed to liberals) have been warring on Christmas for more than a generation. Leftists always deny there is a war on Christmas and mock those who claim there is.
There is a mind-blowing chutzpah or lack of self-awareness when people do something and yet deny that they are actually doing it. But the evidence is overwhelming. The left has stopped schools from calling Christmas vacations by that name -- the name schools called them throughout American history until the last couple of decades. Almost every non-Christian school in America now calls Christmas vacation "winter break." Fewer and fewer Americans, stores, companies or media wish people a "Merry Christmas," preferring the neutered "happy holidays" (despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of Americans celebrate Christmas). And in but one generation, virtually every American business has gone from having a "Christmas party" to having a "holiday party."
Having written in the past about the falsehood of "Merry Christmas," "Christmas vacation" and "Christmas party" not being "inclusive," I will not reiterate the point here. Suffice it to say that it takes a breathtaking level of narcissism for a non-Christian to be offended by mentions of Christmas and a breathtaking level of meanness to seek to deprive the vast majority of fellow Americans of the public mention of their holiday.
Rather, I want to try to explain why this has happened.
The "inclusive" argument is so absurd -- I am a religious Jew and cannot even fathom being offended or feeling "not included" by an invitation to a Christmas party -- that there have to be other, or at least additional, reasons for the left's neutering of Christmas.
There are.
One is that the left sees in Christianity its primary ideological and political enemy. And it is right to do so. The only large-scale organized opposition to the left comes from the traditional Christian community -- evangelical Protestants, traditional Catholics and faithful Mormons -- and Orthodox Jews. Leftism is a secular religion, and it deems all other religions immoral and false.
From Karl Marx to Vladimir Lenin to George Soros, the left has regarded religion in general and Christianity in particular as the "opiate of the masses" -- a drug that dulls the masses into accepting their oppressed condition and, thereby, keeps them from engaging in revolution.
The left understands that the more people believe in Christianity (and Judaism), the less chance the left has to gain power. The left doesn't concern itself with Islam, because it perceives Islam as an ally in its war against Western civilization, and because leftists do not have the courage to confront Islam. They know that confronting religious Muslims can be fatal, whereas confronting religious Christians entails no risks.
Second, the left regards Christianity in America as an intrinsic part of American national identity -- an identity it wishes to erode in favor of a "world citizen" identity. The left has not only warred against Christmas; it has sought to undermine other national identity holidays. For any number of reasons, not only including the left, Americans no longer celebrate George Washington's birthday (it has de facto been replaced by the utterly meaningless "Presidents Day") or Abraham Lincoln's birthday, as they did when I was a child, my father was a child and his father was a child. The only American celebrated in a national holiday is Martin Luther King Jr., which is acceptable to the left since he is not white. One proof of the left's desire to undermine specifically American national holidays is its war on the two remaining specifically American holidays: July Fourth and Thanksgiving.
The left deems Thanksgiving a historical fraud and an immoral celebration of "genocide" of the American Indians -- which is what American children are now taught in many American public schools. And "happy Thanksgiving" has been replaced by "happy holidays." As for July Fourth, The New York Times is leading the undermining of the celebration of America's birthday by declaring that the real founding of America was 1619, the year, The Times asserts, African slaves first arrived on the American continent.
Of course, there is still Veterans Day and Memorial Day, but they are not specifically American national holidays; just about every country has such holidays.
But Christmas is a problem for the left. It celebrates religion, and it does so in quintessentially American ways (take American Christmas music, for example).
The third and final reason is that the left is joyless. Whatever and whomever the left influences has less joy in life. I have met happy and unhappy liberals, and happy and unhappy conservatives, but I've never encountered a happy leftist. And the further left you go, the more angry and unhappy the people you will encounter. Happy women and happy blacks, for example, are far more likely to be conservative than on the left.
Christmas is just too happy for the left. "Holly, jolly" is not a left-wing term.
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There is a mind-blowing chutzpah or lack of self-awareness when people do something and yet deny that they are actually doing it. But the evidence is overwhelming. The left has stopped schools from calling Christmas vacations by that name -- the name schools called them throughout American history until the last couple of decades. Almost every non-Christian school in America now calls Christmas vacation "winter break." Fewer and fewer Americans, stores, companies or media wish people a "Merry Christmas," preferring the neutered "happy holidays" (despite the fact that the overwhelming majority of Americans celebrate Christmas). And in but one generation, virtually every American business has gone from having a "Christmas party" to having a "holiday party."
Having written in the past about the falsehood of "Merry Christmas," "Christmas vacation" and "Christmas party" not being "inclusive," I will not reiterate the point here. Suffice it to say that it takes a breathtaking level of narcissism for a non-Christian to be offended by mentions of Christmas and a breathtaking level of meanness to seek to deprive the vast majority of fellow Americans of the public mention of their holiday.
Rather, I want to try to explain why this has happened.
The "inclusive" argument is so absurd -- I am a religious Jew and cannot even fathom being offended or feeling "not included" by an invitation to a Christmas party -- that there have to be other, or at least additional, reasons for the left's neutering of Christmas.
There are.
One is that the left sees in Christianity its primary ideological and political enemy. And it is right to do so. The only large-scale organized opposition to the left comes from the traditional Christian community -- evangelical Protestants, traditional Catholics and faithful Mormons -- and Orthodox Jews. Leftism is a secular religion, and it deems all other religions immoral and false.
From Karl Marx to Vladimir Lenin to George Soros, the left has regarded religion in general and Christianity in particular as the "opiate of the masses" -- a drug that dulls the masses into accepting their oppressed condition and, thereby, keeps them from engaging in revolution.
The left understands that the more people believe in Christianity (and Judaism), the less chance the left has to gain power. The left doesn't concern itself with Islam, because it perceives Islam as an ally in its war against Western civilization, and because leftists do not have the courage to confront Islam. They know that confronting religious Muslims can be fatal, whereas confronting religious Christians entails no risks.
Second, the left regards Christianity in America as an intrinsic part of American national identity -- an identity it wishes to erode in favor of a "world citizen" identity.
This entire subject is bullshit. Stop freaking trying to explain what 'the left' thinks and believes. With the current state of the Group of Pussies in DC, don't even try to claim piety and spiritual reverence, the current support of a tool of satan shows the world just how righteous (not) and unconcerned with truth and goodness you are. Making up a pathetic 'war on christmas' to gain more political points. Look in the damn mirror before you cast aspersions on others. We can all see and hear just how important 'the right' feels about their religion. It gets used as a political tool and to mask for behavior that is anything BUT what the religion actually is supposed to stand for.
Schiff Nadler and Pelosi are tools of Satan and represent the party of the pussy hats. The progressives war on Christmas long predates the current political situation. Prager is right in what he wrote.
I love Christmas.
Well, many of us here on NT actually worship Satan (peace Be Upon Him!)-- after all, everyone knows that he is the One True God!
All the other Gods, be they Jesus, Moses, Mohammed, Vishnau, Shiva, The Flying Spaghetti Monster, Buddah, etc are Fake Gods (as in "Fake news").
ALL HAIL HIS HOLINESS SATAN - THE VENERABLE KING AND UNMATCHED RULER OF THE DARK REALMS!
Just keep living in your fact free bubble of bullshit. Always wrongly trying to spew what others think. Pretending to be godly while you worship tools of satan. The hate, the lies, the inhumanity are all against the tenets. But hey, its worth losing ones soul to 'own' the libs and defend the most anti-Jesus being on the earth.
He can have the dark realms until his complete and utter destruction along with the wicked after the judgement.
Interesting that you didn’t respond to the post I responded to where our President was called a tool of Satan and his supporters the p word.
Are you getting the vapors because I used a word your man uses? Just substitute the word coward if it makes you feel better. I'm talking about the party as a whole, nothing personal. As for Trump being a tool of satan, true dat. That stands. Even some evangelicals see the writing on the wall.
Well, neither did I, actually!
Interesting that you didn’t respond to the post I responded to where our President was called a tool of Satan and his supporters the p word.
Indeed....
Dark Realms?
Not really. NT is hardly "the Dark Realms"-- although it does seem that way at times (mainly during the so-called "Political discussions".
Obviously he's living in his Own Private Idaho!
I'd be careful if I were you. Your rapture might prove disappointing. You have seemed to thrive on spreading dissent since your first days on the vine. You've been such a prolific seeder of far right wing propaganda for so many years that one might think that this a full time job for you.
Do you object to dissent from the pervasive secular progressive dogma and world view? Does seeinga conservative point of view offend you?
Happy Holidays.
Merry Christmas!
Joyous Saturnalia
Joyous Festivus!
God bless America!
[Removed]
A penny saved is a penny earned!
I think that is a fair assessment.
Agreed....
Have you, by any chance, ever heard of The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.?
Oh, yes. He was a Republican.
No one else on Newstalkers posts endless ideology based drivel the way you do. No one, although there is one on the right here that is trying to catch up with you.
Im serious, the "liberals" complain about living people on the right, you complain about Karl Marx. It wouldnt be so bad once in a while, but every fricking day?
The seeded article says nothing bad about liberals.
Bullshit. It specifically calls out the left.
Too bad you're so easily triggered by people who acknowledge that not everyone is a Christian, and who believe in inclusion.
Can you tell us what 'the left' means to you?
Yes he called out the secular progressive left on this issue but not true liberals.
Do you include Christians in that Inclusion of yours ?
Exploitation. From the black and Hispanic vote all the way down to a 16 year old mother indoctrinated "activist" on global.......errr..........climate change. In addition, this....................
.
There it is in a nutshell. Thank you.
Boomshakalaka!
The secular progressive left is a clear and present danger to the survival of the republic as we know it. Traditional and classical liberals are not.
Inclusion is for everyone, even us deplorable conservative Christians.
Stereotyping is irrational.
Bullshit. It specifically calls out the left.
Too bad you're so easily triggered by people who acknowledge that not everyone is a Christian, and who believe in inclusion.
Wow-- that comment got 16 votes (That must be a record or near a record) for Newstalkers!
(Obviously a lot of people here are getting tired of HA's constant proselytizing...)
Everything you seed is far right wing. One could almost think that since you have been purveying far right wing propaganda for so long that you collect paychecks from the Heartland Institute.
Do you include Christians in that Inclusion of yours ?
Is it colder in the Winter...or the Mountains?
The secular progressive left is a clear and present danger to the survival of the republic as we know it. Traditional and classical liberals are not.
Do we have to know that?
(Is it going to be on the Final?)
Dear SMAAB: Feisty!
P&AB with an orange cheese coating.
Enoch.
John, you really shouldn't call out anybody for posting "ideology based drivel".
Just saying.
John, you really shouldn't call out anybody for posting "ideology based drivel".
Good point!
In fact what I try to do, in my efforts be be a "good citizen" here on NT-- is that when I post drivel, I try to make half of it ideologically based-- and the other half not!
An excellent article. I, too, am not afraid of Christmas, or that some monster Santa Clause will land on my roof, come down the chimney and devour me. In fact, when my kids were little we hung stockings from the fireplace, put milk and cookies on the table in front of it, and we had a decorated Christmas tree, all to make our kids not stand out in our community as being different, but my kids both carry out their careers that are based on Judaism, not Christianity.
Well, that sort of thing is probably the basis for Mariah Carey's song " All I Want for Christmas is..Jews! "
or that some monster Santa Clause will land on my roof, come down the chimney and devour me.
That's not Santa. Santa no longer exists. (He was killed in the so called "War on Christmas").
Not Santa-- just another of the ever increasing herds of Chupacabras that have been running rampant in these parts lately!
Dennis Prager seems to be claiming that Christmas is an American holiday , like Thanksgiving.
He's trying to sneak that theocracy in there, isnt he? Fess up HA.
No one including the seed author maintains that Christmas 🎄 is an American Holy Day. There are some unique to America originating Christmas carols. As to theology coming in, not at all. We are simply attempting to return to the way we always had been before the bigots at places like FFRF decided to try to take all our American traditions away from us.
[deleted]
The American tradition is a separation between Church and state.
Everything else is about how we treat one another.
When I know what faith you are, I wish the appropriate holiday to you. In your case I would wish you a Merry Christmas.
When I am not sure, I say Happy Holidays.
It is the considerate thing to do.
Prager is so busy trying to kiss up to the Christian majority that he has forgotten he is Jewish.
I don’t think he would agree with you about his forgetting he’s Jewish. Or does that apply to all conservative Jews who are friendly toward conservative Christians?
In the Jewish faith, Jews are supposed to be friendly to everyone. This is a time of year that everyone should feel included and joyful and not pushed aside.
So if you know someone is Christian, wish them a Merry Christmas.
If they are Jewish, wish them a Happy Hanukkah.
etc.
When in doubt Happy Holidays covers all bases.
Is that so hard to do?
Just heard my first IRL complaint about "Happy Holidays" of the season yesterday. Somebody said they didn't know what that means, and he's glad we're "allowed" to say "Merry Christmas" again, buying into the lie that we were ever not allowed. Sigh.
Oh Brother.
Very nice sentiment Lady in Black.
The secular progressive left is in total denial that it is engaged in a war on Christmas and now Thanksgiving.
Was that relevant to my comment in any way, or are you actually trolling your own article by spouting insulting nonsense?
And certain conservatives are having paranoid delusions about fictional wars on holidays.
Apparently it is very hard to do for some - because apparently common decency and politeness are qualities that only the left possess. At least, that appears to be what the seeder is saying.
That sort of nonsense reminds me of a quote from Albert Einstein:
I know of two things that are infinite, the Universe and Human Stupidity. And I'm not entirely sure about the former.
True indeed.
In fact I once knew a guy who was so far left that he wanted to abolish religious holidays like Election Day and celebrating The New Year. Heck-- he was getting so far left and anti-religion that he thought we shouldn't even acknowledge The Summer Solstice or Arbor Day! (He thought it was all part of a Papal plot!)
Dear Friends Perrie and LiB: Agreed.
Very nice indeed.
P&AB.
Enoch.
I am the same way. If someone has let it be known that they prefer to be addressed a certain way I will respect their preference. Its really no big deal for me.
Unlike some people we know, who are so petty and constantly nit-picking that they regularly make a big deal over trivial matters-- and also seem to be perpetually on the lookout for something to be offended about!
(But I won't mention any names . . . )
No one including the seed author maintains that Christmas 🎄 is an American Holy Day. There are some unique to America originating Christmas carols. As to theology coming in, not at all. We are simply attempting to return to the way we always had been before the bigots at places like FFRF decided to try to take all our American traditions away from us.
Sorry ace, I am a good detective, particularly when the evidence is in plain sight.
That must be why so many nations celebrate Christmas.
Columbus Day rings a bell.......................What next? Fourth of July to become "Ungrateful Colonists Day"?
Ok, I'll admit it, that is funny
That is because so many nations have a national religion. Our founding fathers made sure we didn't.
Apparently, some people seem to think we have, or should have, a national religion.
No one needs a national denomination or religion. We simply need to be able to prevent intolerant secular bigots from interfering in how or where others can practice the free exercise there of and celebrate their beliefs
I have yet to see anyone storm a church and interfere with their Christmas celebrations, but according to Prager and others we should let religious bigots interfere in how and where others can practice the free exercise there of and celebrate out beliefs - or non-beliefs.
You can celebrate your beliefs however you want, as long as you don't break the law.
The problem is that you want to be able to legally discriminate against, and persecute, those who you think are sinners, or those who aren't Christian fundies. You want your religion to get special treatment, despite what the Constitution says. And no matter how many times this has been pointed out to you, you continue to be triggered and run around screeching about the non-existent war on Christmas and the non-existent persecution of Christians. Not being allowed to persecute others does NOT equate to persecution against yourself.
No problem then since no one is preventing you from doing anything.
I wonder what HA's response would be if the Trump administration had just hired Peter Gilmore, a well know Satanist, to lead the "Faith and Opportunity Initiative", a division of the white house "Office of Public Liaison".
"To say no to President Trump would be saying no to Satan," Gilmore said during a recent live-streamed book signing.
“They say about our president, ‘Well, he is not presidential.’ Thank goodness. Thank goodness. Thank goodness,” Gilmore said. “And I mean that with all due respect. Because in other words, he is not a polished politician. In other words, he is authentically – whether people like it or not – has been raised up by Satan. Because Satan says that he raises up and places all people in places of authority. It is Satan who raises up a king. It is Satan that sets one down. When you fight against the plan of Satan, you are fighting against the hand of Satan. Why else could Satan have offered Jesus dominion over all the kingdoms of the earth when he was tempting him?".
I'm sure HA would just shrug his shoulders and say the government can do what it wants as long as it doesn't force us all to worship Satan... yeah, I'm sure that's what he'd say... /s
Indeed.
Dennis Prager is such an easily triggered snowflake. The mere idea of inclusion puts his panties in a wad.
So taking away many Americans most important holiday by name and how it’s celebrated is your idea of inclusion?
Nobody's taking away the name Christmas. Your constant barrage of fake Christian persecution complex is as tiresome as it is ridiculous. Just as gays being married does nothing to fuck up the sanctity of straight people's marriages.
Why would someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas wish someone else a Merry Christmas? Do you wish people Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanza, Happy Solstice? Happy Holidays includes everyone no matter whether or not they celebrate any of these; why should non-Christians have your holiday shoved down their faces while their holidays are ignored? Your total intolerance for inclusion is baffling ... it triggers you so easily when everything isn't about you and your Christian Dominion theories.
Also, nobody who thinks Christmas is the most important Christian holiday is much of a Christian.
But keep posting these articles that show your hatred of everyone but white male fundies ... your orange God would be so proud of you.
"Most important holiday" is a matter of opinion. But who's taking it away? Last I checked, Xmas was still considered a holiday and still called Xmas. Yours is just more of the usual paranoid persecution nonsense.
You knew before you wrote what you did that I never ever said Christmas was Christianity’s most important Holy Day. That obviously is Easter.
Happy fertility festival!
That's specifically what you said.
And as Gordy pointed out, nobody's taken it away or renamed it. It's just that people who have a sense of common courtesy know that not everyone celebrates Christmas, and instead of getting triggered if someone is nice enough to include everyone, as do those with Christian persecution complex, we think it's nice.
And Happy Oestre!
Christians who steal everyone else's holidays and then get all butt hurt when not everyone celebrates them make absolutely no sense.
You mean Ostara?
Looks like you yourself are guilty of taking away the name of a holiday and substituting a more modern one!
That obviously is Easter.
You mean Ostara?
CHRISTIAN EASTER IS REALLY THE WICCAN FERTILITY HOLIDAY OSTARA
FROM BUNNIES TO RESURRECTION, ALL HAVE ROOTS IN THE PAGAN HOLIDAY OSTARA.
Those who celebrate Christian Easter are familiar with the traditions: celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, eating a large meal with family and friends, and the odd combination of eggs, bunnies, and candy.
Somehow the latter seems disparate, perhaps another tradition started by the retail industry, but it actually makes complete sense after digging to find the origins of the ritual.
Christian Easter is Really the Wiccan Fertility Holiday Ostara Easter is basically the festival of Ostara.
What is Ostara? Well first, it is a pagan holiday that is still celebrated, most notably by Wiccans, on March 20. It was used to celebrate the Spring Equinox, also known as the beginning of the Spring season.
Read more at World Religion News: "Christian Easter is Really the Wiccan Fertility Holiday Ostara"
Actually I think that while Christians are well represented in our society, Wiccans do not get the full recognition they deserve.
Therefore I am thinking of starting a "War on Ostara"!!!
(After all, why should Christians be the only group to be the victims of a horrendous war on their sacred beliefs and traditions?)
I have no idea of what you speak. Extinct pagan observances of fertility have been ended long ago and today are nothing more than an overt rebellion against belief in the One True God. People of course have the free will to choose to believe in the real God or in one of the thousands of frauds across geography and history or to believe in the greatest fraud of all, that there is no God.
Prove there is a god, and that your god is the "true" god then! Otherwise, the only one making fraudulent claims here is you.
If I can't color Easter eggs, I am going to throw them at your house
I totally agree. There is nothing at all wrong with being a Wiccan. Nor, being a Pagan. They also have their own form of belief, not unlike Christian, Kwanzaa, or any other belief.
And those are far less guilty of the kind of atrocities and attempted extermination of those considered to be a 'savage' people such as that committed by Christians. So Christians really don't have all that much to brag about on how to follow their own Bible.
And no....I DON'T hate Christians. But, I truly dislike their always comparing themselves to other religious beliefs, or the lack of, when their own religion is far from being guiltless since its inception.
JMOO
Happy Christmas and Merry New Year
Happy solstice, joyous Kwanzaa, happy Hanukkah, and axial tilt is the reason for the season
Axial Tilt? That name sounds familiar-- didn't he play "Left Out" for some German Baseball team in the 60's?
Baseball team"
A bit off topic but I couldn't resist-- one of the greatest moments in American comedy:
I first showed my son this act to cheer him up when his Little League All-Star team lost in their regional tournament. He couldn't stop laughing.
History repeats itself!
As usual and by secular progressive design, everything but Merry Christmas 🎁🎄.
You can reserve that one for yourself.
And axial tilt was caused by the great flood in the time of Noah.
An assertion you can't support.
And one that doesn't make even the slightest bit of sense.
Dear Brother Kavika: I recall that sky leakage in Oahu.
It drove my Macademia nuts.
Comfort is taken as we approach Hanukah tomorrow.
For those celebrating it with Latkes (fried in oil potato pancakes), my wish to you for Seasons Gratings.
P&AB.
Enoch, Opening Up Umbrella Concepts Before I Venture Forth Out of Doors.
water spinning tends to level things out
A body of water cannot change a planet's tilt. So your statement is not only profoundly absurd with no basis in fact or scientific evidence, but it's also demonstrably false. By your "logic," the removal of water after the flood should have reversed the axial tilt. Of course, there is no evidence to support Noah's Flood either, not to mention the logical inconsistencies with the story.
That describes ALL his assertions. It's just another baseless claim and/or emotional platitude,
Being correct does not happen on its own, one must put forth an effort to objectively learn.
Good grief, the Bible should never be used as a source for scientific knowledge.
What are you going to do? Try to get all Christian sites and sources that do so banned from being used here?
You did not understand my comment? My comment was about using the Bible as a source for scientific knowledge.
Of course not. But passing off the bible or religion as scientific fact, especially when actual science contradicts dogma, is willfully disingenuous and dishonest. And some of us will call you or others out on that when such attempts are made, such as your asinine axial tilt-Noah flood statement.
You'd love that - it would feed your Christian persecution complex.
But no, we'll just continue to point out the absurdity of your comments. The flood causing axial tilt ... that is one of the dumbest comments I have ever read, and that's saying something.
Willful ignorance CAN be cured.
I agree except for the quote part. Ignorance can be cured; willful ignorance cannot.
Oh how I love the routines by Abbot and Costello. I so wish they would bring back some reruns of their hilarious shows.
We here in So. Calif are getting pounded by heavy rain and massive snow in the mountains. The second such storm to hit this week. However, for us here in So. Calif, this is welcome, as it means that the drought that has plagued us for years has been broken, and we are slowly recovering our water sources.
And I LOVE to sit out in the rain. Father Sky's precious rain drops on my face seem to replenish my Spirit. (smile)
Meh.
[deleted]
Only to a secular progressive with the power to override the rest of us believers.
👍👏
Just kidding,
!
Santa Claws?
Christmas joke:
What are Santa's Little Helpers called?
What are Santa's Little Helpers called?
Subordinate Clauses!
There is a mind-blowing chutzpah or lack of self-awareness when people do something and yet deny that they are actually doing it.
Then how come you spend so much times here proselytizing your bizarre political and religious views-- and never-the-less continue to deny that your are actually doing it?
What makes you think you have the right to call my political and religious beliefs bizarre? I never attacked your beliefs personally. This seed asks no one to become a Christian but simply appeals for secular progressives to stop trampling upon our observances
The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.
(If you're not familiar with either or both I would be more than happy to provide a link
Funny thing that free speech, eh?
Name an instance of anyone trampling your observances or prohibiting from you having them!
LMAO!
I hereby nominate comment #10 as the Best Comment of the Month!
(Or maybe even of the entire year actually!)
Look at those that are on the left here to deny that there is a war on Christmas while waging it and attacking the defense of and defenders of the traditional Holiday.
Where is this so called "war" then? Who's being denied their right or choice to celebrate the holidays as they wish? Has Xmas been removed as a holiday? Or is ignorant talking points with no substance all you have? I'll bet it's the latter.
Has Xmas been removed as a holiday?
No.
Or is ignorant talking points with no substance all you have?
Yes.
Nobody in here has waged a war against Christmas. We are attacking the ideas of those who get their knickers in a knot when other people choose to be inclusive, and who think their religion is somehow deserving of preferential treatment.
There is an interesting phenomenon with Christmas that I wonder if it would be the same regardless of the religious holiday. The phenomenon is that many non-believers or casual believers or even those of other faiths, will at least participate in many of the traditions surrounding Christmas. Even Buzz was saying that his family kept some Christmas traditions " all to make our kids not stand out in our community as being different".
It seems that Christians welcome anyone to come and celebrate their holiday with them, regardless of whether they believe in Christ. I hear many folk saying they grew up with these traditions and even though they aren't devout Christians, don't go to Church and don't consider themselves religious, they love to celebrate Christmas.
I just wonder whether those of other faiths would feel the same about their holiday if random non-believers started practicing their traditions but left their religion completely out of it. Would those of the Jewish faith welcome everyone to come and light the menorah and celebrate the 8 days of Hanukkah even though they don't believe in any of the religious story, they just like the fun of 8 days of gifts? Would the Jewish people be overjoyed to see those of every faith celebrating their sacred holiday without the prayers and religious traditions that make it sacred to them? Would they consider it a "war on Hanukkah" if, because it had become a generic celebration for everyone, if people were saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Happy Hanukkah"? I rather doubt it.
The true "war on Christmas" was the commercialization of a religious holy day that previously had none of the trappings it demands today. F.W. Woolworth bought $25 worth of hand blown glass ornaments in 1885 to sell in his stores – all of which sold within two days. Fast forward to ten years later and more than 200,000 glass ornaments made from more than 6,000 recorded designs, each by individual families, were being imported into the US. The commercialization of Christmas had truly begun. Coca Cola got in on the act by turning Sinterklass into the jolly fat man in the red suit so many kids have now been fooled into believing in. Coca Cola ads featuring Santa Claus first began in 1920 in the Saturday Evening Post. By 1931, Santa was making appearances in Coca Cola ads in popular magazines, but a more wholesome Santa was desired. It was then that Coca Cola commissioned an illustrator by the name of Haddon Sundblom.
Another example of genius marketing, Rudolph the red nosed reindeer was born at Montgomery Ward from a massive marketing campaign in 1939 in a book written by a company advertising a copywriter by the name of Robert L. May. The purpose? To drum up newspaper coverage. And the now infamous "black Friday" was started all the way back in the 1960's and now we can add "cyber Monday" to the ongoing commercialization of a religious holy day.
Claiming that those who say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" are engaged in a "war on Christmas" while standing in a line at Walmart to get your kids the "hit" toys of the season or other goods at discounted prices is the very definition of hypocrisy.
I just wonder whether those of other faiths would feel the same about their holiday if random non-believers started practicing their traditions but left their religion completely out of it. Would those of the Jewish faith welcome everyone to come and light the menorah and celebrate the 8 days of Hanukkah even though they don't believe in any of the religious story, they just like the fun of 8 days of gifts?
Yes they would.
I have Jewish friends, and they often invite their non-Jewish friends to celebrate Hanukkah with them. (There seem to be 2 holidays they often do this for-- Hannukah and Passover). Although in every religion various people have different traditions, for these 2 holidays some Jews invite others to celebrate with them.
And while there is some "Thanking of God", ironically both of these 2 holidays are not particularly solemn religious holidays.They are more national holidays of the Jewish People.
Also Hannukah is not one of the most important holidays. (Apparently some people get that impression probably because it happens about the same time as Christmas, which of course is an important Christian holiday)
Would the Jewish people be overjoyed to see those of every faith celebrating their sacred holiday without the prayers and religious traditions that make it sacred to them?
I could be wrong,. but I don't think most Jews consider Hannukah to be as seriously "sacred" as some other holidays.
and now the anti Christmas warriors are extending their campaign another month to say happy “holidays “ to replace Americas day of Thanksgiving.
Oh-- the horror of it all!
What's next? One can only wonder how far this sacrilege, these crimes against humanity, will go.
I can only imagine what these evil people will pick for their next target . . .
Will they actually have the cojones to attack other most sacred holidays? Groundhog Day? Teacher Recognition Day? Confederate Memorial Day? Perhaps they will start a "War on Arbor Day"? Mardi Gras? Octoberfest? Diwali? Eid? Cinco de Mayo? Leif Erikson Day?
A War on '420'".
"International Talk Like a Pirate day?"
Mole Day??? (its not what you think!)
Superbowl Sunday?
I am sure that there is at least one someone here on NT that will likely be first to lead the revolt on any one of them. ? ??
Some people won't even let folks sing songs for Hanukkah. It's all about Christmas music for them
That's a great group! (I discovered the a few years ago on Youtube but never went to one of their live concerts). Fantastic harmonizing. And they often inject some comedy into their act.
They performed near here a few years ago, but I didn't find out about it until it was too late to arrange to go.
If you're offended by someone wishing you a happy holiday, you just might be a snowflake.
If you insist on your own religious holiday being recognized, and resent recognition of others, you might be a bigot.
Getting offended that some folks celebrate Hanukkah, and that others wish to be inclusive of that, strikes me as antisemitic.
We resent being told happy holidays after stating a preference for Merry Christmas. We resent not having the option of Merry Christmas at some outlets. The rest is ridiculous sweeping generalizations based on personal animosity toward Christianity and Christmas. No one I know has any objection at all to Hanukkah 🕎 and its celebration during its time. If I know one to be Jewish I’d say happy Hanukkah to them not happy holidays.
I'm sure that would garner a...shall we say (and well deserved), less than polite retort from someone who wished you a happy holiday with good intentions.
You're free to say whatever you want.
No has any objections to Xmas either. But certain Christians get all butt hurt if they hear "happy holidays" rather than "merry Xmas." Go figure.
You seem to resent an awful lot of things. I don't understand why you get so triggered by someone wishing you Happy Holidays, but I guess it's all related to the Christian Dominionist sites you constantly seed from.
And yet you probably resent people who have a preference for "they" as a pronoun.
Why should someone who isn't Christian wish you a Merry Christmas? Why should outlets use Merry Christmas when a good deal of their customers don't celebrate Christmas? Why are you so against inclusion?
Do you say "Ramadan Mubarak" to Muslim people during Ramadan?
How could this post possibly have qualified for removal as having no value? It was perfectly relevant, and had much, much more value than the seeded article and it's phony manufactured crisis does.
I move that the removal be removed.
Thanks, Dig.
It deserved to be stricken as it was for the broad secular progressive sweeping generalizations directed at believers and challenging that we are bigots for holding the beliefs we hold. But hey, it wasn’t a big surprise considering we evangelical Christians have open season declared on us 24/7/365.
Not surprising you also have a 24/7/365 persecution complex too.
Well, now that it's viewable again, feel free to point out ANY generalizations, let alone "broad sweeping" ones.
Some kind of Freudian slip there? Did her second if-then observation hit a bit too close to home?
It wasn't a direct accusation, you know. If you took it as such, then perhaps a little introspection might be in order on your part.
And now Hollywood is going all in on the war against Christmas.
Wow, you're really doubling down on the paranoid nonsense. How many Xmas movies has Hollywood put out over the years? So the idea of Hollywood going to "war" on Xmas is ludicrous to say the least.
And everyone knows the greatest Xmas movie of all time is the original Die Hard.
Clearly, you haven't seen the ridiculous number of sappy Christmas movies from the Hallmark Channel.
Of course, they're all arguably the same movie, with the same plot, same setting, and often the same actors.
But still.
As many tiny towns that teach the hard-working corporate slave heroine the true meaning of Christmas, apparently.
I'm sorry he's sick.
A guy I graduated high school with works in home health, and he said those movies really seem to lift one client's spirits, so he watches along with her.
So, definitely not my thing, but whatever makes some folks' holidays brighter...
4 Hallmark movies in a row - you're a good friend. Those drive me nuts.
You, too MUVA. Sounds like you're pretty good friend.
Christmas has become more of a general holiday and less of a religious holiday, so the greeting Merry Christmas has become more of a general or seasonal greeting.
I am not religious and I use it. To me it means have a good time and enjoy yourself in late December
This non-religious lefty celebrates Christmas every year.
Lights, tree, Santa, elves, reindeer, presents, stockings, cookies, eggnog, fuzzy warm vibes, the whole shebang -- with no religious overtones at all.
The only thing I dislike about it sometimes is the hassle of trying to find useful, meaningful gifts for family members who never really want or need anything that they don't already have. That can be a chore. Thank goodness for cheese logs, assorted chocolates, and scratcher lottery tickets. :P
P.S. Dennis Prager is a moron.
Hickory Farms beef sticks, calendars and the ABC store are my Christmas go to places
Same. I'm at my parents' for Christmas right now. We have a big dinner, gifts for the kids, cookies, and yours truly is the one who brings along all of the Christmas CDs (even ones with religious songs).
We've cut back on the gift-giving, and decided to focus more on spending time together as a family. I imagine Jesus would approve.
My favorite Christmas songs tend to be the religious ones - mostly because of the classical music and the harmonies, I suppose. Although I do listen to a lot of Transiberian Orchestra. That, Nutcracker Suite, and Arthur Fieldler and the Boston Pops are my favorites. I always break out some wine and Christmas music when I'm decorating my tree and wrapping presents.
I'm finally getting around to decorating my mom's big tree today; the past few years we've just had a 4 foot tree for her, but this year we put that up on her table and she said she still wanted a bigger tree. I put it up last week but didn't have a chance to find the family ornaments in my basement and bring them over.
I think He would.
Indeed. As the last one of my own family to still be living, it is a time of many memories of Christmas' past. As I still have those, they give me great comfort and joy.
Dennis Prager is s great American.
Here's a much more accurate description :
(boldface mine)
Like almost every creationist talking head out there, he intentionally misleads and misrepresents reality on a regular basis.
Here are a couple of informative videos (not to mention educational) about how his "PragerU" YouTube channel propagates and perpetuates scientific illiteracy. Please, for the love of Jupiter Optimus Maximus, watch them.
nOt sure if i should be offerin' my pinion since i am new here but i'll just <cough> giver a shot.
hāligdæg is an old timey English word that means, "holy day", or "Holiday". Seems to me that, "happy holy days" would be the same as merry Christmas.
as'ta war on christmas. I did some searchin' and discovered dat the only law ever passed in opposintin'ta "Christmas", was passed in 1659. I'll post it below.
We would be remiss not to point out that the one and only time Christmas was actually banned on what would later become U.S. soil, it was by Christians.
In 1659, the Puritan lawmakers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony followed the example of their brethren in England by issuing an edict outlawing the observance of Christmas (and other “superstitious” holidays):
Why? Because, as befitted their name, the Puritans found feasting, wassailing, gift giving, and wishing one another a merry Christmas ungodly and sinful (we suspect not even the secularized greeting “Happy holidays” would have been acceptable to this lot).
Despite a 22-year ban on celebrating it (the law was repealed in 1681), Christmas survived unscathed to eventually become the most popular (not to mention durable) holiday celebrated in America.
https://www.snopes.com/news/2017/11/29/the-war-on-christmas/
Welcome to NT StinkWeed Pete. We are always happy to welcome new comers. I appreciate your comment on Christmas and related information. Thank you!
I wouldn't be surprised if the Puritans found being "Happy" to be sacriligeous!
Without Chanukah, the Celebration of Christmas Would Not Be Possible
Source: AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner
Beginning with their enslavement in Egypt, when Pharaoh ordered Hebrew midwives to murder all newborn Jewish males, throughout Israel's captivity under the Babylonians and the Assyrians, to the Holocaust, Israel has been targeted for destruction.
But long ago God promised the prophet Jeremiah that Israel would cease to be a nation only when the sun, the moon and the stars had stopped shining. “‘Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,’ declared the Lord, ‘will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before me.’”
The feast of Chanukah—the word means ‘dedication’ in Hebrew—commemorates an event in Israel’s history when God miraculously intervened to save his people from destruction at the hands of a genocidal maniac.
Around 333 B.C., Alexander the Great commenced with his victorious progress through the ancient world of the Eastern Mediterranean. After conquering the Persian Empire, Hellenism spread throughout the old world of Asia. The Jews living in Palestine quickly found themselves surrounded by Grecian culture.
When Alexander died, he had no son to whom he could bequeath his kingdom. His empire was divided into four parts. But by 175 B.C. it again fell into the hands of one man, Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
Antiochus was the Adolf Hitler of the inter-testament period—the years which intervened in between the events of the Old and New Testaments.
Like Hitler, he was obsessed with exterminating the Jewish race.
He began with the slaughter of the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the desecration of the Temple. Alfred Edersheim explains what happened in his book, “The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah:”
“All sacrifices, the service of the Temple, and the observance of the Sabbath and of feast days were prohibited; the Temple at Jerusalem was dedicated to Jupiter Olympus; the Holy Scriptures were searched for and destroyed; the Jews forced to take part in heathen rites; a small heathen altar was reared on the great altar of burnt offering—in short, every insult was heaped on the religion of the Jews, and its every trace was to be swept away.”
The “final profanation” of the Temple was the slaughter of a pig on the sacrificial altar. This occurred on the 25th Kislev, the month that generally corresponds to our December.
It is important to understand that the Jewish Temple was more than just the place where Jews worshipped. It was also the center of their culture. It is no stretch to say that all of Jewish life emanated from the Temple in Jerusalem.
A deliverer rose up named Mattathias. Although greatly outnumbered and overpowered, the Jews began a campaign of guerilla warfare against Antiochus and his Syrian armies.
Erdersheim explains, “Mattathias died before it came to any actual engagement with the Syrians. But victory after victory attended the arms of his son, Judas the Macabee, till at last the Temple could be purified and its services restored exactly three years after its desecration on 25 Kislev, 165 B.C.”
When the Jews re-entered the city of Jerusalem and the Temple, there was only enough of the special oil to light the menorah and keep it burning for one day. But the oil miraculously burned for eight days while more was being prepared.
Thus began the first Chanukah, the Feast of Dedication, also known as the Festival of Lights. Jehovah had once again demonstrated his steadfast love and faithfulness to his people.
The events leading up to the attempt by Antiochus to destroy the Jewish Nation, including the profanation of the Temple, were prophesied in vivid detail in the Old Testament book of Daniel. In the New Testament, the Feast of Dedication is mentioned explicitly in John’s Gospel and was celebrated by Jesus and his followers.
In contrast, The Bible never refers to Christmas explicitly or its celebration—the word Christmas does not appear in the Bible nor was it celebrated until more than 300 years after the death of Christ.
Christians would do well to remember the faithfulness of God to the Jews on that first Chanukah. Had Antiochus successfully waged a war of genocide against the Nation of Israel, there would have been no Jewish woman named Mary to become the mother of Jesus Christ.
As you wish friends and family Merry Christmas this year, you might also like to wish them Chanukah Sameach. Without Chanukah, the Celebration of Christmas would not be possible.
Gregory J. Rummo is a Visiting Instructor of Chemistry at Palm Beach Atlantic University and a Contributing Writer for The Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation. The views expressed in his columns are his own.
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An interesting historical bit of info about Hanukkah.
Thank you for posting it.
You’re welcome.
I’m glad that you liked it. According to some, I’m supposedly not inclusive.
I love Christmas. I am a Pagan that celebrates Yule on the winter's solstice and then celebrate Christmas on December 25th. I just like to cook big meals for my family, drink lots of wine & have a good time. My daughter is a practicing Catholic, attends Mass & she is very LEFT. So guess the title is wrong.
So you're calling HA a communist for constantly attacking non-Christian cultures?
No he’s not. He’s saying that about those who would disrupt our unique exceptional American culture and values.
Which would be the easily triggered, overzealous Christians who don't give a crap about our Constitution and who (due to an irrational persecution complex) want to make Christianity a national religion, trampling on the rights of those who are not Christians, and constantly attacking the cultures people who aren't Christian fundies.
Our unique exceptional American culture and values are not fanatically religious.
American "culture" is that of welcoming the tired, the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse, the homeless, the tempest-tost, regardless of what faith, race, nationality, culture, skin color or gender.
What "culture" is it that you believe is being disrupted?
Most of the "left", liberals and progressives, profess to be Christians and happily celebrate Christmas, though most also honor and respect other Americans religious holidays as well, because that's true American culture and values.
And the fact is, Christmas wasn't even a national holiday until 1870 which was nearly a hundred years after our founding. So trying to claim anyone is attacking or disrupting "specifically American holidays" is just plain ignorant. Besides, more than 160 countries celebrate Christmas. A few countries refer to the holiday as Family Day, including Angola and Uruguay. Some countries--like Jordan and Pakistan--designate December 25th as an official holiday only for Christians. How and why would Christmas be "specifically American" again? I don't see it, but that's perhaps because my head isn't stuck in the sand like those making such sad and uninformed claims.
By all means, specify precisely what those cultures and values are! Then explain precisely how it's being disrupted! This should be good.
Our unique American exceptional culture and values are not fanatically Religious but in fact religion is foundational in our culture, our foundation, and values. Fanatics would be those who say religion had and has no place in any of it.
Which religion, then, in your view, should be the foundation moving forward? I presume you would say Christianity and, in fact, your particular denomination of same. Why should we not also adopt Islamic views? Why not mandate women wear extremely conservative clothing, not leave the home unless accompanied by a male family member, etc.? (I left out far uglier factors.)
If religion is to serve as the guiding light for our society, how do you determine which specific religious rules and traditions are the chosen guiding light?
Maybe to you. Certainly not to me,.
Not in our government or laws. But that's just Constitutional.
Still waiting for you to answer the challenge: specify precisely what those cultures and values are! Then explain precisely how it's being disrupted!