I. Don't. CARE.WHAT. YOU. CALL. IT!!

Okay; I've had it. I am a lapsed Methodist current pagan (duh). You know what? MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE! I have no problem acknowledging the birth of one of the most enlightened men to ever walk this planet; even if the men who followed him subverted a pagan celebration to do so.(and even if it wasn't even his real birthday) The holiday has turned into one encouraging peace and family moments;and produced some of the most wonderful music ever created. I had storybook christmases growing up; and I would not deny that to my child because of a stupid argument over a NAME. I agree this battle needs to be fought; but not with THIS holiday. It is just a symptom of a larger problem; and will be resolved naturally in time.

LET. IT. GO.

This is obviously not aimed at most here; just a general rant. this crap is so so SO SO STUPID!!!!!!!!!! Bill Osama bin Reilly; LEAVE IT BE and let us enjoy this holiday!!!!SHEESH!!
:rant:

That's all.

...and Merry Christmas.:applause:

...and then spend Christmas with family. We also have a lighted mi nora in the window. It's a wonderful time of the year. Peace on earth & goodwill toward all on the planet! :hi:

and I'm an avowed athiest. Christmas has always been about family for my clan. Those who want to add religion to it attend midnight mass and the rest of us drink and chat until they return. We eliminated the Santa Claus lies from two generations and made the kids know it is about family and friends as well as sharing with others.

It's the one time of year that we all get together.

:hi:

I don't know anybody who is. Nobody cares. The only thing I care about is when anybody is suppressed in celebrating such and such, but I think its obviously fine for people to celebrate holidays as they wish. Who doesn't support people's right to celbrate holidays as they wish?

Oh that's right, fundy right-wing christian's, the type who boycott Macy's because it chooses to say "happy holidays" instead of merry christmas, because it wants to be inclusive to jewish customers.

Joyous Festivus....

Did I miss anyone?

So, bah humbug to them! ;)

Now it's time for the feats of strength!!!:bounce:

How does that factor in with this snafu?

Cheers!

"Happy holidays."

Evil Atheist Conspiracy, or simple expediency? We distort, you decide!

:)





(edit spelling)

:hi:

Happy Eid!

:hi:

Are you upset with people who don't say Merry Christmas, or with people who want to force everyone to say it?

When you say "I agree this battle needs to be fought," which battle are you talking about? O'Reilly's battle? Because nobody else is fighting anything.

:shrug:

I am confused. :shrug:

I mean the imposition of Christianity (read organized religion)on every part of our society. I do get extremely irritated about that, but I am always ready to compromise when it is obvious that the meme is stronger than any argument I may make to turn the holiday back to its original pagan roots (or to even just make it neutral/secular). I believe the holiday will eventually morph into a more inclusive and secular celebration when the shift to non-belief or less organized belief becomes stronger in the country. Statistics show that slowly but inexorably,more people are leaving organized and structured religions for less known systems of belief or no belief at all; which will eventually also encourage more tolerance.
Any clearer?

Though I'd argue that the holiday already IS largely secular. Which is exactly why o'reilly and his fellow whiners have their knickers in such a twist. They know that society is evolving right past them and their absurd little ideology. And they hate it.

America is diverse. America is secular. "Happy holidays" is a reflection of these simple facts. That the phrase has the added bonus of making people like o'reilly stamp thier little feet and cry -- that's just a bonus!

:D

and ideas. winter solstice, (a little bear the favorite), christmas, or simply family. i too have always had wonderful christmas's as do my kids.

thank you for your post

neither the right nor the left get to decide for me what our holiday season is about. it is ours to do. and we do it wonderfully. i wish they would join in, but if not, that is fine to, leave me to do mine

happy holidays, for the rest of the season

At my university, there are often staff and students who can't make it home for the holidays ... and for a number of years now, one of the secretaries and her Iranian husband have hosted an "orphans' dinner" at their place on Christmas Eve.

The turkey is usually done in Middle Eastern style ... in small pieces, with a savoury rice-and-cranberries dish.

The hand-drawn invitation for last year featured a bearded Santa Claus (looking suspiciously like a certain Iranian guy), in a sleigh pulled by flying antelopes, circling over a fanciful city filled with Christian church spires and domes -- and mosques, Jewish temples, and Buddhist shrines.

Hand drawn invitations? What care! Martha ain't got nothin' on them...
Do post if you feel so inlcined. I'd love to see that.

They took a standard 1940s tract house and turned it into a miniature paradise. The front and back lawns are now shaded gardens enclosed by tall laurel hedges -- there are fig and mulberry trees, and beautiful gates they made themselves from salvaged lumber and scrap iron. There are painted tiles on the outside of the house, and the inside is hand-stencilled with intricate designs. (The parts where there aren't bookshelves, that is.) My favorite room is the kitchen ... the little storage room at the back which is packed to the rafters with jars of preserves, exotic spices, etc. -- and a big table they made themselves.

The food that comes out of that kitchen! Casseroles and pastries, Persian delicacies or European desserts ... I guess my answer to the question "do you call this Christmas or a holiday?" is: "I don't care, just call me when the food is ready!"

The chef is a prince. Really! Not one of the Shah's family -- a genuine Persian prince whose family ruled Iran a few centuries ago. There was hardly any money left by the time he was born, and any property that remained had to be left behind, so they don't have much in the way of material wealth at all. He and his wife had to flee the country to escape from the Shah, because they were leftist intellectuals. And when the Revolution happened, they couldn't go back because the mullahs hated the leftists just as much. So they stayed here, found a little place, and tried to make it as loving and beautiful as they could, because that's the kind of people they are.

I wish I could show you pics of their artwork, but unfortunately I don't have access to a working scanner!

And have a wonderful holiday (No matter what its called)

:headbang:

:toast:

Wow, that's a different one than I see. I see nothing but disgusting consumerism at the cost of colossal individual debt, all started by a group of ad people in the early part of the 19th century. Not coincidentally built around the poem/story story, "twas the night before christmas". Each and every year we do not celebrate the birth of Christ on this day, modern Biblical scholars pin point Christ's birthday sometime in early April, we celebrate consumerism which was conveniently dovetailed in to christianities want to defeat paganism.

So keep all your midnight masses, keep all your mangers, etc, pass me a present some fatted ham and lets get down with the consumerism.

Bah humbug.

I choose to see past that and try to create the peace and family time myself. I have wonderful memories from my childhood; and that instilled these values in me. Even though it is very consumer driven; it is still a time that peace is "supposed" to be encouraged; and I have to hope that since peace is built into the season that it is brought foreword in our awareness at least....that is still better than NOT having it spoken, eh? Think about the WWI Christmas Truce.

Oh, and you have it slightly wrong; Christmas WAS originally designed to replace the pagan holidays...started in ancient Rome to replace (I believe) Saturnalia/Mirthas(sp?) and since the pagans in the roman colony of Britain were celebrating the Birth of the Sun God; it was spread there too. The commercialism is just the latest exes to use..........

Merry Yule :headbang:

Nobody I know :shrug:

... delight in making everyone else unhappy by dreaming up wedge issues and phony crises.

Also known as republicans.

How dare you intimidate others using Internet pathways paid with government funds to amplify your own personal background.

I have half a mind to call the ACLU on DU and you.

Tried to hide it inside all that "acknowledging" or what you call acknowledging it might not be his real birthday as though Christians don't already know that. It's code that says to Christians that you mean no harm to Christians, that you're trying to pull one on non-christians who don't like hearing Merr.. YOU KNOW WHAT!

Well, I'm on to you. I'll be watching. :flame: :flaming: :flamed:

:hide:
where DID I put that flameproof ritual robe damnit??

Was there ever an anti-Christmas movement? Or did the right-wing just exaggerate someone's attempt to be inclusive in this holiday season?

Why should they be allowed to tell every living soul in this country that there is one and only one way to celebrate during this holiday season? What they're accomplishing is the exact opposite of what Jesus stands for. Now I hear song after song at Dillards with Jesus in the lyrics and it sounds more political, than inspirational. What a shame. Like all those auto dealers that fly American flags. Probably the last ones who would give up a kid to a stupid war.

It's kinda a catch 22--even though it *was* a strawman; by repeating it so much they have almost created it for real....either way, I mean what I said. Hopefully this will be the end of it; they've tried it for -what- 2 years now and not really gotten very far. We'll see......

But I'm not going to Wal-Mart even if they call it "Jed Dilligan's Day" and have a sale in my honor.

AND I'M TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT IT, TOO!

...to the tune of "and a partridge in a pear tree..".

Peace

Great post!


Osama bin Reilly!!! :rofl:

anyone's beliefs, but I personally think Jesus rocks!

Was baby Jesus put by Santa under the tree in the manger?

I also get so confused.

Last weekend I put up my Christmas lights, and this weekend I'll be decorating my Christmas tree.

Fuck Bill O'Lielly, and have a Merry Christmas, Happy Solstice, Happy Hannukah, etc. etc. etc. etc.

and it is cool to bring trees inside.

And any opportunity to give presents is a good one.

The God I believe in looks kindly on it all.

And if I'm wrong and he's an SOB and we're all going to hell, I'd just rather not know.

The people complaining are people who probably complain about everything. I've never heard a non-Christian complain about Merry Christmas signs in stores. It's never bothered me. When strangers wish me a Merry Christmas I don't get mad I just say same to you although I don't celebrate it. I send Merry Christmas greetings to my Christian friends. I would never ask a store to take down there Merry Christmas signs. It's good that some stores have decided to use Happy Holidays whether it's to save money or make non-Christian customers comfortable. It shouldn't be a problem either way.

is being blown way out of proportion by O'Reilly and the right wing to scare religious people into supporting right-wing causes.

the new american greeting :evilgrin: it's not like we don't say it much, is it?

"thanks for visiting. we appreciate your business. now fuck off! and please come again!" :D

"Money's tight, Times are hard, Here's your fuckin' Christmas card!"