I wanted to take a moment to wish all at NewsBusters a very Merry Christmas.
With that in mind, what does this marvelous day mean to you and your family? Has it changed as you've grown older?
When Charlie Brown asked his friends such questions, Linus wonderfully offered the following (video available here):
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, and lo the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid, and the angel said unto them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, tis Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.
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Christmas Traditions
December 25, 2007 - 12:31 ET by WoodyMChristmas still has family traditions. There's the tree, the fire in the fireplace, gifts, family, parties with friends, hot chocolate, Christmas dinner, church candlelight service and communion, driving around seeing Christmas lights, giving for those in need, visiting elderly relatives, etc. I do miss the Christmas carolers, which used to be common and have probably fallen out of favor because people don't know their neighbors as well. At least we don't have those aluminum Christmas trees with spinning colored lights shining on them. But, mainly, Christmas remains the celebration of the birth of Christ, despite whatever unspecified holiday that liberals reference.
Well, back to my family. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Christmas is a day I spend
December 25, 2007 - 12:36 ET by Gary P JacksonChristmas is a day I spend with my best friends and celebrate life. It's a day I reflect on all of the gifts God has given us, including His son, who redeemed all of us.
Charlie Brown Special tidbits
December 25, 2007 - 12:47 ET by ThisnThatMy understanding is that the Charlie Brown Christmas special broke new ground in a number of ways:
A number of executives did not want to have Linus reciting the story of the birth of Christ from the Gospel of Luke. They didn't think the audience would sit thru it.
The absense of a laugh track, standard for children's specials. Schulz maintained that the audience should be able to enjoy the show at their own pace, without being cued when to laugh.
The use of children to do the voice acting, instead of adults.
The jazz soundtrack, thought to not do well for a children's program.
I wasn't aware of these controversies, of course, but I'm glad the final version came out the way it did. Perfect, in my estimation.
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If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it is in English, thank a Soldier. - My barber
Peanuts
December 25, 2007 - 12:52 ET by BlondeIf you're a Peanuts fan, this will crack you up...at about 3 1/2 minutes in, Snoopy on the piano is one of the funniest things I've seen lately.
This was linked in my local paper as a Christmas video, for some odd reason...it rocks, tho.
Merry Christmas, all.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Hi Blonde, You can't go
December 25, 2007 - 23:19 ET by msh1973Hi Blonde,
You can't go wrong with Snoopy and the gang. My husband is a keyboard player, every Christmas he loves to play the songs from Charlie Brown Christmas. A true classic!
Merry Christmas to all.
Back at you, my friend.
December 26, 2007 - 00:09 ET by BlondeA very Merry Christmas, and a lovely and Happy New Year, to you and yours.
David Gregory, do you know which damn network you lie for? ~ Uncle Jimbo, @Blackfive
Thanks for the info....I
December 25, 2007 - 13:09 ET by motherbeltThanks for the info....I wasn't aware of those things. But every time it is on TV, I marvel that hasn't been consigned to the memory hole. I'm surprised some TV exec hasn't decided that it's not "muliticultural" enough or sensitive enough to other beliefs etc.
I think having Linus recite the gospel story from Luke was the masterpiece of the show.
"And a little child shall lead them."
Didja ever notice...?
December 25, 2007 - 18:07 ET by digdog1A nice touch during the Linus monologue: when he gets to the verse where the angel says "fear not," he actually lets go of his beloved blankie, and doesn't pick it up again until he's done.
Subtle, but touching once you've noticed it.
The special wouldn't have made sense
December 29, 2007 - 18:33 ET by Edward LeeThe special wouldn't have made sense without Linus' recitation. It provided the nexus between the childish self-gratification that preceded it and everyone getting into the true spirit thereafter. It would have been like skipping the Grinch's epiphany when he saw the Whos celebrate Christmas, even after he "stole" it.
Thank You, and Noel to you too!
December 25, 2007 - 12:56 ET by FastEdAnd how is your flock? Kidding of course -
at family gatherings, we would take time out to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus - but those times are in the past, as warm memories - This year is bitter-sweet. It may sound like a liberal whine, but it's not, just a reality, and all things will work out, always has and will again - (what's he talking about, you ask?!) -
Well, my mom has just entered assisted living, this past friday, for safety and health issues, my sister is moving to Florida next week, (another blonde in the sunshine state!), and I'm in full-court job search, as my recent non-profit position had it's funding cut. Then, my wife is a security guard (actually a data entry specialist, between gigs), who had to work last night, and goes in today too!
BUT - we're all healthy, including my college grad, wheelchair bound daughter, we have each other, and things could be worse. So here's to all of you, always thinking that the glass is filling up, beyond half, and have a Merry and Holy Christmas, and next week, we celebrate a New Year - when all things will get better, again.
There is no sense in being stupid, if you can't prove it! - my dad V
Tiny Tim
December 25, 2007 - 13:35 ET by iveseenitallAs Tiny Tim so aptly put it: "God Bless Us, Everyone"
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Noel
December 25, 2007 - 14:52 ET by shawn228Noel, Merry Christmas. Thx for all you do. Also Merry Christmas to all my friends on the right and left on NB
If anyone is interested here is a liberal spin on the Charlie Brown Christmas .
Shawn
December 25, 2007 - 16:03 ET by Noel SheppardS,
Backatcha. Interesting SNL vid. Very clever, and provocative. ns
Christmas 2007
December 25, 2007 - 15:43 ET by UnsaneMerry Christmas to one and all.
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Have you started on the
December 25, 2007 - 15:54 ET by shawn228Have you started on the Spaetlese yet? No festive beverages for me today, I gotta drive 2 hrs back home and I gotta work tomorrow :-(
Spaetlese
December 25, 2007 - 15:58 ET by UnsaneNot just yet. Dinner has yet to be served, and I still need to pull out my preferred glass (which for me has been the dark blue crystal glass from Germany).
But soon! :-)
Res tantum valet quantum vendi potest.
Merry Christmas Mr. Sheppard to you and your family
December 25, 2007 - 16:33 ET by Lame CherryChristmas has changed for me over the years. The joy of presents are now the joy of Christ within me looking for the day of His return in this season where He will rededicate His Temple in Jerusalem and rule for 1000 years as His Revelation predicts and Ezekiel, Isaiah and Daniel speak of where there will be real Peace on Earth enforced by Jesus with satan bound.
Christmas is my mother now having a picture of her great grandchild smiling in a picture on her television and my phoning my brother for the second time today as he is ill and alone away across the miles of America from us.
It has become as Scrooge promised in being changed, "Christmas is something I strive to keep in my heart every day of the year".
Merry Christmas to all!
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Found this while surfing
December 25, 2007 - 16:38 ET by Right2thePointFound this while surfing the net last night.
Simply awesome!
A couple of neighbors out in California who do light shows coordinated to Christmas Music.
Mannheim SteamRoller doing Silent Night
http://www.severex.c...
Trans Siberian Orchestra doing Wizards of Winter
http://www.severex.c...
Link to their website. Well worth the visit.
http://www.severex.c...
Merry Christmas NB!
December 25, 2007 - 18:25 ET by wiwfMerry Christmas NB! <3
The Rocky Mountain Collegian: Illustrating Idiocy
How Christmas has changed for me...
December 25, 2007 - 20:00 ET by Army BratFirstly and foremostly...Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah to you and yours! That goes out to all the Men and Women of our fine Armed Services, that are serving our country at home and abroad.
I'll skip my chit-chat and get to it.
Lemme see...for perspective, I'm a mere 51 presently. (Ahem..)
Lessee...I don't recall seeing any pics of Santa on a cross when I was a kid, and manger scenes were everywhere.
The people I ran into or saw on the street seemed somehow... happier...friendlier, more open to communication. Perhaps that's a a childs eye view? What do you think? Mayhaps it was just that Alaskan friendliness that seems to have faded some over the years in the face of Bloods and Crips and all the rest of the gangs.
We had all kindsa community gatherings during the Christmas season at my elementary school that, when they were called something, usually had the word "Christmas" in them and nobody squawked and everybody came. (I dunno...Anchorage back then didn't have much to offer in the way of entertainment.)
Military style toys were cool. There was a wide variety. No ridicule, just cool toys that did cool stuff. James Bonds attache' case with all the gizmos. A cap gun you could fire from in the case, a little plastic knife that popped out. Try marketing something similar now and you'd prolly get death threats.
Of course there's much more, but I need to split some firewood so's the house doan get cold.
There are a few things that cannot be tarnished by the unreasonable people we encounter in life.
Amongst em' is the love we have for our family and friends and that love they have for us as well as our faiths and the right to practice them.
So...Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a happy and productive New Year!
Happy Trails...
Thank you, Noel...May you,
December 25, 2007 - 19:42 ET by JerThank you, Noel...May you, the NB staff, the NB members, and all of your families be especially blessed this Christmas, and have 'good things' come your way in the new year.
Jer
A Merry Christmas
December 25, 2007 - 20:19 ET by Edward CropperWhat Linus says covers Christmas and I second his comments, with enthusiasm.
I also would like to offer a YouTube selection that touched me very much.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEyR8LOv8Bg&feature=related
You'd never get that
December 25, 2007 - 20:29 ET by ArchConservativeYou'd never get that written and shown in a modern animated short today. Can you imagine the outrage? I can only imagine a day when a Power Ranger quotes long passages from Jesus.
G-d Bless everyone of you and before you close your eyes, pray for our people in the Sandbox. Amen
You support the troops by supporting the mission! If you don't support the mission, have the guts to say you don't support the troops.
I sent a card to one of my
December 26, 2007 - 01:27 ET by Lord ElicaniI sent a card to one of my best friends what had a sound clip of part of Linus's speech. Sometimes we all need to take a step or two back from the commercialism and take a moment to remember what the holiday really is about. You know, the story with the baby and the manger and the magi and shepards and angels...
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Luke 2:8-20
Merry Christmas to you all.
Quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra? Quam diu etiam furor iste tuus nos eludet?
40 years and it still makes me weep
December 26, 2007 - 02:21 ET by Iowa Boy40 years later, it means more to me than it ever. It heals my heart and makes my soul sing. I cannot sit through Linus quoting the scripture from Luke and not thank God for His gift.
God is great and worthy of His praise.
Merry Christmas, NBers, and a Happy New Year.
Iowa Boy