The MRC's new Culture and Media Institute has already drawn national press attention by making a Christmas list -- not your everyday Christmas list, mind you, but a list of who's been naughty in denying Christmas in the public square, and who's nice in upholding traditions. The list of "Santa's Helpers" and "Grinches" is here. CMI's Kristen Fyfe explained:
It seems almost ridiculous that acknowledging Christmas should be controversial. In a country where 96% of the citizens celebrate it, why do so many feel like Christmas is under attack? An online poll done by the Chicago Tribune last week showed that 68% of respondents think there is a war on Christmas. Why?
Because, Tiny Tim, there is.
Led predominantly by the ACLU (they’ll deny it of course, but ask the folks in Wilson County, Tennessee who are currently in court fighting the ACLU over – among other charges -- a kindergarten class singing two Christmas carols), the attacks against the only legal federal holiday in December have been mounting aggressively the past several years. It seemed to culminate last year with Wal-Mart’s decision to forbid its employees to greet customers with “Merry Christmas.” The backlash was intense and led the giant retailer to reverse itself this year. A Wal-Mart spokeswoman says the company learned its lesson and “this year we’re not afraid to say ‘Merry Christmas.’”
Afraid to say “Merry Christmas?!”
Is that really where we are as a nation? A lot of folks think so, which is why a growing grassroots movement is fighting to reclaim Christmas.
A piece in the Washington Post yesterday (not on their website) came from the Religion News Service and said there had been "rumors" of a "War on Christmas." Rumors?
—Tim Graham is Director of Media Analysis at the Media Research Center
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
Merry Christmas to all my fri
December 17, 2006 - 08:13 ET by Andrew H.Merry Christmas to all my friends here at Newsbusters. I say it every chance I have in public or not... love the season and what it stands for...to hell with the aclu and the idiots who buy into their policy of extortionist lawsuits.
Liberalism is a convenient lie.
Merry Christmas
December 17, 2006 - 08:22 ET by DontFeedTheTrollsI second that, Merry Christmas to all, even you leftist liberals lurking out there.
DSG
Merry Christmas
December 17, 2006 - 09:11 ET by iveseenitallMERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL and to all a good year exposing the loony liberals.
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
If the leftist reporters at
December 17, 2006 - 09:52 ET by BenderIf the leftist reporters at the major media hubs like the Times, Post, ABC, NBC, CBS acknowledge that there is a "War on Christmas", it will expose their bossum buddies (ACLU, CAIR, and Trial Lawyers) ever expanding legal history of torts against celebrating Christmas.
Once the "War" is acknowledged, the next debate from the media will be "Do we really need Christmas anymore? Shouldn't we get rid of it because it so divisive and hurts non-Christian's feelings?" "Why should we have a federal holiday dedicated to one particular religion - Christianity"?
Two years ago at my Wachovia bank, I asked the teller where all the Christmas decorations went. She replied that corporate stated that the decorations could offend someone and they did want tellers to say "Merry Christmas" either.
I asked her what her bosses were going to tell Wachovia customers when the bank was closed on 25 December? She looked puzzled. I said its a "Federal" holiday called "Christmas".
I looked at her and said "Merry Christmas" and she whispered it back. It was sad.
I too have used that Federal
December 17, 2006 - 12:27 ET by NickA4944I too have used that Federal Holiday line...years ago went to wish the owner of the local video store Merry Christmas...there were three Hasidic Jews in the store and they asked what was Christmas...I told them it was the birthday of Jesus Christ...they asked who was he? I told them he was a philosopher and the most famous Rabbi ever born...they wished me a Merry Christmas
There is an interesting artic
December 17, 2006 - 10:25 ET by Tony SThere is an interesting article on Political Correctness Watch.com that posits the opinion that the left hates Christmas because they preceive it as a "white" holiday. Emphasize the multicultural aspects, they say, and the attacks will stop.
I don't necessarily agree with this, I'm just pointing it out.
I went out on my annual foray
December 17, 2006 - 10:48 ET by Chris NormanI went out on my annual foray into the mall last night. After purchasing my gift to my sister, the sales clerk offered me the generic, "Happy Holiday". I responded with a "A Merry Christmas to you". She smiled, as if relieved it was safe, and said, "Merry Christmas!". I just refuse to let the tail wag the dog.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
So, the cloak of fear was bus
December 17, 2006 - 11:29 ET by VT Con ManSo, the cloak of fear was busted! This completely demonstrates that this PC "holiday" garbage is just that. People have a "feeling" they might offend someone, so X% of our country is slinking around AFRAID to say Merry Christmas?!?
Shame on the ACLU and their Anti-American ilk for their efforts bringing us to this point in this great country. All the more reason to fight their every step, out in the open, for all to see.
Merry Christmas America
Yep, the fear of offending so
December 17, 2006 - 11:33 ET by Chris NormanYep, the fear of offending someone has reached points ridiculous. And they say the Bush Administration has chilled speech...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Ah yes,fortunately, President
December 17, 2006 - 12:07 ET by VT Con ManAh yes,fortunately, President Bush's admin has not chilled any speech, so we can see just how absurd and wrong headed the screaming, hate filled libbies really are. Go for it gang! (Olbywonk,Chrissyspittle, etc)
Per usual, the accusers are a
December 17, 2006 - 12:39 ET by Chris NormanPer usual, the accusers are actually the offenders...
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
I did some recon at a local s
December 17, 2006 - 14:54 ET by balboaI did some recon at a local shopping zone, and...never even noticed whether anyone said Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas, nor whether or not the decorations said the same thing. Do you need special glasses to see this "war"?
No, but you need special glas
December 17, 2006 - 14:57 ET by UnsaneNo, but you need special glasses to see the subliminal messages.
"Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy." -Sir Winston Churchill, British statesman (1874-1965)
Merry Xmas to you
December 17, 2006 - 15:04 ET by dagdaI just say Merry Christmas to everyone. I do not care if they are offended. Tis the Season.
Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow. Dwight Eisenhower
No Balboa, you don't need spe
December 17, 2006 - 15:10 ET by Chris NormanNo Balboa, you don't need special glasses to see this war. You just have to choose to notice it.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Liberals
December 17, 2006 - 15:47 ET by iveseenitallRight ,Chris. Liberals always deny the truth or try to laugh it off.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
NEVER,NEVER trust a liberal
My point is that you guys cho
December 17, 2006 - 17:09 ET by balboaMy point is that you guys choose to be offended by something that I don't think is very important on the grand scheme. I notice that the decorations are holiday themed, green and red, and that's fine for me. I hear Christmas carols everywhere I go. I don't need stores to follow someone else's description of what celebrating Christmas is to make it a worthwhile time of year. "Happy Holidays," "Merry Christmas," the same thought is behind both: to wish others well during a special time of year.
Happy Holidays
December 17, 2006 - 17:15 ET by dagdaAlthough I am a bigger fan of Merry Xmas, Happy Holidays (Holy Days) is okay.
Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow. Dwight Eisenhower
Balboa,If you think being off
December 17, 2006 - 17:16 ET by BlondeBalboa,
If you think being offended by an attack on one's religion isn't very important "in the grand scheme"...think again. Do you care to guess how many posters here are Christians?
Not only have you once again taken a wimpy "contrarian" view...you've managed to act like a perfect boob. Again.
If you think stores saying Ha
December 17, 2006 - 18:16 ET by balboaIf you think stores saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas is an attack on your religion, I think you're too easily offended.
Let's read along slowly, shal
December 17, 2006 - 18:21 ET by BlondeLet's read along slowly, shall we?
Oh you know what, never mind.
You're not worth my time.
Do you know what though, bal? You and your stupid little smarmy snarky statements offend me. Continually.
There was absolutely nothing
December 17, 2006 - 21:29 ET by balboaThere was absolutely nothing smarmy or snarky about my last statement. I honestly don't see how you can feel your religion is being attacked because a store says Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Mildly annoyed? Sure. Perturbed? Sure. But to the point that you think there's a war on Christmas? Please.
Hey bal,Are there any schools
December 17, 2006 - 21:45 ET by saw the lightHey bal,
Are there any schools in your area that are having "Winter Breaks" this year? Listen to their choir concerts this month and tell me if there are religious-themed songs being sung. I'll bet that many of these same schools have curriculum relating to the artificial "holiday" of kwanzaa.
These stores are taking advantage of the Christmas holiday, even the secular traditions, to make money. You see Christmas trees, hear Christmas music (secular and religious), yet they cannot say Merry Christmas. They talk endlessly about the upcoming "Holiday Season" (whatever that is), when the real reason for all the activity is CHRISTMAS.
What is advertised for December 26? The After-Christmas sales, of course.
"People everywhere confuse what they read in newspapers with news." - A.J. Liebling
No, Balboa, it is your dishonesty
December 17, 2006 - 21:47 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasBalboa, to me if anything were to be offensive it would be your dishonesty. You use a typical and predictable but consistently embarrassing liberal ploy, misrepresent the argument of the opposition. You mischaracterize the issue by reducing it down to retail stores trading Merry Christmas for Happy Holidays and do a disservice to any intellectual respect or honesty for your argument (not that libs or super-libs employ their conscience toward any such violations). As has been reported by conservative and liberal media, the debate goes far beyond this and into the workplace on many levels. Not to mention it has dripped into social occassions of all sorts. And again, you are either too lazy or without any genuine integrity to avail yourself to the multitude of both liberal and conservative and inbetween sources that acknowledge this trend and are debating its degree.
Once again, have enough self-respect to present an argument that exceeds your own immediate sense of pleasure and reward and one that displays some recognizable intellectual honesty, at least enough to represent both sides of the argument accurately.
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal.
Thank you Guy.I'm done explai
December 17, 2006 - 21:59 ET by BlondeThank you Guy.
I'm done explaining things to balboa.
If you look at my original po
December 17, 2006 - 22:13 ET by balboaIf you look at my original post, it was commenting on another post by Chris Norman who was talking about going out to the stores and rebelling against the war on Christmas by saying Merry Christmas when first confronted with Happy Holidays. I then commented that I had been out and not noticed either way what a store was doing. So the original splice of this topic was about retail stores.
I know that the "War on Christmas" extends further than retail store policies, but I still don't believe it to resemble any kind of attack on Christianity or the holiday worth all this controversy.
Yes, there are nuts that take it too far, but this is the exception, not the rule.
Oh, for Pete's sake, Balboa.
December 18, 2006 - 09:43 ET by Chris NormanOh, for Pete's sake, Balboa. I offered a personal anecdote, in passing, on one small piece of the overall effort to turn Christamas into an empty holiday, stripped of all meaning. You seize upon that anecdote to dismiss the whole notion of the effort. You can be such a disingenuous little brat when you set your mind to it. You have a tendency to follow people around here like a persistent annoying little mosquito.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Chris --the benfits of a balboa
December 18, 2006 - 10:15 ET by misterbillChris --the benfits of a balboa.
I am a Catholic. I try to live by the Golden Rule as I was taught in Christian school. I have not been a regular church-goer, but I am a strong believer. I have been noticing the decline in the Christian spirit for quite some years now. I particularly have noticed the efforts to diminish and , yes, even demean the true reason for Christmas. The ACLU has been at the forefront of this effort. The comments from left-wingers on this site as well as others has convinced me that the American way is under attack. On Sunday night next, at midnight, my wife and I will celebrate the birth of Jesus at mass at our local church. I pray God that this enlightenment makes more and more Christians understand that we aare under attack, I say it over and over, we will only be destroyed from within. The ACLU is the quintessence of evil.
Bill,I guess I'm what you cou
December 18, 2006 - 10:59 ET by Chris NormanBill,
I guess I'm what you could call one of those "Holiday Catholics", who tend to go to mass mostly on the main days of religious observance - Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter - with a few Sunday visits in between. I look on Christmas a two separate holidays - the religious and the secular - although they are related in spirit. As such, I try to keep them both well (nod to Dickens). I recognize December 25th as the date we celebrate Christ's birthday and the Christmas season as a special time for joy, goodwill, and a celebration of family and friends. As I've grown older, the presents, although important as tokens of love and caring, have become secondary to everything else - . the visits, dinners, decorations, and holiday activities. As you can tell, I enjoy the season. I refuse to let the people politicize and secularize it. Am I thin-skinned and sensitive about these attacks against Christmas, both small and large? You bet I am. I've seen the danger of looking away, letting these joy killers get away with their small, individual, victories, until one day, we look around and find there isn't much left, overall.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Mr. Bill...You probably know
December 18, 2006 - 11:13 ET by Clear thinkerMr. Bill...
You probably know where I stand on this, but I'll make a short mention for the others reading here.
The ACLU is a tool (a powerful one) for those that want to see the USA fall from it's leadership role in world affairs. The leader of the Jacksonville FL office of the ACLU keeps the list of the '45 communist goals for America' framed in his office. This should tell you something!
Caveat: Ok, before we have ACLU types coming here and raising hell, I have to admit upfront that what I wrote above is second hand (possibly third) knowledge. I have no proof that I can offer for my statement. The above info was told to me while at a charity function in St. Augustine FL in 2002.
Chris Norman
December 18, 2006 - 11:31 ET by balboaWell that wasn't my intent, and I apologize for it seeming that way. This issue sticks in my craw, for some reason.
Bal-- I disagree with you
December 18, 2006 - 10:33 ET by misterbillBal-- I disagree with you--there is a serious attack on American Christian values. The effort to make US a more secular country is to deprive us of who we are and how we got to be who we are. There is something about getting older that makes some of us awaken after taking America's gifts for granted. We look around and we see things happening that diminishes our efforts, including military service, being overrun in some sectors. I am not a religious fanatic, but to me, it appears Sodom and Gomorrah are beginning to repeat themselves. The biggest war ever is the one that is happening now with so-called "enlightened" Americans deriding the President, showing our outside enemies a divided America. I have attached items 27 and 28 from the Communist plan to convert America to Communism. You may say that you don't see a specific reference to the use of "Merry Christmas" in them, but it is all part of the same.
God bless America, Merry Christmas to all. May the celebration of the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ bring peace to your souls and love to your homes.
." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."
Mr. BillI just now saw your a
December 18, 2006 - 11:17 ET by Clear thinkerMr. Bill
I just now saw your above post. Sorry if I stepped on your argument, it was not intentional.
CT and Chris
December 18, 2006 - 11:33 ET by misterbillCT and Chris First CT, no apology is necessary. Chris, Your sentiments are quite like mine . I hold for a holiday and a holy day. This year my son, girl-friend and my beautiful granddaughter (she will be 14 weeks old on Wednesday) have moved in with us. I am a silly old man and I am thrilled at the thought of her sharing her first Christmas with us. It makes me very emotional. I also want her to grow up in the wonderful American which I enjoyed my childhood. That is a Judeo-Christian environment. I do not want any anti religious, secular group eliminating that world for her. My greatest fear is that America may fall into a deadly internal strife to keep its values . I am not paranoid, but I see this threat almost every day between the lies of the media and the apathy (ignorance) of a lot of good Americans who just, simply, do not see any threat.
I see the greatest internal danger from the ACLU and the judges of the Federal courts AND the Supreme Court.
bill, Liberals make fun of no
December 18, 2006 - 11:53 ET by Chris Normanbill,
Liberals make fun of notions like "a war against Christmas" but that's what it is. The attacks might not be cordinated, but it's the number and consistency of them that make it a war - a war of attrition. A slow, steady, intentional eroding of meaning. Some of these attacks are silly - like the accusation that the term "White Christmas" has racial connotations, but the number of these attacks and the responses or lack of responses to them by the weak and apathetic all begin to add up and take their toll.
I look forward to visiting my family in New Mexico, where, on Christmas Eve, we'll go into Santa Fe and enjoy the snow (hopefully), the luminarias and other local decorations, a great dinner, our traditional Christmas Eve neighborhood bonfire (with eggonog and hot chocolate), and finally - Midnight Mass. I look forward to this all year. I hope you and yours have a warm and joyful Christmas and enjoy your own traditions.
The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.
- Arabian Proverb
Who's too easily offended?
December 17, 2006 - 22:09 ET by nkviking75Just who is it who is too easily offended? A lot of lawyers, schools, stores, etc., etc., etc. are going to ridiculous lengths to avoid acknowledging that the "holiday" is about the birth of Christ, even to the point of playing down the secular trappings that have grown up around it. It's time the rest of the world develop some tolerance for Christianity.
Hey, balboa, Merry Christmas and New Year. Everyone all.
December 17, 2006 - 17:25 ET by acaiguanaHey, balboa, Merry Christmas and New Year. Everyone all.
To all at NB and who are on the site.
ACA
...
Acaiguana says: "Ya can't win if ya don't play."
aca--right back at you
December 18, 2006 - 10:17 ET by misterbillaca--right back at you--
May the spirit of Jesus be upon you and yours in the coming holy days.
Well if that was your point Balboa
December 17, 2006 - 17:47 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasIf that was your point then the attempt to sound clever but coming off quite stupid (which you aren't but appeared to be on this occassion) was dishonest because you said none of that in your previous post but made the magical claim on your singular and geographically limited recon that there isn't even a semblence of antagonism toward the Christian's Christmas. But neveminding your embarrassing moment there, you state the holiday theme colors are "fine for me". Once again your evaluation of what is going on in the lives of millions of others is based on your singular and selfish criterion, you. Apparently your idea of "broad" doesn't extend beyond you.
But you act as if people should apologize for being offended. You take the very self-righteous position that, "how dare your religion be so important to you that assaults or believed assaults on it would upset you". My friend, your estimation of what is important in people and your condescention toward their faith that they may hold quite dear is telling about your true values. But then I forgot, most of your measures of principle appear to have little consideration of the values of others and little life outside of your immediate pleasure zones and self-satisfaction.
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal.
Well Balboa...
December 17, 2006 - 16:02 ET by Guy Arthur ThomasIf you employ prescriptively what you just did in your experience above then my guess is that you will remain rather clueless regarding events in our world. Is this how you come to conclusions about what is going on socially or politically, singular experiences? Based on your singular recon at a local shopping zone you made a conclusion that there is no war on Christmas in your estimation. Maybe, just maybe, you could treat the topic with respect. How many retailers did you visit, never minding employers of all sorts and examine their Christmas policy? How many? What percent of those in the United States did you visit in this singular recon to come to this conclusion Balboa? Eh? No one said every single retailer is antagonistic toward allowing employess or themselves participating in the christian oriented greeting of Merry Christmas nor toward have Christmas themes in their advertising. Nor has anyone promoted the idea that the antagonism by some is being done by a majority. The idea of a "war on Christmas" might indeed by a misleading characterization but then to pretend their is no semblence anywhere of any such "war" or orchestrated antagonism by some groups, which is more obvious now than ever, is to even dismiss what LIBERAL news sources admit to as a trend. If you are going to use sarcasm to make a point at least have enough self-respect to treat the topic honestly.
If you claim to be a conservative, please don't disgrace yourself and conservatism by thinking and arguing like a liberal.
"I did some recon at a
December 17, 2006 - 16:19 ET by ckc1227"I did some recon at a local shopping zone, and...never even noticed whether anyone said Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas, nor whether or not the decorations said the same thing. Do you need special glasses to see this "war"?
No, but you at least need to pay attention. If you don't even know what they were saying, how can you conclude it isn't happening?
The one thing that always g
December 17, 2006 - 16:28 ET by mlongThe one thing that always gets me when I hear stories about a Christmas related item or event being stopped the claim always is its so as not to offend non-Christians but most of the time you'll find that no Jew,Arab or other non-Christan is the one making the claims of being offended...it allmost always turns out to be some uptight liberal goverment official who while concern about other groups being offended..dosen't seem to have any problems with offending Christians.
If a fact is a fact the lefti
December 17, 2006 - 19:18 ET by bigtimerIf a fact is a fact the leftist in this world can't handle it, not if it doesn't agree with their socialistic/one world order system....nope they keep those rose colored glasses on, otherwise they would understand the war on Christmas has been going on for a very long time and it isn't the name of a record/tape which was titled Rumors....what a lot of fools...
I wish them all, especially the ACLU, WaPo and the NYT's and all their ilk a Very Merry Christmas!
You are losing this one...big time!
Ho Ho Ho!!!
"Once the coffers of the federal government are opened to the public, there will be no shutting them again." - Grover Cleveland
MRC and Scrooges
December 18, 2006 - 09:39 ET by DanInMass745Here's the ACLU's view of Christmas in a nutshell: We know that 96% of AMericans celebrate Christmas but we need to cater to the 4% that don't. Right or wrong people?
Republicans go out each year
December 18, 2006 - 13:41 ET by BruzillaRepublicans go out each year and buy Christmas decorations, run the power cords, hang the lights, and provide a festive looking house to feel good about Christmas. Democrats jump in their cars and look at all the Republican houses to feel festive.