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Is There Really a 'War on Christmas'?

Robert Montgomery December 08, 2010 20:00:00
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There are a few things you can count on at this time of year: some people will grumble about how early their neighbors put up their Christmas lights, your local news will run at least one story on a kindly stranger putting a gold coin or diamond ring in a Salvation Army bucket and Fox News will crank up the “War on Christmas” machine.

But does a war really exist if only one side is fighting it? That was the question “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart asked on his show this week in light of the latest flurry of stories from the right wing mouthpiece news network about how all those grinches out there are trying to take the Christ out of Christmas and turn everything into a generic, godless “holiday” celebration.

It’s a favorite target for Stewart, who finds the predictable red-faced Fox furor ripe for lampooning every year around this time. This time, however, he honed in on morning anchor Gretchen Carlson, who was outraged, outraged I tell you, about the decision to strip the word “Christmas” out of the 70-year old Tulsa Christmas Parade of Lights!

She could barely contain her disgust recently when announcing that the event was now renamed the “Tulsa Holiday Parade of Lights,” despite what she called “outrage” from the community over the switch. Stewart, too, was shocked that the seasonal parade in America’s 47th largest city had changed its name … last year.

He then dissected her takedown of the chairman of the event.

“Why, why change the name?” she insisted, suggesting that it was inspired by a potential pull-out by a sponsor, which the chairman called an “overstatement.”

She really handed it to him when she noted that the Acres of Love Alpaca Farmers and Republican Oklahoma Senator James “Global Warming Is a Hoax” Inhofe would both refuse to participate because of the de-Christmasing of the parade. When the chair said the parade would not suffer because of a few holdouts, Carlson snapped back, “Many people will argue that just Christmas will suffer.”

The Christmas-huggers at Fox are not alone, of course. There’s the MyMerryChristmas.com site, which lets you know which stores will not wish you a “Merry Christmas” this year (shove it, Macy’s and TJ Maxx!) and John Gibson, who, literally, wrote the book on the subject, “The War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday Is Worse Than You Thought.”

Then there’s the MediaMatters website, which has diligently cataloged the many bogus Fox News stories on the phantom crisis, including a recent one in which the channel claimed that a Florida school had banned the “traditional Christmas colors” of red and green from its classrooms, a claim the school district’s spokesperson said was patently false.

It was at least the second time a Fox talker had made the claim erroneously, one that Bill O'Reilly was forced to apologize for in 2005 when he made the bogus accusation. Add to that a recent on-air fight between Fox’s Chris Wallace and radio host Mike Gallagher over Wallace’s outrage that a private institution refused to put a Christmas tree in its lobby and you have a tradition that’s almost as sacred to Fox News as its support for the Hooters “Let Freedom Wing Tour.”

Do you believe there is a war on Christmas?
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Top Opinion

  • lalouisiane December 09, 2010 18:52:33
    Yes
    lalouisiane
    +33
    It's not really a "war" and it's not really against Christmas, moreover it is an attitude against Christ and anything that has anything to do with Christ, be it Christmas or Christians.

    Christians in this country have enjoyed freedom of religion and freedom from persecution for as long as we can remember.

    This is the beginning of the end of that. Freedom of religion has devolved into some twisted politically correct forced love of secularism as a "religion". This includes the turning of our government to Islamic Shariah law, under the pretense of "political correctness" and "tolerance".

    Tyranny knows no self restraint, however, and the "tolerance" will not stop at tolerating a godless religion, but instead will devolve into a forced embrace of a godless and barbaric socialist state.

    Separation of church and state was a good thing. We will see it degrade into a forced affiliation with secularism and socialist beliefs.

    If the "Progressive left" gets their way.

    We have been silent too long. We became too complacent with our "spot" in church. Sitting there, got our ticket to Heaven, we have no care about those who are less fortunate. We belong to a specific church and take pride in that. Pride goeth before a fall, didn't we all read that?

    Perhaps it is us... Christ...
    It's not really a "war" and it's not really against Christmas, moreover it is an attitude against Christ and anything that has anything to do with Christ, be it Christmas or Christians.

    Christians in this country have enjoyed freedom of religion and freedom from persecution for as long as we can remember.

    This is the beginning of the end of that. Freedom of religion has devolved into some twisted politically correct forced love of secularism as a "religion". This includes the turning of our government to Islamic Shariah law, under the pretense of "political correctness" and "tolerance".

    Tyranny knows no self restraint, however, and the "tolerance" will not stop at tolerating a godless religion, but instead will devolve into a forced embrace of a godless and barbaric socialist state.

    Separation of church and state was a good thing. We will see it degrade into a forced affiliation with secularism and socialist beliefs.

    If the "Progressive left" gets their way.

    We have been silent too long. We became too complacent with our "spot" in church. Sitting there, got our ticket to Heaven, we have no care about those who are less fortunate. We belong to a specific church and take pride in that. Pride goeth before a fall, didn't we all read that?

    Perhaps it is us... Christians who first began to lose Christ in Christmas and in our every day lives.

    And Satan has been loosed upon the earth... and his followers are easy. Their own unhappiness lends itself to their need to blame someone or something for the sadness and emptiness of their souls. They are easily led. Their hatred makes them pliable.

    The door has been opened for persecution of Christians and everything relating to Christ.

    Get ready for persecution and strife because of your affiliation with a church. Get ready to be disrespected because you are a Christian. Get ready for your government to show disgust at your belief in Christ.

    Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a rocky ride.
    (more)

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Opinions

  • DavidK February 03, 2011 16:46:23
    Yes
    DavidK
    I'm a Christian and celebrate Christmas. Just because some don't, doesn't mean we can't call it Christmas. Wishing "Happy holidays" is for thinned skinned liberals. I'll never say it or respond to it.
  • KiddGlock January 24, 2011 21:01:18
    Yes
    KiddGlock
    It is part of the larger war on Christianity
  • morrisonist January 17, 2011 21:38:25
    No
    morrisonist
    Who doesn't love Chirstmas
  • DavidK morriso... February 03, 2011 16:47:17
    DavidK
    The thinned skinned liberals!
  • big dog January 02, 2011 02:09:48
    No
    big dog
    +1
    Everyone loves CHristmas. No one wants it to go away. Most would just like to take Christ out of Christmas! I truly believe that!
  • GeorgeM.Tsatsis January 01, 2011 18:51:52
    Yes
    GeorgeM.Tsatsis
    +1
    I could have said no but that would be a flat out lie. Since the beginning it's always and will always be a war on all holidays not just Christmas. The truth is one persons holiday is another persons headache. I don't mind the holidays it's a time of giving and sharing. It's all about getting together as a family and being thankful for everything we have. I love spending time with my family and enjoying this time of year. People just need to chill, all this P.C. Crap needs to go. People need to grow more excepting of and tolerant of others. Stop all the complaining and grow up.
  • tinee December 22, 2010 01:54:56
    Yes
    tinee
    +1
    Guys, please, this war isn't about the fact that the government is turning christmas christless. christmas was christless to begin with, the holiday began as a roman holiday, set during the solstice. people forget that you guys' Jesus was born in MARCH. it's already evolved into a christian feast day, then devolved into the comercially-driven hallmark holiday that it is now. if you really want to celebrate christmas, celebrate it in march and forget about the presents on december 25, cause that day wasn't meant for you anyway.
  • Lisa December 21, 2010 19:14:36
    Yes
    Lisa
    lalouisiane,
    I couldn't have said it better myself! and I've heard that it was going to come to this.
    We have sat and said nothing for way too long!
  • Ernest December 20, 2010 17:49:51
    Yes
    Ernest
    +1
    TJ , Red Star OK for Chicoms, Russians, Cuba,Vien Cong, Washington DC and Macy's who added no merry Christmas because they have "the fear" added to just in case Red Star is OK.
    Kinda like Elvis adding Star of David to tombstone just in case! We wouldn't want to offend anyone who lives in their own country's laws, customs, and languages. They might take out their fervor on demolition with general loss of everybody's life.
  • Bex December 20, 2010 16:44:42
    Yes
    Bex
    Yes there is a war on Christmas. It's not religious, leftist or rightist (not sure if I'm making up words, heh.) The war comes from pop culture and our media. We are taught that we need to buy lots of stuff for everyone we know. We should compete with everyone around us to have the most Christmassy (new words again) decorations, cookies, gifts, parties, or we do not have Christmas Spirit.

    When did we allow television stations, retailers and manufacturers to dictate to us what holiday spirit actually is. When did we allow ourselves to be duped into turning a time of year which traditionally was about building and strengthening community and culture, into a competitive frenzy. Personally, I think we should take the holiday season back from the corporations.
  • GeorgeM... Bex January 01, 2011 19:07:32 (edited)
    GeorgeM.Tsatsis
    Thats not gonna happen Bex. Corporate sponsored holidays have too much time, money and resources invested in them. I enjoy the traditions but can do without all the madness that black Friday and other days of shopping terror that it brings down on us. What matters in the end is spending time with family not who has the best decorations or who received the best gifts. Traditions matter.
  • indiejen December 20, 2010 06:10:27 (edited)
    No
    indiejen
    Well, there was one created by the right wing nuts to stir up the rabble of their base. But the wars they blame on us atheists and agnostics were the ones they started in their own nutty brainpans. But we do tire of hearing the same message we all have heard again and again and again ad nauseum. Who does not know the stories of christianity and jesus of nazareth? These religious nuts don't realize the harder they try to shove the unlikely tale of a virgin birth for the son of a floating invisible father figure in the sky, whose presence has never been proven down our throats, the more it shows their insecurity in their own belief system.

    Mature, secure believers (in whatever the propaganda they may push), don't try to bribe you with childish yearnings for unearned gifts or blackmail you into behaving in a prescribed manner to received so-called "unconditional love". Nope, just don't buy it.
  • Henry Massingale December 19, 2010 01:56:29
    Yes
    Henry Massingale
    +1
    I was going to say no until the other day when ACLU sent letters to the Tennessee Schools and told they had better not say Merry Christmas...
    This ACLU, does the American Tax Dollar pay for their service ? Call this a need to know.. Has anyone stop to think and see that there is a very good chance that The U.S.S. Court Ruling, from the start of no prayer in schools , by taking away the Freedom of Choice for a child to pray or not to Pray, that 10 second moment of silence, is in fact the freedom of choice protect by Law, but twisted and went unchallenged back in those days because of the lack of the voice of the Internet.
    I can not show you God, but I can show you the face of evil within the International Boycott of the Arabic Drug Empire Phase 2.
    This Matrix of the net has become the Voice Of The People under the Freedom Of Speech, and until all of you unite your voices as one, you will not be heard.
    Why do I do 10x10 postings at a lot of different web site, in order to unite the voices ? To get the message out that  because we have faith in what you write. So what needs to be called for is the disbandment of the ACLU for violating the Constitutional Rights Of The People. And by the way we may just save a grate deal of Tax Dollars.
    Dont sit back on you duffs and not speak ou...
    I was going to say no until the other day when ACLU sent letters to the Tennessee Schools and told they had better not say Merry Christmas...
    This ACLU, does the American Tax Dollar pay for their service ? Call this a need to know.. Has anyone stop to think and see that there is a very good chance that The U.S.S. Court Ruling, from the start of no prayer in schools , by taking away the Freedom of Choice for a child to pray or not to Pray, that 10 second moment of silence, is in fact the freedom of choice protect by Law, but twisted and went unchallenged back in those days because of the lack of the voice of the Internet.
    I can not show you God, but I can show you the face of evil within the International Boycott of the Arabic Drug Empire Phase 2.
    This Matrix of the net has become the Voice Of The People under the Freedom Of Speech, and until all of you unite your voices as one, you will not be heard.
    Why do I do 10x10 postings at a lot of different web site, in order to unite the voices ? To get the message out that  because we have faith in what you write. So what needs to be called for is the disbandment of the ACLU for violating the Constitutional Rights Of The People. And by the way we may just save a grate deal of Tax Dollars.
    Dont sit back on you duffs and not speak out for the first Law Suits Against the ACLU....

    By Henry Massingale founder and director for the International Boycott Of The Arabic Drug Empire / FASC Concepts in and for Pay It Forward covers the web post on google Drop by and see why we built a anti crime / war form in a Health Care Reform Concept. To strategically Rebuild America www fascmovement mysite com on google look for page 1 american dream
    (more)
  • rdej4168 December 18, 2010 06:26:58
    Yes
    rdej4168
    +2
    I agree that Christmas has lost it's momentum as a religious holiday. Beyond that, it has lost it's power as a "wake up call" for "good will to all"; a sense of real community with your town, neighbors, etc.

    I'm not going to say that I didn't look forward to getting the gifts when I was a young one. And I certainly do enjoy the appreciation that I receive by giving. I'm sure most of us did.

    However, what is missing is the social aspect of the holidays: Being together with family at one level, and being together with your community, at another. (The Carols do say "good will to men" .. all of us.)

    A historical case: In the days of WW-I, circa 1914, the war came to a standstill: http://www.biblicalrecorder.o...

    Today, preparations (shopping) for Christmas culminates in an alarming state of social unrest, often exceeding "road rage" at it's worse. It's not uncommon to hear stories of assault, battery or even stampedes culminating in the deaths of shoppers participating in the rage.

    Today's contemporary "Christmas" music coerces us towards more and more spending--on credit lines already maxed--to turn over last quarter revenue. Many hot items are put to market in scarce amounts, driving up prices, and instigating a veritable riot in the lines at the cash register ...
    I agree that Christmas has lost it's momentum as a religious holiday. Beyond that, it has lost it's power as a "wake up call" for "good will to all"; a sense of real community with your town, neighbors, etc.

    I'm not going to say that I didn't look forward to getting the gifts when I was a young one. And I certainly do enjoy the appreciation that I receive by giving. I'm sure most of us did.

    However, what is missing is the social aspect of the holidays: Being together with family at one level, and being together with your community, at another. (The Carols do say "good will to men" .. all of us.)

    A historical case: In the days of WW-I, circa 1914, the war came to a standstill: http://www.biblicalrecorder.o...

    Today, preparations (shopping) for Christmas culminates in an alarming state of social unrest, often exceeding "road rage" at it's worse. It's not uncommon to hear stories of assault, battery or even stampedes culminating in the deaths of shoppers participating in the rage.

    Today's contemporary "Christmas" music coerces us towards more and more spending--on credit lines already maxed--to turn over last quarter revenue. Many hot items are put to market in scarce amounts, driving up prices, and instigating a veritable riot in the lines at the cash register and more so in the parking lot.

    This is hardly "community spirit", it's hardly the Christian intent, and nothing to be proud of. I don't play this game.

    --Robert
    (more)
  • Koralth rdej4168 December 18, 2010 11:46:29
    Koralth
    +2
    In other words... You're saying that it's the same people fighting to make sure that they get to celebrate Christmas in the most loud, obnoxious manner possible that are ruining the holiday for those who enjoy a more traditional view of the holiday. By extension, would that imply that the real harm is being done by those who perpetuate that there is a 'war on Christmas' (which promotes a competitive attitude toward the holiday), and not by attempts toward diversifying the holiday season?

    If I'm reading you right... Good on you, brother!
  • Henry M... Koralth December 19, 2010 02:01:56
    Henry Massingale
    how deep is this issue...
  • Taylor December 16, 2010 20:35:47
    Yes
    Taylor
    +1
    Unfortunately....
  • Henry M... Taylor December 19, 2010 02:03:30
    Henry Massingale
    yes...
  • ulyknows1 December 16, 2010 05:07:34
    Yes
    ulyknows1
    +1
    I answered yes for this calculative, revelant point: Xmas is affiliated to Xtrianity, and Xtianity IS being attacked. Liberals are the path to this, and other non-heartfelt-for-americans, such as Most Muslims, are very happy. Liberals speak of equality, embracing others diferences, etc., but when their little hearts and minds open up, they are the biggest liars, thiefs, rats and hypocrites. Yet, they dont...they refuse, they ignore, that they are wrong, and thats what makes liberals rats and snakes.
  • Koralth ulyknows1 December 18, 2010 12:00:38 (edited)
    Koralth
    +1
    I'm not entirely sure I understand non-heartfelt-for-'A'mericans.

    Are you saying they love America a little less than everyone else?
    If so, I think many of them would have words for you (to sum it up, they would say you're wrong).

    Are you saying they don't have feelings (their hearts are unfeeling?)?
    If so, then I think you need to take the time to pull your head out of the clouds and meet individuals from a few minority groups.

    Are you saying that America doesn't love them?
    If so, why are they so happy? I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume, based on the context of your comment, that this is not at ALL what you meant, even though you make it perfectly clear that you are none too fond of these non-heartfelt-for-'A'mericans (I will continue to capitalize that word, even if it doesn't mean enough to you for you to capitalize it yourself)

    Is it so hard to accept that regardless of race, religion, social status, moral creed, sexual orientation, etc. that people who enjoy the comforts of America are just that- Americans, and not "Americans who don't love America", or "heartless Americans"?

    I'd rather be a liberal that attempts to promote social justice than a conservative who does not mince words about bigotry towards minority groups such as Muslim Americans.
  • granny December 15, 2010 23:56:02
    No
    granny
    I wouldn't call it a war exactly....
  • adam December 15, 2010 19:23:43
    Yes
    adam
    The question is a lagitamate question because there is a lagitamate answer, which is:
    "YES"
    Just look at many of the responses to your question, which is not an assault on the day that is celebrated but on the person who is celebrated, "CHRIST".
    Christmas was around long befor our nation was ever born and the celebration of the one who was born over 2000 years ago has been honored ever since.
    It is interesting to me that the birth of a child causes so much conflict, when in essence it should bring joy.
  • Nils December 15, 2010 17:03:10
  • what?!? Nils December 17, 2010 17:29:01
    what?!?
    +2
    Such a nice Christian way to think.
  • Nils what?!? December 20, 2010 19:49:05
  • tinee Nils December 22, 2010 02:08:07
    tinee
    +1
    wow, you do realize how narrow-minded you're appearing to be?
    I'm not christian, and I know more about this holiday than most. Christmas was moved from March to December when CHRISTIANS invaded other lands and took over the solstice holidays to add to the numbers of converters. Islam and Christianity share the same God. Islam celebrates christmas as the birth of a prophet, and Bethlehem and Jerusalem are in the middle east. please quit being an allophobe, and learn about more cultures, as well as your own, before you bash. damn Troll.
    P.S. I have no political affiliation
  • Nils tinee December 22, 2010 19:17:25 (edited)
    Nils
    [...]

    You have no clue what your talking about, and as for 'learning" about other cultures, I spent 7 years in the service of my country, and have been to 9 countries 4 continents. I've seen more of this world, than you've read about. The places I've been to have shown me, that there is no place on earth as wonderful as America, and it's Judeo - Christian founding ideals.

    Try as you might, to explain away history, so you can replace it with your new world politically correct version, you are showing your stripes, and failing in your points. Columbas, the Pilgrim settlers, and the writers of our constitution, were rooted in Christianity.

    P.S. I'm American, Concervative.
  • tinee Nils December 24, 2010 14:57:25 (edited)
    tinee
    +1
    I'm not straddling. i just don't care. I look at politics objectively, and don't even usually get involved. I learned just as much as, if not MORE than, you, and btw, it's spelled "Columbus". He wasn't even the first one here, the Native Americans were, then the Chinese, then the Vikings, then the Welch, THEN Columbus. and he was mentally unstable. (who else claims to see UFO's?) pick up a book that was written after the 50's, and remember that most history is Biased. Do you also believe that the germans were the first "aryans?" The first aryans were from india. you have to realize that politics aren't for everyone, and neither is christianity. Oh, and out democracy was based off of the British house of commons/house of lords, and the PAGAN Greek democracy.
  • what?!? Nils January 05, 2011 15:41:24
    what?!?
    I didn't say I was anti-Christmas. That is only your ASSumption. I just said that you are a very bad Christian.
  • GeorgeM... what?!? January 01, 2011 19:40:40
    GeorgeM.Tsatsis
    That's the Christian way though. They're all like that, the problem is most hide it if only more of these hypocrites showed up.
  • GeorgeM... Nils January 01, 2011 19:38:26
    GeorgeM.Tsatsis
    You are ignorant and very anti Christmas in your response. Telling us to F off and wage a war on other religions. Really mature, seriously dumb.
  • DrCowbo... Nils February 08, 2011 01:00:21
    DrCowboyFace
    My mind is imploding upon the fact that you WANTED to post this. And you did. The worst part is, you actually think this way! Now excuse me, I've got awhile before my mind gets out of a limp state brought about by your crippling, mass-overflowing stupidity.
  • Vader December 14, 2010 00:05:57
    No
    Vader
    +4
    Seriously do some people still think the founding fathers were Christians? By the way did you know also, that the tree and its ornaments are from a Pagan origin, nothing to do with Christianity.
  • baboula Vader December 14, 2010 16:19:41
    baboula
    okay I'll bite....just what were the founding fathers?
    Just because something was used originally for a different purpose does not make it invalid.
  • sha_lyn68 baboula December 14, 2010 19:44:36
    sha_lyn68
    +1
    Some were Christian, some were not.
    Many of them were Deist, Quaker or Unitarian.
  • baboula sha_lyn68 December 15, 2010 14:53:13
    baboula
    Ah but they all believed in " God" aka Creator or Supreme Being which makes them Christian. You do not have to believe in Christ to be a Christian.
  • sha_lyn68 baboula December 15, 2010 15:07:23
    sha_lyn68
    +1
    Bull$hit...So you are saying that Jews and Muslims Christians too, as are Wiccans and anyone other pagan who believes in God.

    The definition of Christian is a follower of CHRIST
  • baboula sha_lyn68 December 15, 2010 15:35:57
    baboula
    I was referring to those 3 specifics. Ever heard of Christian Deism?
  • Dizzy baboula December 20, 2010 02:28:02
    Dizzy
    +1
    That makes NO sense. Of course you have to believe in Christ to be a Christian. CHRISTian. You don't have to be a Christian to believe in God. I believe in God, but I am not a Christian.
  • GeorgeM... sha_lyn68 January 01, 2011 19:44:59
    GeorgeM.Tsatsis
    That is a fact.
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