Thursday, December 15, 2005

The Christmas Card..ummm Holiday Card battle continues

As I headed over to read Michael Meckler at Red-State, I discovered the above linked article about Senator Mike DeWine's choice of a card being an issue.

Okay, I'm not a fan of Mike DeWine most times, and I do prefer "Merry Christmas", but is this really that big of a deal?

Do we need the House wasting time to make proclaimations that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected, and that references to Christmas should be supported?

I would strongly suggest that if you have a few moments you go thru the transcript of the debate concerning House Resolution 579...

Some selected comments....

Mr. ACKERMAN Did something happen when I was not looking? Did somebody mug Santa Claus? Is somebody engaging in elf tossing? Did somebody shoot Bambi? If you eat venison, are you a suspect? What silliness we engage in, protecting symbols.

Mr. DINGELL Madam Speaker, I have a little poem.

'Twas the week before Christmas and all through the House,
no bills were passed `bout which Fox News could grouse.
Tax cuts for the wealthy were passed with great cheer,
so vacations in St. Barts soon should be near.
Katrina kids were all nestled snug in motel beds,
while visions of school and home danced in their heads.
In Iraq, our soldiers need supplies and a plan,
and nuclear weapons are being built in Iran.
Gas prices shot up, consumer confidence fell.
Americans feared we were in a fast track to ..... well.
Wait, we need a distraction, something divisive and wily,
a fabrication straight from the mouth of O'Reilly.
We will pretend Christmas is under attack,
hold a vote to save it, then pat ourselves on the back.
Silent Night, First Noel, Away in the Manger,
Wake up Congress, they're in no danger.
This time of year, we see Christmas everywhere we go,
From churches to homes to schools and, yes, even Costco.
What we have is an attempt to divide and destroy
when this is the season to unite us with joy.
At Christmastime, we're taught to unite.
We don't need a made-up reason to fight.
So on O'Reilly, on Hannity, on Coulter and those right-wing blogs.
You should sit back and relax, have a few egg nogs.
'Tis the holiday season; enjoy it a pinch.
With all our real problems, do we really need another Grinch?
So to my friends and my colleagues, I say with delight,
a Merry Christmas to all, and to Bill O'Reilly, happy holidays.
Ho, ho, ho. Merry Christmas.

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, this resolution purports to protect the symbols of Christmas, but what really needs to be protected are not the symbols of Christmas, but rather the spirit of Christmas. The spirit of Christmas demands generosity and goodwill towards others.

There's alot more...Yes, this is our Government at work....

Here

Oh and I agree with Mr. DAVIS of Illinois...So, I would hope that all of us would have a happy Kwanzaa, a happy Chanukah, a happy Ramadan, a merry Christmas and happy holidays to everybody. (Though he forgot the Pagans...hope they are not offended)

:-)

This wasn't the share the link love post but it was on a similar topic sooo I give you Committees of Correspondence's Give A Heifer For Christmas...

How about a Yule Goat or some New Years Chickens?
Now THIS site has some unique gifts indeed and they have a real good deal on Water Bufalos. :-)

16 comments:

Scott G said...

I just wonder when protecting Christmas became synonomous with protecting the commercialized aspects of it. Were there computer sales and fights over dolls in Bethlehem when Jesus was born? I didn't even think Jesus was actually born in December

Anonymous said...

Don't worry, Lisa, Christmas was a pagan holiday. We stole it without changing it much. So, they should be covered.
;-)

Unknown said...

good point Stephanie...lol

I've been reading it over again...I like this statement, again from Mr Davis of Illinois:

The story of Christmas is about a child whose conception was, to say the least, unusual and whose birth was under the most lowly of circumstances. This was a child who lived among and served the needy and the poor. This is the lesson of Christmas. Though we have modern-day symbols of Christmas, Christmas is not only about beautifully decorated pine trees and gift-wrapped boxes that lie beneath them. Christmas is about goodwill and peace on Earth. It is about tolerance; it is about providing for the less fortunate among us.
We cannot debate H. Res. 579 without considering how our policies address homelessness, the uninsured, the poor, the sick, and the suffering. Yes, we have Christmas symbols and traditions, but what do they really represent if we do not first embrace the spirit and true meaning of Christmas: love, peace, tolerance, compassion, goodwill, and hope for the future. Those are the true expressions of Christmas.

Unknown said...

I can't get the "elf tipping" phrase out of my head...

:-)

Anonymous said...

Yeah, the "elf-tipping" is good. Though, it still bothers me that elves, Santa Claus, ect. is really what people want to protect. I mean, come on? When Mr. Davis of Illinois (whom I generally find objectionable) seems to know more about Christmas than those who are "protecting" it, then you know we've got problems!

My current boss is like that. He plays the religious conservative very well...but actions? Hmm. No.

Anonymous said...

People seem shocked that I explain to my kids that they get Christmas presents because it's Jesus' birthday, and He was the greatest gift at all.

I swear, if I hear "But, what's that got to do with it?" one more time I'll scream! (This is not coming from my kids, btw.)

Unknown said...

My kids knew that was the reason from an early age as well. Thankfully there are still a few of us out there that realize it's not about how much you get or how much you spend....

sigh...wish there were more of us though, then this whole silly battle over the "Christmas Wars" would not exist.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, that's one thing I like about Rammadan. The charity aspect is built into the holiday. While they're fasting (and then feasting at night) they donate gifts to the poor, be it clothes or food or whatever to pay for transgression.

Not ideal, but better than buying your kids hundreds of dollars worth of toys, putting a few bucks in a kettle, and calling it even.

Unknown said...

That's true, quite a few of the engineers that work where Miguel does follow Islam.

To be honest I looked into islam at one time years ago, but it wasn't for me.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I looked into Islam, but more to understand than to convert. I have no problem with the religion; it's just that I firmly believe that Christ is the son of God. That doesn't leave a whole lot of wiggle-room, obviously. Though, there are those who'd say I exploited the wiggle-room quite nicely (full sarcasm on) by becoming a Latter-Day Saint. I generally ignore them.

historymike said...

This debate is idiotic. I use "Happy Holidays" if I am speaking to a large group whose religious affiliations I do not know so that I don't leave anyone out.

I use "Merry Christmas" when I know that the people to whom I am speaking are Christians.

This whole "issue" (it's really a diversionary non-issue) is being driven by a handful of right-wing pundits to try and make anyone whose politics are to the left of Attila the Hun look like some kind of radical socialist.

Let's move on... (uh-oh, I just used a Democratic PAC phrase - I MUST BE A DIRTY LIBERAL!)

Unknown said...

Oh now just stop it Mike...we all know you are a jew...

lmao

:-)

Unknown said...

I liked your post LBF, very much. Thanks for letting me know about it.

:-)

Anonymous said...

historymike,

"This debate is idiotic."

That may be so, but if too much emotional energy gets wrapped up in something, even if that something is idiotic, then it can become a big problem.

Granted, it would be ironic for someone to shoot somebody over the "Merry Christmas" versus "Happy Holidays" thing, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen. I'd rather talk about it in hopes of finding common ground than ignoring it while somebody works up the frenzy to whip out their rifle.

Hooda Thunkit (Dave Zawodny) said...

Or, you could adopt the more inclusive “Happy RamaHanuKwanzMas,” that a certain Latter Day Saint radio show host has adopted (with tongue planted firmly in-cheek).

I'm starting to soften on my anti-Happy Holidays stance, and have begun saying “Happy Holidays, whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another. If I have inadvertently left you out, please enlighten me, I would appreciate it!”

The vast majority (of course), but not all, usually reply with “Merry Christmas.”

Q. what group celebrates/acknowledges EID, and what is EID all about? What does EID stand for? I could really use some help on this one ;-)


I would also like to see a segment of the news dedicated to religious observances/holidays of any legitimate faith/belief system that sees fit to participate by offering submissions for broadcast. Call it the religious education or awareness segment(s) of the day . The traditional greetings and responses could be part of the education aspect.

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness... Remember that painting of the crucified Santa Claus? As I'm reading this, that's all I can think of.