bah humbug

[Nesty]

Twas the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away

The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a ' Holiday '

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod

Something was changing, something quite odd

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanza

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-t-y

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.





Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,

not Happy Holiday !

Please, all Christians join together and

wish everyone you meet

-----

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

I couldn't give a flying damn about some made up kid from a stable, but call it Christmas because that what it is called. Simple really.

[Malabus]

made up kid from a stable

Based on what evidence?

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

made up kid from a stable

Based on what evidence?

My opinion and a lack of evidence to the contrary.

[Malabus]

made up kid from a stable

Based on what evidence?

My opinion and a lack of evidence to the contrary.

So you are saying the historical Jesus figure wasn't born?

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

May have been a geezer called Jesus or a translation of, but I doubt his mother was a virgin and I doubt he performed the miracles as described in the Bible.

Seeing as Jesus, or translation of, pops up in Judaism and Islam as well as Christianity I guess I can take my pick.

[Malabus]

May have been a geezer called Jesus or a translation of, but I doubt his mother was a virgin and I doubt he performed the miracles as described in the Bible.

Seeing as Jesus, or translation of, pops up in Judaism and Islam as well as Christianity I guess I can take my pick.

Not debating about virgin birth or miracles. The question I was asking is that Jesus was "made up kid" as you state.
It doesn't matter where Jesus was born or where he had his first poo.
Christmas is symbolic for his birth, he could have been born on any of the 365 days...Just doesn't matter.

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

Fair point. He may have been born.

[Slothar]

Who is actually saying not to call Christmas, Christmas?

I know devout Christians feel under attack (justifiably) because their belief system is being eroded (primarily by rational thought) but I'm still to see anyone not call the 12 days of Christmas, Christmas....

As, er, wonderfully witty and sardonic as this American poem is, it comes across as confused to bemoan that K-Mart (etc) isn't using the word Christmas. What link is there between the birth of a religious figure and the corporate retailing of electronics, toys, clothing, bedding, furniture and home décor?
I would have thought if Christians want to reclaim Christmas then they should focus not only on the (perceived) inequality it receives compared to other religions (so persecuted are the Christians), but on its reclamation from commercialism. Welcome the fact these large stores are not mentioning Christmas (a full month before Christmas actually starts) and abandon the forced rituals that have nothing too do with the Christian celebration (Xmas trees, Turkey, decorated houses etc).

It's hypocritical to complain that Christmas as a Christian festival is not given equal billing with one breath, then demand that non-religious organisations 'celebrate' it with false traditions in the next. Which is unusual, as I've never found religions to be ambiguous and hypocritical before.

If you believe in something, then define it and be fixed about it. Don't mash up a load of concepts and ideas and then complain when others reject it or don't want it intruding in their lives.

By the way, if anyone is looking for good Christmas presents, then they might like this book discussing Political Correctness - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Its-PC-World-Po ... 0340954868" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's very balanced and puts forward arguments for those that detest 'PC' and those that are for it, and like most things in life, finds that the truth of what is is and stands for is somewhere in the middle.

[Malabus]

Fair point. He may have been born.

He was born.

[kora]

Saw an incredible christmas light show on the news last night; thought it might be yours Nesty but it turned out to be in Australia.

[asl]

He was born.

I'm an atheist and even I don't doubt that. 'Jesus' was an extremely popular name in the Middle East, 2000 years ago - just as it is now. I suspect it's highly likely that someone called Jesus was born around Nazareth, back then.

Whether or not his mother was a virgin, however, and whether angels joined shepherds and Wise Men (or were they Kings? the story seems a little confused about that detail) at his make-do crib before he suddenly turned into a young adult and started making tables (a skill learned from his mother's husband, I presume - although he did seem to vanish from the tale, presumably so his ex-wife could qualify for a council house as a single parent), curing lepers, and turning water into wine.........well.....that's another matter.

[Nesty]

Twas quiet and cold in Ye Olde Walthamstow
Where folks burnt their fences to ward off the cold
Poor Indies and Africs, Iranis and Poles
All united in spirit with the Saxonite fold.

Much sorrow and hardship was quickly forgot
By quaffing of ale in the Gussett and Fox
Or earning some gold with picking of locks
And betting a pony on the Chingford Dogs.

Christmas is coming the goose got fat
A Polski ate it along with the cat
The Romies caught shop lifting got a new flat
If you have no money, you will have to eat rat.

All Roads lead to Rome, or E17
I am sure Jesus came here in AD15
And got a nice pad and a weekly hand out
He’s been here ever since - on the market no doubt.

[RegencyCheltenhamSpa]

Who is actually saying not to call Christmas, Christmas?

I know devout Christians feel under attack (justifiably) because their belief system is being eroded (primarily by rational thought) but I'm still to see anyone not call the 12 days of Christmas, Christmas....

As, er, wonderfully witty and sardonic as this American poem is, it comes across as confused to bemoan that K-Mart (etc) isn't using the word Christmas. What link is there between the birth of a religious figure and the corporate retailing of electronics, toys, clothing, bedding, furniture and home décor?

I would have thought if Christians want to reclaim Christmas then they should focus not only on the (perceived) inequality it receives compared to other religions (so persecuted are the Christians), but on its reclamation from commercialism. Welcome the fact these large stores are not mentioning Christmas (a full month before Christmas actually starts) and abandon the forced rituals that have nothing too do with the Christian celebration (Xmas trees, Turkey, decorated houses etc).

If K-Mart don't call it Christmas then they can save money on not having to print one set of signs for Thanksgiving and one for Christmas - simple cost savings, which as you say, the people moaning will welcome the lower prices.