Christmas & Political Correctness

[Robert D. Robot]

I like cards and gaudy lights and presents ...

Well, compassion and gratitude as well. It's not like you have to pick just one!

I agree, Kestra!- I should have worded my post better! All those things can be good and fun as long as the weight of these things doesn't crush the life out of you such that you are too exhausted and frazzled to enjoy the holidays with family and friends or to truly have time and space to reflect on (and express) compassion and gratitude (and to carve out a little Peace on Earth for yourself!)!

 

[Paradon]

A wise man follows the stars, like the way I follow my heart. It'll lead you to the same place. Miracle!

 

[1001001]

Haven't you all heard?

Gays are serving in the military, and children aren't allowed to celebrate Christmas anymore.

There is something wrong with America.

Did you see his jacket in the video?

He's so deep in the closet he's finding Christmas presents.

That must be the Official Jacket.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Haven't you all heard?

Gays are serving in the military, and children aren't allowed to celebrate Christmas anymore.

There is something wrong with America.

Did you see his jacket in the video?

He's so deep in the closet he's finding Christmas presents.

That must be the Official Jacket.

Funnily enough, this morning Cracked had an article about "5 Things That Make You Happier Than They Probably Should," and the last part was about Rick Perry's jacket:

Moments like these can make you believe in God. And incredibly petty God who spends His time effing with dbags instead of inventing cancer-curing candy, but a God nonetheless. Or even better are the tiny miracles that convince you God has a sense of humor.

Take political failure and part time JC Penny catalog model Rick Perry for example. In his recent ad (which I'll only link to via Cracked's superior version), the Texas Governor comes down hard on the gay community, citing their right to serve openly in the military as something wrong with our country. A desperate ad from a weak candidate frantically clawing at the Evangelical vote.

And the best thing about the ad? Rick Perry -- defender of God and Country from the sins of gayness -- seems to have slipped into Heath Ledger's Brokeback Mountain jacket. Who's to say why? Perhaps, he was getting dressed in a hurry, in the early morning darkness of a tent before taking his walk of shame to film this ad.

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-things-that-make-you-happier-than-they-probably-should_p2/

 

[RJDiogenes]

Other amusing aspects of the "political correctness" meme:

The origin of the term "Happy Holidays" is sometimes credited to Irving Berlin and it was popularized by President Eisenhower when he used it on White House holiday cards. Both of these guys are well-known mavens of Right Wing jingoism.

Also, the establishment of the birth of Jesus on the Winter Solstice was done by Emperor Constantine in an effort to win over pagans-- an act of political correctness.

 

[RandyS]

I guess you could say I'm a Christan (outside of the odd Bible story and occasional church service, my family has never been big on religion), and to me Christmas means having dinner with my girlfriend and surviving relatives. Even the presents part has fallen off, although we still do that occasionally.

As far as political correctness goes, the last time I attempted to explain my feelings that THAT subject around here, I was completely misunderstood and branded a racist, so I'll just keep quiet about that.

 

[JoeZhang]

I am an atheist but have no problem celebrating the birth of Santa Claus along with the rest of you.

 

[O'Dib]

I'm finishing up my half liter/quart of mulled wine, and Christmas is goood. X)

 

[Paradon]

Haven't you all heard?

Gays are serving in the military, and children aren't allowed to celebrate Christmas anymore.

There is something wrong with America.

Did you see his jacket in the video?

He's so deep in the closet he's finding Christmas presents.

That must be the Official Jacket.

Rick Perry is desperate. I don't even know why he had to bring up gay people and use it if he was that great. He made a huge deal out it. [laugh]

 

[shivkala]

I recently found two articles which nicely summarize my growing up Jewish and my thoughts on Christmas. The GeekDad article especially, since like the author, I'm married to a Christian. I think they summarize nicely how lonely it sometimes feels at Christmas when you don't celebrate (or when you do, but it's not "your" holiday).

Jewish in a Gentile World

Why I Hate Christmas (and Why I Hate That I Do) from GeekDad.

 

[Squiggy]

It sounds insincere, as though you're bending over backwards so as not to possibly offend.

I completely disagree and think you're reading too much into it.

In fairness, my experiences of the 'Happy Holidays' greeting is limited to department store employees and the 'I want to kill everyone' look in their eyes betraying their shit-eating grins when I was visiting America.

"Happy Holidays" has been in the American lexicon since at least 1942. "Seasons Greetings" has been around in some form for over 100 years and known communist Dwight Eisenhower featured it on the White House Christmas card in 1955.

 

[Lonemagpie]

It's all about having survived another year (in my case, literally - my birthday's December 31st), got past the darkest night (winter solstice) and from here on in there's a little more light each day...

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I'll take a Happy Holidays anytime over a season greetings anytime. I tend to say Happy Holidays to people I don't know, because I don't want to assume. For people I know, when its Chanukah I say Happy Chanukah, on Christmas I say Merry or Happy Christmas and on Boxing Day, I say Merry Boxing Day.

 

[Gryffindorian]

I'll take a Happy Holidays anytime over a season greetings anytime. I tend to say Happy Holidays to people I don't know, because I don't want to assume.

Same here. Although I'm not Jewish, I used to have a menorah as well as a Christmas tree in my room. On Hanukkah I'd give my nieces and nephews these chocolate-candy coins (I forgot what they're called), and they'd play with dreidels. (They're not Jewish, but I thought it would be fun to let me them learn about a different culture).

As for my political affiliation, I actually consider myself a Moderate.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

Its called Gelt, yummy chocolate coins. My wife is Jewish and I'm an Atheist, she is raising our kids Jewish but more culturally. We have the menorah in the upstairs window and the Christmas tree in the front room window. I'm not decorating the outside this year because were trying to sell our house.

 

[Pingfah]

As far as I am concerned Christmas IS a non specific seasonal holiday, it just so happens that some religious folk call their thing Christmas too. So I would have no problem saying Merry Christmas to anyone I meet.

I don't do it very much though, because I don't really hope strangers have a nice Christmas, I don't really care if they enjoy it or not.

 

[1001001]

I don't do it very much though, because I don't really hope strangers have a nice Christmas, I don't really care if they enjoy it or not.

That's the spirit of the season!

 

[RyanKCR]

I'm not too worried about Christmas. I just want to why, oh why, do people pay attention to a gaudy light up ball in Times Square at the end of my birthday?

Really, it is so pathetic that they find that more important then my birthday...........

 

[O'Dib]

I'm surprising myself by getting into Christmas anticipation this season by connecting the holiday to the only culture in which it ever meant anything to me: France. Here I am, giddy about wearing a "Je suis un ami personnel de Pere Noel" t-shirt.