War on Christmas Planning Committee

[Cronus Protagonist]

Post your suggestions here if you want to participate in the planning committee for this year's War on Xmas!

[Enthusiast]

1. Yes, we must start early.

Like the retailers.

[No Elephants]

2. Great idea, Cronus!

It all starts with what we call the tree.

Let's see. The Old Testament forbids us to bring a tree indoors, as the pagans do.

So, of course, we Christians bring a tree indoors, as the pagans do.

But, for some reason, we came to call it a Christ-mas tree, or a Christ's festival tree, even though trees have absolutely nothing to do with the Savior of Christians (apart from the fig tree that he cursed and the cross on which he was crucified; and the carpentry that was his stepdad's trade).

We cannot admit we did that, in violation of a Biblical prohibition, simply because we enjoyed the custom.

Nooooo. We have to pretend that a tree indoors with lights and decorations has some deep Christian significance, some intimate religious relationhip to the birth of God incarnate.

Not only that, but we also have to pretend that calling a pagan custom a holiday tree, rather than a Christ-festival tree, is a war on Jesus and all who believe in his divinity.

Ok. Pop quiz on this post: Did you count how many layers of crazy are involved in whether we call a dead, decorated tree a "holiday tree" or a "Christmas tree?"

What we call the tree is, of course, a cover for the real issues.

The real issues are:

Why is the tax money of people of all beliefs used every year to buy and decorate a religious symbol of the pagan and Christian religions?

What is a religious symbol of pagans and Christians doing on public property that is purchased and maintained by the tax money of people of all beliefs?

So, maybe those issues are not a big deal. But what we call the tree is a big deal?

No insanity in that reasoning, either?

BTW, the religious founders of this country would have been horrified by the whole idea of a festival of Christ. And, even if they had such a thing, having a tree indoors, decorated or not, would never have been part of it.

Anyway, my modest proposal is that we stop spending tax money and government time on trees and decorations and other things connected with specific religions.

No Christmas tree, no yule log, no menorah, no witches or jack o'lanterns, no overhead lights on public streets, etc. Just like the Puritans would have loved it.

You want that stuff? Have it at home or in other privately-owned places to your heart's content.

[Enthusiast]

3. But but but,

what about the Easter Bunny? You're not suggesting we get rid of the Easter Bunny or Easter egg hunts, are you?

[No Elephants]

5. Bunnies, colored eggs, chicks and egg hunts -are not welcome on Easter,

any more than jack o'lanterns and witches and their black cat familiars are welcome on All Saint's Eve, aka All Hallows evening.

It's odd. For Easter (and Halloween), they eschew and teach pagan symbols that were conflated with Christian holidays, but most treat the tree as having some inextricable relation with the birth of Christ. Yet, the Bible has no admonistion about eggs or chicks, but it does forbid the tree indoors.


:shrug:

Of course, the egg is a symbol on a Passover Seder plate, too. When I attended a Seder, I tried and interfaith joke that it was the single worst hiding place for an egg I'd ever seen, but my hostess had no idea what I was talking about.

Cringe.

[Leopolds Ghost]

4. Assault on the North Pole?

[No Elephants]

6. It's about damned time we invaded the North Pole, isn't it?

Talk about natural resources! That place is a veritable treasure trove!

[Leopolds Ghost]

7. I heard Hillary Clinton is arguing that the Russians want drilling rights to Santa's workshop

Mr. President, We cannot allow a naughty-nice gap!

[No Elephants]

9. Who needs drilling rights for the North Pole, when all those presents are sitting at ground level

for the taking?

Santa brings diamonds and other precious jewels, toys, clothing, even lumps of coal. A labor source that works for nothing but the occasional candy cane and can create presents from nothing? Vehicles that fly without gasoline and no bag limit?

I can't imagine why no one invaded long ago.

[Leopolds Ghost]

15. The assault could be in conjunction with Obama's "war against coal."

[No Elephants]

11. P.S. "Nice naughty gap" is a good one.

Don't miss formerica's "Santa is a gateway."

[formercia]

8. Tooth Fairy, Santa Clause, Easter Bunny..ad nauseum

..all of it designed to teach children, from an early age, to believe in things that don't exist. Once conditioned, they grow up to believe in other things that don't exist, such as:Religious Freedom, an oxymoron if I ever heard one. Infallible Doctrine, promoted by leaders that demand unquestioned acceptance of things that cannot be proved or disproved. I would just as soon believe in Garden Fairies or a Supreme being made of Pasta and Meatballs.
Santa Claus is a Gateway Being to becoming a addicted Consumer, Wage and Debt Slave.

[No Elephants]

10. LOL! And I thought I was tough!

[formercia]

12. I want Santa to go Bankrupt, fire his elves and retire.

Unfortunately, Bain Capital would pick up the business for pennies on the Dollar.

Just kidding. Retrain the Elves as actors in Spock's new TV Show: Father Mind-Melds Best.

[No Elephants]

13. How about sour candy canes?

[formercia]

14. Sour Grapes flavor

In memory of and, hope to be forgotten soon, Romney.