dagblog - Comments for "It's Hard to Be Merry At Christmas When It's "Merry Christmas" Or Else"

Interesting. Before the

Ramona — Tue, 23 Dec 2014 12:46:00 +0000

In reply to As an anecdote, when I was in

Interesting. Before the Chinese took over, the Japanese were manufacturing our Christmas decorations. Maybe they took a liking to them?

As an anecdote, when I was in

Verified Atheist — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 16:41:33 +0000

In reply to It's Hard to Be Merry At Christmas When It's "Merry Christmas" Or Else

As an anecdote, when I was in Japan in November, I heard Christmas music playing in the stores (including a very kawaii version of We Wish You a Merry Christmas), and Christmas trees in hotels and in the main lobby of the headquarters of the Japanese company I was working with there.

As only about 1-2% of the Japanese are Christians, these were obviously not religiously inspired.

Brilliant! Merry Christmas,

Ramona — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 14:58:05 +0000

In reply to This about sums it up for me.

Brilliant! Merry Christmas, Flowerchild.

This about sums it up for me.

wabby — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 13:45:49 +0000

In reply to It's Hard to Be Merry At Christmas When It's "Merry Christmas" Or Else

This about sums it up for me.

Lyrics from Jackson Browne.

THE REBEL JESUS

All the streets are filled with laughter and light
And the music of the season
And the merchants' windows are all bright
With the faces of the children
And the families hurrying to their homes
While the sky darkens and freezes
Will be gathering around the hearths and tables
Giving thanks for God's graces
And the birth of the rebel Jesus

Well they call him by 'the Prince of Peace'
And they call him by 'the Savior'
And they pray to him upon the seas
And in every bold endeavor
And they fill his churches with their pride and gold
As their faith in him increases
But they've turned the nature that I worship in
From a temple to a robber's den
In the words of the rebel Jesus

Well we guard our world with locks and guns
And we guard our fine possessions
And once a year when Christmas comes
We give to our relations
And perhaps we give a little to the poor
If the generosity should seize us
But if any one of us should interfere
In the business of why there are poor
They get the same as the rebel Jesus

Now pardon me if I have seemed
To take the tone of judgment
For I've no wish to come between
This day and your enjoyment
In a life of hardship and of earthly toil
There's a need for anything that frees us
So I bid you pleasure
And I bid you cheer
From a heathen and a pagan
On the side of the rebel Jesus

Merry Christmas, Ramona. Merry Christmas Everyone.

“The Jesus of history is a

trkingmomoe — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 13:01:18 +0000

In reply to It's Hard to Be Merry At Christmas When It's "Merry Christmas" Or Else

“The Jesus of history is a Middle Eastern Jew who advocated free healthcare and fed the poor. That’s the nightmare of Bill O’Reilly! That’s about the exact opposite of everything Bill O’Reilly thinks.” -Reza Aslan

Salon did a 2 articles on the author and professor Reza Aslan. Very interesting read, if you have not read them yet. The articles was published last month. He talks about how Christianity historically began and the start of Evangelical Fundamentalism. I think it ties in with the war on Christmas. It also gave me lots to think about.

http://www.salon.com/2014/11/17/reza_aslan_destroys_biblical_literalism_the_gospels_are_absolutely_replete_with_historical_errors_and_with_contradictions/

http://www.salon.com/2014/11/13/reza_aslan_shatters_gop_beliefs_jesus_from_history_was_the_nightmare_of_bill_o%E2%80%99reilly/

You may find this interesting

trkingmomoe — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 10:42:59 +0000

In reply to Is that what it is? Our

You may find this interesting. Back in the 17th century, Cromwell banned Christmas Carols.

During the Puritans’ rule of England, celebrating on 25 December was forbidden. Singing yuletide songs then was a political act, writes Clemency Burton-Hill.

When it comes to revolutionary protest songs, what springs to mind? Billie Holliday’s Strange Fruit? Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ In The Wind? Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come? I’m guessing the humble Christmas carol is probably low on your list of contenders, but in mid-17thCentury England, during the English Civil War, the singing of such things as The Holly and the Ivy would have landed you in serious trouble. Oliver Cromwell, the statesman responsible for leading the parliamentary army (and later Lord Protector of England, Scotland and Ireland), was on a mission to cleanse the nation of its most decadent excesses. On the top of the list was Christmas and all its festive trappings.

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20141219-when-christmas-carols-were-banned

The Puritan's also practiced this when they came to New England.

Too nice to clutter up with a

Oxy Mora — Sun, 21 Dec 2014 00:20:52 +0000

In reply to When I was a child, someone

Too nice to clutter up with a comment, but I will anyway. Just Lovely.

When I was a child, someone

barefooted — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 20:10:24 +0000

In reply to It's Hard to Be Merry At Christmas When It's "Merry Christmas" Or Else

When I was a child, someone taught me to crochet. I loved doing it, but I only knew the barest minimum of how, so my efforts were pretty sad. I decided to make a shawl for my mother for Christmas. So I did ... I couldn't do corners, so it was more or less a big, holey scallop shaped thing with two pieces of yarn to tie it around the neck. I couldn't wait to give it to her, I just knew it was the best present ever!

My mother wore that incredibly ugly thing to church that Christmas morning. I can still see her standing beside me, smiling proudly as we sang. I remember the look in her eyes when she told friends I'd made it for her.

That's love. And that's what this season will always mean to me -- it doesn't cost a thing to give someone the greatest gift they'll ever receive.

Merry Christmas, everyone! I wish you love.

There never was a war on

ocean-kat — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 19:28:16 +0000

In reply to It's Hard to Be Merry At Christmas When It's "Merry Christmas" Or Else

There never was a war on Christmas. That's just a strawman set up by the right wing to rile up the base. For example as long as Christians have been celebrating Christmas by sending cards Christians have been sending cards that say, "Happy Holidays." Now its suddenly not ok. Then the politicians get voted in based on the faux outrage they created and create legislation that gives Christmas gifts to all their rich buddies. And its Ho Ho Ho all the way to the bank. The sheer stupidity of the conservative base is astonishing.

Very thoughtful, Resistance.

Ramona — Sat, 20 Dec 2014 18:34:01 +0000

In reply to The promoters of the

Very thoughtful, Resistance. Thank you. More than anything, Christmas has always been a time for sharing love. I think Jesus would find that a worthy use of his day. May your holidays be joyful. Merry Christmas.