dagblog - Comments for "In Defense of Ebeneezer Scrooge"

I read it. It was a

trkingmomoe — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 03:48:29 +0000

In reply to Great idea, except that the

I read it. It was a Christmas present.

Great idea, except that the

Michael Wolraich — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 16:56:00 +0000

In reply to As always, I yield to your

Great idea, except that the "War on the Feast for the Death of Baldur" doesn't have the same ring. But thank you for giving me the opportunity to enjoy such a wonderful story from Norse mythology.

PS Thanks for remembering Blowing Smoke. I regurgitate it sometimes because I assume that no one has read it. I find myself regurgitating more often these days, sadly. Fittingly, a Norwegian journalist called me for an interview after the election.

PPS "Ethnic badge" is a great way to put it.

I keep forgetting that he was

Michael Maiello — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 14:51:03 +0000

In reply to There's a simple explanation.

I keep forgetting that he was cool even if the monolith company that keeps buying up my childhood is not.

As always, I yield to your

Doctor Cleveland — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 03:37:55 +0000

In reply to Fascinating and enlightening

As always, I yield to your superior knowledge of the "War on Christmas" meme. Clearly, I've forgotten key bits of your first book. Thanks.

But yes, it's Christmas as ethnic badge. It might as well be a feast for the death of Baldur, which would be even whiter.

Thanks, Dick.

Doctor Cleveland — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 03:35:49 +0000

In reply to My mind is exploding over

Thanks, Dick.

There's a simple explanation.

Doctor Cleveland — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 03:33:43 +0000

In reply to Fantastic, Doc and Merry

There's a simple explanation. Walt Disney was tripping.

It is interesting how often a

rmrd0000 — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 22:07:59 +0000

In reply to Fascinating and enlightening

It is interesting how often a white supremacist meme becomes wingnut outrage.

Fascinating and enlightening

Michael Wolraich — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 21:12:00 +0000

In reply to In Defense of Ebeneezer Scrooge

Fascinating and enlightening read, Doc. I had no idea about the political/religious undercurrents of the story. Now what about the Grinch?

I think you've got the war on Christmas wrong, though. Religious Christians have been complaining about the secularization of Christmas for decades (or centuries, it seems), but the imaginary "war on Christmas" was invented by a white supremacist writer named Peter Brimelow in 1999. It simmered on the xenophobic fringe until 2004 when Bill O'Reilly packaged it for popular consumption.

Brimelow and O'Reilly's war on Christmas was not the usual jeremiad about the de-christification of Christmas. It described a secret plot by liberals, Jews, and Muslims to annihilate Christmas. It's a full-fledged conspiracy theory featuring the ACLU, George Soros, and other bogeymen who blackmail stores and schools into scrubbing the word "Christmas" and all its trappings--including Jesus and Mary but also Santa, Rudolf, and the notorious Yule tree. Religion is part of the mix, but this fight isn't really about Jesus's birthday. It's about "American" culture. It's about hate.

The shepherds weren't that

rmrd0000 — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 17:00:56 +0000

In reply to In Defense of Ebeneezer Scrooge

The shepherds weren't that cruel. The birth likely took place in June.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/christmas/3687843/Jesus-was-born-in-Ju...

My mind is exploding over

Richard Day — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 15:31:53 +0000

In reply to In Defense of Ebeneezer Scrooge

My mind is exploding over this Doctor. hahahah

The 1951 version of Dickens is my favorite:

I think I watch it every year.

Now the ghosts tell us that we 'live' after death. hahahahah

Much more convincing than those idiots on cable who always look for ghosts in the dark? I mean why do not the ghostbusters seek ghosts in the light?

A Christmas Tree has nothing to do with Christ's Mass after all.

hahahahahah

And ornaments mean nothing to me. I mean lights on an Xmas tree do not relate to the transubstantiation. hahaha

But culture comes into play.

I mean, thirty years ago I had to get the tree and the lights and the...

The only difference from my upbringing was that I felt compelled to perform this ritual in a sober manner. hahah

Maher attacks the left in a manner in which I find myself in agreement. These idiots who sue in court for redress from Nativity Scenes hurt everybody.

BAH HUMBUGH. (how does one spell humbug anyway?)

But, I shall see my grandchildren around Xmas.

And I shall give them singing telegrams and I shall introduce them to the singing Santa on the first floor and I shall give them presents and candy and hopefully, they will like me for one day?

Christmas in America has less to do with some Savior than some hope of salvation; than some hope for community; than some hope for comity.

You have me laughing.

Good show!