dagblog - Comments for "The War on Christian Virtues"

Thanks for letting me know.

EmmaZahn — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 09:40:14 +0000

Thanks for letting me know. I will try to remember next time. Such silly rules/laws. I keep hoping I get to stream Traders someday.

Hulu, along with Comedy

acanuck — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 08:02:27 +0000

In reply to A link for anyone

Hulu, along with Comedy Central, can't be viewed in Canada. So your generous attempt to share failed again, as far as I'm concerned. Thanks anyway, and I accept your word that it was very funny.

People never like it when you

Orion — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 08:01:35 +0000

In reply to What? What do you mean

People never like it when you point out the obvious.

A link for anyone

EmmaZahn — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:50:42 +0000

In reply to What? What do you mean

A link for anyone interested. Maybe it will work.

http://www.hulu.com/watch/199579/community-abeds-uncontrollable-christmas?c=3:60

You know, if it isn't going

EmmaZahn — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:47:41 +0000

In reply to What? What do you mean

You know, if it isn't going to show up in the thread, a video should not show up in preview.

What? What do you mean

EmmaZahn — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 22:43:43 +0000

In reply to The War on Christian Virtues

What? What do you mean there's no war on Christmas? Don't you watch television? Here's a 30-second clip from the new situation comedy, Community and Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas done in claymation just for Christmas. I like how Shirley has chosen to deal with the issue.

Transcript of first 30 seconds for those who do not want to watch:

Community college dean: It's that very special time of year, Greendale. A time for me to remind you that your school acknowledges no specialness to this time of year. You do, of course, have a constitutional right to lend this season the significance of your choosing in any of our designated holiday zones.

Abed: Merry Christmas, everybody.

Shirley: Don't you mean season's greetings?

Abed: Come on, Shirley. You know it's Christmas.

Shirley: Yes, but as a modern Christian, I've learned to be sensitive to other cultures' jealousies.

Well, I thought it was funny.

I think HWB's complaint was

Doctor Cleveland — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:57:03 +0000

In reply to Yeah, well....you know us New

I think HWB's complaint was something like "too many Episcopalians and Presbyterians." Whom he described as "papist."

I doubt I'm more eloquent

Doctor Cleveland — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:37:04 +0000

In reply to Thanks, Doc. Believe it or

I doubt I'm more eloquent than you Mike, but it's nice of you to say so.

Yes. The old Christmas

Doctor Cleveland — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:35:30 +0000

In reply to Merry Christmas, Doc! I give

Yes. The old Christmas traditions are a lot more like Mardi Gras traditions than like the family-friendly (and consumer-driven) holiday we invented in the nineteenth century. And December 25 is *not* Jesus's birthday (I promise you there were no shepherds abiding in any fields around Bethlehem on December 24). But it is conveniently close to the Roman festival of Saturnalia, which was a time for drinking, partying, and general carnival behavior.

Nissenbaum's Battle for Christmas is a great source for this general history, but I'll throw in one juicy quote of my own from one of Shakespeare's fellow playwrights (Thomas Middleton) in around 1605:

Why, well then, if none should be married but those that are honest, where should a man seek a wife after Christmas? (-Michaelmas Term, Act V)

That's "honest" as in "chaste," meaning there are no virgins to marry after Christmas rolls around. This tells us that a) this was not a G-rated holiday for small kids and b) people hadn't started throwing all their coats on the bed.

Are they aware that some

Michael Maiello — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 18:21:57 +0000

In reply to The War on Christian Virtues

Are they aware that some people, including some Christians, actually have to work on Christmas? I also wonder if they're aware of a potential solution, at least for some... The President is allowed to shut down the financial markets. If it is so important to Kyl and DeMint that people not be forced to work right up until the holiday, they should ask the president to close down the financial markets for all of next week. Since a lot of other businesses follow that schedule, many more will be given time off. Oh, except that Kyl and DeMint only care about themselves. And, of course, they don't care about working until Christmas either. They only care about obstructing their political opponents.