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Hitchens on Christmas

The Bad Astronomer

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The Bad Astronomer
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Feb 19, 2002
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TAM III guest speaker (and guest for TAM IV as well) Christopher Hitchens was on MSNBC's Scarborough Country December 1. The topic was the so-called attack on Christmas, a non-event people like Bill O'Reilly are trying to make into news.

While I disagree with a large heap of what Hitchens says in general, he makes some pretty interesting (and funny) points in the interview. Here's the transcript.
 
Too bad there were so many speakers there; just a 2 or 3 people would have resulted in a lot less 'crosstalk'.

I found the whole thing somewhat amusing: Xtian thiests in America media love to play the martyr; they have the dominant religion on one of the more powerful countries on the planet (possibly the most powerful), but their religion is always under 'attack'.

Actually, I'd have to agree that, from their POV, Xmas IS under attack. By non-believers like me who celebrate Xmas. Thru my simple actions of celebrating the holiday, while not believing a word about the bible, I've 'removed' Christ from their holiday without lifting a finger. Which is fine with me. They stole most of their Xmas traditions from pagans, and now it's being stolen from them. Xmas is too awesome a holiday to be just wasted on Xtain thiests. Xmas for everybody! Mwahahahhahaha!

"Non-believer, what are you celebrating, when you celebrate Xmas?"
"Why, Christmas, of course. Duh!"
 
In Norway we still call is jul, (and jul-tree, and jul-presents, etc), so heathens like me can celebrate it without a single thought of Jesus :p

No Christ Mass for me, thank you!

Mmm, I can feel that ham in my mouth already! Happy Yuletide, everyone! :D
 
Of course no 'true' christian would celebrate this heathen event anyway. It's not that long ago that it wasn't even a public holiday here.
 
Hitchens is great because no matter what your ideology is you can find reasons to both like him and dislike him. In any event he makes some great points. As one who was at one time indoctrinated with the idea that secularists were going to destroy the American way of life I can say that the notion is simply stupid and Christians need to get over the fact that 50's are past and besides, the good old days never really were the good old days.
 
Ah, one of my favorite pet peeves has surfaced. "Christians complaining about the secularization of their major holiday." My reaction is; if they don't want outsiders messing with their holiday, they should keep it to themselves.
The twenty-fifth of this month I will not go to work, I will not be able to go to the bank, mail a letter, or, in most cases, get a meal. This is because Christians have made their holiday a national holiday, and forced the rest of us to modify our behavior to honour their god. Then they complain when we don't spend that holiday in a manner they approve.
I am weary unto dispair.

Robert
 
Pope130 said:
The twenty-fifth of this month I will not go to work, I will not be able to go to the bank, mail a letter...
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Dude, you've got a great life if this is the worst of your problems. This is once a year, what do you do on the weekends?

...or, in most cases, get a meal.
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"Most cases"? You mean your choices are limited, right? I've eaten at restaurants on Christmas and I know that there are a number that are open. A google search reveals a few. And I don't know anyone who eats out every meal every day of the year. Have you considered going to the store before Christmas and purchasing some food. You know, plan for the inconvenience and prepare for it. Oh, and please, could I recommend not traveling abroad. I don't think you would be very happy with many of the customs. Especially avoid France in August.

Don't get me wrong, it sucks that one group insinuates itself on others but damn, this does not rate high on my scale of problems.
 
One more thing. When I had a regular job I was given the day off with pay. Do you get the day off with pay? If so it is hardly a reason to complain, is it?
 
I love Christmas...and I despise the notion of Christ.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it, fundie. :cool:
 
I saw this show.

Unfortunately, this was not a good day for Hitchens or for anybody that shared his views.

I think it was pretty clear that not all was right with him and while I sympathize a bit with him mostly I think he failed to stay on topic and was rude in ways that had nothing to do with the points that he was trying to make.
 
"They're attacking my religon, They're attacking my religion!"

Screw em. Shut the hell up. We haven't burned a single bible. Just because I celebrate different than you does not make me wrong and you right. Quit trying to tell me how to live, you myopic bunch of hypocritical busybodies.

I think I might burn a bible for christmas this year. A new holiday tradition!! Kinda like a Yule log....
 
davefoc said:
I saw this show.

Unfortunately, this was not a good day for Hitchens or for anybody that shared his views.

I think it was pretty clear that not all was right with him and while I sympathize a bit with him mostly I think he failed to stay on topic and was rude in ways that had nothing to do with the points that he was trying to make.
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Agreed. Although I like Hitchens, he did come off as somewhat of a...what's the word... douchebag.

Though I did like it when he referred to Falwell as the "fat-faced reverend."

Nice.

Merry Xmas! :r:
 
RandFan said:
Don't get me wrong, it sucks that one group insinuates itself on others but damn, this does not rate high on my scale of problems.
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Doesn't rise to the level of problem, more of an inconvenience, that's why I called it a pet peeve. The peevish part comes from being inconvenienced for the sake of someone elses religious beliefs.
I don't mind accomodating others beliefs. When I visit a Church, Mosque, Temple or other religious (or non-religious) venue I comply with the rules and standards. While I was in the service I worked every Christmas so the Christians could have that day off. Now that I'm out I don't have the opportunity to voluntarily accomodate my fellow workers beliefs, accomodation is mandated by law, regardless of beliefs.

Robert
 
jlam said:
Agreed. Although I like Hitchens, he did come off as somewhat of a...what's the word... douchebag.
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Well, he's had a lot to drink over the past 20 years. More even than I before I stopped drinking, though I tried very hard.

BTW, I like the avatar. The connection between the Swedish Chef and the FSM through meatballs is too good to ignore. I think that when FSM adherents dress up as pirates, they should say "Bork! Bork! Bork!" a lot.
 
epepke said:
BTW, I like the avatar. The connection between the Swedish Chef and the FSM through meatballs is too good to ignore. I think that when FSM adherents dress up as pirates, they should say "Bork! Bork! Bork!" a lot.
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Not many people pick up on the meatball reference...I'm subtle like that.
 
Pope130 said:
Doesn't rise to the level of problem, more of an inconvenience, that's why I called it a pet peeve.
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Yeah, I should have picked up on the fact that you did in fact call it a pet peeve. :o
 
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