Who is making "War on Christmas"?

Who's making war on Christmas?

  • Atheists

    Votes: 8 6.4%

  • Other religions

    Votes: 5 4.0%

  • Other Christians

    Votes: 25 20.0%

  • Retailers

    Votes: 17 13.6%

  • Clement Moore (wrote "A Visit From St. Nicholas")

    Votes: 4 3.2%

  • Other

    Votes: 24 19.2%

  • Nobody

    Votes: 66 52.8%
  • Total voters
    125

Tricky

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Tricky
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Over in the politics forum they're discussing Rick Perry's contention that Obama has declared "War on Christmas". That's a political thing. I'm interested in what people (especially theists) think about what is happening to the Christmas celebration.

Christmas hasn't changed much since my chilhood (which was much like the movie A Christmas Story), except that the "shopping" season has gotten ever longer, the begging letters from charities have gotten ever more numerous, and the decorations have gotten much more elaborate and techno. It is true, though, that people have become more careful about saying "Merry Christmas" in crowds of people that they don't know. There are a lot more people openly displaying the fact that they are not Christian, and do not wish your Christian greetings.

So has it really changed that much, and why? Well, Jon Stewart pointed out the other day that Christmas wasn't really a big deal to the founding fathers. Just the opposite. Indeed, the Pilgrims forbid any mention of Christmas outside of church as well as gift-giving, decorating or other unholy demonstrations. The members of Congress, for at least the first fifty years, actually worked on Christmas Day, never considering that it should be regarded as a holiday. So things have changed over the centuries for sure. Is this a "war" or even a "degradation" of Christmas? And if so, who's responsible?

Vote for as many as you like. If you check "others", please explain. (I'm thinking Coca Cola.)
 
There is no "War on Christmas" except in the mind of politicians and journalists. Look up Winterval to see how one city's attempt to encompass Christmas within a longer holiday season lead to over a decade of tabloid and political misinformation and posturing.
 
I think it unwise to anger the majority of Americans by being so fanatic. When I was a kid even Jewsown as spoilers.eed to be kn liked to have someone say Merry Christmas to them. Forcing federal and state government to not put up Christmas decorations is giving atheists a bad rap. I the USA we are in the minority and we do't need to be spoiling other peoples fun.
 
Doesn't seem to have changed much from my memories of childhood (well as you noted marketing has certainly got better*), if anything I'd say it is a "bigger" event than it used to be. Thinking a bit more, I think it may have become more of an adults' holiday than it used to be? But that could be caused by me living down south these days where I think it's always been more of an adults' holiday (where I come from "up north" Christmas was for kids, New Year was for the adults).




*Better used with the meaning "worse"
 
The only entity making war on Christmas is Complexity, and his/her efforts are half-hearted at best. As far as I can tell s/he has made absolutely no dent in the popularity of Christmas.

I can also tell you that the official "Life in the UK" test has a question along the lines of 'Do people of other religions in the UK also celebrate Christmas?', for which the answer is 'True'. Clearly the government over here isn't waging war on Christmas, and neither are people of other religions.

What's more, anybody with any sense understands that Christmas means free time off work. Who on earth would want to wage ware against that?
 
megaresp said:
What's more, anybody with any sense understands that Christmas means free time off work. Who on earth would want to wage ware against that?
Click to expand...

Someone with a basic grasp of economics who doesn't like to go on vacation in winter?
 
The right wingers who complain about the War on Christmas every year and ruin the fun for everyone else.

Where I work, there's a number of Sikhs and Muslims talking about what they're getting people for Christmas and so on, as does my Sikh driving instructor. Christmas hasn't been properly about Jesus for along time now.
 
For me, I never celebrated, even with my family, because they are Jewish. I remember my parents having a deer-in-headlight expression when I asked them, when I was about 6 or 7, How Santa knew he didn't need to come to our house. I knew that I got my presents from Mom, Dad and Grandparents, but all my friends got theirs from Santa.

Anyway, I never put up decorations of my own, but enjoy participating in communal Christmas decorations (such as the dorm lounge in college). I wish people around me Merry Chrsitmas and accept with grace Christmas greetings and cards sent my way, understanding that they are not given with the intent to oppress my minority opinion. (However, I do like to go around the office in September wishing everybody a Happy New Year, because it is fun to watch their confusion)

Besides were it not for Christmas, Starbucks would not have an Egg Nog Latte (yum!)
 
I'm making war on christmas.

I'm making war on it by giving people presents, taking the day off work, going to christmas parties, and having fun at the darkest and gloomiest part of the year. In a purely and entirely secular manner.

I'm making war on Christmas by making Christmas a winter festival of presents and trees and lights in the darkness, nothing to do with whether a jewish lady had a baby a few thousand years ago or what happened to that baby afterwards.

The war on christmas isn't about banning nativity plays or saying "happy holidays". It's much more insidious than that. We're much smarter than that.

Merry christmas one and all.
 
Actually, I hope I will be. If my son will let me borrow his Ravenwing biker army - he should, given that I helped build and paint half of them and have probably repaired half the rest - then I'll try and get us both enough time off from family life on Christmas Day to fight a 1500 point battle against his Dark Eldar.

In the future, there is only war! And Christmas is still in the future.

Dave
 
cwalner said:
For me, I never celebrated, even with my family, because they are Jewish. I remember my parents having a deer-in-headlight expression when I asked them, when I was about 6 or 7, How Santa knew he didn't need to come to our house. I knew that I got my presents from Mom, Dad and Grandparents, but all my friends got theirs from Santa.
Click to expand...



It's the מְזוּזָה.




cwalner said:
Besides were it not for Christmas, Starbucks would not have an Egg Nog Latte (yum!)
Click to expand...


:D .... I agree... that is as compelling a reason as any and probably better.
 
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