Think Progress says the whole thing is old whine in new bottles: The right-wing’s “War on Christmas” conspiracy rhetoric isn’t at all new, though the scapegoats have changed some. In the 1921 screed “The International Jew: The World’s Foremost Problem,” automaker and notorious anti-Semite Henry Ford observed that “most people had a hard time finding Christmas cards that indicated in … Read More
Carnival Of The War On Christmas
The World O’Crap folks have done a nice run-down of some of the recent commentaries from conservatives who are fighting against the so-called "War on Christmas". It’s a very funny piece, so read it. Here’s an excerpt: And wrapping up our carnival will be Mr. "Somewhere, Baby Jesus Is Weeping Because Everybody Keeps Picking on Me for Defending Christmas" O’Reilly … Read More
Washington Interns
There’s a new breed of them, and they ain’t no bunch of Monica Lewinskys. Nope. They’re far creepier.
Setting The Record Straight
I’m getting a little tired of wingers saying, with no evidence whatsoever, that the ACLU is trying to remove religion from our lives. Have these people ever bothered to find out what the ACLU position is on religious liberty? It’s quite simple: the ACLU believes that the right to practice religion, or not to practice religion, is one of … Read More
In Which I Actually Side With Religious Conservatives
I have had — and will continue to have — a lot of fun mocking religious conservatives who complain endlessly about their values being under attack, simply because (for example) the people at Walmart say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". They talk about the "secular agenda", as if the ultimate goal of "librels" is to remove God from all … Read More
Bush Declares War On Christmas
Like Walmart and Target, Bush is spitting on the idea of Christmas being about the birth of Jesus. His "Christmas" card this year make no mention of the word "Christmas" and merely says "best wishes for a holiday season of hope and happiness". The wingers (if they have any logical consistency) will go nuts.
Vatican vs. Me
The Vatican (as reported by Reuters): The Vatican newspaper said on Tuesday that homosexuality risked "destabilizing people and society," had no social or moral value and could never match the importance of the relationship between a man and a woman. Me: "The segmentation of people based on their sexual preference destabilizes people and society, has no social or moral value, … Read More
Fox News: Anti-Christmas
Well, the "War on Christmas" trumpters have a new enemy: Fox News. Here’s why: Fox News, the media company whose hosts have staunchly defended the public use of the word "Christmas," is raising eyebrows after posting a story on its website with the headline, "Holiday Trees Arrive at Capitol, White House." The story written by FoxNews.com starts off with its … Read More
Pat Did It
Headline from a 2003 news story about Pat Robertson’s plea to change the judiciary: Praying For Supreme Court Shake Up Today’s headline: Pieces Fall From Supreme Court Facade
About Time
Ever wonder how James Dobson’s Focus On The Family can get away with all the politicking they do, yet still remain a tax-exempt as a not-for-profit institution? Well, the truth is, they can’t get away with it. Not legally, anyway. Which is why this was inevitable: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) today filed an Internal Revenue Services … Read More
Where Would Jesus Shop?
Christians Underground, a website for all of the oppressed Christians who make up the vast majority of this country, weighs in on the "War on Christmas" with this observation: On the first Sunday after Thanksgiving 2005 I visited Manhattan to go to Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and to see the displays in the front windows of two famous Fifth … Read More
K-mas
Our dear Kaye Grogan is upset again in "Bah, Humbug . . . Retailers!": The anti-Christmas groups are gearing up again to oppose the display of nativity scenes in public and the singing of Christmas Carols. Oh, I guess that’s me she’s refering to. Um . . . vrrroom, vrooom. And not to be outdone — there are several retailers … Read More
More On The War Against “Happy Holidays”
World O’ Crap channels Howard Beale: I don’t have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It’s a War on Christmas. Sales clerks either won’t wish you a "Merry Christmas," or aren’t sincere when they do. (And heaven knows, they are never properly grateful to you for honoring them with your presence during this, your sacred … Read More
Anti-Homosexuality Balls: It’s What’s For (Thanksgiving) Dinner!
As I’ve blogged before, social conservatives and religious zealots are gearing up to make Christmas the latest battleground for their whiny I’m-being-oppressed-because-not-everybody-feels-like-"witnessing"-a-thon. But that doesn’t mean they’ve left Thanksgiving off their plate. Here’s James Dobson’s latest crusade: Focus on the Family has announced plans to distribute 5,000 balls during Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to promote a website it operates that … Read More
University of Kansas To Offer Course on Intelligent Design
I guess the University of Kansas has had enough of local school board in Kansas trying to wedge creationism into the public school curriculum: LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Creationism and intelligent design are going to be studied at the University of Kansas, but not in the way advocated by opponents of the theory of evolution. A course being offered next … Read More