Lynchburg, Va.: Command bunker in the War over Christmas
anworth.org
The Christmas decorations were out in many stores before Halloween even began, and yes, Virginia, the battle stations already are being drawn in the phony “War Against Christmas.”
A little more than 45 miles east of the ‘Noke, a “War Against Christmas” command center has been established in sleepy Lynchburg, at Liberty University, which readers of this humble blog already have renamed “Holier Than U” and “Lobotomy U.”
At Liberty, they’re making some lists, and they’re checking them twice, and on them you’ll find out who’s naughty and nice.
Really. No kidding.
They are surveying retailers, publishing “Naughty and Nice” listings, and bashing merchants who don’t have “Merry Christmas” splashed all over their catalogues, advertising flyers and television commercials.
For example, if a retailer makes the mistake of referring to these times as the “holiday season,” woe be unto that establishment. They will be slapped with a “Naughty” rating (Radio Shack, The Gap, and Old Navy already have them).
It’s a signal to ardent Christians to avoid spending money that they haven’t rendered unto Caesar in those establishments.
Already this bizarre behavior seems to be having an effect. For example, as late as last week Dick’s Sporting Goods had made the naughty list for the fourth year in a row. But recently, in a resounding “victory,” the Liberty Counsel reports that Dick’s has knuckled under:
Dick’s Sporting Goods – another 2010 NN success story … this company transferred from three year’s of Naughty status! Vice-Chairman, Bill Columbo, stated the organization has “ … made significant changes from past years, when ‘holiday’ was the dominant theme of our advertising.” Changes to be made will begin almost immediately on Dick’s website that will include the “Christmas” message in time for Thanksgiving Day, TV commercials that refer to the “Christmas Season” and November 28th Sunday inserts that advertise “Christmas 2010” and continue throughout the Christmas Season. Liberty Counsel commends Dick’s Sporting Goods for listening to its consumer base that supports “Christmas,” the real meaning of the Season.
Something tells me this was not exactly what the Catholic Church had in mind when, in 336 A.D. it designated Dec. 25 as Jesus’ birthday in order to co-opt similarly dated pagan celebrations preceded Christmas by centuries.
November 26, 2010 - 9:00 AM
phony “War Against Christmas.”
Phony? When the schools start allowing the word “Christmas” to be used in referring to the season and to the vacation, when harmless nativity scenes are allowed to appear in public places, then I’ll believe it’s a phony war.
As for the businesses, I think it’s fair to reward business who refuse to knuckle under to PC pressure with consumer dollars. I like folks who stand for what’s right. Just once, I wish a network or the NFL had the guts to tell Al Sharpton to shove it when he calls for someone to be dismissed for a racial non-offense.
Hooray for commercialization!
Nothing trivializes the supernatural more than a superstore.
This brings up an interesting marketing perspective though. If it’s important to splash Christian imagery on products, and it affects buying practices, why not go all out and market harder to hard core Christians? A store could have a whole “Baby Jesus” certified campaign. I can see the stickers on products: A little swaddled baby with a halo, but with one arm out of the blanket giving a big thumbs up for an endorsement. You could offer little Baby Jesus temporary tats to young shoppers. Man, there’s no end to the marketing you could do one you go all out with this. Dick’s could easily put a whole line of Baby Jesus endorsements on their pump shotguns and ammo and show they are totally into the Christmas spirit. Not just some lame statement…pffff.
Anyway, I guess I’m going to spend a little bit of Black Friday on the inter webs doing some good old Christmas shopping. I think I’ll be looking more for pricing more than any marketing gimmicks, but that’s just way I roll.
You WILL be Christian or else!!!! Right-wing Christian nutbags, taking lessons from some Muslim countries.
Im glad they are doing it.Put Christ BACK in Christmas.
“Something tells me this was not exactly what the Catholic Church had in mind when, in 336 A.D. it designated Dec. 25 as Jesus’ birthday in order to co-opt similarly dated pagan celebrations preceded Christmas by centuries.”
Hard to believe Dan goes to a “Christian” Church.
From Essortment…
” In 350, Pope Julius I declared that Christ’s birth would be celebrated on December 25. There is little doubt that he was trying to make it as painless as possible for pagan Romans (who remained a majority at that time) to convert to Christianity. The new religion went down a bit easier, knowing that their feasts would not be taken away from them”
Tony, your quote exactly confirms what Dan said.
Christmas has devolved into a big gross commercial festival of conspicuous consumerism, as evidenced by the fact that stores now drive when the holiday season begins and the civilians among us are supposed to fall mutely compliant. This year I’m giving World Vision gifts to the adults in the family, which would seem a far more “Christian” thing to do than splat your credit card down at the mall (not that I’m going for “Christian”)
You can’t say Christmas during the Christmas season. You have to say Winter season during the Christmas season. Some fundamentalist 8th century goat-eating cave dweller might be offended and these fundie Bible-thumping corn-fed nutbags can’t go around offending people, even if they are a bunch of drooling retards.
What’s the matter with you people?
“You WILL be Christian or else!!!!”
Uhh….gdad. I think you missed the whole point, which doesn’t surprise me.
“Put Christ BACK in Christmas”
I wasn’t aware Christ was ever taken out of Christmas. Just listen to the radio for example, either Q99 or 93.5. Christmas songs 24 hours a day, and at least half of them are Christian hymns, like Oh Holy Night, or Oh Come All Ye Faithful. I spent the past week at Disney World (the most commercialized place to ever exist), where the parks were playing Christmas music, such as Away in a Manger, and the First Noel. There was even a nativity scene.
Christmas means what it means to each person. The fact that a TV ad says “Happy Holidays” doesn’t take anything away from that meaning. A retail store is a public place where people of different faiths may shop, just because a store owner or manager wants to be all-inclusive in their holiday greeting (it is Hanukkah too, after all) does not imply they are anti-Christmas, or that they don’t personally celebrate Christmas. The fact that some Christians take it as some sort of affront says a lot more about them than it does the store owner.
FWTW, I also have little patience for people who are offended by stores who do say “Merry Christmas”. It IS Christmas, after all. Stop being so touchy. It’s not an affront to you either.
If the so called “Christians” at Liberty University spent more time teaching their young students about Christian principles such as forgiveness and inclusion, they would stand a better chance getting into Heaven. All of the time they are wasting with their fake-crap war against Christmas stuff could be spent teaching young folks how to give-back in their community and country. How to feed the hungry, teach the illiterate, how to call out the giant companies that their Republican heroes worship and support while they send our jobs and production overseas to Communist, Athiest China.
Since these same folks worship at the alter of so called “capitalism”, let them vote with their wallets to not shop or patronize the stores they deem inappropriate. The public can see with their own eyes who displays what they deem to be appropriate symbols or not.
I also agree with Suzie that some of these government institutions and schools and so forth have gone way overboard with their removal and denial policies about Christmas symbols. The vast majority of Americans still consider themselves to be Christians and don’t mind these things in the public domain. If the non-believers want to complain, so be it, kinda like the complainers about the airport security, then stay out of the airports. For legitimate concerns on pat-downs and scanners, call and visit your representatives.
If the “war against Christmas” really is the imaginings of right-wing nut-jobs, why does the oh so enlightened left give a rat’s ass how Dick’s Sporting Goods promote their sales at the end of the year?
#1 Yep, suze, there’s nothing like walking into a Walmart all decorated with Christmas trees, Santa, elves, reindeer, and candy canes to remind me of the birth of Christ. It’s even more special when shoving matches for the best deals break out. And now going to Dick’s will cause all to reflect on the true meaning of the season while you those guns and that ammo.
BTW, we’ll wait to hear more about the specific schools that outlaw mention of Christmas. Sure doesn’t happen at the city schools my kids have attended.
#1 PS, note that Suzie, as usual, HAS to bring race into it. I didn’t know this topic had the slightest thing to do with race, but troll found a way to insert it.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
I like VT Hokie’s attitude. Anyone who gets offended by a store clerk wishing them “happy holidays” is too uptight. Same thing for anyone who gets offended at “Merry Christmas.”
#10 Why, Chuck, I don’t care in the least how Dick’s promotes its sales. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, whatever. All fine by me.
Now what was your point?
Thanks Dan, and the same to you and all of the bloggers here. May everyone prosper and live to bicker another year!!
@ post number two…
Mike, from what I read in another thread, I think we share a total lack of religion. But if I could go to Dicks Sporting Goods, and buy a Mossberg Persuader branded as the “Official Riot Gun of Baby Jesus” I would be all over that like you wouldn’t believe hahaha! I don’t really even like Christmas, but I totally want a Baby Jesus Model Mossberg with a compass in the stock and a thing that tells time!
I’m glad someone else didn’t get Chuck’s point. His comment didn’t make sense to me, either.
Merry Christmas Dan,
“God bless us every one!”
I don’t give a rats ass about Dick’s Sporting Goods period. Never been there, never plan to go there. My daughter and I both rec’d an e-mail from a conservative friend last week, about Dick’s and their holiday policy. This was her response in an e-mail to me.
Maybe that’s because in this world, there are also Jews, Muslims and others who celebrate winter holdays other than CHRISTMAS. Ugh, this is such garbage.
I don’t care if a clerk says Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays, or the old fashioned “Thank you” which I actually prefer. If you’re so desperate to be wished “Merry Christmas” by your Walmart greeter, it’s probably time to make some real friends.
Chuck, it was Liberty keeping track of Dicks’, not the left. Reread.
Kids don’t need an Xmas tree at school, or a creche, or any of that because if their parents want them to have one they’ll have one at HOME. Same with a “Christmas Party” and every other Christmas-specific related festivity.
Some are missing the point…you can go around saying “Christmas” all you want. No one cares one iota. Just don’t expect every aspect of the public infrastructure around you to affirm and reiterate whatever it is you’re trying to get across.
VTHokie, how was your trip? I was once at Disney for Christmas and the hotels and park were absolutely beautifully decorated.
Happy Yule, ya’ll.
Realist..
Well, I weren’t the demographic I had in mind, but our lord and savior can move a few more Mossbergs off the gun rack to non believers, then I think we can say that’s one more victory for the prince of peace, or Wall Street.
“I wasn’t aware Christ was ever taken out of Christmas”
Really,hope you enjoy Roanokes Holiday tree.
“This year I’m giving World Vision gifts to the adults in the family, which would seem a far more “Christian” thing to do than splat your credit card down at the mall (not that I’m going for “Christian”)”
What are world vision gifts? And yes you should never go “Christian” on Christmas.
Hey isnt it about time for Warlock to emerge with anti Christian rants?He is about due.
Well said, VT!
#24 Wrong yet again, Jony/Tack, Roanoke calls it a Christmas tree. And Dickens of a CHRISTMAS. And a Christmas parade.
America is a predominantly Christian nation. If you don’t want to see a manger scene in front of the courthouse, don’t look at it, or just leave the country. We don’t want your whining leftwing ass here anyway.
Perhaps they will change it under orders from the mythical “Jack McGuire.”
Dickens of a Holiday; Holiday Tree; Roanoke Holiday Parade.
It would give the phony warriors for Christmas a reason to raise more money, which is what this is all about.
Mangers on courhouse lawns are all right in my book, Suzie. But under Ken Cuccinelli’s recent ruling, governments also have to allow Festivus poles.
“a bunch of drooling retards.”
You really shouldn’t be so hard on yourself, parrot.
Great post Mike Scott. Dick’s should offer a “Jesus Certification” for their most committed employees. A weekend course with yearly re-certifications should warrant a badge or something. Hell, I’d even pay more to be helped by a “certified” Christian.
Quit your whining, Suzie. We live in a predominately white country, too. Should we give whites special privileges? If you don’t like living under a secular government, move.
You have the right to put a nativity scene on your front yard. You can even leave it up year round if you’d like. You’re rights aren’t violated because the government doesn’t pay for it and put it on public property. Your ridiculousness is the reason the country has to become more secularized.
Speaking of the war on Christmas, an attempted terrorist bombing at a Holiday Tree lighting
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/11/27/oregon.bomb.plot/
Fundamentalist Christians? Guess again.
“But under Ken Cuccinelli’s recent ruling, governments also have to allow Festivus poles.”
I believe you are referring to the First Amendment which allows for Festivus poles. I don’t see why you think that is so terrible except that no one celebrates that fabricated holiday so it’s a pretty stupid idea.
gdad-
I’ve had children in the RCPS for 10+ years, and they’ve learned Kwanzaa songs, Hanukkah songs, things like ‘Frosty the Snowman’, but not ONE Christmas song. They have ‘winter break’ and ‘holiday parties.’ Not one mention of Christmas anywhere. My children also attended a private church preschool prior to elementary. Imagine my surprise when my son came home with a dreidel, with all kinds of information about the upcoming Hannukah season. There was one Jewish child in the entire school, and their family (actually friends of ours) received permission from the director to come speak about the wonders of Hannukah. Again, at a private christian school. Unbelieveable.
Dan, I love the draft evader in helmet, with rifle.
“Wrong yet again, Jony/Tack, Roanoke calls it a Christmas tree. And Dickens of a CHRISTMAS. And a Christmas parade.”
All the events associated with City departments use the word “Holiday” instead.
Whoops wrong addy again..
“America is a predominantly Christian nation. If you don’t want to see a manger scene in front of the courthouse, don’t look at it, or just leave the country.”
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am grateful to be blessed in having my own creche for my own home, and I don’t have to rely upon Big Gubmint to do my Xmas decorating for me.
The tree is nothing but a pagan symbol…all you “Xians” out there try scouring the Bible (which is, after all, the infallible word of God writ down by man) for a “tree”. Then quit whining.
Jack, Google “Heifer International”. It’s actually a very cool thing.
Henry, please give us a list of stupid religions; maybe the state can incorporate them into what is allowed and what isn’t, on courthouse lawns.
I think some of these people would be a lot happier living under a Taliban…their perfect vision of “America”.
God bless the ACLU. They’re all that stand between us and these people.
Even if you decorate one intersection or one public building with Christian symbols at Christmas, the atheists get their way on every other intersection and building where there’s nothing. So they need to stop bitching.
He could be a question evader, Charlie… maybe your self portrait??
Thank you for the Heifer International link Kristen. Their article on the livestock that were present during the ‘First Christmas’ (their words) is a refreshing reminder how a good-feeling and good-doing organization goes hand-in-hand with proclaiming and recognizing the birth of Christ!!
http://www.heifer.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=edJRKQNiFiG&b=5774597&ct=8398277
Even if you decorate one intersection or one public building with Christian symbols at Christmas, the atheists get their way on every other intersection and building where there’s nothing. So they need to stop bitching.
Comment by Suzie — November 27, 2010 @ 8:33 am
So Suzie, I guess you are advocating the government tax us to pay for Christmas decorations on every public building and intersection. I hope you have your cash ready.
Only Suzie could turn a lack of initiative by Christians into a victory for the atheists.
#34 I suspect you have a highly selective memory, rke mom. I had children in the RCPS for a total of 18 years and they learned Christmas songs, had up what could only be interpreted as Christmas decorations, and did parts of, yes, a “holiday” program that celebrated Christmas.
As for your child learning about a Jewish tradition in a Christian preschool — good golly, the world’s coming to an end. I’m stunned that a Christian school would attempt to teach kids about something new. I know I didn’t want my kids to know anything about any other religions. They might convert or something. One would think the Christians at least would keep those pagans and their false religions out.
Good post rke mom. Why does it seem that Gdad lacks basic knowledge as to what goes on in the RCPS?
Krissy,
How’d the chicken tenders work out for T-giving dinner. Dr JR get the day off to tinker on his ’86 Charger?
Ron,
Who said anything about the government paying for the decorations? Churches will be glad to come decorate the courthouse.
#36 Sorry, Tony, but you mentioned Roanoke’s holiday tree. They call it a Christmas tree, not a holiday tree. Now, whether that’s officially a government-owned tree or not matters not to me. And whether a department in the city calls it the holidays or Christmas is completely irrelevant to the season, isn’t it?
I don’t see money in the budget for Christmas displays. Whose on board for a tax increase to fund these religious offerings?
#28 Troll ups the ante. Now you’re not a real American if you don’t support mangers at the courthouse. And we need to decorate every single space available with religious Christmas stuff to keep the atheists at bay.
I have two friends who teach at the Governor’s School. They both said they freely talk about Christmas in the classroom. One say she intentionally tweaks the PC police and goes out of her way to circumvent the PC crap, and that the students agree with her. It’s heartening to hear of courageous teachers and mature intelligent students. It has to be a class of county kids.
#47 Another fail by the troll.
My kids went to Raleigh Court Elementary, where they sand “The Dreidel” in their holiday program. (A dreidel is a Jewish folk toy that’s associated with Hanukkah, a minor Jewish religious holiday). However, the lyrics aren’t religious in nature, nor do they mention a religious holiday.
The students also sang “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer,” which is a Christmas folk tale, and which mentions Christmas repeatedly, and “Silent Night.” The majority of the songs in the program were explicitly about Christmas.
It’s interesting that some would pick out the only song about a another religious holiday and try to use that to make the case that the holiday program was anti-Christian.
I guess the new definition of anti-Christian is: “if it’s not ALL about Christ and Christmas, then it’s anti-Christian.”
Interesting. . .
#51 As with Dan, my kids went to RC, where, as with his kids, the majority of the “holiday” program was most definitely about Christmas.
Suzie, sounds like it’s rke mom who’s lacking in some basic knowledge — or, as I said, has a selective memory.
Make that #54.
#52 Wow, what heroes, troll!!!! Too bad it’s nothing unusual. Teachers across the system freely talk about Christmas.
Suzie’s comment exposes the lie that RWers repeatedly tell about so-called “political correctnesss” in schools. Those two teachers are mentioning Christmas without any penalty. Of course there’s no penalty. The meme that there is — that’s just a load of RW crap.
But it’s nice to hear that Suzie’s mind is open enough to actually consider some teachers as friends, given all the teacher-bashing she’s done on this blog.
#58 Of course, Dan, you’re assuming Suzie’s “friends” aren’t just more stuff she made up. Pretty big assumption.
Even if you decorate one intersection or one public building with Christian symbols at Christmas, the atheists get their way on every other intersection and building where there’s nothing. So they need to stop bitching.
Comment by Suzie — November 27, 2010 @ 8:33 am
So you wouldn’t object to a synagogue paying to decorate an intersection or a building? Or maybe a mosque coming up with something for an intersection or building either. Right Susie???
Dan,
Nobody ever said teachers couldn’t mention “Christmas: but you can’t deny the boards go out of their way to not use the word. I’m just saying my one friend told her one class that the whole PC thing was out of hand, and that they agreed with her. She also said she wouldn’t talk so frankly to some of her other classes. (presumably the slower city group) where parents likely include some touchy PC crazies.
Hooray for the athiests! They didn’t do anything and they win. There’s not a single intersection in my neighborhood with any Christian or Pagan imagery. Man that was easy…
But Christians aren’t trying hard enough. Some little pitiful checklist for naughty or nice stores just isn’t much of an effort. Following up on my earlier thoughts about really getting Christian sympbols on more commercial items. I’m offering the following graphic, free of charge and any copyright obligations, to any store owner or corporation that desires to show their all out support for Christmas.
http://tinyurl.com/3xmycm7
I really can’t understand why Liberty University hasn’t jumped on this already. I was looking at their student guide of Reprimands and Consequences:
http://hereiblog.com/files/LUReprimandsConsequences.pdf
It appears there isn’t much they won’t make a buck on. It’s interesting reading. In case anyone was wondering, the fine for having an abortion is $500.00 bucks, which is the same fine as “Involvement with witchcraft, séances or other occult activities”, and “immorality”.
Baby Jesus endorsements are just the tip of the iceberg. I bet St. Paul could sell a deck of cards to venus de milo.
Just wondering how it would go over if some rogue teacher at one of the SW City elementary teacher organized the Christmas story with Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus. You’d have godless folks going ballistic, and the administration issuing apologies and disciplining or firing the teacher.
Suzie,
This is because “the whole PC thing” has been exaggerated by RWers.
#60 More frantic backpeddling by troll. And more completely unbelievable made-up crap. As usual.
“Henry, please give us a list of stupid religions; ”
How about ones fabricated on TV shows?
“This is because “the whole PC thing” has been exaggerated by RWers.”
Let’s check the public school calendars and see how many have changed Christmas break to Winter Break. Then we will talk about exaggerated.
Under Cuccinelli’s opinion, a government may allow a Christian holiday symbol on public property if, and only if, it allows symbols of other faiths, such as Islam. This reasoning has been deemed correct by the ACLU.
#66 Henry, please explain how calling it a winter break on a school calendar damages the celebration of Christmas. Do you think it causes the kids to forget it’s Christmas? If so, you must not have kids.
#63 Troll, why don’t we save that stuff for church, where it belongs?
BTW, you wouldn’t be doing this at a county or Salem school, either. Heck, they probably don’t do it at Faith Christian.
#63 Oh, and BTW, troll, putting on a whole Christmas story play is a far cry from your original post hailing your heroic friends for merely mentioning Christmas or from rke mom’s mistaken assertion that the kids can’t do anything associated with Christmas. We’ve refuted those.
gdad-
Again, at my children’s two RCPS schools, there is no mention of Christmas. Ever. It’s holiday parties, holiday break, holiday sing-a-long.
And as for the private preschool, it wasn’t the school teaching the lesson. It was a Jewish parent who pushed and pushed until the director gave in and let her come speak. Nothing against Judaism- it’s fine. But if I wanted my children to learn Judaism instead of christian teachings, I’d have sent them to the temple for preschool.
#71 “Again, at my children’s two RCPS schools, there is no mention of Christmas. Ever.”
Wow, rke mom, so the school even stops the kids from talking about Christmas? And none of the teachers ever mention Christmas?
Tell us about the damage this has done to your family’s understanding and observance of Christmas. I imagine it’s absolutely destroyed things in your home, hasn’t it?
Suzie..@63
Yeah, no argument there, and that’s exactly what should happen when an individual teacher promotes a particular religious point of view to students whose attendance is compulsory. But why confine the circumstances to SW Roanoke? It would be a likely outcome in any community that has a diversity of belief and it also an appropriate response when the curriculum is way off target.
You know what though? That same teacher and all the children who wish to be part of a Christmas pageant can go to these places called Churches. Perhaps you’ve heard of them. Because the people in these “Churches” share a belief system, and because our government doesn’t intrude on the sanctity of the Church, or dictate what goes on within, there is no limit to the number of pageants the kids and teachers can produce. And since everyone in the church professes a similar set of beliefs, it’s less likely that anyone will complain about the content of the program.
(Not withstanding the controversies that abound in assigning the plumb roles.)
Geez, these people live in a country where anyone is free to choose one of 30,000 denominations of churches, and still bitch about religious liberties. How whack is that?
When my daughter was in 2nd grade, her Roanoke City elementary school put on a holiday performance that was held at a church, and included Christian Christmas carols. No one complained. There were several Jewish and Muslim families in attendance and no one cried foul…
Next Suzie, or Henry, will be claiming there’s a movement in this country to shut down Christian churches.
The high schools still hold graduation convocations, which are explicitly religious (Christian) ceremonies. I’ve been to two — at Patrick Henry High School.
What do you know? Nobody’s tried to shut them down. . .
“And whether a department in the city calls it the holidays or Christmas is completely irrelevant to the season, isn’t it?”
Not to the PC aspect of it.Employees are forced to refer to Christmas events as “holiday” events.
“This is because “the whole PC thing” has been exaggerated by RWers”
Boy if anything the PC thing has been well understated,it is rampant throughout government,and in society.Only in private do people get off their PC personna.And sometime not even then,they are scared to death to offend even with the truth.Racial,religious and sexual discussions cant take place in an open manner because of it.
More and more though people are beginning to realize the damage it has done and is doing.And hopefully will start speaking the truth as opposed to what is politically correct.
It’s quite common to hear religious messages at graduations, and perfectly acceptable when the individual student exercises their right of expression. If the valedictorian invokes Christ as a reason for success, nobody has the right to prevent that kind of speech. If individual students want to pray at appropriate times during school, or spontaneously gather for a religious purposes, it’s totally acceptable.
This whole assertion that prayer isn’t allowed in school is a lie perpetuated by people who will only be satisfied when their particular system of belief is the predominate one.
Here’s another reality: When the State advocates for a particular religious practice, it becomes less significant, not more. If you want to see this principle in action, spend just few minutes in any school that’s required to have a “moment of silence” first thing in the morning. This proxy for prayer has become the most trivial part of every public school day in the State. It’s the predictable outcome when a brain dead State legislature tries a back door approach to religious indoctrination.
Agreed, Mike Scott.
“Henry, please explain how calling it a winter break on a school calendar damages the celebration of Christmas. ”
Let’s put it this way. Let’s say Governor McDonnell decided to change Martin Luther King Day to January Day so as not to offend anyone and because everyone doesn’t celebrate Martin Luther King Day. What would you say to that?
Uh-huh.
“Next Suzie, or Henry, will be claiming there’s a movement in this country to shut down Christian churches.”
Next Dan will be saying that gays should be executed.
“Next Dan will be saying that gays should be executed.”
He would never be for that.He would lose half the people on the blog.
#79 Well, Henry, I’m not a big fan of MLK Day to begin with, so…
And since the “Christmas” break spreads over News Year’s, isn’t winter or holiday break more accurate, Henry? You still haven’t shown me how the way any of us celebrate Christmas is altered one iota by calling it winter break on a calendar.
#76 And the high schools also have religious clubs and allow Young Life to advertise meetings.
But, Dan, we’ve been assured by rke mom that Christmas is NEVER mentioned in public school and Suzie has declared her the expert on city schools, so I guess our experience as parents of city school kids is just wrong.
Here’s an idea let’s rename ALL public school breaks “Christmas Break.” Including summer break.
And rename all the weekends “Christmas weekend.”
Otherwise, someday the RWers are going to be holding out the refusal to do that as government-sponsored anti-Christian bias.
Fact is, we don’t really know when Jesus was born. Might as well cover all the bases.
“Fact is, we don’t really know when Jesus was born”
Christmas is the symbolic day of His birth.Ill settle for Christmas break,at,er,well ya know, Christmas. Would that be so hard?
How about you leave the religious instruction up to the parents and whatever religious community a family participates in. I always get a good laugh at the so called small government conservatives complaining that the state doesn’t promote their particular sky god or “gasp” gives equal time to a different religion.
“You still haven’t shown me how the way any of us celebrate Christmas is altered one iota by calling it winter break on a calendar”
Its because its forced PC.For years and years it was Christmas break.
#87 “Its because its forced PC.For years and years it was Christmas break.”
Well, dang, that just ruins Christmas for everyone, doesn’t it?
You know…. Chanukah also falls during the winter break, during most years.
gdad-
Why so cranky? I never said the failure to mention Christmas destroyed my family. I made an observation that over a ten year period, in three different schools, what for years was called ‘Christmas break’ is now ‘winter break.’ Sure, the kids talk about Christmas at lunch and on the playground. After all, it IS Christmas! Lighten up!
Is this the FESTIVUS blog? Isn’t that the holiday in which we air all grievances? When everybody is done we can all make up with Festivus toast and pole dance by Suze down at the local GC…
@85
So Jack/Tony…what are you complaining about? Christmas takes place on Christmas day, and since you say you run your own business, what’s the freaking deal? You are such an independent guy, you can do anything you want. What particular right or affront to your sensibilities has been placed on you or your business?
Nutt’n, cause it ain’t really about your personal circumstances.
What it’s really about is what you think the world should look like for everyone else, and we all know that ain’t too pretty.
Why don’t we just go back to calling the Christmas break “Christmas Break” like we did for decades?
VT Hokie-
“A retail store is a public place where people of different faiths may shop, just because a store owner or manager wants to be all-inclusive in their holiday greeting (it is Hanukkah too, after all) does not imply they are anti-Christmas, or that they don’t personally celebrate Christmas.”
Dan Casey-
“I guess the new definition of anti-Christian is: “if it’s not ALL about Christ and Christmas, then it’s anti-Christian.”
This. The idea that Christians are persecuted in this country can only come from deluded Christians (thankfully a minority of the species).
Henry-
“Henry, please give us a list of stupid religions; ”
“How about ones fabricated on TV shows?”
As opposed to ones made up 2000 years ago?
Jack Mcguire-
“Next Dan will be saying that gays should be executed.”
“He would never be for that.He would lose half the people on the blog.”
I’d hope he’d lose everyone. Only a sick mind wouldn’t abandon his blog in those circumstances.
“You still haven’t shown me how the way any of us celebrate Christmas is altered one iota by calling it winter break on a calendar”
“Its because its forced PC.For years and years it was Christmas break.”
And you still haven’t shown him how your celebration of Christmas is altered by calling it winter break, etc.
The next thing you know, Tony/Jack will be calling for sectarian prayer to open Roanoke City Council meetings. . . .
Jason,
If someone out there isn’t calling it Christmas, Jack’s whole season is ruined.
What wondrous ways to demonstrate the Christmas spirit! No wonder so many people want to remove the name from the season…if this is what we can come to expect, I can’t say as I blame them.
Merry Christmas
Happy Yule
Happy Hanukkah
Blessed whatever…just enjoy it and be happy for crying out loud, however and whatever you happen to celebrate.
gdad and Dan, my point was that the left always tries to paint this issue as the irrational ramblings of some right wing zealots. However, from reading the posts here, it seems like this is much more of an issue for the left than it is the right. Every year there is a blog thread about it and the left goes on and on ad nauseum about how silly the right is over this. So if talking about it makes the right silly, then how silly is the multitude of wild reactionary denials from the left. My point is, if you truly don’t care what sales people say, etc., etc., then why are you wasting so much time and energy reacting to it. If the outcome truly doesn’t matter to the left, wouldn’t the simplest way to end this “war” be to simply ignore it?
“The next thing you know, Tony/Jack will be calling for sectarian prayer to open Roanoke City Council meetings. . . .”
The next thing you know, Dan will be calling for a ban on sectarian prayer at Roanoke City Council meetings….
#94
A religion that has existed for 2,000 years that hundreds of millions celebrate today vs one made up on a TV show that no one celebrates. Jason gets these confused.
95.”The next thing you know, Tony/Jack will be calling for sectarian prayer to open Roanoke City Council meetings”
What does sectarian meam?
mean that is…
It’s not a surprise that some city schools are doing the ridiculous made-up Kwanzaa crap while excluding Christimas. I would LOVE to be the parent of a kid who was made to light a damn Kwanzaa candle. I would be in the face of that teacher, the principal, the school board. I’d be going to TV stations, even the RT rag, calling Rush, calling Hannity, calling O’Reilly, calling Beck, demanding the African American teacher get fired, filing lawsuits. I’d be all over it like they’ve never seen. I’d do my best to get it national exposure.
BAH HUMBUG!
Gotta love a universal holiday expression!!
#102 You’d fail, troll. This sort of story is old news and boring. Now if you went in and assaulted a few people over it… BTW, while my city-school-educated son has heard of Kwanzaa, he couldn’t begin to tell you what it’s about in detail. He’s never lit a Kwanzaa candle. I think the generally discourage open flames in school.
You do realize that Kwanzaa is not a religious observation and so differs from from holidays like Christmas and Easter, don’t you? As for made up, a lot of people, even some Christian sects, consider Christmas completely fabricated.
. I would LOVE to be the parent of a kid who was made to light a damn Kwanzaa candle. I would be in the face of that teacher, the principal, the school board. I’d be going to TV stations, even the RT rag, calling Rush, calling Hannity, calling O’Reilly, calling Beck, demanding the African American teacher get fired, filing lawsuits. I’d be all over it like they’ve never seen. I’d do my best to get it national exposure.
Doubtful. Never would happen. Totally calling BS on this assertion. You are great at blowing digtial smoke because you can do it from the sanctity of your keyboard. But we all know it’s the anonymity of this medium that allows it to happen. Once you put your face and attitude out for the community to see, you’d become the pariah of county McMansions. (To be sure, this may well the case already.)
Baiscally, if you aren’t brave enough to comprimise your privacy in this small community, you ain’t gonna do it national TV or AM radio.
“I have two friends who teach at the Governor’s School. They both said they freely talk about Christmas in the classroom.”
First of all, sure you have “two friends”. Second, Xmas has zero to do with what goes on in RVGS…do you even know what it is and what goes on there?
Your fantasies grow ever less believeable.
rke mom…you sound like an excellent candidate for home schooling.
All religions are “made up”. If you’re going to base your religion on a dead guy who comes back to life after 3 days and flies up in the sky, you’re on mighty thin ice to point at the irrationality of other made up religions. Judaism and Buddhism and Hinduism all predate Christianity, along with a dozen pagan religions…there’s nothing particularly original or special about it. Or its adherents.
My daughter has attended Gov school for 4 years and judging by Suzie’s past comments on how the highly educated, scholarly types are all left wing socialists, I can’t imagine who there would be “friends” with her. I know most of the teachers there and they are all a great group… none seem to me to be the type that would socialize with the likes of Suzie.
LyndaK, my son did tell me that freshman year the math teacher would post quotations by Stalin on the board…if anything, I’d say that points to the fact that the teachers there are screaming socio-communist liberals.
First of all, sure you have “two friends”. Second, Xmas has zero to do with what goes on in RVGS…do you even know what it is and what goes on there?
I seem to know more about the Governor’s School than you do, Krissy. You didn’t even know admission requirements for city students are dumbed down in comparison to the brighter county students.
107
I know most of the teachers there and they are all a great group… none seem to me to be the type that would socialize with the likes of Suzie.
While it is true there are some great teachers at the RVGS like my two friends, from what I hear, it is false to say all there are great. There are a few who are lacking. Anybody who says otherwise obviously has no familiarity with the place.
And what would you know, Suzie? Do you or did you ever have a child attend Gov School? Have you ever worked there? Do you attend the open houses or parent meetings? Are you on the advisory board?
Huh? Huh?
#102, brown-eyes again, and she’d LOVE to have a kid–but would the kid love to have Suze in any capacity?
#109 Sorry, troll, there aren’t any admission “requirements” as such. City and county schools both have a certain number of spots based on the amount of money they contribute. The city has the largest number of spots because it puts more money into the school.
I’m sure many non-parents are intimately acquainted with what goes on in schools.
Sorry, troll, there aren’t any admission “requirements” as such. City and county schools both have a certain number of spots based on the amount of money they contribute. The city has the largest number of spots because it puts more money into the school.
The point remains, Roanoke City has weaker entrants than Roanoke County. Two reasons. The county has a greater number of strong students, and the limited spots means only the best of the best county kids get in. Roanoke City has weaker kids and more of them admitted. Both my friends who teach there say there is no doubt this is true.
I feel bad if some folks in here think their kids are the area’s cream. They may do all right for PH, but put them at HV or CS and there’s like 100 kids ahead of them. These city kids who are the stars of their school, sport gaudy but overinflated GPA’s, then sit down for SAT’s and are totally lost.
To Krissy and others who may looking for colleges. There’s nothing to be ashamed of if Radford is your stretch school, even though VWCC may be more likely. All I would ask is that you not clutter up the works applying for VT or UVa. This is a busy time for the screeners.
That must be good stuff you’re smoking tonight, Suzie.
#116 Yes, suzie, my son’s friend with the gaudy GPA was just incredibly lost in the SATs. All he could manage was 2370 out of 2400. My own son was so lost that he scored well above average for Tech and a little above for U.Va.
@115…
Urrr… it could also be that the city funds enough spots to do deeper into a qualified pool of students. For the record, the best student in the class that my son graduated from was a brilliant kid from William Fleming. I think he went to Stanford, but could have gone anywhere.
I know one teacher too, and one of the things that I find ironic is that despite getting the most academically talented students in the region, the teachers still complain about student work ethic and character. It doesn’t always follow that really bright kids are also really focused kids.
No doubt about it though, a student who really wants a leg up in very competitive college programs gets a great preparation from the RVGS.
Gdad,
There is no shame in going to work right out of high school or attending the local CC. No job is demeaning, and there is a college for most everybody. I wouldn’t push the panic button right now.
Urrr… it could also be that the city funds enough spots to do deeper into a qualified pool of students.
Huh? The city pool is weaker to start with, and they’re taking more of them. Anybody who doubts this doesn’t know what they’re talking about. And…notice that amid the namecalling, not one person has denied this.
I was planning to patronize Dick’s this year until I read this blog. I’ll take my money to another retailer.
Besides, doesn’t the Bible teach us that Jesus was actually born sometime around September? Any retailer who contradicts the Bible by promoting “Christmas” at this time of year just to make a buck doesn’t get my business. Those heathens!
“All I would ask is that you not clutter up the works applying for VT or UVa. This is a busy time for the screeners.”
That’s just down right mean Suzie.
Kids that are wanting to go to Tech or UVA, don’t listen to clueless Suzie.
67% of applicants got into VT in 2009 so go for it if you want to go to Tech. You’re chances are 2 in 3 that you will get in.
UVA is a bit harder. 32% who applied got offers. But 1 out of 3 is worth the effort if that’s your school of choice. They do give priority to in state students so if you’re in state you’re chances are a bit better than the offical acceptance rate.
http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/national-universities-rankings/
My suggestion is whether you are in GS or HS work hard on your grades, don’t let them slip your senior year and begin to application process NOW. Pick at least 5 schools and visit them all. You will be suprised at how many you will get into. Maybe even get offered scholarship help you had no idea was out there.
Good Luck!
Cold n,
But if Radford is your stretch school, I don’t think applying to VT or UVa would be a good use of time. That’s all I’m saying.
#124 The city kids I know well are stretching for places like Brown, Duke. Washington and Lee, Georgetown. Tech is a lock for them. U.Va.? Who knows? We know one girl who last year got into Harvard but was wait listed at U.Va. She’s at Harvard.
Suzie is simply mean-spirited and knows perfectly well that where a child lives has no bearing on his or her academic standing.