There is indeed a war on Christmas.

[Maven]

Ask any American who's been unemployed for nine months this year thanks to our "steadily rising" economy how merry their Christmas will be.

Or ask one of the thousands who found out this summer just how little their government cares about their safety, when their incompetent and callous president deserted them for days and days in a horrific flood, as corpses floated by in a river of filth and vandals had their way with the town. Those who were lucky enough to survive had little or nothing to return to. Now the cameras are off and the whole episode has faded predictably from the public mind. But somewhere countless families are struggling merely to put their lives back together, many so poor they could not have afforded cars to escape the storm that displaced them. How plentiful do you think their Christmas celebrations will be this year?

Or ask a soldier whose tour of duty has been extended indefinitely thanks to quasi-legal "stop-gap" policies so that a group of powerful men who never served can continue their power grab / geopolitical experiment. What a lovely gift.

Or, more importantly, why don't we ask the thousands of parents, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, and best friends who won't spend this Christmas with someone they love. Or, for that matter, any other Christmas. Ever. Because that person died by bullet or bomb, thousands of miles away, in a place they should never have been sent. Every kid who was deprived of a parent will grow up knowing that other more fortunate kids weren't. Those kids' parents had the luxury of "other priorities."

Now ask any of these people if they give a damn about what the BUSHES put on their STUPID HOLIDAY CARDS. I dare you.

The next time any bobblehead talks about the "war on Christmas," you can wholeheartedly agree.

Then be sure to identify its real targets.

[imouttahere]

1. "Well said" doesn't begin to describe this....

what can I say, thank you!

[havocmom]

2. You own this subject!

:thumbsup:

Can we quote you in replies to idiot email shit wingers might be sending out on the suject?

[Maven]

4. By all means

I'm sure you can think of more to add.

The fact is, they don't have substance on their side. They never do.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

3. Bravo Zulu, brother.

Spot on.

Oh yeah, I am stealing your icon too.

[Maven]

5. I'm sure George won't mind. ;)

Thanks.

[driver8]

6. Great post, Harvey Korman...Great post.

I wrote a rant the other day stating a similiar opinion. It is beyond me what people will spend their time worrying about when our soldiers are dying everyday in a war that is certainly a criminal act.

People losing jobs left and right, the gulf coast in total ruin with thousands and thousands left homeless, money being flushed down the toilet to pay for the Iraq occupation...and people think it is important what shrubby and pickles put on their fucking holiday cards.

That is the compassionate conservatism at work, I guess. These people are absolute, total fucking idiots -- and heartless ones at that.

[leftofthedial]

7. that's a homerun, HK

[Bake]

8. Bravo. Bravo. Bravo.

There really IS a war on Christmas. You NAILED IT, my friend. Thanks for pointing it out very eloquently.

Bake

[TheModernTerrorist]

9. with all the GM closings...

and possible Delphi deletion, my mother, who works for a GM supplier, is not having the best Christmas of her life...


....neither am I

[PurpleChez]

10. Hear, hear!

The War on Xmas is the Queer Marriage scare for 2005. How gullible are these morans?

[hraka]

49. Pretty gullible

The AFA (Amercian Family Association), a right wing religious fanatic organization, has a section called "Homosexual Agenda". There is an article titled, "O Canada" in which the writer says, and I do quote,

"At the end of my speech, I held in one hand a coffee creamer from our dinner table. I read the simple wording on the label to the attentive audience: “100% REAL CREAM – ALL NATURAL.” That is all the label said.

In my other hand, I held another coffee creamer. Yet this one was very different.

It was a sealed paper packet that had a drawing of a farm, sitting on rolling hills. The sun was setting in the background, the picture very beautiful and peaceful. I read the label to the audience:

“Wholesome Farms – NON-DAIRY CREAMER. Ingredients: Corn Syrup Solids, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and/or Canola Oils, Sodium Caseinate (A Milk Derivative), Dipotassium Phosphate, Mono and Diglyceerides, Artificial Colors, Silicon Dioxide, Lechtin, Artificial Flavors.”

You see, one coffee creamer was “REAL” – and the other was “ARTIFICIAL.”

I said, “As a former homosexual, I stand here before you today and say to you first hand, THIS is the difference between the God ordained institution of marriage between one man and one woman – and so-called homosexual “marriage.”
http://www.afa.net/homosexual_agenda/GetArticle.asp?id=266


I couldn't make up this stuff.

ps. In another article, the same writer, Stephen Bennett, says, "As homosexuality remains the number one issue in America today, those in the media continue to push a one-sided, biased viewpoint." He's attacking BILL O'REIlLY!?!?!?!?! http://www.afa.net/homosexual_agenda/GetArticle.asp?id=115

[annabanana]

11. Yes, yes there is.. . . thank you......n/t

[PA Democrat]

12. Superb job Harvey

Strange how all the people screaming about the "war" on Christmas don't seem to recognize that the core meaning of Christmas has been stolen. I was taught by the Catholic nuns in school that the true meaning of Christmas involved charity and love. I seem to recall a line that went something like, "for God so loved the world that he gave his only son."

[hippiegranny]

16. I have never seen this here before:

"for God so loved the world that he gave his only son."

JUST YESTERDAY that phrase came to me, unbidden, and now I see it here the very next day. No such thing as coincidence, I always say.

But anyway, when that thought occurred to me, the next one that came to me was this... "EXACTLY! It doesn't say "for God so loved America..."

Now to address the OP - excellent... truly truly excellent summary. I cannot think of anything more that needs to be said on this ridiculous, inane argument and I think all of us are better armed with a response for those who even dare to bring this up as a subject of conversation.

[foreigncorrespondent]

13. Great post.

Also might want to include those gay and lesbian citizens of the U.S. who won't be sharing Christmas or the holiday season with their partners because the U.S. refuses to recognize the validity of their relationship for immigration purposes.

For Sapphocrat and me, every day of the year we do not spend together is a nightmare, but the holiday season is extremely hard. Especially at the turn of a new year when we do not get to kiss at midnight.

Last year was the first Christmas and holiday season that we got to enjoy together. This season starts the countdown of a new and yet unknown amount of holiday seasons we will miss being together.

Sorry for the whine, but I am really depressed tonight. With Christmas and the New Year drawing closer with each passing day, my depression sinks lower. If it wasn't for the fact that Sapph has been out of work since 2001, and I have been out of work since July of this year, we might actually be enjoying the season together.

[Maven]

21. Don't apologize

:hug:

I wish I could say that GLBT activists like us will tip the scale in our favor sometime soon. I'm just not so sure anymore.

But I hope that, at very least, when you and Sapph find new jobs, and you will, there will be less uncertainty about the next time you see each other. It's feeling helpless that's the worst part.

[hraka]

50. Hang in there, Sister.

:grouphug:

[lonestarnot]

14. Yes Harvey Korman... war on Christmas, New Year, and New Century...

War On!

[ThingsGottaChange]

15. So true. So sad. Excellent Post. nt

[IronLionZion]

17. Yes, tell it like it is brother

:applause:

K+R

[Raster]

18. I'd say that just about nails it. Good job.

"Or ask a soldier whose tour of duty has been extended indefinitely thanks to quasi-legal "stop-gap" policies so that a group of powerful men who never served can continue their power grab / geopolitical experiment. What a lovely gift."

:kick:and nominated

[sasquatch]

19. *applause*

:applause:

[wryter2000]

20. Thank you!

I just got through screaming at my teevee at some asshole who claimed there's a war on Christmas. Moron said, "We just got through celebrating Ramadan." Oh, really? Were there Ramadan sales in the malls? Did he send out Ramadan cards? Were there Ramadan songs on the radio? Did everyone have a huge Ramadan dinner? Put up Ramadan trees in the town square?

In desperation, I was about to post the bazillionth thread on DU because I just couldn't stand it anymore. I was going to irritate everyone here just to save my own sanity.

Now, thanks to you, I'm armed. In fact, I can't wait for the next bozo to tell me there's a war on Christmas.

:applause: :yourock:

[mermaid]

22. Nail. Head. Direct Hit!!

Just ask me! I'm one of those you mention who have been unemployed for nine months of this year. How fucking merry do you think my Christmas is gonna be, and ask me how much of a rat's ass I give about if someone says Merry Fucking Christmas, or Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Holidays, or Season's Greetings! No matter the wish, or the words, my holidays will suck, because I'm poor as a church mouse.

Here's my christmas Cards for this year, if anyone is interested...

Money's short
Times are hard

Here's your fucking Christmas card!!


Or, one I'd like to send to the Bushes....

Merry Christmas, my friend
May the bleeding piles torment you
May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits
And may crabs the size of cockroaches crawl around your balls and eat
And when you become old and feeble
And your mind's a total wreck
May you drop right through your asshole
And break your dirty damn neck!!

And a Happy New Year!! (Well, 2009 will be anyway, because your ass will finally be out of OUR House!!)

[Nobody]

23. Did you know that

the Pilgrims banned Christmas in the colonies back in the 1600s? Totally banned. No gifts, no music, no trees, no nothing.

You're absolutely right about these asshats.

Christmas has engulfed so many local traditions starting with the Roman Saturnalia on the shortest day of the year. Christ wasn't born duing winter. To make the new religion easier on the locals, local customs were redefined.

Celebrating the shortest day of the year with lots of drunkenness and partying as in Roman Saturnalia? Merry Christmas and Happy New Years. Change the custom or change the date, let's change the date. Shepherds only stay out all night with their flocks during lambing season in the spring. Not winter.

Celebrating Mithras birthday during Solstice? Forget Mithras, we'll change the names and use the same story.

What's with all this about snow and white Christmas? I bet it doesn't snow in Jerusalem or Nazareth or anywhere in that neighborhood except in the mountains. We're deferring to and adding in northern European local weather conditions.

Got a Yule Tree in Germany during Roman occupation? Now it's a Christmas tree.

Kris Kringle is German and Jolly Old St Nicholas is the patron saint of Russia. (As a kid I heard this back when there was a USSR and I knew just how Santa Claus knew when you were bad or good, and reindeer are native to Siberia, guess where the "elves" lived. Star Trek fans will recognize the Warp 10 sleigh)

And the advent wreaths with the four candles? A Swedish friend who is Wiccan told me that traditional Swedish weddings had girls wear wreaths with four lit candles on their heads to represent the four directions. She had to practice for hours so she could serve tables while wearing one.

War on Christmas? You bet there is. Christmas has had the date changed, all these foreign customs inserted until now the only reason for the season is to cram the malls and dig deeper into debt and listen to the whining of the retailers wailing about how not enough people are buying enough stuff. It it wasn't for the artificial propping up of the economy during the biggest spendfest of the year, where would our economy be? How long would it take to get back into normal spending patterns? And how much less materialistic would we be?

I certainly loved your rant. I can't wait to get spammed. Reply All can be such fun.

[mermaid]

25. Damn...Are You TRYING To Give The Conservocreeps A Heart Attack?!?!

relentless, endless pursuit of the truth, indeed! Those fuckers can't HANDLE the truth!!

We long ago lost the true meaning of Christmas, anyway. It's supposed to be about peace, love, tolerance, sharing, caring, forgiveness, peace, joy...not about trampling people to get at the latest bargains at fucking Wal-Mart at five o clock in the morning!

Bah fucking Humbug! I'll care about Christmas when we, as a people, actually begin to REALLY remember what Christmas was supposed to be about in the first place. Asshats.

[imouttahere]

30. I, for one, enjoyed your rant, Nobody!

The materialism part really struck a chord for me, especially.

[Nobody]

57. Thanks, glad you liked it

The spendfest is why I refer to it as the Season of Greed, which I endure rather than celebrate. I do like getting together with the family though, and I hate hate hate the gift giving parts.

Interestingly enough, the last few years when I couldn't afford to buy gifts for everyone, I didn't go to the malls and for once was NOT sick with the flu over the holidays. Why cram into enclosed spaces during cold and flu season? And I refuse to do Xmas shopping when it isn't Xmas season because it's too long for me already without having to think about it in February.

[hraka]

51. Wow

:applause:

Thank you

[butterfly77]

24. You hit all of my points I was just getting ready to post something about

this stupidity. Everytime I look around these simple ass people come up with some shit to get people talking about. I was not going to respond to this Xmas thing, because I thought it would go away then I heard someone on the radio this morning having a discussion about whether or not to say xmas or happy holidays. I know that people in other countries are laughing saying those silly ass Americans are talking about this shit when the world is in turmoil. Repugs always come up with something stupid like this and Dems respond to it, who gives a damn was anyone worried about this in previous decades. We have always had different religions, races and cultures, so why are people discussing this non issue. Where are the jobs?

[mermaid]

26. Ah...But, Don't You See...

We aren't supposed to NOTICE the real issues. It's a motherfucking red herring, and the stupid asses among us go chasing after another false scent. I agree...WHERE'S THE FUCKING JOBS!??!!?

Fuck everything else, where's the jobs??? That's what I wanna know.

Damn, that just got me an idea for a fucking TV commercial...

We could have a picture of America on the screen, and a Clara Peller lookalike can open the United States, like a hamburger bun, and say, "Where's the jobs?!?!"

And then in print at the bottom of the screen, "Vote Democratic!!"

[imouttahere]

31. I love it, Mermaid!

pitch it to Howard Dean.

[Johnny Noshoes]

35. That would be a good ad.

Its straight forward, simple, and has a catchy easy to remember tag line -- worked for Wendys.

[butterfly77]

34. You hit it right on the nose...

because that is where the jobs are, in fast food.

[xxqqqzme]

27. Though I'd throw this N2 the mix -

Yesterday, as I walked past a surf shop, in big letters, painted on the window it said 'PEACE and MERRY EVERYTHING"

I love surfer dudes!

[lonestarnot]

29. My front yard has a plastic blow up tree with a blue angel next to a sign

that says "Can't be all you can be if you're dead," captioning a yellow pissing elephant. War on Christmas is on.

[hraka]

52. And no one's vandalized it?

Great visual, though. thanks!

[AnnieBW]

28. Excellent!

A song keeps running through my head that we used to sing at the Christian camp that I went to: "And they'll know that we're Christians by our love." A lot of Christ's love is in short supply these days. :P

[imouttahere]

32. I feel more love from non-christians these days....

because too often christian love comes with a prerequisite.

[classof56]

48. Wow--I have been thinking about that song a lot lately.

"We will walk together, we will walk hand in hand, and they'll know we are Christians by our love." I spent many, many of the growing up and younger years in fundie churches and occasionally witnessed some pretty incredible "church fights" as they called them. Won't go into detail, but that song would run through my mind. You are absolutely right--Christ's love is in short supply among those who wail the loudest about how "trod upon" Christians are. It's one reason I no longer attend church--the lack of love and the raving right wing political rhetoric just got to be too much. They epitomize just what Jesus WOULDN'T do, and yet they just don't get it.

To the OP: Great post. I'm printing and filing away for future reference. Thanks, HK!

Tired Old Cynic

[whathappened]

33. great post

these traders to our country just keep coming out of the wood work , when will this nite mare end

[Number9Dream]

36. Well said... & bookmarked

HK... Permission to paraphrase for a LTTE?

[Maven]

38. By all means...I'm sure there's more you can add.

But I wanted to get the general idea across.

[drm604]

37. This needs to be disseminated.

This is great. I'd love to hear this read by people like Keith Olberman, Jack Cafferty, and all of the various AAR hosts. It should be sent to email lists, and sent as a response to right-wing diatribes about the "war on Christmas" we receive from friends and family. It could be posted on various blogs (even right-wing ones). It can be posted it on church bulletin boards and published in newsletters. It can be sent as letters to the editor. Maybe we can all collaborate, add some things to it, then agree on a final version to go out to the media.

[insanity]

39. with HKs permission we should

Put this out to the masses. Everyone needs to understand what this war is really about.

[Maven]

40. I'm all for it...

There have already been other points made in this thread, e.g., the GM closings, GLBT partners kept apart, etc.

[Nitrogenica]

41. This may sound selfish but it's really not...I do know that

in New Orleans etc there are people much worse off than me, however today I filled up the van, and yes, money comes out of my Christmas gift fund and goes right into my gas tank, 20 more dollars this week, 20 last week, 20 next week. This may not seem like much to those who have the benefit of being so wealthy they get that welfare check from *'s tax cuts, however to me and my family this is a lot of money.We are not even figuring in the rising cost of heat this Winter.

This is inflation, even though the White House is saying "what inflation, we know nothing".They don't care because it's us at the bottom who struggle more because of it. As long as the rich folks feel they are doing better than they ever had, they don't give a rats ass about us.

Unfortunately a small percentage of the wealthy are "Small Business Owners", that's the justification they keep force feeding us without revealing that truth, that actually most people who get the huge tax welfare checks are filthy, stinking rich.

I hate them all. Then the accuse Liberals of a war on Christmas, to continue their policy of divide and conquer. They will alienate most Americans as their greed blinds them and those of us at the bottom suffer.

[Miss Chybil]

42. Amen. Merry F'n Christmas, Bill O'Reilly. Merry F'n Christmas to you! nt

[SammyBlue]

43. Fantastic post. . .eloquently stated, not like how I would say it

I couldn't agree with you more!

[pinto]

44. Yeah....great post. Thanks.

[MODemocrat]

45. War on Christmas is of their own making

The right wingers and their pea brains, play to the weak and innocent people, strictly to distract from the real issues as you state in your great post. Not wishing any of them bad luck, necessarily, but it's really too bad some of them don't have to go through some tough times. They couldn't survive.
I'm tired (as a taxpayer) of having to pay their huge salaries only to have them making even more money and making their political statements by appearing on all the right-slanted talk shows. They are a mindless and sick bunch. How in the world can anyone vote the REPUBLICAN ticket and live with their conscience?
Let us call our tree what we want to call it; after all, we paid for it, and leave us alone about the seasons greetings we choose; They can call their's what they want to call it, but leave me to hell alone. If and when they get up every morning and go to work in my place and stead, then they just might tell me how I should celebrate the holidays...but not until. Go straight to hell you worthless pieces of work. :boring: :boring: :thumbsdown:

[gibbyman]

46. Amen Brother

Not just Amen But AAAF******King MEN

[Raksha]

47. Congratulations...you absolutely nailed it!

This deserves the widest circulation possible. I am going to post it on another forum (with link) for the edification of some particularly brain-dead kool-aid drinkers. If it doesn't make them actually start THINKING for a change, nothing will.

[Lisa]

53. don't forget the troops who are crying inside because their pets ...

... have been taken from them, even euthanized, because when a soldier is deployed overseas, there is no time to find homes for the beloved dogs, cats, budgies, fish, etc. except maybe an animal shelter (if they are lucky).

If a fraction of the people who are driving around with "support the troops" stickers and US flags on their cars, giving the finger to anybody who wishes them "Happy Holidays", could take in a soldier's pet ... permanently or until the owner comes home ... imagine what a difference it could make. What would it be like for someone stuck in a hell-hole, watching their friends getting hurt or killed, and seeing the Iraqi people suffering and dying -- if that person could open an e-mail or an envelope from home, and see a picture of his/her pet safe and happy with an adopted family? Knowing that in a few months, s/he will back in the States, and that no matter what one has seen or done, at least the dog or cat will still be happy to see you!

In my case, it would probably mean the difference between sanity and a nervous breakdown.

There's a folk belief that on Christmas Eve, animals are able to talk. What do you think they would say to us? "Where has mommy/daddy gone? What's going to happen to me?"


p.s. If I were living in the States and had my own place -- actually, I would GET my own place, with lots of room, until this war is over, even if I have to go into debt -- and open a free animal boarding place for military families. Doesn't matter if they voted Dem or GOP.

[mermaid]

58. Oh, That Is SWEET!

An awesome idea...and who more deserving than our beloved animals?

If I could do it, I would, too! Imagine. Because I know if anyone ever took my puppy away from me, and I'd never get to see her again, I'd be a complete basket case.

Incidentally, my avatar is a picture of my sweet baby, Lyric.
She's a black lab/german shepherd mix...fifty-five pounds of love and a wagging tail!

[Misunderestimator]

54. Well said!

:thumbsup:

[blossomstar]

55. Thank you for your post!

How very well worded. Thank you for expressing our thoughts so nicely!

[Donkeykick]

56. Yes...

Tell it like it is my friend!:headbang: :yourock:

[hootinholler]

59. Last year

was my turn for the 9 months unemployment. This year was spent treading water. Maybe next year I can get back where I was 3 years ago. I'm not that hopeful it will happen, but try I must.

-Hoot

[nomatrix]

60. Since we got all these feeling stirred up for the troops

could you take a minute to drop by AnySoldier.com
and click on the link where to send.

A list of name will appear on the left and you can pick a name from that list by last e-mail, service branch, country, etc.
Pick one and the box to the right will change with that service man or woman's name.
They are usually the one who will hand out the card or package you send.

Be prepared to cry.

One hospital unit was asking if you could send old sweatshirts, pant or shorts because when they are brought in and that is all they have with them.
When cut off their clothes, they are lucky to have a hospital gown.
Also for the locals, children, etc.

They also asked for something to take their mind off what they have seen, but especially, to let them know they are not forgotten.
Take one minute to digest that thought.

No matter what crap exists in your life, there is no hell as bad as

hearing the cries,
seeing the horror of innocent children & soldiers,
and trying to stop the bleeding....
and at the end of this day nothing to take your mind off of that because you can still smell it.
You live in it 24/7, and being away from your family, and repeated deployments, some for 3 years.

NO ONE SIGNED UP FOR THAT.
They want to be there for their fellow soldiers and to do what they can to help the others.

They just asked, if you could, send a picture, even of your dog, a child's drawing.....

They said you don't know how much it means to see a soldier get mail. Tears in their eyes when something arrives.

It cost the same to send a card or a letter as it does in the states. 37 cents. Stamps are going up next week.

You don't have to send a box but if you want to,
pick up the boxes at the post office for flat rate $7.70 to ship.
Yes, there is a custom form to fill out. You can get it online. All instructions are there at the site.
I'll find out tomorrow if it can be sent without going into the post office. Most have the automated parcel postage when the P.O. is closed.

There's also beef jerky, and other things that can be sent that are advertised on the site under what to send. I'm not advertising.

No $$$ for commercial christmas this year. It is going there.
I have boxes filled with goodies, forms filled out, ready to ship.
I have never had a better feeling about christmas or what I can do to save a soldiers life.
They have enough dispair.
They are doing everything possible to keep their moral up.
Don't you think, they know what is going on and can't talk about it?

It is an exercise to think of positive things to write.
Find your funny bone. I make a joke of the "war on christmas" only the journalist have been deployed, etc. Magazines. You'll find plenty of suggestions.

You know they get RW mail with the talking points. How about we find a way to counter it by just letting them know that we have not forgotten them.

End sunday sermon.

http://anysoldier.com/WhereToSend/

Edit to add link.

[OldYeller]

61. Economy

Ask any American who's been unemployed for nine months this year thanks to our "steadily rising" economy how merry their Christmas will be.

Funny - you're implying that something's wrong with the economy. But as you should've learned in Econ 101, the current unemployment rate - five percent - is considered "full employment." Further, the inflation rate is low, and growth is high. It seems like you think that every person should always have a job available. But that's impossible. Countries you admire - Sweden, Spain, etc. - actually PAY people not to work. Their unemployment rates, once this is taken into account, are FIVE TIMES ours. And in Sweden, the minority unemployment rate is above 50 percent.

[OldYeller]

62. Iraq

Or, more importantly, why don't we ask the thousands of parents, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, and best friends who won't spend this Christmas with someone they love. Or, for that matter, any other Christmas. Ever. Because that person died by bullet or bomb, thousands of miles away, in a place they should never have been sent. Every kid who was deprived of a parent will grow up knowing that other more fortunate kids weren't. Those kids' parents had the luxury of "other priorities."

Now ask any of these people if they give a damn about what the BUSHES put on their STUPID HOLIDAY CARDS. I dare you.

There was recently a poll political attitudes of those in the military. Sixty-six percent identified themselves as Republicans, and only 10 percent as Democrats. So I'm sure many in the military - perhaps even the majority - think the Iraq War is justified, given how most people agree with their party on everything.

[rucky]

63. In my county - in December alone:

Layoffs announced at:

Copeland
Delphi
Panasonic
Northstar

those are just the biggies that made the news. it's pretty grim here in SW Ohio.

[Name removed]

64. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Nobody]

67. GM is laying off 30,000 workers

And in my community alone, an entire plant is closing.

Guess when the layoff plans were announced? Good old December, during the annual spendfest. If you want to be Pollyanna about it, maybe they should be thankful they were told BEFORE they ran out and spent money they weren't going to be able to earn in 2006.

If the economy is growing, were you aware that the jobs being added are low-wage jobs, many are part time or temporary? These are what's replacing the full-time, living wage plus jobs that were shipped offshore. Maybe the unemployment rate is deceptively low because people are working more than two jobs, like some three-job friends of mine who still don't have health care and are still struggling to pay the rent.

[rucky]

68. crunch the numbers all you want.

come to my town and look for a job that you can support your family on.

yes, I have one. But I also have eyes, ears and empathy.

[Nobody]

65. Ever notice this?

Most layoffs happen right before (or during) the annual Season of Greed spendfest? With what money are they supposed to prop up the economy? Oh wait a minute, they're supposed to prop up the retailers AND the credit card companies as they spend money they don't have and can't get any time soon.

I for one am so sick of seeing the "X Shopping Days Left" signs and hearing Season of Greed songs about shopping (Silver Bells, anyone?)

Bah! I am so trying to opt out. This year the one thing I'm buying is a plane ticket.

[chat_noir]

66. a little levity for a very sad and serious thread

Twas the month before Christmas

And as I lit candles,

Conservatives stirred -

They were onto a scandal.

"They want to kill Christmas!"

Came the cry from the right:

"They want to axe Bethlehem

And O! Holy Night!

"They're after the Christ child

And Joseph and Mary

And shepherds and wise men;

These liberals are scary."

Who? I said. Who

Is behind these cruel plots?

"Well, we're not really sure,

But we heard it on Fox.

"Fox fair and balanced;

Esteemed, and most highly.

We're not really sure -

It was prob'ly O'Reilly."

So I grabbed the remote

And clicked over to Fox

And there snarled O'Reilly.

(Imagine my shock):

"The liberals, the commies,

The A.C.L.U.

They want to steal Christmas

From me and from you.

They say 'Happy Holidays'

And acknowledge the Jews

By throwing in Hannukah."

I was really confused.

"And what's this with Kwanzaa?"

The O'Reilly elf said.

"Some guy made it up,

Made it up from whole cloth.

And somewhere the pagans

Are worshipping trees

And Muslims turn eastward

On rugs on their knees."

"The Democrats did it,"

He said with a roar.

"It was Kerry and Biden

And Clinton and Gore."

And then with a smirk

He fired heavy artillery:

"If you want my opinion,

I bet it was Hillary."

I sat there in silence,

Stunned in my jammies.

My pulse was just racing

My hands were all clammy.

Who can save Christmas

From plots so barbaric

That turn Jesus' birthday

To a season generic?

What will happen to Christmas?

Should I recycle my creche?

And toss out John's gospel

'Bout Word become flesh?

Should I toss out the angels?

They could get me arrested.

I was, lo, sore afraid

And my soul greatly tested.

Who will save Christmas?

George W. Bush?

Who will save Christmas

When shove comes to push?

We could call the Marines

But they've all been assigned.

This disaster needs FEMA.

Oh . . . never mind.

Then I heard a weird jingling

From somewhere in back

And grabbed for the pistol

I'm licensed to pack.

I pulled back the slide

And quick chambered a round

And yelled out "Freeze dirtbag!

Don't dare make a sound!"

The guy, he was balding

And wore a blue suit.

He was driving a pickup

That said "Brown & Root."

His eyes they were squinting,

His voice, slightly nervous

Said, "Richard B. Cheney.

I'm here, at your service."

I was stunned at the sight

Of the man who's the veep.

And I thought I was dreaming,

In some weird right-wing sleep.

I heard him cough softly

Then say, "It's not fiction.

"First Comet is venison.

"And next I'll shoot Vixen."

"I killed off the reindeer,"

He softly exhaled.

"And I sent Santa off

To a black CIA jail.

This secular nonsense,

We'll end it, right quick.

I've got other priorities

Or my name's not St. Dick."

He said, "Christmas's really

Just all about loot

You can stuff in your bag

And then dis-t'-ri-bute

To friends and to donors

And pals who are cronies,

It's not about children

Or Democrat phonies.

"The trick that I've learned,"

St. Dick said like a Scrooge,

"Is avoiding the blame.

Instead, get you a stooge,

So the stooge takes the heat

As you make dead certain

That the goodies pile up

Inside Halliburton."

"So we'll blame it on liberals,

And commies and gays.

We'll blame it on Democrats

And folks who don't pray."

We've got Bill O'Reilly

To stir up the base

While we haul all our loot

To an undisclosed place."

Then he turned with a wink,

Jumped back into his pickup.

He nodded his head

And then said with a hiccup:

"I'll tell you one thing

Gives me great satisfaction:

'The liberals stole Christmas'

Is a dandy distraction."


By Kevin Horrigan
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/columnists.nsf/kevinhorrigan/story/E8305343DEC2EAA3862570D300385EE2?OpenDocument

[raccoon]

69. Great post. nt

[PATRICK]

70. To think that the Winter Solstice

mythos is the sole creation and vital property of the Christian religion is to ignore all truth in all forms. The real and essential and earliest core of the Christian liturgical year is Holy Week. The birth of Christ whatever it's chronological or Incarnational virtues is a much later defensive idea that grew with its own humanizing charm(One can't stress enough the word "humanizing")."Christmas" came much later as did concern for the meaning of Christ's early years and other elements of humanity ignored and abused by the same kind of exclusionist zealots as afflict us today. The de-humanizers.

The winter's solstice creates a darkness and lessening of light, that despite being cyclical never fails to create a sense of depression and fear that the light might not return. Every religion responds to that insofar as it is in tune with nature's cycles. It is most like pre-religious anyway. Not unusually, Christians lump their teachings about the end times and "darkness before Christ" altogether to match the mood of the season. Is the winter solstice a sacrament? Is spring? Is harvest time? All can be celebrated and are by any people with any and all facet of their culture. The fact that capitalism itself plays out the "buying against the dark" despite the natural lethargy of the shopping weather is just another element.

Who wants to wage war against the winter solstice or any cultural or faith attachment thereto? I don't particularly. Any complaints against capitalism are purely seasonal. Any adherence to Christianity has very little to do with nature religion. The wise capitalist winter solstice celebrant will be better attuned to the season by buying flashlights, batteries, a new furnace, alternative energy sources, giving to the needy etc. But the element one might criticize is the INSANE rebellion against the vicissitudes of winter by wasteful revels, overspending, overeating, trivial and unnecessary and dark pursuits that in some degree might like a worship of the dark and a lust for the death of light if they weren't so good-hearted and silly.

But Christmas has become another word degraded by the foul lips of liars and RW hounds who need it to serve their increasingly dark purposes, to swallow the light not of the sun but of young democracy. A stupid gimmick because nature as well as religion is thus allowed to symbolically point to their inevitable defeat. So damned silly.

[redqueen]

71. Thanks... that is wonderful.

:thumbsup:

:kick:

[they are lying]

72. Mike Malloy

I was listening to Mike Malloy(Air America) last night and he read your letter. He was wondering aloud if it was THE Harvey Korman.
Just wanted to let you know your thoughts are getting heard. Yeah!