10 replies to this topic

[Elf Hermey]

Over the past four weeks DefendChristmas.com has received a steady stream of threats about anti-Christmas protests and activities in 2012. This is the earliest such threats have been received. The threats center around some of the most noteworthy events in the media’s declared “war on Christmas” from last year from nativity scenes on public lands in California and Texas and to Christian-themed displays in Warren, Michigan.

“We receive word of planned protests all the time,” noted Jeff Westover of My Merry Christmas.com, a sister site to DefendChristmas.com. “But what makes these notices unique is that they are coming so early in the year, they appear to be coordinated and we’re receiving them through multiple sites in our network. Someone out there wants people to know Christmas 2012 will be anything but peaceful.”

Two events seemed to dominate the season of 2011: a famous annual display in Santa Monica, California was displaced in 2011 and replaced by a largely atheist-themed holiday display. A traditional nativity scene was included in that display but it was considerably smaller and notably located far from its usual prominent spot. City officials there said the organizations behind that change either filed late or were simply picked last in a lottery that determined display placement.

Another high-profile event of 2011 was about a nativity display on a courthouse lawn in Athens, Texas where national news organizations provided coverage when thousands of Christians rallied to support the display. The Freedom from Religion Foundation lost that battle and many of the emails coming in claim they will not be denied in 2012.

“The Texas display is the one that still keeps the email flowing,” Westover confirms. “Election year politics are usually blamed for an increase in anti-Christmas sentiment and this year it will be worse because of so many anti-religious ties in the political discourse. With the President’s controversial proposals requring religious-based employers to provide abortion and contraceptive services in insurance plans the anti-religion rhetoric is at an all-time high and we expect that to carry over into Christmas in a bigger way in 2012.”

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[Santa Jim T]

It is to bad that there is so much hate in the world and a few always seem to ruin it for the rest of us. These people who provoke and destroy think that they are right but they are dead wrong. They must have been so hurt and deprived as children that they want it poisoned for everyone else. Take a stand and continue being Santa don't let anyone take that from you and God come quickly and right this terrible wrong.

[RIP]

<div class="plus-one-wrap"><g:plusone href="http://defendchristm...e></div><p>Over the past four weeks DefendChristmas.com has received a steady stream of threats about anti-Christmas protests and activities in 2012. This is the earliest such threats have been received. The threats center around some of the most noteworthy events in the media’s declared “war on Christmas” from last year from nativity scenes on public lands in California and Texas and to Christian-themed displays in Warren, Michigan. </p><p>“We receive word of planned protests all the time,” noted Jeff Westover of <a href="http://mymerrychristmas.com" target="_blank">My Merry Christmas.com</a>, a sister site to DefendChristmas.com. “But what makes these notices unique is that they are coming so early in the year, they appear to be coordinated and we’re receiving them through multiple sites in our network. Someone out there wants people to know Christmas 2012 will be anything but peaceful.”</p><p>Two events seemed to dominate the season of 2011: a famous annual display in Santa Monica, California was displaced in 2011 and replaced by a largely atheist-themed holiday display. A traditional nativity scene was included in that display but it was considerably smaller and notably located far from its usual prominent spot. City officials there said the organizations behind that change either filed late or were simply picked last in a lottery that determined display placement. </p><p>Another high-profile event of 2011 was about a nativity display on a courthouse lawn in Athens, Texas where national news organizations provided coverage when thousands of Christians rallied to support the display. The Freedom from Religion Foundation lost that battle and many of the emails coming in claim they will not be denied in 2012.</p><p>“The Texas display is the one that still keeps the email flowing,” Westover confirms. “Election year politics are usually blamed for an increase in anti-Christmas sentiment and this year it will be worse because of so many anti-religious ties in the political discourse. With the President’s controversial proposals requring religious-based employers to provide abortion and contraceptive services in insurance plans the anti-religion rhetoric is at an all-time high and we expect that to carry over into Christmas in a bigger way in 2012.” </p>

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This piece is just so plain puzzling, I can't help but respond to it. Who, other than perhaps publications by known Atheist groups, is the "media" that have "declared war on Christmas". I mean, you could just as easily say that the "media" has declared war on Atheists if by "media" you mean "Guideposts" or something. It's just irrational to say that Television Stations, Newspapers, and so on, that make a killing off Christmas advertising, have "declared war on Christmas". Then there is the "Atheist themed Christmas display" that has gone up in Santa Monica. I can't imagine what that could amount to, except maybe that anything without specific Christian referents is "Atheist themed". By that standard, every Mall Santa in America is participating in an "Atheist themed" display. Then there is the claim that requiring employee health coverage include contraception is anti-religious. Please, not even the Catholic clergy disagree with the need to provide this coverage for their employees. Just politicians who hope to make hay on it are still beating this dead horse. Further, the assertion that Obama's plan requires the Church to pay for not only contraception, but abortion as well... really? We would all be sick of hearing about it, IF that were true.

Look, I am a Christian, but as I have said here in other places, Christians are a shrinking portion of our national population. I don't want non-Christians to begin to force their ideas and images into my face whether I like it or not. That means that I had best afford them the same treatment as I would expect from them, should they be the majority, which if current trends continue, they will be.

[Elf Without Jingles]

Over the past four weeks DefendChristmas.com has received a steady stream of threats about anti-Christmas protests and activities in 2012. This is the earliest such threats have been received. The threats center around some of the most noteworthy events in the media’s declared “war on Christmas” from last year from nativity scenes on public lands in California and Texas and to Christian-themed displays in Warren, Michigan.

“We receive word of planned protests all the time,” noted Jeff Westover of My Merry Christmas.com, a sister site to DefendChristmas.com. “But what makes these notices unique is that they are coming so early in the year, they appear to be coordinated and we’re receiving them through multiple sites in our network. Someone out there wants people to know Christmas 2012 will be anything but peaceful.”

Two events seemed to dominate the season of 2011: a famous annual display in Santa Monica, California was displaced in 2011 and replaced by a largely atheist-themed holiday display. A traditional nativity scene was included in that display but it was considerably smaller and notably located far from its usual prominent spot. City officials there said the organizations behind that change either filed late or were simply picked last in a lottery that determined display placement.

Another high-profile event of 2011 was about a nativity display on a courthouse lawn in Athens, Texas where national news organizations provided coverage when thousands of Christians rallied to support the display. The Freedom from Religion Foundation lost that battle and many of the emails coming in claim they will not be denied in 2012.

“The Texas display is the one that still keeps the email flowing,” Westover confirms. “Election year politics are usually blamed for an increase in anti-Christmas sentiment and this year it will be worse because of so many anti-religious ties in the political discourse. With the President’s controversial proposals requring religious-based employers to provide abortion and contraceptive services in insurance plans the anti-religion rhetoric is at an all-time high and we expect that to carry over into Christmas in a bigger way in 2012.”



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I'm not gonna really respond to this story other than to say: Let's just look out for each other, and keep an eye on everything we do.

[Santa Danny]

My response would be isn't it against site rules to post political post? I know a thread was recently closed for this very reason, why is this one any different? To be clear I am referring to the original post, not any subsequent responses.

[Santa Felix]

My response would be isn't it against site rules to post political post? I know a thread was recently closed for this very reason, why is this one any different? To be clear I am referring to the original post, not any subsequent responses.

How is this political?

[Santa Danny]

Well, the last paragraph states:

"With the President’s controversial proposals requring religious-based employers to provide abortion and contraceptive services in insurance plans the anti-religion rhetoric is at an all-time high and we expect that to carry over into Christmas in a bigger way in 2012.”

That sounds political to me.

In response to that statement we have this from RIP:

"Then there is the claim that requiring employee health coverage include contraception is anti-religious. Please, not even the Catholic clergy disagree with the need to provide this coverage for their employees. Just politicians who hope to make hay on it are still beating this dead horse. Further, the assertion that Obama's plan requires the Church to pay for not only contraception, but abortion as well... really? We would all be sick of hearing about it, IF that were true."

Santa Felix can you please tell me how this is NOT political? I have a real problem with the original post and the response but I cannot repond because I honor the request of the owner not to discuss politics on this site.

[Santa Felix]

Well, the last paragraph states:

"With the President’s controversial proposals requring religious-based employers to provide abortion and contraceptive services in insurance plans the anti-religion rhetoric is at an all-time high and we expect that to carry over into Christmas in a bigger way in 2012.”

That sounds political to me.

In response to that statement we have this from RIP:

"Then there is the claim that requiring employee health coverage include contraception is anti-religious. Please, not even the Catholic clergy disagree with the need to provide this coverage for their employees. Just politicians who hope to make hay on it are still beating this dead horse. Further, the assertion that Obama's plan requires the Church to pay for not only contraception, but abortion as well... really? We would all be sick of hearing about it, IF that were true."

Santa Felix can you please tell me how this is NOT political? I have a real problem with the original post and the response but I cannot repond because I honor the request of the owner not to discuss politics on this site.

It seems to me the theme of the article is Christmas, not politics. It is true that the story includes small a political aspect, but the story is not politically themed.

I will defer to the site owner for the ultimate decision.

[Santa Felix]

And to the topic that was removed earlier, it was all about politics and absolutely nothing to do with Christmas, Santa, reindeer, etc.

[Cayman Claus]

Why are there so many "wars" these days? War on terror, ok fine. But war on guns, war on women, war on religion, war on Christians, war or Christmas? Because a few odd ducks object to something, it suddenly becomes a "war"?

Yes, it's a growing trend and a sign of the times that more and more things that we previously took for granted are now going to be challenged and contested by vocal, radical and publicity-seeking minority groups. But honestly, I think certain types of people just like to protest merely for the sake of protesting.

It seems like we're living the 60s all over again. Everything is being protested. Back then, there were such important things to protest. Now it seems that we have mercenary protesters! They'll protest just about anything. I honestly wonder if there are professional protesters who sell themselves to the highest bidder. Ok, so I don't really "honestly" wonder that, but some of this nonsense really makes me scratch my head.

While it's a shame that the "innocence" of Christmas has been tarnished, and the assumption that it would always be celebrated (or at least embraced) by "all" is no longer valid, I don't think there is any particular need to "fight back" or to seriously attempt to "defend" Christmas, or one's right to celebrate it. No sense in playing into their hands to create a "war" because all they really want to begin with is publicity; the more you fight their protests, the more traction their cause will gain.

By the way, I was completely shocked and outraged the other day when I took my car in to get an oil change and learned for the first time (while I was standing there ever so helplessly at the counter) that oil changes are not covered under my insurance policy!!! It's a war against car owners, and I'm not going to take it lying down!!!

[Michael Rielly]

My response would be isn't it against site rules to post political post? I know a thread was recently closed for this very reason, why is this one any different? To be clear I am referring to the original post, not any subsequent responses.

I'll talk to Elf Hermey about it...