Merry politics

Merry politics to whomever wrote this and sent it out as one of those endlessly forwarded e-mails. And apologies to the author, as well, because I changed the salutations from “Democrats” for the first salutation and “Republicans” for the second. I like my version better.

To those who put politics above the meaning and value of Christmas:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2010, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wish-ee.


To everyone else:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Obama - World statesman

President Obama mesmerized me with his speech this morning in Cairo. His brilliant eloquence was matched only by his depth, decency, fairness and honesty. He wasn’t throwing punches or politically charged air balls. I am proud of him and for the fact that he demonstrated that - for the first time in decades - America has picked a man worthy of world leadership.

No sooner did he finish and the first news reports hit the Internet than the crazies began hitting on him, twisting his words and belittling the level of statesmanship exhibited this morning - world statesmanship that no other U.S. President in my adult lifetime has ever aspired to.

Likely, Christian zealots will also take aim at the man who would dare to recognize the rights and validity of other religions.

I agree with the person (Roger-356271) who commented on the MSNBC report:

“Just as our own (citizens) will now distort what was said, other Countries will experience the same ... (but) we do not have to look at other Countries to find ignorance. Both those that are paid to distort, and whose job depends on division, will find a fault in wording or party politics ...”

Those who agree with our President should take a moment to let him know. Write to him at this link.

Where is George Carlin now?

The famous comedian that media can't quit remembering was someone I forgot many years ago. I didn't like him and I didn't respect his ideas.

Still, I was drawn to a column about Carlin that appeared on the Newsweek web site this morning. In it Claire Hoffman wondered where the man now resides who called religion "easily the greatest (b.s.) story ever told," and claimed that when a person dies 'his soul gets flung onto a roof, and just stays there..."

Yeah. I wonder where George Carlin is spending his time these days?

Merry Christmas, and good news!

I have an amicable Christmas Day media report to make: Both the Advocate and the Dispatch projected their Christmas editorials as truly Christian, especially the Advocate because it seemed to be more to the real point of Christmas than did the Columbus competition.

But by far the most praise-worthy media events of the Christmas editions were the ads in both papers by Hobby Lobby, whose reputation for classy ways to communicate the meaning of Christian holidays reigns supreme, in my view. Though today's ad isn't included there yet, you can go to Hobby Lobby's library of these ads, which date back to 1997 by clicking on this link.

So yes, Virginia, Christ's birthday is still a matter for celebration by some of the mass media gatekeepers. For folks like me who often complain about their performance, it's a pleasure to bend the other way this Christmas day.

Stuff your Chrismukkah

American Family Association puts it this way: "Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic are owned by the same company. And all three boycott Christmas. At these stores, Christmas isn't allowed because a handful of non-Christians are offended. Old Navy doesn't want to offend non-Christians. But they sure don't worry about offending Christians ... Old Navy even makes a joke of Christmas by offering video greetings called "Happy Chrismukkah."

AFA also called out names of Target, Kroger, Office Max, Walgreens, Sears, Staples, Lowe's, J.C. Penney, Dell and Best Buy for omitting Christmas in their advertising.

Well, just like President Bush's Christmas cards. Just like many of the Christmas cards I've received this year. No Christmas, thank you. Don't want to offend, you see.

Dix Burke writing in the Dispatch letters column has the best idea yet for anyone who is "offended by the name of Jesus Christ, the word Christmas, Christian symbols, etc. The initial step would be to notify their employers immediately that they are petitioning for the right to work on Dec. 25 when it falls on a normal workday because they are offended by having to take the day off to celebrate the birthday of someone in whom they don't believe." Same with gifting, feasting, decorating, all of which would relieve the pressure from businesses "loathe to have to say Merry Christmas ..."

Amen.

Jews need perfecting, says Ann Coulter

At present, when Christians can scarcely bring themselves to publicly talk about religion for fear of being considered politically incorrect, for fear of offending someone who would disagree, along comes my fav commentator and not only declares her Christianity, but goes back to the basic stuff that sets Christians apart from Jews.

Ann keeps growing on me. She may go over the edge, but she never fails to make me think, and oftentimes to jerk me out of my comfort zone. All Christians should be this brave.

As for her thesis about Jews, she didn't mean it to be offensive, nor should Jews be offended by it.

Editor and Publisher staff wrote a report on her recent interview with Donny Deutsch and I have archived it here, with a link to the E&P web site.