Who's leading this latest attack on christmas? According to Donohue, it's the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). Could that possibly be true -- a christian organization waging war on christmas? Have these christians joined with Satan in attacking christmas? Donohue thinks so.
The 14th Street McBurney YMCA has replaced Santa Claus at their popular holiday luncheon. They replaced the jolly old elf with another holiday character -- Frosty the Snowman. John Rappaport, executive director of the McBurney YMCA said, "It wasn't replacing; it was transitioning. We realized that change is sometimes good, and that Frosty is a great winter character who would appeal to a broader number of kids."
But Donohue's not buying it. He says, "Christmas is not about Jack Frost; it's not about snowmen. We're not talking about some secular organization that has no religious roots. If they can't celebrate christmas, then they should check out. What a bunch of cowards."
Maybe someone should inform Donohue that Santa is not in the Bible. He's a secular character (like Frosty the Snowman) that was invented for the enjoyment of children -- and everyone over the age of 10 (except maybe Donohue) knows that he doesn't exist. To equate replacing Santa with Frosty as an attack on christmas is just stupid.
This was not an attack on christmas or christianity, although it could be a well-aimed shot at Bill Donohue (and that wouldn't be a bad thing).
Thanks for a refreshing take on that ridiculous story - I thought anyone could see right through the NY Post & Fox News - but it seems either they all believe what they read no matter what the spin is... Or trashing a great community organization is more fun. Either way - it's sad that so much bad press was given to an event who's real main focus was FAMILIES!
ReplyDelete"Maybe someone should inform Donohue that Santa is not in the Bible."
ReplyDeleteMaybe someone should inform Ted that Roman Catholicism consists not only of the Bible, but also church tradition, to include veneration of the saints.
"He's a secular character (like Frosty the Snowman) that was invented for the enjoyment of children -- and everyone over the age of 10 (except maybe Donohue) knows that he doesn't exist."
Ted, you're over the age of 60, and yet you don't seem to know that the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Saint Nikolaos of Myra (aka Saint Nicholas; aka Santa Claus) was not an invented secular character, but a Greek bishop who lived from about 270 A.D. to December 6, 343 A.D.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia article on this historical religious figure.
The Santa Claus of 2010 may have been so secularized over the centuries as to render him indistinguishable from Frosty the Snowman, but to say that he never existed is simply not true.
Not being Catholic, it doesn't affect me too much to see Santa Claus replaced by Frosty the Snowman, but I can see how it might bother Donohoe that a vestige of his church's tradition is being equated with a snowman.
CT-
ReplyDeleteI was expecting someone to try that argument, but no one celebrates any fourth century Bishop. The modern Santa Claus has about as much to do with the Catholic saint as I do with European royalty. Did the Bishop traverse the world in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer, enter children's homes by coming down the chimney, and live at the North Pole? No, Santa Claus is a fictional secular character.
You'll notice I did concede that "[t]he Santa Claus of 2010 [has] been so secularized over the centuries as to render him indistinguishable from Frosty the Snowman."
ReplyDeleteMy biggest gripe about the "war on Christmas" are the people who think nothing of breaking every taboo known to man, yet cringe at having to utter the dreaded "C-word." I'm happy to see that you have no compunction about referring to this season as "Christmas."
(cont'd)
In December 1990, while living in Monterey, California, I made the following observation in a letter to the editor of a free newspaper called "Coasting." Some of the examples are dated (back then, everybody knew the "Shirley" I was referring to was Shirley McClaine), but I think the basic premise can still be seen.
ReplyDeleteHere's the letter:
"It seems that society has made great strides in recent years toward 'pushing the envelope': flag burning, the Maplethorpe exhibit, 2 Live Crew, the Madonna video. But there's still one taboo that just doesn't want to go away. This taboo rears its head every year in the month of December. I'll call it the 'C-word.'"
"Like most taboos, people find many ways to avoid this socially unacceptable utterance. For example, they use euphemisms, such as 'Happy Holidays,' or if they don't want to refer to the C-word as a Holy Day, they'll wish you 'Season's Greetings.' Some use foreign phrases, like 'Noel' or 'Yuletide.' So offensive is the dreaded C-word that the ACLU will rush to the defense of anyone whose sensibilities have been bruised by it. City councils have to erect warning signs, lest their citizens construe tolerance of the mere symbols of the C-word as tacit endorsement."
"Why all the hub-bub about one little word in this enlightened age of tolerance? That's simple. The C-word is more shocking than fisting or water sports, more threatening than bisexuality, menage a trois, or even violent sex. This word, more than any other, boldly dares to say, 'No Shirley, you're not God. You're not even close. As a matter of fact, you missed the mark so badly I had to come to earth to pay for the difference. And while we're on the subject, stop misquoting me. I said "Be still and know that I am God"(not you!).' In short, the C-word has been a stumbling block for more than a hundred generations of Pharisees."
"Hopefully, by next December we will have evolved enough as a society to tolerate even this most outrageous of words. But I doubt it."
Well, here we are, 20 years later, and some people still can't quite shed those inhibitions.
Merry Christmas, Ted.
I'm not afraid of the word, but seldom use it. Christmas is a secular winter holiday to me, and I celebrate the Santa/Frosty part of it - not the religious part. And. . .
ReplyDeleteA Happy Winter Solstice Holiday to you!
Just popping in to say nice site.
ReplyDelete