Australia-bound tourist ends up in Montana
This is one of those times where one just has to laugh.
Category Archives: Media/TV
The Supposed “War on Christmas”
OK… let’s get a couple things straight here.
[-] There is not a vast left-wing conspiracy to secularize Christmas.Â? At least, there isn’t a conspiracy to secularize it any more than it already is.
[-] Not every person on this planet celebrates Christmas.Â? Thus, “Happy Holidays” is sometimes the better choice, especially since you normally can’t tell who is Jewish or Wiccan at this time of year.
[-] There is no religious significance to a Christmas tree.Â? There is nothing Scriptural about it.Â? It’s a pagan custom that was integrated into Christianity and is now a secular part of the holidays.Â? Ditto with the yule log, miseltoe, and holly.
Having said that, I’d like to tell my fundie Christian and Orthodox Jewish blogging friends who are up in arms over the holiday trees being taken down at Sea-Tac to CALM DOWN.Â? Sea-Tac was *not* trying to discriminate against the Chabad rabbi who requested permission to put up an electric menorah.Â? Likewise, taking the trees down was not an assault on Christmas — rather, it was trying to neutralize the situation because there was a lawsuit being threatened.
To the rabbi who started this mess: your timing was not good.Â? With the increased holiday traffic going through Sea-Tac, getting the menorah up would have been a logistical nightmare.Â? If you had gone to them in October and asked, I think the board of directors would have been more than happy to accomodate you.
Sea-Tac has actually said that they will start figuring out a way to exhibit holiday symbols for all religions celebrating December holidays next year.Â? Maybe the rabbi could work with the board on that, maybe donate a small menorah so that there could be a display that includes a creche, an Advent wreath, a menorah, some kinte cloth, and a yule log or something?
Or… perhaps we could find some neutral decorations like a wreath in a peace sign with candles since this is a season where we’re all praying for peace.
Let’s just please not make this a season of lawsuits and backbiting over whether it’s more appropriate to say “Happy Holidays” or “Merry Christmas”.
World AIDS Day
They Get A Cookie
On Countdown, Keith Olbermann told us about the decision of NBC and MSNBC to refer to the conflict in Iraq as a “civil war”.
And lo didst the heavens open and a voice wast heard to be saying “DUHHHHHH!!!!!!!”
(Apparently, the current administration hasn’t gotten a clue yet.)
An Ancient Muse
The new Loreena McKennitt CD is out and it is very good. I’m listening on Napster and it is on my Amazon.Com wishlist. (Hint. Hint.)Â? My favorite song thus far is “Penelope’s Song”.
Stephen Colbert
Saying that he has mad skillz is putting it lightly…
(If only all Sunday school teachers were that entertaining!)
HT: Rick of Capezza
Olbermann!!!!!!!!!
Countdown had some interesting stories last night:
- Apparently, heckler-wrangling will decide the senatorial race in Virginia.Â? You’d think a senator would be happy that a constituent was so interested in finding out about them!
- Why does Ann Coulter have to dress like such a slut?Â? You’d think someone that conservative would avoid the “little black dress” route.Â? She looks positively skanky at best!Â? Oh yeah… there’s also that voting fraud thing.Â? Oh let me guess… I’m a traitor for questioning her love of democracy?
Silly right-wing wackos!
Oh yeah… there’s also Bush’s super secret plan in Iraq!