Bad Santa
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer has a snarky article today about Congressman Jim McDermott voting against House Resolution 847, a bill sponsored by Representative Steve King, a Republican from Iowa, that “Acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith." John Iwasaki, who wrote the piece, as well as hundreds of blowhards on the paper’s “Sound-Off” feature, subtly or not-so-subtly accuse McDermott of some sort of anti-Christian bias, especially since he voted in favor of House Resolutions acknowledging the start of the Muslim holiday Ramadan, and the Hindu holiday Diwali and, as Representative King points out, will also be taking Christmas Day off, with pay.
Puh-leeze.
Aside from the fact that the resolutions for which McDermott voted were simply acknowledging the holidays, while King’s resolution goes much farther, to “acknowledge(s) and support(s) the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization,” isn’t it time our elected officials stopped trying to whip up some sort of holy war over a holiday that has way more to do with celebrating consumerism than Christianity?
Christmas, in spite of its name, is—at least as its celebrated here in the US—has about as much to do with Jesus as butter-flavored popcorn has to do with butter. To suggest, therefore, that there is some sort of “war” on Christmas means simply you haven’t looked at a newspaper, watched TV, or received any catalogues in the mail for months.
Moreover, it’s hardly the case that Christianity is under any sort of siege in this country; you’ve got politicians and public figures crawling all over themselves to prove that they go to church and worship the God of the New Testament.
I’d like to see a House Resolution acknowledging a holiday for and the contributions of people who aren’t known best for their piety: how about Superbowl Sunday and folks like Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, and Johnnie Walker?
Puh-leeze.
Aside from the fact that the resolutions for which McDermott voted were simply acknowledging the holidays, while King’s resolution goes much farther, to “acknowledge(s) and support(s) the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization,” isn’t it time our elected officials stopped trying to whip up some sort of holy war over a holiday that has way more to do with celebrating consumerism than Christianity?
Christmas, in spite of its name, is—at least as its celebrated here in the US—has about as much to do with Jesus as butter-flavored popcorn has to do with butter. To suggest, therefore, that there is some sort of “war” on Christmas means simply you haven’t looked at a newspaper, watched TV, or received any catalogues in the mail for months.
Moreover, it’s hardly the case that Christianity is under any sort of siege in this country; you’ve got politicians and public figures crawling all over themselves to prove that they go to church and worship the God of the New Testament.
I’d like to see a House Resolution acknowledging a holiday for and the contributions of people who aren’t known best for their piety: how about Superbowl Sunday and folks like Jack Daniels, Jim Beam, and Johnnie Walker?
posted by Professor Dave at 10:28 AM
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