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OliversArmy
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
Now this is a war that should win somebody a Nobel Peace Prize.
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Mean_Ol_Liberal
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
If, in Israel, these ranters are taken as seriously as the "War on Christmas" morons in the US are, then I'd love to be forwarding this biz onto every right wing Fundie loon in the country.

If these guys are given more weight in Israel, then...ick. Like that country doesn't have enough problems?
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Mediahohoho
12/10/09

@Mean_Ol_Liberal: It's actually pretty fascinating how similar the mindsets of the two groups are. For either group, acknowledgment of / celebrating with "the other" (or opting out of such celebration) is considered threatening to the diety, which in both cases is believed to be, ironically enough, omnipotent. Omnipotent, but apparently helpless in the face of such outrageous ... tolerance. Say wha?
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Mean_Ol_Liberal
12/10/09

@Mediahohoho: My very thoughts! How in the world is a mere recognition of the existence of another faith such a big-ass threat?

And in this case, it's not even a religious symbol, though it is one associated exclusively with Christians, if not Christianity.

To give these Israeli loons some reluctant props, though. They ARE raging against a big, ol' loud symbol that is meaningful only to those celebrating a holiday that is connected to Christianity in the modern age. Our loons rage against something entirely non-specific in its "threat". "Happy Holidays" could most certainly refer to the New Year and Epiphany, but even that's just oh-so-threatening.

"Faith", my ass. They have none.
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Mediahohoho
12/10/09

@Mean_Ol_Liberal: To expand on my thoughts, having lived in that part of the world, you can't spit and not hit one or more of the world's three biggest religions' sacred sites. If there is any place in the world an x-mas tree is appropriate it is down the road apiece from Bethlehem.
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printersanonymous
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
Did anyone stop to consider that these "foolish symbols" were put up to appease the thousands of Christian pilgrims who visit the Holy Land each Christmas, or that they were put up by Armenian, Greek and Arab Christians whose families have lived in Israel for centuries and who couldn't give a crap what anyone says about their holiday. My family are Christians from Jerusalem, and I know that they a) already feel marginalized enough, b) are probably furious that another fight between secularism and Orthodox values will result in falling revenues in an already beleaguered tourism based economy, and c) will probably put up even more garish decorations in their shops and restaurants for spite.
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DennyCrane
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
Maybe, just maybe, they are also sick and tired of hearing Aaron Neville Christmas songs blare from every street corner as they walk up and down Steinway Street looking for Chanukah candles for my menorah.

Wait, what?
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raincoaster
12/10/09

@DennyCrane: Maybe we could compromise and play only the Kenny G Christmas album and serve only Rose Levy Beranbaum and Nigella Lawson's Christmas recipes in the restaurants?
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Baroness
12/10/09

@DennyCrane: Aaron Neville- that schtick of his adding the quaver to Every. Syllable. just gives me hives.
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Spirit Fingers
12/10/09

@DennyCrane: I want to flay someone's skin off when I hear Paul McCartney's "Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time." No. Seriously. I can't think of a more heinous Christmas-genocide song. I literally can't take it.

(If anyone posts a YouTube link, I'm sending two clowns and a M. Night Shyamalan DVD to your house.)
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TheUptightMidwesterner
12/10/09

@Spirit Fingers: I am with you. That song is a tool of the devil.
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TellMeLies
12/10/09

@Spirit Fingers: M. Night Shyamalan Bahhhaaahaaaa. I just spit on my desk.
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blix
12/10/09

@Spirit Fingers: That reminds me of a movie.
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Spirit Fingers
12/10/09

@blix: Um, if they don't play that damnable song in this movie, it's simply child's play (Except for "Sex, Murder, GIFTS!" That's hilarious.) The noxious repetition of the chorus, the bow-wow strange sound effects made from a synthesizer obviously stuffed up an anus, and a jolly Paul McCartney is enough to cause auditory vomiting.
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friendslikeJimRome
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
OK, OK, we won't play "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer" anymore.
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skahammer promoted this comment friendslikeJimRome was starred

skahammer
12/10/09

@friendslikeJimRome: But then you're letting the terrorists win!
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Edited by skahammer at 12/10/09 12:49 PM skahammer was starred skahammer was unstarred

The Recession Is Over
12/10/09

@skahammer: Did you just call Israelis terrorists? I'm with you, but we might be alone.
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skahammer promoted this comment Edited by The Recession Is Over at 12/10/09 1:40 PM

skahammer
12/10/09

@The Recession Is Over: Not me. In this analysis, the terrorists are simply an interested third party in the dispute over the Grandma song.
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friendslikeJimRome
12/10/09

@skahammer: pssst, it's a bargaining ploy, if they won't go for it, I'm going to throw in fruitcakes.
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Spirit Fingers
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
But, but, Christmas isn't the holiday where we buy 52" LED, 1080P, Motion Plus, HDTV, behemoths in order to celebrate life, love, and telling young children that if they, "Horse around by mah wall-mounted religious savior named Sony Bravia with 895 channels again, you'll play RockBand on your sisters' 32" plasma Vizio!" While we drink egg-nog by the glow of the 1.21 gigawatts of dancing pixels only the Holy land of Best Buy can provide?

No?

Then I'm confused. What is this peace and good will toward man stuff? A commercial for Arby's?
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restless
12/10/09

@Spirit Fingers: Ha! Good one.

And, yes, that is for Arby's 2-for-1 holiday coupon special (the word "holiday" being deemed sufficient to air by a team of expensive lawyers). Buyer beware though: those sandwiches ain't so good as they work their way through your system a half an hour later! Wish I didn't speak from experience...
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Spirit Fingers promoted this comment restless was starred restless was unstarred

neal
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
American who has lived in Israel (and is still a frequent visitor) here.

What the linked to article forgets to mention is that this anti-Christmas campaign is less anti-Christian than anti-Russian.

In Jerusalem, the bulk of restaurants which show Christmas symbols are in Arab-owned hotels, may of which don't opt for Kosher certification in the first place. Although it means there are a few East J'lem hotels where one can get a decent cheese-and-beef filled enchilada as a result (too damn much of a rarity in Israel), this doesn't effect them too much.

The restaurants it does mostly effect are the ones that are either Russian-owned or Russian-patronized. Israel experienced a mass influx of Russians in the 1990s following the fall of the USSR. Around two-thirds are nominally Jewish, the other one-third are people with some Jewish ancestry or with a Jew in the family (Israeli immigration rules = anyone with a Jewish grandparent or spouse can be granted residency/citizenship). Even many of the nominal Jews celebrated Xmas/New Years back in Russia... and the Soviets, God bless 'em, celebrated New Years' with a hell of a lot of Christmas like decorations.

I know that I personally dug our local non-kosher supermarket chain, Tiv Tam, both b/c it sold some good pork chops and because it was the only place nearby with a Christmas tree.

There's been a lot of talk in Israeli newspapers for a while about Russians not really assimilating into Israeli culture, and I think this story is just another indication of that whole mess...

Or, in fewer words, crazy religious people will keep being crazy religious people.
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AzureTexan
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
If the U.S. invades Israel at Xmas, can we call it a Blitzenkrieg?
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Swifter
12/10/09

@AzureTexan: We'll have a Donner party after the inevitable victory. Judea Capta indeed, to go with our glorious victory over the Parthians.
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Edited by Swifter at 12/10/09 12:45 PM Swifter was starred Swifter was unstarred

AzureTexan
12/10/09

@Swifter: You sleigh me.

Ba-dum.
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GracieAteMyChild
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
He's ready for them.
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Lysergic Asset
12/10/09

@GracieAteMyChild: If He can smite without weapons, why the heavy armor?
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GracieAteMyChild
12/10/09

@Lysergic Asset: He had a Jewish mother -- he knows there's no such thing as a smidge too prepared.
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Lysergic Asset
12/10/09

@GracieAteMyChild: You are great.
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manchops
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
But I thought Muslims, like our president, were the only ones who hated christians?
Maybe if we just send Israel another billion dollars in weapons we can have world peace by Christmas Day?
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Mediahohoho
12/10/09

@manchops: Yeah, it is pretty easy to forget that about 15% of the people living on the West Bank are Christian.

Well, apparently it's really easy for their fellow Christians in the states.
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Edited by Mediahohoho at 12/10/09 5:07 PM Mediahohoho was starred Mediahohoho was unstarred

TechLackey
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
Nah, the bible-fellators don't really have a problem with this, since it's all part of the prophecies concerning the Final Gathering Of the Jews. Israel is SUPPOSED to maintain its Jewish identity so that the mass conversion/slaughter of the Chosen People upon Christ's glorious return is all the more spectacular. It kind of loses its effect if there are plastic crosses, wreaths, and little manger babies everywhere when the blinding wall of holy fire arcs across the Holy Land.
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AzureTexan promoted this comment Edited by TechLackey at 12/10/09 12:18 PM TechLackey was starred TechLackey was unstarred

Lysergic Asset
12/10/09

@TechLackey: Everything's prophecy this, augury that. Between all the divinations and the revelations, don't any of these people ever have an original thought?
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BadUncle
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
As long as they ban the PC Richards jingle, I'm ok with this.
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Lysergic Asset
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
Although out reporters made a concerted effort, no Palestinians could be reached for comment.
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Edited by Lysergic Asset at 12/10/09 12:17 PM Lysergic Asset was starred Lysergic Asset was unstarred

Swifter
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
Christmas isn't a time of year, a spiffy holiday, a tree, or a pile of presents. It's an idea. The idea of a kind and loving God who understands our struggle against the darkness, forgives us our sins, and provides a beacon of hope through salvation to all men, everywhere.

Fight that.
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BookishLookish
12/10/09

@Swifter: I thought you wrote "a bacon of hope," and that ain't kosher, Swifter. But no, you were just doing a Jesus Is the Reason for the Season. How novel. By the way, Jesus is all fine and dandy, but totally ancillary to Jews, who happen to have founded the modern state of Israel, the one little country where Jews can be Jews and not have to deal with all your annoying Christmas mishegas, so pick a fight elsewhere, if you please.
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sfBirdie
12/10/09

@Swifter: Thank you for that.
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Swifter
12/10/09

@BookishLookish: Not picking a fight. And, a Bacon of Hope sounds pretty tasty to me!
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BookishLookish
12/10/09

@Swifter: Dammit, nobody will fight with me today! I had two coffees!
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GracieAteMyChild
12/10/09

@BookishLookish: Mr. Tarkanian!! I am ready to take you!! I have been LIFTING WEIGHTS and doing COCAINE all day!! And I want a BIG PIECE of YOU, sir!!
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skahammer
12/10/09

@Swifter: I don't know. As a holiday, Xmas is on pretty firm and entrenched ground.

But as an idea, it's got to contend with formidable powerhouses like sleeping in my own bed and businesses being open regular hours. Not to mention free love, matzoh ball soup, pro football on Sunday, and practicing random acts of kindness even at times of year that aren't especially holy. It's a very competitive field.
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Edited by skahammer at 12/10/09 12:29 PM skahammer was starred skahammer was unstarred

Swifter
12/10/09

@skahammer: I think God enjoys all of those things as well. Well, most of them, anyway.
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Edited by Swifter at 12/10/09 12:32 PM Swifter was starred Swifter was unstarred

NeedsMoreKanye
12/10/09

@Swifter: Actually Christmas has virtually nothing to do with God. It's a mishmash of Teutonic paganism and Victorian sentimentality, stoked by an engine of mindless consumerism. Some combination of those three elements is usually what's being evoked when people make seasonal displays. You might just as well say "The Super Bowl isn't a Sunday in February, fresh, funny commercials, or an exciting game. It's about which team Jesus thinks is the coolest that year."

Fight the real enemy. (tears up picture of Sinéad O'Connor.)
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allyzay promoted this comment Edited by NeedsMoreKanye at 12/10/09 12:35 PM NeedsMoreKanye was starred NeedsMoreKanye was unstarred

friendslikeJimRome
12/10/09

@BookishLookish: I always wondered why they started their own country. Everything makes perfect sense now. So, the Palestinians are like the defenders of Christmas?
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skahammer
12/10/09

@BookishLookish: I'll be happy to growl at ya, darling, if that's what you're looking for.
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Lysergic Asset
12/10/09

@BookishLookish: Fuck you. I've had three.
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Swifter
12/10/09

@NeedsMoreKanye: I feel sorry for you. Indeed, you do need more Kanye and perhaps a little bit more fiber.
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Sev
12/10/09

@Swifter: aren't Kayne and fiber the same thing?
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BookishLookish
12/10/09

@Lysergic Asset: A worthy opponent!
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BookishLookish
12/10/09

@friendslikeJimRome: Cute.
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NeedsMoreKanye
12/10/09

@Swifter: I don't know what to say to that. You pretty much decimated every one of my points, and even threw in a nifty little poop joke at the end. "Swifter," indeed.
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Swifter
12/10/09

@NeedsMoreKanye: It's the season to be jolly.
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NeedsMoreKanye
12/10/09

@Swifter: Ho ho hum.
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friendslikeJimRome
12/10/09

@BookishLookish: yeah, but I've got a fat ass.
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Richard Petty Bourgeoisie
12/10/09

In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
You're a mean one, Mr. Cohen.
You really are a heel.
You're as cuddly as a cactus,
You're as charming as an eel.
Mr. Cooooo-hen.
You're a bad banana,
With a greasy black peel.
Reply

raincoaster
12/10/09

@Richard Petty Bourgeoisie: You need another star.
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restless
12/10/09

@Richard Petty Bourgeoisie: Seconded. A Seriously Seussian Star.
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BitchyD
12/10/09

@restless: @Richard Petty Bourgeoisie:
Now, the Star-Belly Sneetches
Had bellies with stars
The Plain-Belly Sneetches
Had none upon thars.
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blix promoted this comment BitchyD was starred BitchyD was unstarred

restless
12/10/09

@BitchyD: Brilliant. The star/no star on them analogy...
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