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New York, 6:22 AM
Sat Dec 19
47 posts in the last 24 hours

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    Dsmvwl  Admin  Promote to frontpage Approve user Ban user ×
    Image of OliversArmy 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.
     Reply
    OliversArmy was starred OliversArmy was unstarred
    Image of Mean_Ol_Liberal 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?
     Reply
    Mediahohoho promoted this comment Mean_Ol_Liberal was starred Mean_Ol_Liberal was unstarred
    Image of Mediahohoho 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?
     Reply
    Mediahohoho was starred Mediahohoho was unstarred
    Image of Mean_Ol_Liberal 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.
     Reply
    Mean_Ol_Liberal was starred Mean_Ol_Liberal was unstarred
    Image of Mediahohoho 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.
     Reply
    Mediahohoho was starred Mediahohoho was unstarred
    Image of printersanonymous 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.
     Reply
    allyzay promoted this comment DahlELama approved this comment printersanonymous was starred printersanonymous was unstarred
    Image of DennyCrane 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?
     Reply
    DennyCrane was starred DennyCrane was unstarred
    Image of raincoaster 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?
     Reply
    raincoaster was starred raincoaster was unstarred
    Image of Baroness Baroness
    12/10/09

    @DennyCrane: Aaron Neville- that schtick of his adding the quaver to Every. Syllable. just gives me hives.
     Reply
    Baroness was starred Baroness was unstarred
    Image of Spirit Fingers 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.)
     Reply
    Spirit Fingers was starred Spirit Fingers was unstarred
    Image of TheUptightMidwesterner TheUptightMidwesterner
    12/10/09

    @Spirit Fingers: I am with you. That song is a tool of the devil.
     Reply
    TheUptightMidwesterner was starred TheUptightMidwesterner was unstarred
    Image of TellMeLies TellMeLies
    12/10/09

    @Spirit Fingers: M. Night Shyamalan Bahhhaaahaaaa. I just spit on my desk.
     Reply
    Spirit Fingers promoted this comment TellMeLies was starred TellMeLies was unstarred
    Image of blix blix
    12/10/09

    @Spirit Fingers: That reminds me of a movie.
     Reply
    blix was starred blix was unstarred
    Image of Spirit Fingers 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.
     Reply
    Spirit Fingers was starred Spirit Fingers was unstarred
    Image of friendslikeJimRome 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.
     Reply
    skahammer promoted this comment friendslikeJimRome was starred friendslikeJimRome was unstarred
    Image of skahammer skahammer
    12/10/09

    @friendslikeJimRome: But then you're letting the terrorists win!
     Reply
    Edited by skahammer at 12/10/09 12:49 PM skahammer was starred skahammer was unstarred
    Image of The Recession Is Over The Recession Is Over
    12/10/09

    @skahammer: Did you just call Israelis terrorists? I'm with you, but we might be alone.
     Reply
    skahammer promoted this comment Edited by The Recession Is Over at 12/10/09 1:40 PM The Recession Is Over was starred The Recession Is Over was unstarred
    Image of skahammer 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.
     Reply
    skahammer was starred skahammer was unstarred
    Image of friendslikeJimRome 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.
     Reply
    friendslikeJimRome was starred friendslikeJimRome was unstarred
    Image of Spirit Fingers 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?
     Reply
    Spirit Fingers was starred Spirit Fingers was unstarred
    Image of restless 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...
     Reply
    Spirit Fingers promoted this comment restless was starred restless was unstarred
    Image of neal 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.
     Reply
    DennyCrane promoted this comment neal was starred neal was unstarred
    Image of AzureTexan 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?
     Reply
    AzureTexan was starred AzureTexan was unstarred
    Image of Swifter 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.
     Reply
    Edited by Swifter at 12/10/09 12:45 PM Swifter was starred Swifter was unstarred
    Image of AzureTexan AzureTexan
    12/10/09

    @Swifter: You sleigh me.

    Ba-dum.
     Reply
    AzureTexan was starred AzureTexan was unstarred
    Image of GracieAteMyChild GracieAteMyChild
    12/10/09

    In reply to Israeli Group Waging Actual War on Christmas
    He's ready for them.
     Reply
    raincoaster promoted this comment GracieAteMyChild was starred GracieAteMyChild was unstarred
    Image of Lysergic Asset Lysergic Asset
    12/10/09

    @GracieAteMyChild: If He can smite without weapons, why the heavy armor?
     Reply
    Lysergic Asset was starred Lysergic Asset was unstarred
    Image of GracieAteMyChild GracieAteMyChild
    12/10/09

    @Lysergic Asset: He had a Jewish mother -- he knows there's no such thing as a smidge too prepared.
     Reply
    GracieAteMyChild was starred GracieAteMyChild was unstarred
    Image of Lysergic Asset Lysergic Asset
    12/10/09

    @GracieAteMyChild: You are great.
     Reply
    Lysergic Asset was starred Lysergic Asset was unstarred
    Image of manchops 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?
     Reply
    manchops was starred manchops was unstarred
    Image of Mediahohoho 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.
     Reply
    Edited by Mediahohoho at 12/10/09 5:07 PM Mediahohoho was starred Mediahohoho was unstarred
    Image of TechLackey 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.
     Reply
    AzureTexan promoted this comment Edited by TechLackey at 12/10/09 12:18 PM TechLackey was starred TechLackey was unstarred
    Image of Lysergic Asset 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?
     Reply
    Edited by Lysergic Asset at 12/10/09 12:39 PM Lysergic Asset was starred Lysergic Asset was unstarred
    Image of BadUncle 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.
     Reply
    BadUncle was starred BadUncle was unstarred
    Image of Lysergic Asset 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.
     Reply
    Edited by Lysergic Asset at 12/10/09 12:17 PM Lysergic Asset was starred Lysergic Asset was unstarred
    Image of Swifter 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.
     Reply
    Swifter was starred Swifter was unstarred
    Image of BookishLookish 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.
     Reply
    BookishLookish was starred BookishLookish was unstarred
    Image of sfBirdie sfBirdie
    12/10/09

    @Swifter: Thank you for that.
     Reply
    sfBirdie was starred sfBirdie was unstarred
    Image of Swifter Swifter
    12/10/09

    @BookishLookish: Not picking a fight. And, a Bacon of Hope sounds pretty tasty to me!
     Reply
    Swifter was starred Swifter was unstarred
    Image of BookishLookish BookishLookish
    12/10/09

    @Swifter: Dammit, nobody will fight with me today! I had two coffees!
     Reply
    BookishLookish was starred BookishLookish was unstarred
    Image of GracieAteMyChild 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!!
     Reply
    Hiroine Protagonist promoted this comment GracieAteMyChild was starred GracieAteMyChild was unstarred
    Image of skahammer 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.
     Reply
    Edited by skahammer at 12/10/09 12:29 PM skahammer was starred skahammer was unstarred
    Image of Swifter Swifter
    12/10/09

    @skahammer: I think God enjoys all of those things as well. Well, most of them, anyway.
     Reply
    Edited by Swifter at 12/10/09 12:32 PM Swifter was starred Swifter was unstarred
    Image of NeedsMoreKanye 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.)
     Reply
    allyzay promoted this comment Edited by NeedsMoreKanye at 12/10/09 12:35 PM NeedsMoreKanye was starred NeedsMoreKanye was unstarred
    Image of friendslikeJimRome 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?
     Reply
    BookishLookish promoted this comment friendslikeJimRome was starred friendslikeJimRome was unstarred
    Image of skahammer skahammer
    12/10/09

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

    @BookishLookish: Fuck you. I've had three.
     Reply
    Lysergic Asset was starred Lysergic Asset was unstarred
    Image of Swifter Swifter
    12/10/09

    @NeedsMoreKanye: I feel sorry for you. Indeed, you do need more Kanye and perhaps a little bit more fiber.
     Reply
    Swifter was starred Swifter was unstarred
    Image of Sev Sev
    12/10/09

    @Swifter: aren't Kayne and fiber the same thing?
     Reply
    Swifter promoted this comment Sev was starred Sev was unstarred
    Image of BookishLookish BookishLookish
    12/10/09

    @Lysergic Asset: A worthy opponent!
     Reply
    BookishLookish was starred BookishLookish was unstarred
    Image of BookishLookish BookishLookish
    12/10/09

    @friendslikeJimRome: Cute.
     Reply
    BookishLookish was starred BookishLookish was unstarred
    Image of NeedsMoreKanye 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.
     Reply
    NeedsMoreKanye was starred NeedsMoreKanye was unstarred
    Image of Swifter Swifter
    12/10/09

    @NeedsMoreKanye: It's the season to be jolly.
     Reply
    Swifter was starred Swifter was unstarred
    Image of NeedsMoreKanye NeedsMoreKanye
    12/10/09

    @Swifter: Ho ho hum.
     Reply
    NeedsMoreKanye was starred NeedsMoreKanye was unstarred
    Image of friendslikeJimRome friendslikeJimRome
    12/10/09

    @BookishLookish: yeah, but I've got a fat ass.
     Reply
    friendslikeJimRome was starred friendslikeJimRome was unstarred
    Image of Richard Petty Bourgeoisie 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
    Richard Petty Bourgeoisie was starred Richard Petty Bourgeoisie was unstarred
    Image of raincoaster raincoaster
    12/10/09

    @Richard Petty Bourgeoisie: You need another star.
     Reply
    raincoaster was starred raincoaster was unstarred
    Image of restless restless
    12/10/09

    @Richard Petty Bourgeoisie: Seconded. A Seriously Seussian Star.
     Reply
    restless was starred restless was unstarred
    Image of BitchyD 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.
     Reply
    blix promoted this comment BitchyD was starred BitchyD was unstarred
    Image of restless restless
    12/10/09

    @BitchyD: Brilliant. The star/no star on them analogy...
     Reply
    restless was starred restless was unstarred
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