Bloviate This, Bill O’Reilly:

December 16, 2005

The “Christmas” shopping season now begins around Halloween. Between Halloween and New Year’s, we also celbrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, and probably a bunch of other stuff that I don’t even know about. Most of us don’t celebrate all of them. Some of us don’t celebrate any of them. This year’s inclusive hot button issue, wishing people “Happy Holidays” in lieu of the exclusive, “Merry Christmas” of years past has pushed Bill O’Reilly to believe that secularists are so offended by his choice in holiday as to declare war on it.

In a satiric poem presented last week to the House,John Dingell (D), MI, points out the intent of those bent on turning this into some sort of cause du jour politicking is nothing more than a war of persecution: It’s a self-aggrandizing “[D]istraction — something divisive and wily; A fabrication straight from the mouth of O’Reilly”

Bill further demonstrates his hypocrisybeliefs in an interview, here, for instance, this gem: “the anger that’s going to be engendered by millions of Americans who believe that their cherished holiday is being denigrated, disrespected.”

And here, I thought that Christ taught compassion, love thy neighbor despite his faults, forgiveness, and all that other altruistic hocus-pocus. Apparently I was mistaken: Christianity is a retributive religion bent on creating hatred between the secularists and the god-fearing. More succinctly, without “creating” a “problem” to solve, the government might be seen as not doing enough/anything. (sigh….)

Since when has it been “denigrat[ing], disrespect[ing]” to offer well-wishes to complete strangers? Especially when such attempt to wish well is done in the most inclusive, non-seperatist manner imaginable? I mean, what could be less offensive than “Happy Holidays”? Seriously - I want an honest answer. Maybe cute little babies playing with a puppy is less offensive. Maybe, but probably not.

Additionally, Bill: We don’t all celebrate Saturnalia Christmas. Sharing “Happy Holidays” is a much more inclusive greeting - it is appropriate for religious people who celebrate their religious holidays, and for secularists who revel in their holidays as an extra day off work, or the time spent with friends & family of whatever creed or denomination. Additionally, wishing someone “Merry Christmas” on December 1 is kind of like wishing them “Happy New Year” on December 14. Get it?

I simply don’t understand why Bill (and a bunch of others) have their panties in a knot over this. “Happy Holidays” is a greeting, by which you can include EVERYONE in your celebration. Honestly, if you’re offended by a simple “Happy Holidays,” imagine for a second how the Burundian feels when you wish him Merry Christmas? What about the Arab-Christian, who you fail to acknowledge on account of the color of his skin? What’s so wrong with using a holiday-neutral greeting? This isn’t a war, it’s not an attack, or an affront to Christ or to anyone’s faith, and to perceive it as such is simply ignorant. I can’t imagine a reasonable person becoming enraged over being told “Happy Holidays,” by a store clerk, and doubtless anyone who is enraged by such a greeting is not deserving of “Christian” values they claim to cherish.

What a sad, sad, angry man he is who can’t be satisfied in his faith alone, in his esprit de joie, but must instead denounce anyone who doesn’t share, or pander to the same beliefs.

As long as I’m talking all God and Christ and frankincense and myrrh, here’s one for the ages, Bill, straight from the world’s all-time best-seller (not “Who’s Looking Out for You?”):

If anyone thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his toungue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain. (James 1:26)


Posted in: Potpourri

Comments

1 Comment so far

  1. Wulf December 20, 2005 12:02 pm

    Nice writeup on a topic that has been driving me nuts. Bill sucks. It is amazingly stupid for these talking heads who are all worked up about the word Christmas. Non-issue alert, O’Reilly!

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