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November 17, 2004

The 'insult' of *Merry Christmas*

Just came in, dropped my purse, slipped off my shoes, slipped on the slippers and flipped on the tv and there was O'Reilly with two guests arguing about the South Orange/Maplewood School District in New Jersey who has decided that even instrumental Christmas music is verbotten.

Superintendent Peter P. Horoschak explained the brass ensemble's Christmas carols have slipped under the radar since the policy was adopted in the 1990s. A few have complained about it, he said, and this year the district is trying to be proactive.

"Rather than try to respond to all the various religions and try to balance them, it's best to stay away from that and simply have a nonreligious tone to them and have more of a seasonal tone," he told the Star-Ledger.

Isn't that special?

My GOD! To think that a orchestra during the CHRISTMAS SEASON might play Silent Night! Why, any flutist tootling a measure or two of O Tannenbaum should be declared a Religious WMD!

I actually heard the idiotarian from the group dedicated to the "separation of church and state" [scare quotes intended] say that the greeting "Merry Christmas" is insulting to many people and "Happy Holidays" is much more "inclusive."

Rant ahead ...

I've had it. I've had it with a multi-culturalism that's about denigrating the majority culture, that sneers at the majority tradition, demands even enculturation with minority and fringe cultures and beliefs.

Get this straight. CHRISTMAS IS A FEDERAL HOLIDAY. It was established in recognition of the MAJORITY culture. The government IS secular and NEUTRAL to all religions, but America is a CHRISTIAN society. You have no more right to find offense or insult in my Christmas lights than you do in the type of flowers I plant in the garden.

What kind of mean-spirited, blackhearted, joy-stealing misanthrope skulks around all a-quiver to be able to yank sheet music from a school band under the sophistry of "multi-culturalism"? What kind of self-loathing produces such a sorry excuse for a human being who wants to Bowlderize American culture of it's Judeo-Christian roots and traditions? What kind of shriveled soul can find no joy in the happiness of others but seeks only to destroy it?

I know who you are. You're the woman who complains about a picture of a soldier with a cigarette in his mouth. You're the mother in the principal's office demanding that peanut butter sandwiches be banned for the whole school because your child has an allergy. You're the man who joined the ACLU so you could destroy the Boy Scouts. You're the college professor who enjoys browbeating students who don't toe your ideological line. You're the college students who, as a mob, threatens violence against any invited speaker you don't agree with. You're the journalist who believes "The Truth" is more important then mere facts.

Whatever your excuse -- "health" "free speech" "the Truth" "multi-culturalism" -- your motives are clear. You are not interested in dialogue, debate or even consensus. YOU have the truth, and everyone else had better recognize it ...or else.

Not on my watch, baby. I will challenge you at every turn. One small voice, of course, but it will not be silent.

/rant

Posted by Darleen at November 17, 2004 05:45 PM

Comments

I love the school in Texas that had a long standing tradition during homecoming week had backwards day, red day, and a day of to "mix it up". On the designated day the boys came dressed as girls and the girls dressed as boys.

This year the parents and churches came together and said that allowing their children to cross-dress was sinful and promoting a gay agenda and the gay lifestyle.

WHAT????

So, and I kid you not, now they have (are you ready for this?) Camo day where they all come to school dressed in fatigues. Only in Texas. Only in Texas.

Posted by: Mieke at November 17, 2004 08:28 PM

Mieke

I heard the story and I just wanted to roll my eyes. While I think having the elementary school participate in the role-reversal day was a little out there (this is something much more appropriate in high school), this again shows the what Eric of Classical Values deems "the gang of three."

This is the kind of thing where schools stop Halloween and institute Havest Festival.

Makes me want to privatize schools. VOUCHERS for everyone!

Posted by: Darleen at November 17, 2004 09:12 PM

I'll give you 100% props on everything but the peanut allergy, which just shows that every case needs to be evaluated on its own merits.

I don't understand why Camo Day is more objectiomable than Cross-dressing Day (which, when I read about it, I had to wonder what that was in aid of). I own camo - in fact, I inherited it from my mom. It's worn for hunting, so its context isn't necessarily militaristic.

I do live in Texas.

Posted by: Sal at November 18, 2004 04:49 PM

Sal

I only find the fact that one or two children with allergies in the school means NO kid in the school is allowed to have a peanut butter sandwich.

That's plain overkill.

PS I certainly don't object to Camo day.

Posted by: Darleen at November 18, 2004 06:03 PM

But in this case it's not the numbers so much as the extreme sensitivity of the allergic, the seriousness of the allergic reaction, the general messiness and unreliability of kids, plus the fact that they're required to attend school.
Like I said above, it's a unique situation.

Posted by: Sal at November 19, 2004 03:59 AM

Social Police...that's what the we have condemned ourselves to....living under the cultural social nazis who will tell us what is "appropriate" and what is offesive to one person out of 28,412 and is therefore forbidden. IT is the tyrany of the playground police who can't stand to see anybody laughing and enjoying life.

So when we say Happy Holidays, which Holy Day is it that we are wishing the listener enjoy?

Posted by: Tom MacMurray at November 19, 2004 06:23 AM