Archbishop Dolan calles for a truce in an open letter in today's Daily News:
We all know the sides by now. In one corner are those who want to remove any mention or even hint of religion, of the birth of Christ, from this holiday ("holy day") season, ready to rush into court to battle those who would dare even mention the birth of the Savior in a public setting. In the other corner are those who seem ready to call for jihad against any commercial outlet or business with a "holiday sale," ever prepared to organize boycotts, letter-writing and e-mail campaigns to counter these supposed pagan, secularist forces.
As I prepare to celebrate my first Christmas as archbishop of New York, I realize it might seem presumptuous to interject myself into this annual battle. But if any time of year calls for us to follow our better natures, this is that time. Thus, I call for a truce!
I'm with him: enough is enough. Things became over the top for me when Phil Butler, of the famous Grucci Fireworks family falsely accused the village of Patchogue of taking Christ out of Christmas when they renamed their boat parade the "Holiday" Boat Parade. The village government had no say in what the Riverfront Committee called their parade. Butler offered free Grucci fireworks if they reverted back to the old name of Christmas Boat Parade last year. They did not take him up on the offer, and this year they renamed it the Christmas Boat Parade and refused to take him up on his offer of fireworks AGAIN.
The guy obviously sees copious numbers of enemies where none exist. By characterising the issue using the extreme ends of the debate about the use of religious symbols in public places, only points out the fact that he isn't aware of the vast numbers of people who don't give a sh+t about it at all - like me. I could care less if Jesus symbols are in shopping malls during the Christmas season. Equally I could care less if there were none. I think most Canadians feel the same way.
When an organization issues nothing but criticism, opposition and condemnations 364 days a year, it's hard to get a fix on what they might possibly mean by joy to the world on the 365th.
They likely hate the day. . . . everyone all smiles and giggles, playing with their kids, gettin' laid in the afternoon while the kids are watching movies and playing with toys. What do they do? Work, no sex, no kids and inane gifts from parishoners and priests . . . .
When an organization issues nothing but criticism, opposition and condemnations 364 days a year, it's hard to get a fix on what they might possibly mean by joy to the world on the 365th.
well Buggsy; I for one am not at all surprised at your response we all know that Canada is actually French canadian . That then gives all americans pause for wondering why canada would be so hostile to the Christmas War between true people of Faith in the Risen Christ Jesus, that do not appreaciate Christ being taken out of the Christmas Season here in America when it truely was A Roman ruler named Pontius Pilot That was not agreeable to the Christ Jesus Crucifiction. and Only did what That all in that day wanted.
also the truth is that There really were Romans, Jewish, Hebrews, and Egyptians all written of and about in the Holy Bible Books. I believe you will find that the Hebrew Jewish people. Are still named by Our Lord and Savior as his. the Calender that man goes by is a calender that we call the Roman calender, the Jewish Hebrew Calender is Not the Roman or same as todays, that Canada and all seem to have today. The Hebrew Begins with, April I believe. as the 1st month,This corresponds to Our Springtime Easter Day of Christ'S ressurection. The 7th month for the Roman Calender is the Time of harvest and thanksgiving. For most that celebrate thanksgiving to God for our Harvest as Americans, December is the 8th month and all Christianity celebrate as the Birth of the Only Begotten Son Jesus the Risen Christ. Hannakah to the Hebrew Jew, they still wait for His return As their Messiah Yashuah, as Many Christian believers also wait for His Return just as He ascended in the clouds. being written, told, and taught. He would return just as he was taken up. in the clouds. SOMEDAY.
Appears that, Roman Catholics, Hebrew, Jewish, and the Christian believers in the RISEN CHRIST. Of the Cross, Gospel all are in agreement about Christ Jesus being our Salvation. Savior, that will return for His own.
So Buggsy how is it then that you do not care about the Cross, or the CHRISTMAS and Christ being taken out of the the Season that means the Only Begotten Son Christ Jesus.
Happy holidays to you. Buggsy
Happy Hannakah to all the Yashuah,Messiah and Merry Christmas to ChristJesus believers.
There truly are those that want to remove, The Reason for the Season from all those that have and do believe in the One Named and called Israel and Jesus Christ. How do we have an Israel in the Old, without also acknowledging Jesus Christ. in the New.
well Buggsy; I for one am not at all surprised at your response we all know that Canada is actually French canadian . That then gives all americans pause for wondering why canada would be so hostile to the Christmas War between true people of Faith in the Risen Christ Jesus, that do not appreaciate Christ being taken out of the Christmas Season here in America when it truely was A Roman ruler named Pontius Pilot That was not agreeable to the Christ Jesus Crucifiction. and Only did what That all in that day wanted.
also the truth is that There really were Romans, Jewish, Hebrews, and Egyptians all written of and about in the Holy Bible Books. I believe you will find that the Hebrew Jewish people. Are still named by Our Lord and Savior as his. the Calender that man goes by is a calender that we call the Roman calender, the Jewish Hebrew Calender is Not the Roman or same as todays, that Canada and all seem to have today. The Hebrew Begins with, April I believe. as the 1st month,This corresponds to Our Springtime Easter Day of Christ'S ressurection. The 7th month for the Roman Calender is the Time of harvest and thanksgiving. For most that celebrate thanksgiving to God for our Harvest as Americans, December is the 8th month and all Christianity celebrate as the Birth of the Only Begotten Son Jesus the Risen Christ. Hannakah to the Hebrew Jew, they still wait for His return As their Messiah Yashuah, as Many Christian believers also wait for His Return just as He ascended in the clouds. being written, told, and taught. He would return just as he was taken up. in the clouds. SOMEDAY.
Appears that, Roman Catholics, Hebrew, Jewish, and the Christian believers in the RISEN CHRIST. Of the Cross, Gospel all are in agreement about Christ Jesus being our Salvation. Savior, that will return for His own.
So Buggsy how is it then that you do not care about the Cross, or the CHRISTMAS and Christ being taken out of the the Season that means the Only Begotten Son Christ Jesus.
Happy holidays to you. Buggsy
Happy Hannakah to all the Yashuah,Messiah and Merry Christmas to ChristJesus believers.
There truly are those that want to remove, The Reason for the Season from all those that have and do believe in the One Named and called Israel and Jesus Christ. How do we have an Israel in the Old, without also acknowledging Jesus Christ. in the New.
What on earth are you talking about? We all know there is a dual holiday in the US. I've always known it and I'm an old lady.
Here in the northern burbs of Atlanta some of the churches put creches on their lawns. On Peachtree Street in Atlanta we have many cathedrals and cathedral-like churches. In December their stained glass windows are lit from within and spot lights highlight them--it is spectacular; my daughter and I made the drive last year after attending the Nutcracker at the Fabulous Fox theatre on lower Peachtree.
Our town green here is very Victorian secular and stunning.
One of my favorite pieces of observable Christian co-option trivia is the adoption, adaptation gradual transformation of Schiller's Ode to Joy as Beethoven originally set it to music as the mighty chorale in his ninth symphony. It then became, in the latter 19th and 20th centuries, quite the anthem of secular humanism.
Then from the pen of a pious Presbyterian named Henry J. Van Dyke in 1907 came this:
". . . . we all know that Canada is actually French canadian"
What are your thoughts about this:
September is the 9th month but it actually means 7th month October means 8 but it's the 10th month November means 9 but it's the 11th month And behold December is the 12th month but it means 10
i see the whole thing as a non issue... i think its wonderful to see "Christmas" declared and it certainly is all over the place, i also think its wonderful that many places say "Holiday" and include all including believers of all or no faiths...I think a bigger threat to Christmas spirit is the consumerism that has pervated the holiday (buy buy buy) and the competition and bragging rights of having the brightest lights or puffing the chest to show how faithful you can appear.
Instead of griping about a store flogging employees who dare say Christmas, instead go out and help someone, buy a needy kid a present, say hello to your neighbor or even a complete stranger, be a positive example instead of battling these spiritual wars... There are many paths leading to same destination...
