Is the so-called "War on Christmas" back on? The annual fight over America's biggest religious holiday – and to what extent it should be celebrated in secular spaces – has been dormant in recent years.
But that could be changing... and it's not even December yet.
A controversial Christmas policy in a small Wisconsin town could be considered the first shots fired in this year’s battle.
Follow that up with outrage over inclusive Christmas decor at Target, and you've got the makings for renewed drama this holiday season.
"No Red or Green"
The opening salvo in this year’s War on Christmas came in the sleepy Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, population: 48,000.
That's where an alleged email containing recommendations on how to make the city’s seasonal decorations more inclusive left many holiday-goers confused and upset.
The memo, sent by city officials, instructs public employees to avoid overt religious language and decorations when decorating public spaces.
But that's not all – the memo goes on to warn against using the colors red and green because they are too closely associated with Christmas. Instead, employees are encouraged to take inspiration from the blues, greens, and purples of the northern lights.
Officials also encouraged ditching traditional Christmas symbolism and opting for more secular and inclusive seasonal symbols like snowflakes and “snow people.”
The full text of the memo was leaked online:
Christmas Cancelled?
So far, reactions to the policy have been mixed.
Some critics were quick to call the city officials a group of Christmas Grinches (or would "secular green grumps" be more appropriate?).
"I have a hard time imagining someone would see red and green lights and be offended," said one local resident.
Others disagreed, however.
“These are government offices, therefore a separation of church and state,” wrote one social media user. “They aren't saying no decorating, they are saying to be respectful of all citizens.”
Meanwhile, there are other signs of discord at the national level.
Rainbow Nutcracker
This holiday season, retailer Target is once again coming under fire for the decor it's choosing to sell (you might recall the boycotts earlier this year after Target featured LGBTQ+ messages on certain clothing items).
Among the items that people are upset about this time around: a nutcracker holding a Pride flag, and an ornament featuring a black Santa Claus in a wheelchair.
The items quickly became the focus of cable news. In one segment, panelist Riley Gaines argued that "gay Nutcracker and Black disabled Santa has gone way too far."
The host of the show, Jesse Watters, went on to suggest that LGBTQ+ themed decor has the effect of "sexualizing Christmas for children."
No doubt some viewers may agree with that sentiment.
However, there are also signs that this message may be backfiring. Some shoppers came to Target's defense and defiantly bought the nutcracker doll anyway:
Echoes of Christmases Past
It's the most wonderful time of the year, they say. Christmas – while a secular occasion for many people – remains an important religious holiday marking the birth of Christ.
And whenever you mix religion with the public square, you're bound to see squabbles over how (or how not) beliefs should be expressed in public.
The War on Christmas has taken many forms, from the always-reliable holiday cups at Starbucks (an iconic classic, of course), to the more recent COVID-era request from Dr. Anthony Fauci that families not gather during Christmas 2020.
Consider this the latest chapter.
What is your reaction?
114 comments
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Joy
Who gives a crap? Santa is made up. Nutcrackers are inanimate objects. Christians chose a secular holiday and decided to make it Jesus' birthday. It's been proven there's no way it could have been. Why can't they just let people celebrate how they want to?
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Rev. Mike Eggleston
It's based on several Pagan mid-winter celebrations - Yule, the Winter Solstice, Saturnalia et al. It has nothing to do with the supposed birth of Jesus who could not have been born on that day, presuming he ever existed at all. It's not evebn clear which year he is claim to have been born in. According to the bible, The Magi went to Herod to ask about the birth of a "Great King" (Jesus) but Herod died in 4 BCE so Jesus could not have been born any later than ca. 6 BCE. However, the Roman census Joseph and Mary were said to have been travelling for didn't take place until 6CE. It must have been a VERY long journey.
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
Omg. Quit s oreadi.g misinformation. Historical evidence exists from historians of that period that admit he existed. I am sick of this denial crap.
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Lionheart
No historians that were contemporary to the supposed times of Jesus ever wrote about him.
Historians that never met him did write about him. Weird! Right?
Do you have some historical demonstrable evidence that no one knows about, Sir Keith?
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Rev. Klaire ThD, MA
If you don't want to sound like a loon, simply present your evidence! NO ONE has 'admitted that "he" existed' based on empirical evidence. Speculated, maybe based on some loosely related ideas... but, no legitimate evidence.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Keith Allen Steele Eash What proof do we have he existed? What we do have is a lots of evidence man created Jesus. And that Jesus was a very popular name at that time.
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Danny D. Maynard
Google: Q: How long was the walk from Nazareth to Bethlehem? A: If the current hypothesis among biblical scholars stands — that is a four-day journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem — Mary and Joseph would have had to travel about 90 miles in four days, averaging a 2.5-mph pace for roughly eight hours a day. Perhaps they were more like the Hebrews who took 40 years to wander around the Sinai Peninsula!
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Lady Mutt Cat
Absolutely NOT a secular holiday at all. The Winter Solstice is a very sacred religious holiday to those of us who are Pagans. Your comment writing it off as a secular holiday is highly offensive.
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Colleen McAllister
The so-called "war on Christmas" is nothing more than isolated incidents exaggerated by the media. There have always been, and will always be, those loud persons who get all the attention. Nobody can stop those of us who believe from celebrating unless we let them.
As to red and green, here in California we recognize those colors along with white as the colors in the Mexican flag as well as many Latin-American countries.
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Rev. Mike Eggleston
If people want to spend Xmas day in church, that's fine by me, just so long as they leave me to celebrate in in the traditional (Pagan) manner - "Eat, drink and be merry!"
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Eileen Perkins
Yes!
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Rev Mark D
Absolutely the media Catherine.
The best way to understand this, and it's pernicious powerful very powerful shaping influence on all of us, is to follow the podcast on the media. It's free, and buttressed with serious academic social, behavioral, and business science, plus it is fascinating. We are to a very good extent children of the media, products of the media. For instance, the one done late last week, and all the back issues are free and equally fascinating.
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Catherine
@Rev Mark D
"Sovereign is he who decides the exception" is a comment by Carl Schmitt in his book, 'Political Theology'. Schmitt has been called the grandfather of social engineering, though Edward Bernays was surely an adjunct.
I sometimes wonder how either would have integrated social media as it has become. Then Douglas Adams' 'Shoe Event Horizon' comes to mind, consumption, and quantitative easing... it could seem more depressing if not for entropy.
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Rev Mark D
Absolutely the media Colleen. But not isolated, media far more twined-in, repetitive, and pernicious.
The best way to understand this, and it's pernicious powerful very powerful shaping influence on all of us, is to follow the podcast "On The Media." It's free, and buttressed with serious academic social, behavioral, and business science, plus it is fascinating.
We are to a very good extent children of the media, products of the media. For instance, the one done late last week, and all the back issues are free and equally fascinating.
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Catherine
@ Rev Mark D
Though you were addressing Colleen, I checked out podcasts you mentioned'. I'm always looking for keeping-it-real information sources, so thank you for sharing 'On The Media'.
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Rev. Miche'al Yosef Dixon
People need to stop smoking the mistletoe and start kissing under the mistletoe again. (Pagan origin by the way) if the government really gave a rats behind about separating church and state they won't have four "Christian" holidays as Federal Holidays giving employees time off. So, issues of decorations is just get that lady some new batteries for Christmas to replace her dead batteries. As to the so-called "gay" nutcracker, I may be wrong I'm straight white male Messianic Jew, therefore a evil blight on humanity, but that nutcracker is black and that flag is the flag of Uganda and/or Zimbabwe (it's been 35 years since highschool world sociology class) not the rainbow flag of the LGBT+ (Alphabet people). As most so-called "Christians" highjacked the "Winter Solstice" as Jesus Christ birthday, although the scriptures teach not to celibate birthdays and That scripture and Roman records state Jesus was born April 17, 6BC. Santa Claus is a factual person of history Saint Nicholas a Iranian Persian Catholic monk sent to Switzerland/Netherlands officially a "promotion" (actually to get him out the Vatican's hair doing too much good) so, the traditional "White" Santa is a slap in the face to all Semitic people of the middle east.
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Ahmed Abduljabar Al-Hujazi
One quick point Minister Dixon: Iranian Persians are not Semites, they are Aryans. The Middle Persian name of the Sassanian Empire, an empire that ruled Persia from the 3rd century to the 7th century, was Eran-shar meaning the Aryan Empire. Today, the name Iran is simply the Persian word for Aryan.
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Keith Allen Steele Eash
All middle eadtern people are Caucasians.
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Rev. Klaire ThD, MA
Keith, If you want to be taken seriously: 1. Fix your spelling mistakes 2. Learn what specific words mean 3. Understand how to string the appropriate words together in a meaningful way.
Your comments appear to be unhelpful in their uselessness.
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Rev Mark D
Keith, continuing I left out a tiny portion: because when you say middle eastern, middle eastern is Arabic, Berber, Moor. That's the area from North Africa to Southwest Asia, southern Turkey. That's about as white as barbecue... Including Jesus.
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Rev Mark D
Keith: Eh?
Do you mean literally from around the Caucasus mountains, that's Georgia, not white. So did you mean white when you said Caucasian or did you mean Turkik, which is what Georgians and Armenians (the actual Caucasian mountains) pretty much are. Were you drawing a link to Iran, which are the traditional root of Aryans, which are in turn the traditional root of Scandinavian and Germanic (Nordic, Viking, Celtic, Saxon, Rus, i.e., tall blue eyed blonde) which is what most of us mean when we say "white?"
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Lady Mutt Cat
That is absolutely not true. You need a few lessons in geography. And a few spelling lessons wouldn't hurt, either.
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Russel A. Kester
Well, that's cool.
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Catherine
@Miche'al Yosef Dixon
Awesome! :)
Although I've heard a lot of non-christians argue for time off and holidays regardless of religious connotation.
And no doubt lawmakers would argue against wasting money to update holidays to suit changing times.
I suppose the battle will be fought by D.C. lobbyists on behalf of churches that can afford to have their say.
And money spent might better serve the underserved.
What a merry-go-round.
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Rev Mark D
Yossi, where does the scripture say not to celebrate birthdays? I've always wanted to know that.
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Clyde
There’s no real “war on Christmas”. The ones who claim there is one have declared war on all other religious holidays by pretending Christmas has to be protected. (Wall Street and Madison Avenue would never allow a billions dollars cash cow to be threatened or challenged.) Thus, the ones who cry foul are not real Christians, but the hypocrites Jesus warned us about.
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Rev Mark D
I just heard the Santa Claus song by Elvis on the radio.
You know it's "Here come Santa Claus here come Santa Claus driving down Santa Claus Lane blah blah"
Well a little further on it says "Santa knows we're all God's children" and something about peace and goodwill.
Now what is so terrible about that? Plus he was at the height of his voice perfection and he really really did have it. And I'm not a Christmas lover that way but man could he sing.
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William Waugh
I really, really feel like the adults in this country have, en mass, chosen to allow the whole dang thing to be run and argued over, by a bunch of eeffing high school dropouts that spent their school time in the restrooms smoking cigarettes. Is this where we are? Why do the "freedoms" of the ignorant, trump common sense? Never mind, just answered my own question..........(trump)
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Shane Michael Westerbur
So everything is Trumps fault? This crap has been going on since before Trump ran for president. He exploited this divide that has been going on and used it to his advantage just as the Democrats have. Both sides are driving a wedge into our society for their own personal gain. Most people really do just want to live and let live, they are sick of having this crap crammed in our faces 24-7. Constantly being told that our beliefs are wrong and this is the right way to think. Both sides do it constantly and both sides really want to be left alone. Both are sick of being villainized while doing it to the other. It is all done on purpose to keep us divided. If we were to stop the fighting and come together we could take our country back and make the progress that both sides desperately want and need.
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Amber Fry
Nope but he did make it ok to be a dipstick about all this mess. He invited it with his nonsense. There was never a war on Christmas. The war is more about the religious right forcing very specific religious ideals on others rather than respecting differences. Who cares if someone says happy holidays or merry Christmas? One is all inclusive of many other holidays celebrated at this time of year where the other is very specific to one holiday and one religion. Why force that on others? What is wrong with being inclusive and supportive?
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
It seems to me that many of us people like to sometimes celebrate, just to be celebrating, but need a reason for a celebration. And calling it one thing is just as good as calling it something else. So, it seems better to not think about the roots of the celebration, and how and why some people celebrate it, and just get out there and have a good time. For whatever reason, or none at all, it can be the most wonderful time of the year, if you let it. I'm not a Christian but have a well decorated Christmas tree already, am getting a 6" inflatable snowman to put in our yard next week, today in the mail I got DVDs of three Lawrence Welk Christmas shows, and a double feature of the Jack Benny New Years Eve TV episode and the 1957 Guy Lombardo New Years Eve special in NYC, and am still waiting for my DVD of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker performed by the vSanfrancisco Ballet. I'm having a lot of fun, and hope the rest of y'all do the same throughout this holiday season, for whatever reason.
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Rev. Klaire ThD, MA
Shane, better said, it is CURRENTLY trump's fault. But the angst in your writing is clear. In order to better understand your comment, what specifically, are "they (most people according to you) are sick of having this crap crammed in our faces 24-7."?
And, while I am an atheist, I have to ask you what Paul, according to the Christian bible, called Christians to do when facing oppression from the non-Christian world?
And one final question, in the dichotomy of a disagreement between any two sides, do you feel that there is 'always' an equal amount of validity in the ideas that charge the motivations of both sides?
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Catherine
@William Waugh
Is clever ignorance an oxymoron?
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Rev Mark D
"Hnnmn hnnani hinna, she said "moron!" -Beavis
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Danny D. Maynard
That is more like being a "useful idiot".
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Alexander Arends
Give Christmas a break. It already has becomes a secular holiday. Stop feeling offended, unhappy people!
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Danny D. Maynard
The Thursday Thanksgiving Holiday is giving way to Black Fridays and Cyber Mondays!
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John W
Once again, we see small minded people placing their personal views out as public policy and foisting their views/beliefs on others to follow like a good little mini-tyrant because they don't like something. It harkens back to the Rankin and Bass Christmas program where a Burgermeister Meisterburger gets mad over some petty thing and uses the force of law to ban toys and other items associated with Christmas.
If their wishes are to make the "season" non-secular than I do hope that their municipal offices are opened and staffed on Christmas Day as I am sure they do for the Jewish observance of Hanukkah, the African-American holiday of Kwanzaa, Islamic observances there are along with the holidays of other religions.
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Rev Mark D
I agree with the inclusionists, only I don't think they went far enough. For instance I didn't see an Indian Santa serving vindaloo and saying ho ho ho in Hapu's accent, nor seasons greetings from Cheech and Chong in a lowrider pulling a sleigh carrying a couple of witches holding a brass Buddha smoking a Big Bambu.
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Tecla Caryl Loup
LMAO
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Rev. Klaire ThD, MA
Mark, lol, in my mind I feel I have seen all of those things and more! Especially the Indian Santa!
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James Richard Norby
I am absolutely fine decorating my home for the holiday in any way I wish. I am also absolutely fine with having a desk at a workplace that does not need to reflect holidays.
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Russel A. Kester
This 'war on Christmas' might be another indication that Multiculturalism is a failure. It seems there are those in society who just can't resist screwing around with other people's cultural traditions when it comes to Christmas. Let the story of the Christ born in a manager be, let Santa be fat and jolly, let the halls be decked in Holly, and and leave the colors of red and green be. Those who would change these or the traditional Christmas songs and so many other things do so from wrong motivations. Others, and let's hope they are few, do so in hopes of actually destroying (deconstructing) traditional Christmas themed and its cultural history in hopes of replacing (reconstructing) them with ones of their own choosing (new paradigms). That's simply sad. They are free to develop their own or have none at all, but leave other's alone. We should embrace being a multiracial people, and oppose those who are trying to make us a multicultural people for a house divided against itself will not stand, it will fall. A truth our enemies know all too well.
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Catherine
@Russel A. Kester
How would you propose to keep cultures separate while increasing populations shrink the world?
Why cling to false celebrations encouraged by businessmen pretending to be lawmakers representing citizens who really only intended to be fantastic consumers?
Why do colors and decorations matter more than the spirit of a rememberance and gratitude of what is important to you? Wouldn't Jesus have likely advised against the waste of unecessary consumerism?
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Tecla Caryl Loup
Rather than the failure of multiculturalism, looks to me like an occasion for promoting Shakespeare. "It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing", which I notice Fox News does at the slightest provocation. Don't they have an off button?
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ServantOfJudgement
Quite wise.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
War on Christians was brought on by Christians.
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Nicholas J Page
Good Grief what a palaver no red or green to be worn or displayed Santa doesnt exist .I suppose The Easter Bunny doesnt exist get real people .Dont ruin the Christmas spirit.
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Rev. Klaire ThD, MA
What IS the "Christmas spirit"?
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Lionheart
I think it really depends on what type of Xmas cocktails takes your preference. Wassail is also a common Yuletide spirit.
🦁❤️
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Rev. Klaire ThD, MA
While I'm sure you were going for cheeky, that may be the most legitimate direction. I'd prefer a white russian with a cherry and mint leaf.
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Lionheart
Make that for two 🍸🍸
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Rev Mark D
Nyuk Nyuk Nyuk
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Rev Mark D
I'll bet you thought of it in years past, the Christmas spirit is the phenomenon that pretty much all people are somewhat decent to each and even go out of their way to do so, it's something you always see during Christmas and, also, ONLY see during Christmas, which is what makes it memorable, often in my years it has spontaneously occurred to me "if only we could manage to do that the rest of the year like we do on Christmas." I would bet if you ask just about anybody in the U.S. anyway, they will respond with recognition of that when you use the phrase "Christmas Spirit." And then it is often occurred further than naturally logical, obvious question, what if we did that all year long, we manage to do it during Christmas and it doesn't kill anybody to do it, why couldn't we just do that all year long? That's what I think people think of when they encounter or use the phrase "Christmas Spirit."
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JustJames73
When I think of "Christmas Spirit" I remember a day that wasn't christmas at all, but the day after a blizzard that dumped two or more feet of snow on the town. Everything was shut down that day and I thought it would be fun to walk 3 miles to a friends house. I met many people along the way who were happy for a few minutes of company and conversation. It helped me see that the "spirit" had something to do with having nothing else to do other than be alive and out in the world. There might be more spirit if we weren't so busy with our daily grind and had a chance to get bored.
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Rev. Rory
Go to church, celebrate with family and friends. Nobody is stopping the faithful. At the same time, I am not offended by secular holiday decorations - Santa, Elf on the Shelf, Red and Green decorations. Those are symbols of capitalism, not religion. We all know that, right?
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Rev. Donut
You wanna make Christmas Merrier?
Don't force or change your views to please the whiny, mouthy, nosy b ochs at the Country Club or the Church.
Don't be offended by everything, every day, all day, all the time.
You are not oppressed if you live in the Good 'ol USA.
And, If you are an illegal criminal that broke into the USA, and are helping to milk our country dry of every resource, in every way, maybe all your people back home want you to come back home for Christmas. :)
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Michael Hunt
"You are not oppressed if you live in the Good 'ol USA.
And, If you are an illegal criminal that broke into the USA, and are helping to milk our country dry of every resource, in every way, maybe all your people back home want you to come back home for Christmas."
Great example of how to tell someone you're white without saying you're white.
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Rev. Rory
"Milk the country dry of every resource" is an interesting comment. Got to love "your people" too. How very Archie Bunker those statements appear.
May Donut's days be Merry and Bright And may all his Christmases be White.
I prefer to hang with Meathead and Lionel.
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Bridget Kielas-Fecyk
Oh good grief, there is NO WAR ON CHRISTMAS. I wish people would stop saying that BS because it's not true. It's nothing more, at this point, than a MAGA talking point to try to get clicks on social media.
People can celebrate however they want. People can say Happy Holidays, or Merry Christmas if they want. People can decorate, or not, if they want. It doesn't HAVE to be religiously oriented.
There is NO WAR ON CHRISTMAS. Never has been, never will be.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Christmas is all about profits. And I don’t mean of the religious kind……
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Tecla Caryl Loup
Christmas wasn't such a big deal until the mid 1800s. Someone saw the commercial opportunities it offered, though, and went to town. Capitalism at its finest.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
Exactly…. And Christians were the perfect suckers to buy in.
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Rev Mark D
I just had a little thought, now don't anybody get concerned I've just gone cuckoo or been smoking my socks or anything, I'm just spitballing here...but Is it possible that profits provide the means to be generous and charitable at Christmas (and the rest of the year)?
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Rev Mark D
Is it possible that profits provide the means to be generous on Christmas (and the rest of the year)?
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Catherine
I kind of like the northern lights color theme, though attaching that to holidays seems odd.
However, I would not be opposed to a holiday for the northern lights :) In fact, I wish all nationally celebrated holidays were based on solstices, equinoxes, and natural phenomena.
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Tecla Caryl Loup
Comment removed by user.
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Mary Brown
I just disagree with this. I mean it’s Christmas. It’s a beautiful holiday. I’m tired of trying to please everyone.
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Cheryl Pettijohn
Well, I did have to go to Target and see for myself. And yes, there was that pesky nutcracker. Actually there were diverse nutcrackers. I decided to go with the snow globe with the rainbow heart inside instead. Those nutcrackers are huge! Seriously though, There are legitimate things to fight over, this isn't one of them.
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Michael Terry Galey
First of all "Saint Nicholas" WAS/IS a Bavarian Monk that traveled through the villages and gave out sweets to the people on Christmas ( CHRIST MUST PASS) and laid them on the window sill of each cottages. The birth of the Messiah was in Sukkot (late September) The nation has gone so offended over everything said, displayed or sung that I myself (73 years old) have wondered what planet have I arrived at. May the blessings of Shalom from our Elohim be with each and every one, Merry christmas and a prosperous New Year y'all. Mike from Dixie
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Rev Mark D
I thought Christmas word origin came from Christ Mass, from the Romans or the Holy Romans (Germans).
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Tecla Caryl Loup
Like Michaelmas or several other mas-suffixed days throughout the year.
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Darlene Katherine Aiello
True inclusivity is NOT about erasing or ignoring the differences between cultures, faiths, lifestyles, communities....being completely nuetral is actually saying none of it makes a difference. We end up with out the special aspects of what make a community.......A more inclusive option --- in public places, especially--- is to BE INCLUSIVE. Represent and celebrate the many, many holidays across a community's culture --- Christmas, Channuka , Diwali, Yule, Pagan, Kwanza----and other winter traditions often infused with "light and love". with equal respect and recognition. It does not have to be all or nothing........Our agency experiences this by calling our holiday party a "celebration of love and light", and inviting our diverse staff to share holiday experiences, foods, and traditions. This way all are included, and the concept that differences are wonderful and even functional is promoted. Celebrating humans --- people --- is not a violation of the separation of church and state------------it is a recognition that the "state" is made up of all kinds of people. Promoting the dogma of any given religion , especially over another is what needs to be separated. There are choices, and CHOICE is what is inclusive.--WynSpire Peace Studies and Leadership Program (de'Kyota Wynne)
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Michael Rose
Actually, it would be safer to say, FOX continues to make up stuff, just to stir the pot, no matter the season or holiday. My rebuttal to stirring the pot, you need to lick the spoon. AND, maybe, just maybe, it's a GREAT way to stir purchasing of this merchandise, as in most cases, these so called "news items", make people want the items even more! What a great way for commerce to continue! LOL
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Shannon Wheeler
As an openly Gay Woman I cannot imagine outing anything pride on my Christmas tree. I don’t see the correlation at all between pride and Christmas That being said I don’t see the correlation between Disney’s Frozen and yet we have Olaf on our tree. If you don’t like it. Don’t buy it. In regards to Christmas decorations You can be inclusive without being exclusive Many communities in Canada for example will display a large Menorah right beside a Christmas tree. People need to stop believing that in order to tolerant or inclusive does not mean excluding another group.
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Rev. Rory
When I lived in the north, the city always had a Menorah and Christmas tree side by side.
When I lived in the south, I never saw such a thing. The west was the best. They included far more. I agree, inclusive does not mean excluding. Sigh.
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Misty Leighann Chapman
People never fail to amaze me with the level of stupidity that they have, I mean do others really care that much if someone has a "gay" nutcracker , or s disabled black Santa sitting on their mantle? And if they do then it seems that they are the one with the problem. And who said the nut cracker is "gay" , what just because he had a rainbow flag? So that would mean that when I wear my rainbow socks to support my son who is YES PEOPLE HE'S GAY! That makes me wanna be gay too ? Or when I wear my pink ribbon shirt in memory of my mother who passed away from breast cancer or in support of others men and women fighting that awful fight that other people may be offended by that it makes about as much sense. Everyone needs to take a step back and take a good look at the real problems in this world like child hunger , adult hunger, racism which by the way is one of the biggest problems, war, homelessness,and so many other REAL ISSUES that I don't have time to address and then look at what petty things your trying to make a problem out of . Basically it's like this if you don't like the "gay "nut cracker or the disabled black Santa decorations how about you DONT BUY THEM! And if they seriously bother you that much then maybe you are the one who needs to be hidden away somewhere for no one to see because like it or not this ever changing world we live in has a huge diverse group of people now who all have the right to coexist, and further more on judgement day you don't have to standin front of our saviour and answer for anyone's sins but your own ! And if not I'm mistaken and I don't believe I am the bible tells us judge not least you be judged! And if that don't make sense to you here's another one he who protest to much has something to himself . Maybe the "gay" nutcracker offends you because secretly your struggling with "gay " tendencies yours 🤯
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Virginia Joiner
The nutcracker and the Santa sound like they are making sure everyone can relate to the decorations. A disabled child might delight in the thought of Santa Claus also being disabled and still being able to deliver toys all over the world in one night. I give them Kudos for the idea.
The red and green thing is just stupid. I celebrate Yule instead of Christmas. The colors of Yule are red, green, gold, silver, and white. Sound familiar? Santa Claus is just as Pagan as he is Christian. He just delivers to his Pagan believers a little earlier than the Christian ones since Yule is on the Winter Solstice around the 21st. Those who don't have Santa delivering gifts have others that are similar such as Frau Holly, the Yuletide Witch who delivers gifts of food and toys.Yule trees, the ancestor of Christmas trees, are decorated much the same as Christmas trees with lots of lights, pine cones, holly & mistletoe, birds such as doves and cardinals, tinsel and bobbles in the Yule colors, and often small gifts hidden in the branches.
Honestly, we Pagans wanted to be included in the holiday hubbub when this war first started. We did push hard at first because of so many voices telling us that the holidays are all about Christmas. We backed off when we realized that those voices were the loudest but not in the majority. We were satisfied when most Christians said that they wouldn't take offense if we answered their "Merry Christmas" with our "Happy Yule." The war should have ended there. It did for most people. Those who are taking offense at things now and going so far not to offend one group that they offend their own group are the ones who are keeping the war going. Basically the idiots of the world are fighting a dead war. We should ignore them instead of feeding their illusions.
To everyone who celebrates anything at this time of year I wish you a Happy Yule. May your holiday season be filled with love and be exactly what you want it to be. May peace on Earth reign someday.
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
Gleðilega jól, and Io Saturnalia!
I try hard to respect that others believe and practice differently than I.
I have not been Christian since March 1875, but will celebrate the holiday as it has always been home & hearth centered and not especially religious, in our family tradition. Most of my relatives are Catholic, Protestant or Orthodox Christians.
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Catherine
1875?
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
Fat fingers...1975.
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Jimmy Moon
2 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.
21 And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. LUKE 2: 1-21..
Philippians 2:10-11 KJV
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
EVERY KNEE. Prove me wrong and I'll give you a million dollars.
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Michael Hunt
Submit to Jesus or else! What exactly are we trying to prove wrong? That once every person kneels before Jesus there will be utopia? If you believe that, then I got a whole bunch of great supplements to sell to you that you definitely need to survive.
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Jimmy Moon
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
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Rev. Klaire ThD, MA
Jimmy, "prove me wrong" is exactly the wrong request as you would have to first, prove you're right.
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Tecla Caryl Loup
Jesus is a Roman word, not a Semitic one. I bet his parents didn't call him Jesus. More likely Yeheshua/Joshua. The J is pronounced like an I.
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Rev. Rory
I think it would be more of a challenge for someone to prove you RIGHT. That deserves a million dollars. I understand what you posted but I know I can't prove it or disprove it and I have no desire to make anyone else believe it or not believe it. That's the beauty of faith. It's personal.
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Lionheart
Did you copy and paste all that from a book somewhere, Sir James?
There are also some wonderful fictional stories in the Harry Potter books, and they are actually much better for children to read, and no boys have to lose their foreskin, which I always found to be rather weird in the book you like to quote from. Do you know if that happened to the infant Jesus? I don’t remember reading about that. 🤔
🦁❤️
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Jimmy Moon
You're lost. you would not understand.
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Lionheart
Please educate me, Sir James.
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Victor Allen Hawthorne
It's not just Christmas, it is in all aspects of our lives. This movement against traditions of so called Whitism. The 20 percent want to be heard, dismissing the beliefs of the majority, forcing the majority to accept change before the ruling society is ready. I admit, I have a way to go in accepting this fast pace of life. Yet I am open to the emotions of all people, accepting the second commandment to love our neighbor. Still, we are also to discern and abstain from all forms of evil. For me, I believe in the Holy Spirit to guide and direct me in identifying what is evil. I also believe in Freedom of speech and religion of our own choosing. Please do not demonize my Christianity in order to support your belief or unbelief. Our choices either bring us closer to the Spirit of the Lord or not. After all, the option of "Free Will," is also a gift from above. In the spirit of the Holiday season, I wish you all a Merry Christmas, regardless of our differences.
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Christine
What's not being said here is that the "no red and green" memo actually ended with the town admitting that the alleged inclusivity actually has nothing to do with the Christian religion, since those colors are not particularly significant to Christians for this holiday. The memo brings up what's going on in Israel/Palestine right now, and that they were hoping to avoid red and green because they are the colors of the Palestinian flag. Half a second of critical thinking would shoot down this supposed message of inclusivity, since the city doesn't ask people to refrain from decorating with blue and white. So it's just the city kowtowing to zionists and sweeping under the rug the war crimes is known to be committing.
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Theresa C. Marquess
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!
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Rev “D”
Dear North Pole Police, Please send Chief Elf of Department to USA to straighten out the question of holiday coloring as we have lots of colors, but some feel only red & green. While here if Chief Elfie could also please rectify the present toys & gifts to be useful and wanted by all children, not just white christian extremists that presently think they know better than toy manufacturers what sells.
If you want to come by, we have plenty to share and give which is really we should be more focused on. Kinda a live and let live, no harm onto others lifestyle. Thank you Chief Elf to investigate and charge all offenders under Christmas Lights & Gifts Acts Laws of 2022. A very happy & warm Solstice holiday to you & yours. ~ a non believer of the jollyBet things gonna get made right now that NPPD’s Chief Elf knows!
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John Robert Milner
Why don’t we let Christians enjoy their secular holiday the way they want and let children enjoy Santa and the toys etc without spoiling the joy it creates? For those that oppose this, just enjoy your days off and do your own thing without complaining!
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Rev. Carol M Anaski-Figurski
its important to celebrate the true meaning of christmas such as " our savior was born upon this day". Happy Birthday Jesus A birthday cake in red white & green & the meanings purity (cleansing of sins) red as blood ( died on the cross so we have our sins forgiven. & green Gods everlasting love for us. The manger story is great to read. Some christians put a baby manger under the tree & on christmas morning baby jesus is then placed in the manger. Religious freedom is celebrated. Plus the santa claus story & reindeers too. other holidays are celebrated near that time of year so if you embrace the change of multi faiths then kwanzza & etc.
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Amy Varela
Except the true meaning of Christmas is that the Christian church in Rome decided to celebrate Jesus' birth at this time of the year to overshadow the Pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and Yule. The true meaning of Christmas is discrimination against other religions. Some places actually recognize Hannukah and Kwanzaa also, but the whole War on Christmas nonsense is getting really old.
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Rev. Rory
When you cut and paste, you need to remove the &amp. Otherwise, it's hard to read.
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Rev. B.D. Rees
It's Amazing to me... If people are that concerned about Christmas decorations.... Simply DON'T have Angels, or a Nativaty scene on the front of the courthouse!! The Pagan tradition of the Tree and Santa Claus can continue because it is not considered as a Christian display... OH MY GOD!! How Petty... Are the colors Red and Green demonic?? Oh.. That would be part of the Christian faith that believes in Hell...OOOPS... I am sorry if this seems sarcastic and all, but, COME ON... I guess there is always a SCROOGE or a GRINCH to be Christmas KENS OR KARENS in the crowd!!
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Darlene Katherine Aiello
There is room for all to express the joy of winter holidays, or for that matter, any holiday--religious or not. Just don't exclude the opportunity for the expressions of other's - who may have different traditions. It is all this judgement /fear of judgement that needs to stop ! Public places can be nuetral, or they can be inclusive, recognizing all the diversity their community has. There is no univerisal right way. There is the wonder of living peacefully recognizing that when we acknowlege the wonderful tapestry we have created as humas with love and grace !
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Patricia A. Boone
How about we stop worrying about what Target displays for Christmas and celebrate and decorate as each individual finds is best for them. Say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays if you wish. Hang a Wreath on your door or not, put up a tree and lights in any color. Its becoming too much, everyone thinks that their way is the best way and for them it is. Lets leave each other alone and stop trying to cancel one another if your beliefs don't match. Like I told someone once, just because you live in a delusional world, doesn't mean I need to join you. Live how you want to live and leave me alone. Easy Peasy.
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Misty Leighann Chapman
I agree, and like I said in my rant I mean post lol how about if someone doesn't like the "gay" Santa or the disabled black Santa decorations how about they don't buy them. Everyone is forgetting why we celebrate this joyous holiday.
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Rev Ned
Let’s not worry about Christmas, let’s put Christ back in Christianity and Christians.
Also, Riley Gaines, have is the plural form of has. 🤔 Maybe Faux, err, Fox News should have a remedial 4th grade grammar course for its staff.
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Russell Hjelm
There is nothing anyone can do to change the fact that Jesus came to dwell among us. Period. End of story.
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Lionheart
Omg really? Darn it, I thought his name was Brian. Movies always get their facts wrong!
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JustJames73
Let us not forget The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Carl Bernard Elfstrom
If Jesus existed, and I seriously doubt it, it's a good thing. he didn't live more than 33 years, considering how corrupt the world has become by Christianity, through following the alleged teachings of a man who lived such a short life. The longer he lived, the more crap he would have said, and the worse off this world would be for it.
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Rev Mark D
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say On a bright Hawaiian Christmas day
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Lionheart
Mahalo, Sir Mark.
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Catherine
About Josephus, other people, and events. The minute mark is about 2/3 into the presentation. Five minutes here forward makes all of it worth a listen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emUkL_WP3z8
A 1997 presentation by Harry Hubbard and Paul Shaffranke, an ancient language epigrapher.
First half is quite interesting about ancient artifacts, stamps and coins, pope hats, and lays some groundwork for the second half.
The second half provides professional research and insights about why the Dead Sea Scrolls and Josephus are bogus.
Ultimately, the fictitious Josephus and Dead Sea Scrolls were used to back up Israel's claim to Jerusalem in 1947.
Elsewhere in Hubbard's interviews and presentations, what becomes more believable than not is Josephus was a fictitious person used to verify history to say things that could not be traced to a real person, while ambiguities were glossed over.
The Q & A near the end references Robert Morning Sky as a respected epigrapher and touches on connections with the Annunaki.
At the very least, it is good entertainment. More likely I feel, Hubbard's and Schffranke's hypothesis explains the reality we all live with and have been confused by for centuries.
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Teresa
We have 2 examples of the so called war on Christmas. Can't we all just enjoy the holidays without a silly, non existent, meme controlled fictional, disruptive, lies. Let the children enjoy the holiday, and the ones who are lucky enough to still have a family enjoy it too
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Robert Chokonen Anthony Van Fleet
Really? Why does anyone listen to the propaganda that spews from zealots? If someone wants to believe in anything or nothing it is that persons fundamental rights, and no its not just an American right, it is the same for all.
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Nova Kali
Approve if you are true
The nutcracker and santa, as has been stated, are inanimate objects that people are making up stories about to gain fame. No one really cares if there is a gay nutcracker or a black santa, they just want to make trouble for others. Come one, don't e so petty, people. Enjoy the holiday and make it your own and let others enjoy theirs.
Amen!