Thanks for wishing me a safe and Merry Christmas.  I wish you a Merry Christmas as well!

A few thoughts on your piece here.

You wrote, “I know this might seem like a radical thought and a bit passé, but wish them a “Merry Christmas.” Being from New York and saying Merry Christmas is like having HIV of the face. You get glares, threats and disgust.”

First: I don’t think saying Merry Christmas to others is either radical nor is it passe.  I think it’s something people do quite a lot during this part of the year—just watch an hour of television and you can’t miss it!  And if you wait until December 25, I have found that, even in NYC, many people will wish you a Merry Christmas.  I have even wished others a Merry Christmas on December 25, which is the day on which Christmas is typically celebrated.

Second:  I think you may feel like you have “HIV of the face” because you are starting your Merry Christmas greetings way too early.  If you tell a New Yorker “Merry Christmas” today, December 10, then they will probably wonder why you are saying it now.  One of my friends was born on December 26, which is cool because it is Boxing Day, but if I told him Happy Birthday today, I think he would give me a funny look or say, “It’s not my birthday, yet.”  I would suggest telling New Yorkers “Merry Christmas” on December 25; perhaps they won’t be so angry and confused!

Third:  What is it “like having HIV of the face”?  I am unfamiliar with this particular type of HIV (infection?), so I can’t engage with the simile.  Please be descriptive!

Fourth: Sure, a person can “get” glares and threats, but can one really “get” disgust?  One can express disgust towards someone else, or someone can be disgusted with you, but I think “get” might not be the best verb here.

Then, I had a question about a fact you cited—Soros’ five year attack on Christmas. What did Soros do exactly to start these attacks?  A reference would be great!

Also, you mention Christmasians.  Is this a sect of Christianity or just Asian Christians or neither?  Again, a reference to the intended meaning would clarify.

You noted the NYC School District ban on nativity scenes, but again, a reference would be helpful. With minimal work, I found the following article detailing the Supreme Court’s decision to not rule on Skoros v. City of New York:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0222/p04s01-ussc.html

Pretty interesting article, huh?  Ironically, while you note that Christmas is, indeed, a federal holiday, it was the Federal US Supreme Court that made the final ruling (or non-ruling, as it was).  I know you probably want to see New Yorkers as the cause for this miscarriage of justice, but our Federal judges surely share some of the blame!  I wonder how they would react if you wished them a Merry Christmas?  I guess they would look at you like you had HIV of the face.

Speaking of miscarriages (!), even the Fox News version of your piece provided a full array of facts about the services of Planned Parenthood, here:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,462127,00.html

You are entitled to your opinion, of course, but perhaps you could provide your readers with a more complete understanding of the issue you are discussing.  It’s pretty simple to say you are against abortion (who isn’t!?), but are you also against sexual education, pregnancy tests, birth control, and annual checkups?  I know I, for one, would be interested to know!

Otherwise, bang up job.
-Pat.

Reply to this: comment | thread

Yikes, HIV of the face?  Giving Planned Parenthood gift certifs is a good bit for sure, but perhaps this piece as a whole takes too many blatant and brazen steps too far.

Reply to this: comment | thread

Now that is definitely a Xmas present I would never think of giving…interesting none the less.  Well written article.

Reply to this: comment | thread

here! here!

Reply to this: comment | thread

I love Christmas, the tree, the presents, the snow, those gay ass sweaters with snowflakes
on them. But you know what has no place in my Christmas tradition, Jesus! Everybody
knows that Christmas is celebrating the birth of Santa, and I think this Jesus jerk is stealing his thunder. Jesus be gone, abortions for some, and a Merry Christmas to everyone.

Reply to this: comment | thread

Wow! Pat it would have been better if you just write another article with your opinion. As for that guy justin mccormick, I’m too lazy to find articles to support my claims and write a comment even longer than the article itself (like pat did), but what the hell were you thinking? Christmas celebrates the birth of Santa?!?!?!? I don’t know where you went to school, or what type of books you read, or the kind of TV shows you watch, but in fact the word “Christmas” is derived from Christ; and if you know the story, Christ was atcually baby Jesus. Next time think twice before you write something or at least don’t leave your full name on such an ignorant comment.

Good job Shawn! I like your article. A little bitter, but well witten.

Reply to this: comment | thread

oh wow did the word Christmas derive from Christ? Only a religious, humorless idiot would have taken my Santa joke seriously, but its okay because if you really believe that you will party in the afterlife with some giant space daddy, then believing that Christmas is the birth of Santa is not the stupidest thing written in this forum.

Reply to this: comment | thread

Shawn, true that!  What a Great on-point, pithy article! 

I think your message is a constant reminder that we are indeed in a culture war in this country.  But to address your foregoing points and title of the article, this is the ultimate display of irony and audacity of those bottom (careful) LOL, bottom-feeders of our current, ruined economy: 

DISCOUNTS ON BABY KILLING DURING THE SEASON WHERE MOST OF THE WORLD IS PREPARING FOR THE MOST CELEBRATED BABY BIRTH OF ALL TIME - BABY JESUS.

I will not for simplicity sake support and rebut with sources, refutations, links, (yada yada yada)...and I hope nobody will do the same for my opinions (let’s save each other time!).  But I do support that should our Judeo-Christian traditions/values taken out of the public forum, we then lose the basic foundation that this country was formed on and fought for:  The PURSUIT of happiness and ultimately, religious FREEDOM.

BTW, Christmas cheering can officially begin during Advent (and NOT limited ONLY to the 12 days of Christmas leading up to the Epiphany.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Reply to this: comment | thread

Well, it is indeed true that the word “Christmas” is spoken and written less and less…and I can’t for the life of me understand how and why “Xmas” even exists…are nine letters REALLY too much to write?  And you may not believe in Christ, but he wasn’t at all a bad guy and saying his name as PART of another word is hardly any sort of endorsement or avowal.  Some interesting stuff here.

Reply to this: comment | thread

i do have to agree with frank - well written but a little bitter but then again, i’ve been guilty of sounding bitter and sarcastic for the sake of being funny so in that case, it works.  i can’t say i agree with everything you said, especially with the idea of blaming it all on the liberals but i can appreciate your point of view. 

i am definitely pro-choice (although i think there should be some restrictions and that abortion should not be used as a form of birth control for people who were too irresponsible to use contraception) but i have to admit that the idea that any planned parenthood could advertise/promote gift certificates as if it was some kind of fun christmas gift idea is rather disturbing (although the idea of giving one as your secret santa gift or white elephant exchange is kind of amusing!)  i do think it’s an incredibly sensitive and thoughtful idea to help someone financially who may be in need of any service from a planned parenthood as usually the situation is serious and those who go to planned parenthood are usually not flush with funds or have good health insurance.  i feel the gift certificate option sort of makes light of the situation and believe me, i seriously doubt any trip to planned parenthood is ever something light or easy.  it is usually traumatic, stressful and possibly embarrassing.

Reply to this: comment | thread

Maybe the jaded and cheerless holiday haters will change their tune on wishing others “Merry Christmas” now that our economy is officially in the toilet… it is, after all, a free gift.

Pat, you really gotta work on shortening your constructive *cough* diatribe *cough* comments… I suggest spiking your eggnog a little harder.

Merry Christmas Shawn!

Reply to this: comment | thread

HAHA!  Ok I must say this has been an entertaining morning for me. 

I appreciate the humor and seriousness behind your article, it brings back the great memories that I have of you! 

I wish I had a stronger opinion so I could add fuel to the fire, but I’m feeling in the spirit right now.  Plus I’m not as clever as the others in regards to their responses.  Love it! 

Wishing you, your family and friends a Merry Christmas. 

With love,
AS

Reply to this: comment | thread

More succinctly put:

“Complaints about the corruption, dilution or fundamental impiety of Christmas have been made for centuries. The Puritans so mistrusted the holiday that its celebration was outlawed in 17th-century Boston. Around the same time, the German theologian Paul Ernst Jablonski asserted that Christmas amounted to a paganization of the authentic faith because the date, Dec. 25, had been appropriated from a festival for a Roman solar god.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/opinion/18miller.html?em

Reply to this: comment | thread

Delightfully facetious.

Reply to this: comment | thread