Stop the War on Christmas

Atheists to Revoke Christmas Holiday

2008-12-11T10:01:00.000-08:00

Man the battlestations!!!!! Bill O'Reilly announced last night that Atheists are on the march, and if they aren't stopped, they will revoke Christmas.

Tip o' the hat to ThinkProgress.org for the catch. They have the screen cap of Bill and blonde Fox Newsbot(tm) Gretchen Carlson raising the alarm. They were discussing an atheist display in the Washington State Capitol building, which was placed near a nativity scene. Of course, Mr. Great American Holiday Quiz himself just knows that the next step is to crush the federal holiday.

While we won't go as far as a commenter at TP who says, the imaginary war on Christmas is her favorite part of the holiday. However, it is quite humorous to watch Fox News beat the drum on the false notion of a war on Christmas.

War Posters

2008-12-10T10:56:00.000-08:00

Nice title, eh? We always love a good double entrende here at War Command Central. Take a look at this poster for the great Christmas War,

It's part of a collection of War on Chritsmas Propaganda posters. The original images are actual Propaganda posters from earlier "real" wars (WWII, Korea) that are on file at the Library of Congress. The collection at about.com takes these classic posters and modifies them to make fun of the War on Christmas. It's funny to see the these old posters, with their great pulp style, juxtaposed against the silly Christmas War. You can just imagine these posters plastered in various locations in Bedford Falls or Whoville while our "boys were over there". Seriously, these harken back to a different time, and show a slightly less jaded America. Which makes it all the more hilarious to see them in the fight against Christmas. This has to be James Dobson's nightmare, a truly organized Secular Progressive army, complete with its own Propaganda Posters.

Just a note, the about.com section is in their Atheism forum, and as such, some of the posters stray from the tongue in cheek spirit we have here at Stop the War on Christmas. While we don't think anyone will be too offended, we're giving you full notice ahead of time. Also, The posters and the variations are copyrighted, but we honestly can't find the proper attribution on the about.com site. So, if anyone can tell us, we'll gladly give full details and proper recognition to the one image we have posted above.

Bill O'Reilly's HOLIDAY quiz

2008-12-08T18:44:00.001-08:00

Seems our good friend Bill O'Reilly has a seasonal article in this week's Parade Magazine. You know "Parade", it's the thing that falls out of your Sunday paper, that is only read by people who watch Matlock. It's "Bill O'Reilly's Great American Holiday Quiz"

Well, it seems that the great Defender of Christmas has a quiz on the Holiday(s). This is a play on his weekly pop culture quiz, where each week Steve Douchey (sp?) and some typical Blonde Fox Newsbot answer questions about pop trivia. Of course, one would imagine that since he so tirelessly fights against retailers that say "Happy Holidays", that surely his Quiz would be just about Christmas. Guess again.

As you can see from the image, there's typical secular images (Santa, Rudolph, and a tree), and some Chanukkah cookies, but no Jesus!!!! How could this be?? Bill O'Reilly having a "HOLIDAY" quiz, not a "Christmas Quiz".

Dear Lord, the Secular Progressives have truly won the war.

Oh, by the way, if you enter the quiz, you get a chance to win Bill's book, "A Bold Fresh Piece of ......" Just what you could use to start the fire for roasting chestnuts.

Let Your "Light" Shine For Christ This Christmas Season!

2008-11-18T17:09:00.000-08:00

Just look at the wonderful new lawn decoration you can have this Christmas season! Yes, The American Family Association is selling the Original Christmas Cross in their online store. Now you too can decorate your home with a brilliantly lighted, overtly public display of your faith.

Of course, as Andrew Sullivan remarks, imagine the surprise your neighbors might have if you silently slip one of these on their lawn when you play Secret Santa.

No idea if it comes wrapped in a white sheet with a couple of holes for ventilation.

Update on Bill O'Reilly's bumper stickers

2008-11-10T18:35:00.000-08:00

You may remember our earlier post about Bill O. selling bumper stickers. We forgot to mention at the time, but Keith Olbermann pointed it out tonight, that the bumper stickers have the fleur de lis on both sides of the text. Now the fleur de lis has symbolic connotations with the Divinity (the three points on the icon), and more specifically with the Virgin Mary and the Annunciation. However, those connections are usually only seen in Renaissance art, and are not part of most American's Christmas imagery.

The fleur de lis, which is French for "lily flower", is a symbol with a strong heritage to French monarchy, primarily the House of Bourbon. It's on the flag of the Italian Province of Florence, and on various versions of the Spanish Flag (and the Spanish Monarchy), and prominently a part of the Quebec provincial flag.

What makes this all the more entertaining, is the long history that Bill O. has in boycotting all things FRENCH. He's been on this other (seemingly as purposeful) crusade since the beginning of the Iraq war. Apparently, France did something then that most Americans now realize was within the rights of the French, and upon 5 years of reflection, was probably smart. That hasn't stopped Mr. O. from encouraging the consumption of Freedom Fries, and other stupidness.

So, Bill, in his quest to prove that he must Save Christmas from the Secular Progressives, once again proves what a hack he is.

Well played, monsieur

The Enemy Within

2008-11-10T18:16:00.001-08:00

Oh Noes!!! The war is lost.

News Corp, the owner of Fox News just sent out the invitations to its annual HOLIDAY PARTY.

How could Bill O'Reilly have lost the battle with his own employer.

Here's an image of the invite, as shown on the newshounds.us website:

Apparently this isn't a new thing, as News Corp has called their annual end of year gathering a "holiday party" for many years, at least as far back as 2005. Here's evidence from Supreme Irony and from at least one New York event planner who worked the soiree'.

Wow, I guess Mr. O doesn't even have any pull where he works.

12 Days of the War on Christmas

2008-11-08T07:45:00.000-08:00

We admit it, we are addicted to YouTube. We couldn't believe Google paid over $4Billion dollars for it several years ago. Now however, we can't get enough Frozen Time and WoW characters singing "The internet is for Porn"

However, as this blog is about the War on the War on Christmas, we thought we'd link to something relevant. It's the Twelve Days of War on Christmas. The static image is of Condoleeza Rice, but I promise it's the about Christmas (damn YouTube):

There's lots of funny images and commentary, with all of the Usual Suspects protecting Christmas from the herd of Secular Progressives looking to steal your Christmas Tree. Our only complaint is that we didn't come up with it ourselves.

Probably NSFW as it's loud, and will certainly piss off the Sarah Palin supporters in your office who are still suicidal over the election.

Defend Christmas, 2008!

2008-11-08T07:25:00.001-08:00

The fine folks at DefendChristmas.com are gearing up for this year's War on the War on Christmas (tm). They actually do a good job of delineating what the War on Christmas is all about. They continue to update their "naughty list" of retailers who omit/overlook the word Christmas, and they track all of the silly battles over holiday decorations in public places.

However, they are one of the few sites who also recognize something else. That the majority of the War on Christmas is a battle where "...long-winded television commentators warn incessantly of 'Christmas under attack'."

So, check them out, and get a good laugh at town councils debating Winter Light Festival silliness (like some scene from South Park).

O'Reilly tells Jewish Store owners to Celebrate Christmas

2008-11-08T06:54:00.001-08:00

As we were wrapping up the battle last year, we missed a lot of things. Primarily we were working on ways to survive what we knew was going to be a tanking economy. So, while we were busily moving our 401K into a mason jar in the backyard, we missed the best skirmish from last year.

To set the stage.... it's early in December 2007. Our fine servicemen and women are still fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mitt Romney believes that he can convince Evangelicals to vote for a Mormon, and Lehman Brothers was still a top tier firm on Wall Street. So, with all of the looming signs of an economic disaster, our idol Bill O'Reilly came up with a winner.

In his nightly entertainment program, during the viewer mail section, Bill read a letter from a California Rabbi. The letter read as follows:

"Bill, I am on your side in the Christmas fight, but what if a company is owned by Jews? Would you still object to no Christmas displays?"

His answer: "The objection is based on the federal holiday...not religious connotation. Nobody is asking businesses to promote the divinity of Jesus, just asking stores that profit from Christmas to acknowledge it".

Way to Go Bill! You tell those Jewish merchants! Of course, (as noted in this clip here) one must graciously overlook the fact that O'Reilly echoed traditional anti-semitic stereotypes by questioning Jewish allegiance to the nation and its holidays. His mentioning profit was of course just a turn of phrase. Now we know that Mr. O is not anti-semitic. We know this because he reminds his viewers of it constantly, usually right before or after he says something that might be taken as, well, anti-semitic. However, we've always taken him at his word, and will continue to do so.

Luckily for us, he's the principal crusader in the War on the War on Christmas (tm).

Bill O'Reilly kicks off the "War on Christmas" Season

2008-11-08T06:40:00.001-08:00

Fox News entertainer Bill O'Reilly officially kicked off the War on Christmas season on Wednesday, November the 6th. After having a Progressive (not a Center-Right) sweep of the 2008 election, and obviously realizing that people were done with the election, Mr. O once again found a foe to battle. Was it Health Care? The War in Iraq? The Economy?

No, the "bold fresh piece of humanity" immediately moved to his favorite crusade, the War on Christmas. We are so thankful that he did, as we assumed that the fine, hard working Americans had forsaken the battle this year. Thankfully, Mr. O is here to save us from the Secular Progressives who might otherwise have taken away our God given rights to say "Merry Christmas".

Now, Bill is always looking at ways to fund his war, much like President Bush when it comes to supplementary appropriations. This year he's offering bumper stickers to help fund the War on the War on Christmas:

We say, never miss a retail opportunity!!

2008-11-08T06:32:00.000-08:00

Ok, it's that time of year again. The War on Christmas is in full swing. We're back, after taking the rest of the year off, but just like Santa, we're hard at work right now tracking all of the battles in the War on Christmas.

We missed a lot this year, thinking perhaps that the War on Christmas had ended. Silly us, we thought people might actually care more about that Real War (tm), where our fine service men and women are still fighting. Alas, no, those fine commentators who are always "looking out for the folks" are here to take up the cause.

(sigh)

Oh, well, to quote the famous phrase: "And so it begins............" the 2008 season of Stop the War on Christmas.

(grab your popcorn, it's going to be a fun ride)

President Bush continues War on Christmas 2007

2007-12-21T07:14:00.000-08:00

In his End-of-Year press briefing, President Bush apparently took up sides in the War on Christmas. And believe it or not, he chose the wrong side.

Yep, that's right, at the end of the Press Briefing, Mr. Bush wished everyone, "Happy Holidays". What, the leader of the Free World, Mr. Compassionate Conservatism, blah blah, couldn't find the words, "Merry Christmas"?

Now, Bill O'Reilly has said that saying “Happy Holidays” to people absolutely does offend Christians (see link here).

sigh.

Here's the link to the (liberal) ThinkProgress site

Arch Bishop of Canterbury disputes Christmas Story

2007-12-20T07:25:00.000-08:00

In England, the Arch Bishop of Canterbury (Dr. Rowan Williams) has disputed parts of the traditional Christmas story. According to the London Telegraph, Dr. Williams has claimed there was little evidence that the Magi even existed and there was certainly nothing to prove there were three of them or that they were kings. He also disputes the timing of Jesus' birth, suggesting that "Jesus was probably not born in December at all".

Wow! This, coming from the head of the Anglican Church.

He continues with his commentary, arguing "that Christmas cards which showed the Virgin Mary cradling the baby Jesus, flanked by shepherds and wise men, were misleading. As for the scenes that depicted snow falling in Bethlehem, the Archbishop said the chance of this was 'very unlikely'."

The interview came on a program where he was interviewed by Ricky Gervais, who you might know as the creator of the hit British television show, "The Office". He also appears in the US version with the same name.

Read the full story here.

Please sir, another lump of coal for the fire

2007-12-14T07:38:00.000-08:00

After making his speech on the House floor earlier this week, Rep. Steve King (R-IA) attacked the nine “liberal Democrat” “naysayers” who voted against his resolution on the “importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.”

Thursday, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) responded, explaining his vote:

While the Republicans are passing a resolution celebrating Christmas, the president was vetoing health care for children. There’s a little bit of irony going on around here.

King was one of the lawmakers who voted against expanding SCHIP.

Somehow I have more of an image of Scrooge, than of George Bailey

Bill O'Reilly declares victory in the War on Christmas

2007-12-14T07:36:00.000-08:00

While not being pithy about Rep. Steve King’s (R-IA) House resolution on the “importance of Christmas and the Christian faith,” Fox News host Bill O’Reilly declared victory in the “war on Christmas” last night. He called his show’s reporting on the issue “one of the most important things we’ve done,” saying, “We won” and secular progressives “lost.”

Well, when Bill says it's over, it must be over.

Somehow I don't think it is.

Rep King Defends Christmas

2007-12-12T13:33:00.000-08:00

Rep. King Decries ‘Assault On Christmas,’ Calls On Americans To ‘Stand Up’ And ‘Worship Christ’

Earlier this week, Rep. Steve King recently (R-IA) introduced legislation recognizing the “importance of Christmas and the Christian faith,” despite previously opposing resolutions recognizing the Muslim celebration of Ramadan and the Hindu Diwali.

A spokesman for King said that the congressman simply “thought it was important to honor Christmas” by introducing the bill. Then later on Fox News, King went further, decrying an “assault on Christmas” from “secularists” who want to “eradicate Christ from Christmas.” Then demonstrating his knowledge of American history, and the Constitution, King claimed America is really a “Christian nation”:

I recognized that we’re a Christian nation founded on Christian principles, and we’re coming up to Christmastime. … It’s time we stood up and said so, and said to the rest of America, Be who you are and be confident. And let’s worship Christ and let’s celebrate Christmas for the right reasons.

There you go folks, a true warrior in the War on Christmas

Santa Panties! Who needs Credit Cards when you have Santa!

2007-12-12T13:30:00.001-08:00

From the horrible product merchandising department, Wal-Mart has had to pull down some undergarments, after the tag line was found to be wholly inappropriate. While they are Santa themed, it's just not appropriate for "juniors". Junior what's we're not quite sure, but apparently they were displayed next to a mid-size brass pole, and some knee high elf shoes.

Fox News has the story here, and we must say that we are at a loss for words. The link mentions some feminist posters who apparently are NOT at a loss, but we won't print them here.

Christmas Anyone? Class? Anyone? Anyone?.....

2007-12-11T16:13:00.000-08:00

The fine folks at "Where's Christmas" have latched on to a good video clip of Ben Stein, talking about Christmas. The clip is here with him on CBS’ Sunday Morning, from August of 2006. (Again, tip of the hat to Where's Christmas for the link). What's interesting is Stein's approach to Christmas, given his Jewish faith.

Stein is of course famous for his role in the 1986 John Hughes movie "Ferris Beuller's Day Off". He played the Economics teacher with the monotone voice droning on to a class of disinterested students, calling out the class roll, repeating "Bueller", Bueller". If you're under 30 you will recognize him for his role on Comedy Central's "Win Ben Stein's Money" program. If you're over 50, you'll know that he was a speech writer for Richard Nixon, a post shared with Patrick J. Buchannan. Judge a man by his company we always say!

Stein continues to provide social commentary on typically conservative issues such as Creationism/Intelligent Design and gave a rousing defense to Idaho Senator Larry Craig.

So, check out the clip, and you'll see, that as Principal Rooney's secretary Grace said, "he's a righteous dude".

Oy to the World! It's Christmas!

2007-12-10T11:49:00.000-08:00

From the (liberal) Daily Dish website of pundit Andrew Sullivan, comes a story that was a bit funny, then provoked a more disturbing emotion. You've seen the ads for ATT Wireless, that use the mashed up names of multiple cities/countries, to highlight their coverage areas. You know, "it works in more places like New Sanfrankota", with images of the Urban entrepreneur who works in NewBosumbus, or the global businessman who has to travel to Chilondoscow .

Now comes the horrid love child of these ads, the mash up of Christmas and Channukah, for those families who wish to celebrate both. The result, Chrismukkah! You can celebrate with your Treenorah (a menorah in the outline of a Christmas tree) and sing Christmas carols written by persons of Jewish faith.

In this modern age, with families where parents are of different faiths, it's no surprise that there are struggles on how to properly celebrate. While we recognize and honor traditions of both faiths, we feel that they merit their own separate observances, customs, and practices. We don't need a Treenorah any more than we need a dreidel with pictures of snowmen on it. If children get to learn about the festival of lights, and get presents from Santa, that's fine. Just keep them separate. For us, it doesn't work in more places like Bocatlantantonio

And ladies, we're sorry to have to tell you that Mr. Sullivan is no longer single. Seems he just got married earlier this year. Wish the happy couple well, will you.

Tasty Treats from Harry & David

2007-12-03T18:24:00.000-08:00

We received the Harry & David Christmas Gifts 2007 catalog today. That's right, you read correct, it clearly says "Christmas Gifts 2007". You may know Harry & David, they sell amazingly tasty and expensive food stuffs. Fresh Pears, smoked Alaska Salmon, and every conceivable type of jam/salsa/pepper jelly.

They have retail locations in most of the Outlet Centers, and a few scattered in mainstream Category Killer, Big-Box centers. We love getting the catalog, as it makes for equal parts "wow" and "no-way". The "wow" is the wonderful items on display, and the "no-way" is for the outrageous prices. Now, lest you think that we have something against H&D, we don't, it's fantastic stuff, and the fruit is only the highest quality, and hand boxed. There's just no way around the fact that it's pricey.

Their fruit of the month club is an expensive way to be remembered all year, but then what do you get those far away relatives at Christmas?? A gift card at the Gap or Home Depot (for the unmarried Aunt) just doesn't seem as thoughtful.

Perhaps famous for their "tower" gifts, boxes and boxes of treats piled high, and wrapped with ribbons and bows. They are this generation's "Swiss Colony". (Kids ask your parents).

It's nice to see them not shy away from Christmas. Now, if they could find a way to make their Moose Munch Crunch not quite so sinfully delicious.

Most People prefer saying Merry Christmas

2007-12-02T09:52:00.000-08:00

Here's a survey in the Washington Times that tells us that most people prefer to say "Merry Christmas" rather than some other variation of holiday greeting. To paraphrase Captain Renault, "I am shocked, shocked to find this out". Of course people would prefer to say Merry Christmas. It's the retailers, schools, government offices and so on that have forced the adoption of "Season's Greetings" and other trite phrases. People say "Merry Christmas", institutions say "Happy Holidays". Someday, the War on Christmas may just rectify that.

The Washington Times is the conservative DC counterpart to the notoriously liberal Washington Post. A right leaning voice inside the Beltway, we won't let the fact that it's owned by the Unification Church (the "Moonies") bother us. It's conservative!!! That's all we need to concern ourselves with.

Merry Christmas!

Missouri State to put Tree Back

2007-11-30T06:32:00.000-08:00

Breaking news from the Show-Me state.

University removed tree (with no religious symbols on it) after faculty member complained, then reversed the decision.

full story here

Bullseye….Right On Target

2007-11-28T10:08:00.000-08:00

We just received the target multi-page Christmas catalog. It’s thicker than the normal ad, actually a bound catalog style production, with amazing production values. It’s not quite Neiman Marcus caliber, but it’s so far above the normal mass merchant stuff that it immediately caught us off-guard. Perhaps this is done every year, but we’re new to the war, and we have a short attention span.

The book has a wonderful cover, in Christmas reds and greens, with a close-up of a stylized Christmas tree and ornaments. It looks very much like any modern-graphic Christmas card design. The tree has a perforated cut-out, in the center, that matches the outline of one of the ornaments. If you peel back the cutaway, it opens to reveal the words “Merry Christmas".

The Merry Christmas text is actually printed on the first page inside, in white holiday lettering, on a Christmas Red background. No other verbiage, not even the store name. Just, "Merry Christmas".

Here's a link, to the catalog on the Target website. It even allows you to "flip the page", so that you can see the Merry Christmas text. It doesn't show you the cutout, but you can see what we're talking about.

Simple, clean, and creatively to the point. That is what has separated Target from its larger discount retailer competitor. It’s also why Target appeals to a more desirable demographic, and has left Wal-Mart in the dust in many categories. Now, the ad is called “holiday catalog” on the website, which should have been corrected. The “War on Christmas” has many battles, and many fronts, we'll take the larger victory, and quibble with the weblink another season.

All we can say is that this effort is spot-on

Happy Cyber Monday!

2007-11-26T11:24:00.000-08:00

While the (lazy) main stream media is touting Cyber Monday as the busiest on-line "Holiday" shopping day, (They just can't say Christmas) we know better. It's not actually the busiest day for online shopping, as various news sites reported before Thanksgiving. However, it does make for a tempting headline and meme for the 24 hour news cycle.

Here are some of today's links on the subject, while you're at it, try to find the word Christmas:

Yahoo News - "Online shopping while at work"

CNN/Money - "Online shoppers may set record"

Fox News - "Cyber shoppers to get big discounts"

Again, as you read the articles, notice the various ways the word Christmas is avoided, even on FOX!

Merry Christmas Red State visitors!

2007-11-26T11:23:00.000-08:00

We’ve noticed a lot of traffic from RedState.com, a site devoted to Conservative Politics. While we’re normally concerned with red only as the color of Christmas, we welcome any guest who shares our passion in the fight against the War On Christmas. We’ll leave the election, war, and other social commentary to the message boards at RedState, and we’ll focus on Christmas here. However, for a rollicking good time, you might want to check them out. It might not always be safe for work, while there’s no profanity they do show up on a lot of “Banned Sites” for Corporate IT weasels. Not sure we’d feel good about you having to explain that to some snooping sysadmin.