Christmas Watch 2005: Burning Bush
President Bush is flagrantly abusing his position. I know, I know. I’ll be more specific. W is inserting his invisible best friend into the White House holiday celebration for which we all foot the bill. Take a look at the White House Christmas page. The theme for this year is the Christian hymn “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” Just in case you didn’t know the song, they included some of the lyrics right on the site.
All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small;
All things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.
Subtle. The Presidential “holiday” card is another winner. It does NOT say Merry Christmas, and it’s paid for by the GOP, so rest easy, heathen taxpayers. It only quotes the Bible. WHAT?!?
The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. (PSA 28:7 RSV)
The gloves have clearly come off down Washington way. Last year, this administration became the first ever to quote scripture in the holiday card with the less controversial “Let us come before him with Thanksgiving and extol him with music and song” (PSA 95:2 NIV). That was bad enough, but this year’s verse is far more blatant.
So, the evangelical lunatics picketing in front of Target (subject of a future post) must be ecstatic, right? Wrong. Apparently, EVERYONE is upset by this year’s card.
“At a time when a lot of Christians today are very upset about the way our society is dumbing down Christmas,” he said, “they certainly don’t want to see the president of the United States chiming in. We know he is a man of courage, so why is he giving in to the forces of political correctness?”
It’s that secular “Happy Holidays” phrase [William] Donohue’s [Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights] and other groups can’t stand. They also can’t stand its generic twin “Seasons Greetings.” In recent years they’ve organized boycotts of stores like Macy’s and Target for failing to mention Christmas by name.
“Prior to Clinton,” Donahue said, “none of the presidents had a problem saying Christmas at Christmas time. Now Bush is pulling a Clinton. I expected more from this guy.”
This President (who joins not only Clinton, but Carter, Reagan and others in excluding the word Christmas, by the way) is putting progressively flagrant Bible passages into the holiday cards and basing the White House theme on a hymn, but that’s just not good enough. Until W shouts his praises to the sweet baby Jesus during a press conference, the unyielding forces of the Christmas machine will hound him. There is certainly a War on Christmas, but I think this makes it pretty clear that the War BY Christmas is far more serious.
J. Grant Swank, Jr. at MichNews.com also criticized the President for not being public enough about his faith. Now, you should always take the words of a fringe Christian nut with a grain of salt, but for this piece, I’d recommend Lot’s wife. The entire article is wrong. Mr. Swank, in a piece posted on December 2, 2005, is talking about last year’s theme, last year’s card and last year’s speech. I link to it for two reasons. First, it’s a wonderful demonstration of the theistic thought process. Don’t research. Don’t worry if you get things right. Facts are unimportant. Just make it sound good. Second, the passages from last years speech are entertaining (assuming they’re correct). Here’s a snippet.
The season of Advent is always the season of hope. We think of the patient hope of men and women across the centuries who listened to the words of the prophets and lived in joyful expectation. We think of the hope of Mary, who welcomed God’s plan with great faith. We think of the hope of the Wise Men who set out on a long journey guided only by a slender promise traced in the stars.
So what’s Swank’s problem aside from a total lack of journalistic integrity? The President failed to use the word “Jesus.” Clearly, he’s going to burn for that.
~I AM~
December 8th, 2005 at at 2:10 pm
Good post. Pandering his ignorant base is one thing W does very well. Not to steal your thunder, but I thought folks would like to see this: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CREATIONISM_CLASS?SITE=NYONI&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Turns out some wholesome, loving xians decided to beat a man up for his views regarding creationism. To any and all xians who may view this site and/or have heard about this incident: where is your xian love now? Defend their actions and you are no better than them, frown on their actions, and you are called a traitor to your faith.
December 8th, 2005 at at 3:00 pm
W is gonna get in more trouble after this crack:
“The lighting of the National Christmas tree is one of the great traditions in our nation’s capital. Each year, we gather here to celebrate the season of hope and joy – and to remember the story of one humble life that lifted the sights of humanity. Santa, thanks for coming. Glad you made it.”
(Thanks to Sportin’ Life for first posting this.)
Not that I feel sorry for W, but he seems to be in a lose/lose situation now. And over what? A holiday. There are people dying in the Middle East, rampant poverty, and children who aren’t covered by insurance and all any of the christian right organizations can bitch about is W not saying Christmas or Jesus.
This whole thing is damn stupid. But here we are. Let the war continue. Great post, I AM, as usual.
December 8th, 2005 at at 4:40 pm
Personally, I think this War on Christmas stuff is overwrought and annoying on both sides. However, I think a little nuance is helpful. For instance, I see nothing wrong with the “Happy Holidays” greeting. It’s inclusive and a store clerk, for instance, has no idea who may or may not celebrate Christmas. “Holiday Tree” on the other hand is a lame and spineless phrase, denying the obvious by buying into a new level of politically correct absurdity.
As for Bush, let’s face it, the politically astute thing to do would be to act as flagrantly Christian as possible and fan these flames against those who (purportedly at least) want to wage war on this holiday. 99% of atheists (probably a conservative estimate) despise Bush already, as do any other civil liberties activists. So whom of those does Bush really need to worry about politically, and if he could fire up his base and some Christian Dems in the process, well, why not?
December 8th, 2005 at at 4:57 pm
For instance, I see nothing wrong with the “Happy Holidays” greeting. “Holiday Tree” on the other hand is a lame and spineless phrase, denying the obvious by buying into a new level of politically correct absurdity.
99% of atheists (probably a conservative estimate) despise Bush already, as do any other civil liberties activists.
I totally agree about “holiday tree.” In fact, I’m planning a post about where I think the Christians are right and we’re taking it too far.
As for despising Bush, yes, I do. However, I voted for him the second time. To the atheists who want to attack me for that, please know that the personal shame I feel and the pain it causes me as the man shows more and more of his true nature are worse than anything you can say to me. Remember, I don’t have to tell you people this kind of stuff. Don’t punish me for giving you truth.
I would like to wholeheartedly apologize to America for my vote.
December 8th, 2005 at at 5:54 pm
Whenever I see the lyrics to “All Things Bright And Beautiful” I cannot help but think of the Monty Python version, which actually makes a pretty valid counter-argument. Here’s the lyrics, sung to the same tune:
All Things Dull And Ugly - Monty Python
All things dull and ugly,
All creatures short and squat,
All things rude and nasty,
The Lord God made the lot.
Each little snake that poisons,
Each little wasp that stings,
He made their brutish venom,
He made their horrid wings.
All things sick and cancerous,
All evil great and small,
All things foul and dangerous,
The Lord God made them all.
Each nasty little hornet,
Each beastly little squid,
Who made the spikey urchin,
Who made the sharks, He did.
All things scabbed and ulcerous,
All pox both great and small,
Putrid, foul and gangrenous,
The Lord God made them all.
AMEN.
December 8th, 2005 at at 8:06 pm
Chad, if more theists could think as rationally as you do, we wouldn’t have the problems we do. Sadly, it seems more and more are jumping into the deep end with Falwell and Robertson.
December 8th, 2005 at at 8:32 pm
Excellent post!
And I have to agree - calling it a “holiday tree” is just going a little to far with the PC crap.
I’ll accept your apology if you’ll accept mine.
December 8th, 2005 at at 8:59 pm
The Swanksta!
Everybody’s favorite crazy pastor! 
If George W. “God told me to do it” Bush isn’t Christian enough for you, you officially scare me.
December 9th, 2005 at at 6:08 am
I AM wrote:
“However, I voted for him the second time.”
You’re a vegan, aren’t you? You were the kid who cried while the other kids used a magnifying glass to scorch fire ants. You’re all about nonviolent resistance, having a dream, and being “equal.” Yeah, we’ve got you pegged, alright, you pacifistic, second-chance, evangelical atheist, you. You people make me sick.
Just kidding. Seriously, though, do you smoke crack only on election days?
December 9th, 2005 at at 7:28 am
I AM wrote:
“However, I voted for him the second time.”
Just kidding. Seriously, though, do you smoke crack only on election days?
Not anymore.
December 9th, 2005 at at 7:30 am
I’m switching to Groundhog Day.
December 9th, 2005 at at 11:34 am
That made me laugh so hard my chest hurt!
I also will accept your apology ~I AM~.
To those that say this whole thing is blown out of proportion, you are right. But, I personally believe that it is blown out of proportion intentionally by factions on the right (O’Reilly) because it increases ratings and rallies the conservative troops. The opposition then has little choice but to respond, et voilà, suddenly you have a real controversy. I know the first place I heard of the “war on Christmas” was from O’Reilly, then a bunch of people responded. The problem is, I don’t think it works to just ignore him. If he is the only one talking people will have little choice but to listen to him.
December 9th, 2005 at at 2:38 pm
LBBP, You watch O’Reilly?! Very interesting…
Tanooki Joe said:
If George W. “God told me to do it” Bush isn’t Christian enough for you, you officially scare me.
If that comment was addressed to me, I should clear up that I’m not saying Bush is not “Christian enough” for ME, I’m merely pointing out that it would be politically advantageous to act even more so, since most folks who would be truly mortified by that already hate him.
December 9th, 2005 at at 3:18 pm
Chad: You know the old saying, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer”.
December 9th, 2005 at at 3:49 pm
My comment wasn’t for you, Chad.
December 9th, 2005 at at 6:52 pm
this fallwell/o’reilly war on christmas is one of the best things that has ever happened to our side. they have overreached. everybody is laughing at them. it seems even dubya is beyond them.
all we have to do is sit back and smirk.
i’ve found “have a nice day” a decent rejoinder to “merry christmas”. (say it bored, with a weak smile)
December 10th, 2005 at at 12:52 pm
Hmm. Maybe we should grab everyone who says “Merry Christmas” to us and lead them in solemn prayer.
Possibly to the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
December 11th, 2005 at at 9:01 pm
I’M A NEO CON AND I THINK BUSH IS FRIGGIN AWESOME!!!! I GOT TO GO OVER SEAS TWICE AND SCREWED UP A BUNCH OF TERRORISTS LIVES. OOH-RAH. . . .and besides ” [Thou art] i’ th’ worst rank of manhood.”
December 15th, 2005 at at 2:13 am
That ^^^ scares teh hell out of me.
Seriously.
December 15th, 2005 at at 2:37 am
“Holiday” tree is ridiculous. Anyone else notice how we “angry atheists” haven’t “campaigned” against teh use of the word “HOLIday”?
I find it amusing enough to watch these xians placing importance on a day that is completely non-Judeo-Christian in orgin. It’s absolutely sidesplittingly hilarious to me. It’s analagous to the Klan celebrating MLK Jr. Day. Really, it’s that ridiculous.
So, Protestant Christians, on this Catholic Mass go ahead and celebrate Saturnalia in front of a tree-idol that was possibly prohibited in your own Bible (Jeremiah 10:2-4), during a time of year that holds significance to all agricultural/sun-worshipping religions, while standing underneath mistletoe in memory of the slain Baldur on a day that was never claimed to be your savior’s birthday (but WAS attributed to Hercules, Bacchus, Adonis, Freyr, etc) while getting ever-closer to the TRUE xian roots in Mithraism all while engaging in the actual worship of Mammon while spending all of the money for material possessions that Jesus said you should give up anyhow. Oh yeah, and then get angry that some people would like for you to “love thy neighbor” and be - gasp - humble enough to respect others’ beliefs - in public.
Hypocrites. Sad pitiful, guilt-ridden fools.
By the way, when’s the last time these xians observed Passover, which is something actually attributed to Jesus?