<div align="center"><table border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" bordercolor="#111111" bgcolor="#C9C0A7" width="414" height="66"><tr><td background="http://somd.com/news/inmyopinion/little_back.gif" width="56"><img src="http://somd.com/news/inmyopinion/trr.gif" width="56" height="56"></td><td width="358"><font face="Impact" color="#000000" size="6">In My Opinion</font><font face="Arial" color="#000000" size="3"><i><br><b> by Trevor Bothwell</b></i></td></tr></table></div>

Whenever the “holidays” roll around -- or as I like to call it, Hanuramakwanzimas -- most people use this time to reflect on how truly thankful and blessed they are to be surrounded by so many loving friends and family members.

But not me. No, the “holiday” season merely reminds me how truly offensive the United States of America is.

For starters, I’m offended that so many people these days seem to think the Bill of Rights actually limits the powers of the State over the people, or that it defends the people’s right to celebrate their religion publicly.

I’m also offended that so many folks in Maplewood, N.J., are giving the South Orange/Maplewood Board of Education such a hard time just because it voted to ban Christmas carols during its schools’ instrumental “holiday” concerts this year. After all, don’t we live in a democracy here? What right do outraged Americans have to act as if the First Amendment trumps a public school district’s right to decide what’s in the best interests of its students and faculty? I mean, come on, the Board voted.

And what’s with the Thomas More Law Center suing the town of Bay Harbor Islands, Fla., just because it decided to ban the display of Christian nativity scenes while allowing public displays of the Jewish menorah? Didn’t I just read somewhere that something like 90% of Americans celebrates Christmas? Clearly the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion for every citizen need not apply if the majority gets its own federal holiday.

Come to think of it, I’m offended that it’s taken the city of Denver, Colo., so long to ban the words “Merry Christmas” or any Christmassy floats from its traditional parade of lights. What right do the taxpayers of any city have to expect that events funded with their own tax dollars represent their values?

And frankly, how about the very term “Happy Holidays,” which anti-Christian types seem to have so enthusiastically embraced in exchange for insulting wishes like “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Thanksgiving”? To be honest, I’m offended that we so casually accept the usage of a word derived from the religious term “holy day.”

Indeed, I hold in contempt all who would bruise my fragile self-image by subjecting me to the ritual of Assault by Traditional Observance. But for all the progress we’ve realized in the continual secularization of mainstream American society, nothing so offends me as that most evil of American -- nay, Western -- traditions: New Year’s Day.

Think about it. What does the year itself represent? Time. Time based on Christian history, and the generally accepted chronological recording of events since the birth of Chr…Chri…Christ.

I’m offended that in little more than a week, I will be forced to observe the year 2005 (AD, that is, which is Latin for “year of the Lord.”) Offended that EVERY SINGLE DAY of EVERY SINGLE YEAR I am force-fed vicious reminders that Christianity dominates virtually all of Western civilization. Oh, to awaken to the headline, “ACLU Sues to Abolish New Year’s Day,” in the New York Times!

No more “Happy New Year!” No more worthless New Year’s resolutions. No more succumbing to the intolerant, discriminatory religious majority!

And so from now on I propose that each new “year” commence with the date: January 1, (Since the Beginning). The beginning of what, you ask? Why, of life. Of the earth. Of the sun. Of the universe. We have plenty of starting points to pick from!

Certainly there is a generic, inoffensive system of chronological measurement we can all agree on. You know, as the great Sen. Clinton would say, for the “common good.”

I sure am glad to have the protections of the First Amendment on my side this “holiday” season. Aren’t you?


Trevor Bothwell is editor of <a href="http://www.therightreport.com/">The Right Report</a>, and he is also a Townhall.com book reviewer. He can be contacted at bothwell@therightreport.com.

Dear Trevor,

Do us all a favor and move to Canada.

Merry Christmas,

Kain

Dear Trevor,

Do us all a favor and move to Canada.

Merry Christmas,

Kain


I thought it was satire. Am I wrong?

I thought it was satire. Am I wrong?
May have been.... I've just given up reading into things. :sad:

I thought it was satire. Am I wrong?
I thought it might be a wee bit too much egg nog. :lmao: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Trevor!

Dear Trevor,

Do us all a favor and move to Canada.

Merry Christmas,

Kain


Judging from all of Trevor's other columns, I would wager a guess that this entire piece is meant to be ascerbic and entirely tongue-in-cheek.

Merry Christmas?

Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, but with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose to practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all; plus, a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2004, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of the other cultures whose contributions have helped make our society great, without regards to the race, creed, color, religious, or sexual preferences of the wishes.

Disclaimer: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for him/herself or others and no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit.

I'm offended that someone is offended !
How dare anyone be offended by what founded this Country.
And only in this Country, Someone is entitled to voice their offensive opinions of feeling offend by the rituals and traditions of the higher majority (Christians).

In some other Country's , their out bursts of how offended they are by the majority's beliefs, would get them stoned to death in the streets..

I believe they should be a little more thankful and respectful for this Country and the majorities beliefs and traditions.

Where else but here in America,with our free social society that was founded by Christians,
would they be able to voice their offensive opinions with out suffering repercussions from the Government or the people of that country?

The majority of this Country ,are Christians and the majority controls the Government by elections.
Which in turn gives them the right, to have freedom of speech.

So exactly , how is it anyone is offended?

My give-a-damn's broke..
lemme look a little deeper....
NOPE...still broke :lol:

Merry Christmas!

.......will not be happy until every single inalienable American right has been eroded away and the people are to do as their Government tells them to do.

• Any and all beliefs held by any individual will have to be removed and or twisted in such a fashion that it will not offend anyone or anything.

• Grey scale will be the only legal color, as all other colors can be offensive. (red primer as well *too bad rednecks**)

• All houses will be torn down and rebuilt to be exactly like everyone else’s house to remove the chance that someone will feel lower in class than anyone else, no matter how hard anyone has worked to achieve where they are.

• All cars will be repossessed and melted down to be used to create a single class of vehicle. Families will be limited to two vehicles, if a child is only enough to drive, they should be living in their own abode producing children to support the Govt. (Trucks will be for commercial use only **too bad rednecks**)

• Private jets will be taken and given to UCDP airlines.

• Guns are only to be owned by the Govt. because they are the only ones that know what’s best for their people.

Kain,

I admire your patriotism on the weekend of our "winter solstice celebration." Of course it was sarcasm!

Did anyone catch the end of the Indy/Chargers game yesterday when CBS's commentator was congratulating Peyton Manning?

"Uh, Peyton, congratulations on this .. uh. . very special, uh, day after, uh. . December 26."

Pathetic.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Trevor

Dear Trevor,

Do us all a favor and move to Canada.

Merry Christmas,

Kain
On behalf of Canada,
move to california, we dont want you

On behalf of Canada,
move to california, we dont want you
Did NOBODY catch the sarcasm in this column? :confused:

Did NOBODY catch the sarcasm in this column? :confused:
I did :ohwell:

Kain,

I admire your patriotism on the weekend of our "winter solstice celebration." Of course it was sarcasm!

Did anyone catch the end of the Indy/Chargers game yesterday when CBS's commentator was congratulating Peyton Manning?

"Uh, Peyton, congratulations on this .. uh. . very special, uh, day after, uh. . December 26."

Pathetic.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Trevor


I saw it and also saw a comdeian of the weekend refuse to say happy holidays and instead said "Merry 25th day of December!!!!... " :ohwell:

Did NOBODY catch the sarcasm in this column? :confused:
It was dripping with sarcasm. But around here a lot gets missed by many.

But around here a lot gets missed by many.
You can say that again.

I think the funnier part was all the responses against his opinion but actually in agreement.


What do they call that? We are in the throws of violentently agreeing?

How could anyone miss the sarcasm in that?


Even if you missed it through the Christmas stuff... New Years?


:killingme

Sarcasm is used to either aggravate .
Or to entertain a strange sense of humor, to amuse one's self or others.

In any case sarcasm is only amusing to those who know and recognize the traits of the individuals true demeanor that is serving it.

In any case sarcasm is only amusing to those who know and recognize the traits of the individuals true demeanor that is serving it.


You know trevor as well as I do.

You know trevor as well as I do.


No that is an assumption.

This thread is the first time I have ever read anything of his. :angel:

No that is a assumption.

This thread is the first time I ever read anything of his.

And you're assuming I've read anything else he's posted. I don't know trevor, but I still was able to detect the sarcasm.

And you're assuming I've read anything else he's posted. I don't know trevor, but I still was able to detect the sarcasm.
I didn't assume anything. I have never said anything to you.

I just stated that sarcasm can be taken wrong very easily.

I didn't assume anything. I have never said anything to you.

I just stated that sarcasm can be taken wrong very easily.

Anyone that didn't notice the sarcasm in that post wouldn't know the first thing about sarcasm after reading "The Encyclopedia of Irony". Trevor's post was so sarcastic it bordered on complete satire. I couldn't imagine him laying the sarcasm on any thicker.

Anyone that didn't notice the sarcasm in that post wouldn't know the first thing about sarcasm after reading "The Encyclopedia of Irony". Trevor's post was so sarcastic it bordered on complete satire. I couldn't imagine him laying the sarcasm on any thicker.


In order to get it..Sarcasm...You have to have a sense of humor.

And sometimes,depending on the day someone is having,
reflects on how someone takes sarcasm.






So how someone perceives sarcasm,
would depend greatly on one's mood.

Don't ya think?


So how have you been Chain? :howdy:
How was your Christmas?




:coffee:

In order to get it..Sarcasm...You have to have a sense of humor.

And sometimes,depending on the day someone is having,
reflects on how someone takes sarcasm.






So how someone perceives sarcasm,
would depend greatly on one's mood.

Don't ya think?


So how have you been Chain? :howdy:
How was your Christmas?




:coffee:

Thats not sarcasm at the end. That is passive agressive tendencies.

Thats not sarcasm at the end. That is passive agressive tendencies.
:killingme :killingme :killingme

Hey all...its been awhile since I've posted, but I feel compelled to do so today. I am not writing this to defend the actions of certain, isolated areas that have decreased the public display of Christmas celebrations, but rather to question why there is such a fuss about this. I am a devout Roman Catholic and I celebrate Christmas as does the vast majority of the American people (about 75% profess to be of a Christian faith). When I greet people during this season, I say "Merry Christmas" and almost everyone else that I have talked to has done the same thing. I went to the Christmas Tree lighting in Leonardtown and I have noticed that one is placed on the White House lawn. I honestly do not understand why there is such a fuss about the holiday v. Christmas debate. I have to wonder if this whole fuss is just being generated by the powers of the Christian right movement in order to stimulate fundraising or to ensure that their activists remain active. With no candidate to build up or tear down, it seems as though the Christian right has just picked its issue of the month and blown limited issues out of proportion.

In the end, the best way to stop the "holiday" season is to act on your own accord and say "Merry Christmas." That action, I believe, will be much more effective than yelling on a political talk show or writing a column.

Hey all...its been awhile since I've posted, but I feel compelled to do so today. I am not writing this to defend the actions of certain, isolated areas that have decreased the public display of Christmas celebrations, but rather to question why there is such a fuss about this. I am a devout Roman Catholic and I celebrate Christmas as does the vast majority of the American people (about 75% profess to be of a Christian faith). When I greet people during this season, I say "Merry Christmas" and almost everyone else that I have talked to has done the same thing. I went to the Christmas Tree lighting in Leonardtown and I have noticed that one is placed on the White House lawn. I honestly do not understand why there is such a fuss about the holiday v. Christmas debate. I have to wonder if this whole fuss is just being generated by the powers of the Christian right movement in order to stimulate fundraising or to ensure that their activists remain active. With no candidate to build up or tear down, it seems as though the Christian right has just picked its issue of the month and blown limited issues out of proportion.

In the end, the best way to stop the "holiday" season is to act on your own accord and say "Merry Christmas." That action, I believe, will be much more effective than yelling on a political talk show or writing a column.
Used to think you were logical.............. Poof! Dust....

Used to think you were logical.............. Poof! Dust....

It's amazing that I am only illogical when my viewpoint disagrees with yours. Can you prove that this is illogical? I mean besides some cases of isolated school boards and some city councils taking actions to remove public Christmas displays, where is the national movement against Christmas? The only thing that comes close to this "national movement" is private businesses marketing the holiday season.

Hey all...its been awhile since I've posted, but I feel compelled to do so today. I am not writing this to defend the actions of certain, isolated areas that have decreased the public display of Christmas celebrations, but rather to question why there is such a fuss about this. I am a devout Roman Catholic and I celebrate Christmas as does the vast majority of the American people (about 75% profess to be of a Christian faith). When I greet people during this season, I say "Merry Christmas" and almost everyone else that I have talked to has done the same thing. I went to the Christmas Tree lighting in Leonardtown and I have noticed that one is placed on the White House lawn. I honestly do not understand why there is such a fuss about the holiday v. Christmas debate. I have to wonder if this whole fuss is just being generated by the powers of the Christian right movement in order to stimulate fundraising or to ensure that their activists remain active. With no candidate to build up or tear down, it seems as though the Christian right has just picked its issue of the month and blown limited issues out of proportion.

In the end, the best way to stop the "holiday" season is to act on your own accord and say "Merry Christmas." That action, I believe, will be much more effective than yelling on a political talk show or writing a column.

Christian right didnt pick anything. The far left started this crap. The right just defended something the vast majority of this country believes in from a few loud mouth jerks.

Christian right didnt pick anything. The far left started this crap. The right just defended something the vast majority of this country believes in from a few loud mouth jerks.
"This crap" just seems so isolated that I think that this nation would be better served if we were outraged at other, more widespread things.

"This crap" just seems so isolated that I think that this nation would be better served if we were outraged at other, more widespread things.
Then the far left should cease & desist trying to change the judaua/christian fundamentalism beliefs on which this country was founded.

Judean (sorry)

It's amazing that I am only illogical when my viewpoint disagrees with yours. Can you prove that this is illogical? I mean besides some cases of isolated school boards and some city councils taking actions to remove public Christmas displays, where is the national movement against Christmas? The only thing that comes close to this "national movement" is private businesses marketing the holiday season.
I think you may have mis-understood me..... I could care less if you burn.

Oh Holy Night! Brothers and Sisters, on Capitol Hill. :duh:

Then the far left should cease & desist trying to change the judaua/christian fundamentalism beliefs on which this country was founded.
I agree, but talking to the "far left" and talking to the radical Christian right about ceasing and desisting is akin to talking to a brick wall.

I agree, but talking to the "far left" and talking to the radical Christian right about ceasing and desisting is akin to talking to a brick wall.
Alas, I agree with you there!! Both are minorities who should hold their tongues. And when the main stream media is finally controlled, we will all be better off.

I agree, but talking to the "far left" and talking to the radical Christian right about ceasing and desisting is akin to talking to a brick wall.
:twitch: