Bill O'Reiley STILL banging the "liberals hate Christmas" drum...

[NMAmy]

It's odd that people keep throwing out this alleged quote that O'Reilly never said. After doing some research, I believe this is the quote that has everyone up in arms. It is from O'Reilly's December 2nd radio show.

I am not going to let oppressive, totalitarian, anti-Christian forces in this country diminish and denigrate the holiday and the celebration. I am not going to let it happen. I'm gonna use all the power that I have on radio and television to bring horror into the world of people who are trying to do that. And we have succeeded. You know we've succeeded. They are on the run in corporations, in the media, everywhere. They are on the run, because I will put their face and their name on television, and I will talk about them on the radio if they do it. There is no reason on this earth that all of us cannot celebrate a public holiday devoted to generosity, peace, and love together. There is no reason on the earth that we can't do that. So we are going to do it. And anyone who tries to stop us from doing it is gonna face me.

Ok, this is actually worse. He's going to bring "horror into the world of people" who are not celebrating a "public holiday devoted to generosity, peace, and love"?

Peace on earth, Bill baby, Good will toward man.

 

[scubamouse]

I'm so glad I don't watch this nutter. I think he's trying to distract people from the bigger issues in the world.

Liberals don't hate Christmas (at least this one doesn't) we just get that you have 2 religious (sometimes 3) and one secular holiday this month. And then there's Kwaanza too (is that secular or religious). HolidayS is a little more inclusive.

This from a Christian liberal that lives in a religiously diverse town that allows a nativity scene on town property. My holiday cards say 'Merry Christmas' and unless I'm certain someone is Christian, I wish them 'happy holidays'.

Once again, O'Liely's sweeping generalizations are wrong.

 

[Patch'sD]

I am glad that the original poster feels that they must watch O'Reilly and inform the general public of his views. Why not listen to Al Franken and report back on his views. What I see is that is if someone does not present the liberal view they are liars, cheats, nutters and what have you. If you present a view different than the liberal way your are name called. I have walked in to many stores the Christmass Season to be greated by Happy Holidays, When I say Merry Christmass, the sales person almost always smiles and say's Merry Christmass. If the stores and what have you want to proffit during the Christmass Season then they should be able to acknowledge Christmass. If a down wants to have a nativity scene, Christmass Tree, and a mennorah. They can. I would rather have someone fighting for that right rather than someone elses to not be able to have anything displayed.

 

[Bob Slydell]

Ok, this is actually worse. He's going to bring "horror into the world of people" who are not celebrating a "public holiday devoted to generosity, peace, and love"?

Peace on earth, Bill baby, Good will toward man.

I'm certainly no O'Reilly fan, but that's not what the quote you're referring to means. He doesn't say he's going after anyone who's not celebrating Christmas, but rather, those who make it their mission to remove any mention of Christmas from all public displays.

I could care less what Bill's mission is, but at least be accurate about the mission.

 

[eclectics]

I am glad that the original poster feels that they must watch O'Reilly and inform the general public of his views. Why not listen to Al Franken and report back on his views. What I see is that is if someone does not present the liberal view they are liars, cheats, nutters and what have you. If you present a view different than the liberal way your are name called. I have walked in to many stores the Christmass Season to be greated by Happy Holidays, When I say Merry Christmass, the sales person almost always smiles and say's Merry Christmass. If the stores and what have you want to proffit during the Christmass Season then they should be able to acknowledge Christmass. If a down wants to have a nativity scene, Christmass Tree, and a mennorah. They can. I would rather have someone fighting for that right rather than someone elses to not be able to have anything displayed.

I don't know what boards you are reading! The name calling I read is just about equal from both sides. And I don't think the stores have to worry much. The numbers show their profits are pretty good this year. I guess a sales clerk saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas didn't make too many people leave the stores in a huff. Actually I'm surprised people even find a sales clerk to talk to them! There's never one around when I need one.

 

[sodaseller]

I'm certainly no O'Reilly fan, but that's not what the quote you're referring to means. He doesn't say he's going after anyone who's not celebrating Christmas, but rather, those who make it their mission to remove any mention of Christmas from all public displays.

I could care less what Bill's mission is, but at least be accurate about the mission.

A legal proposition states that the best evidence of a party's meaning of certain terms is how they implement them. To date, the little bit I have read reveals that O'Reilly has attacked some municipalities that he believes should allow displays, and, more notably, Target and other retailers whose employees wish patrons "Happy Holidays". I admit I do not watch him, but how could any example above be reasonably described as "oppressive, totalitarian, anti-Christian forces in this country diminish and denigrate the holiday and the celebration." For that matter, is there any example of anyone that, to use your even more charitable construction "who make it their mission to remove any mention of Christmas from all public displays"? Is there? Presuming there was indeed such a person, his response might make a little more sense, though it would still not be close to the teachings of the Christ he professes to protect. But is there such a person? A rule of thumb I uses is that there is always some persona out there that can meet any definition of extreme sentiment. That said, I don't know that I've ever heard of anyone that could be reasonably described as "oppressive, totalitarian, anti-Christian forces in this country diminish and denigrate the holiday and the celebration" or "who make it their mission to remove any mention of Christmas from all public displays". But presuming there are some, do they have any numbers or power sufficient to merit the campaign against them? And does Target et al fit within that description.

Let's face it - O'Reilly's a vicious dark human being. When he says he wants to bring "horror" to someone, he isn't being flippant, but very sincere

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Let's face it - O'Reilly's a vicious dark human being. When he says he wants to bring "horror" to someone, he isn't being flippant, but very sincere

And you know Bill O'Reilly personally and long enough to make this assertion? Or is this based solely on your dislike of him because of his conservative stance?

 

[sodaseller]

And you know Bill O'Reilly personally and long enough to make this assertion? Or is this based solely on your dislike of him because of his conservative stance?

By their fruits ye shall know them

 

[JennyMominRI]

And you know Bill O'Reilly personally and long enough to make this assertion? Or is this based solely on your dislike of him because of his conservative stance?

I like lots of conservitives,including my siblings and one of my best friends.. I used to like Oreilly many moons ago..I think he's gone way over thedge

 

[Bob Slydell]

A legal proposition states that the best evidence of a party's meaning of certain terms is how they implement them. To date, the little bit I have read reveals that O'Reilly has attacked some municipalities that he believes should allow displays, and, more notably, Target and other retailers whose employees wish patrons "Happy Holidays". I admit I do not watch him, but how could any example above be reasonably described as "oppressive, totalitarian, anti-Christian forces in this country diminish and denigrate the holiday and the celebration."

The little bit that I've read about all this is only the quote I read up above. I haven't heard how he was implementing his plan, but if what you've mentioned is true (e.g. about Target, etc.), then he's going overboard with his agenda, IMO.

Kind of silly we're all arguing about this, yet nobody actually watches his show.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

By their fruits ye shall know them

Nice side-stepping there. I take it then the answer to my question is no. Which is fine... everyone's entitled to their opinion of O'Reilly. Just be honest about it.

 

[sodaseller]

Nice side-stepping there. I take it then the answer to my question is no. Which is fine... everyone's entitled to their opinion of O'Reilly. Just be honest about it.

It's not sidestepping - it's answering a query in the best way possible. That is actually a statement "by their fruits ye shall know them" that has received a lot of meditation. If you look up the context of the statement Mt 7), it may make more sense

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves.

By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit.

Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

So by their fruits you will know them.

Someone that professes to serve Christ by sowing division and spewing hatred. As faor the larger meaning of the statement, at leasr as to my mind, consider the respective racial policies of FDR and HST. Further to the same, Truman
aas a vicious anti-Semite by his personal writings, but went against all advice of his advisors to support the creation of Israel due to te justice of the cause.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

It's not sidestepping - it's answering a query in the best way possible.

LOL! The best way possible would be a simple yes or no. But instead you start a soft-shoe routine and now launch into a full-blown tap dance.

That is actually a statement "by their fruits ye shall know them" that has received a lot of meditation. If you look up the context of the statement Mt 7), it may make more sense...(snip)

Quite familiar with the Gospel of Matthew. You do have some interesting hermenutics.

Someone that professes to serve Christ by sowing division and spewing hatred. As faor the larger meaning of the statement, at leasr as to my mind, consider the respective racial policies of FDR and HST. Further to the same, Truman
aas a vicious anti-Semite by his personal writings, but went against all advice of his advisors to support the creation of Israel due to te justice of the cause.

I don't ever recall Mr. O'Reilly ever making any claim to serving Christ. Same for FDR and HST. This appears quite a stretch to attempt to justify your bashing. Why is it so difficult to just say "I don't like O'Reilly because he is a conservative and I disagree with his politics?"

 

[DVC Jen]

I hate Christmas? Huh! Who woulda thunk it.

Glad someone let me know.. and here all these years I was under this strange delusion that I actually LIKE Christmas.

 

[toto2]

As an atheist , who really like to celebrate the "secular christmas" and find this War against christmas one of the most ridiculus thing , I will share with you this nice piece I just read :

" The War Against The Winter Solstice

Dear Holiday Celebrants,

There is growing concern amongst some of us that the “Christians” are now celebrating the birth of their deity right around (or on!) December 25.

I’m going to put this into what I like to call the “No Spin Zone” and tell it to you straight. This is, frankly, rude to those of us who have been celebrating the end of increasing darkness on this date for thousands of years.

First, some “Talking Points”, as we all know December 25 is the first day that one can discern, with the naked eye, that the time of increasingly longer nights has ended and that every day is now being gloriously gilded with more and more light in an ever earlier dawn. This is marvelous and worthy of great celebration! Were it not for this turn of good fortune, the days would just continue to get shorter and we would be cast into a grim, cold and unending darkness.

So, right, back to the Christians. We have actually read through their “bible” and have found no sign that “Jesus” was born in December. Actually there's no reference that he was even a Capricorn! So come on. They have 364 other days to choose from, why don’t they pick some other day? Like April 15, nothing good ever happens then.

I will say they seem to have some momentum on their side. They've even taken our traditional habit of hanging wreaths and decorating evergreen trees, going so far as to actually name them “Christmas Trees”. What will they take next? Our gingerbread houses? Our egg nog? Is nothing sacred to these people?

So, the spin stops here, we’re open minded people, we believe in freedom, but if you send a card to someone that says “Happy Holiday” and they write back complaining that you should say “Merry Christmas” it seems only right that you should scratch that out and write back saying “Happy Saturnalia, celebrated in honor of Sol Invictus!” And then send them that fruitcake your Aunt Magus made, they deserve it."

From:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toby-barlow/the-war-against-the-winte_b_12621.html

 

[Patch'sD]

And your point is?

 

[DarkSideMoon]

And your point is?

exactly. What's done is done. It happened hundreds of years ago. very few still celebrate it. why cator to the minority?

 

[BelleMcNally]

As an atheist , who really like to celebrate the "secular christmas" and find this War against christmas one of the most ridiculus thing , I will share with you this nice piece I just read :

" The War Against The Winter Solstice

Dear Holiday Celebrants,

There is growing concern amongst some of us that the “Christians” are now celebrating the birth of their deity right around (or on!) December 25.

I’m going to put this into what I like to call the “No Spin Zone” and tell it to you straight. This is, frankly, rude to those of us who have been celebrating the end of increasing darkness on this date for thousands of years.

First, some “Talking Points”, as we all know December 25 is the first day that one can discern, with the naked eye, that the time of increasingly longer nights has ended and that every day is now being gloriously gilded with more and more light in an ever earlier dawn. This is marvelous and worthy of great celebration! Were it not for this turn of good fortune, the days would just continue to get shorter and we would be cast into a grim, cold and unending darkness.

So, right, back to the Christians. We have actually read through their “bible” and have found no sign that “Jesus” was born in December. Actually there's no reference that he was even a Capricorn! So come on. They have 364 other days to choose from, why don’t they pick some other day? Like April 15, nothing good ever happens then.

I will say they seem to have some momentum on their side. They've even taken our traditional habit of hanging wreaths and decorating evergreen trees, going so far as to actually name them “Christmas Trees”. What will they take next? Our gingerbread houses? Our egg nog? Is nothing sacred to these people?

So, the spin stops here, we’re open minded people, we believe in freedom, but if you send a card to someone that says “Happy Holiday” and they write back complaining that you should say “Merry Christmas” it seems only right that you should scratch that out and write back saying “Happy Saturnalia, celebrated in honor of Sol Invictus!” And then send them that fruitcake your Aunt Magus made, they deserve it."

From:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toby-barlow/the-war-against-the-winte_b_12621.html

This is quite good! My fiance, Fencer, quite delights in wishing people Happy Saturnalia.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

exactly. What's done is done. It happened hundreds of years ago. very few still celebrate it. why cator to the minority?

Just to play devil's advocate... no one is suggesting that the minority be catered to. However, no person's rights or religion should be trampled on, whether they be in the majority or the minority. In a democracy (as we are quickly being reminded in Iraq), it is extremely vital that the minority's rights be protected as aggressively as the majority's rights are trumpeted. When the minority becomes abused or trampled, democracy fails.

As with most issues that get caught up in the political arena, there is some truth to both sides. And both sides tend to have their own very vocal, sometimes strident mouthpieces who can dip into the hyperbole bucket a bit too often and become drunk on the excess.

We would all do well to practice a philosophy of "seek not, forbid not" (as I wrote on another thread). Don't seek to impose your beliefs on others and don't forbid others from practicing their beliefs (as long as those practices are legal).

With a little work, we might achieve some semblance of balance and extend a small olive branch to one another.

 

[toto2]

The point is that "chrismas" was put at this date because too many people were celebrating something else. Was is considered chrismas tradition ( gifts giving , the decorations , santa) are thing taken from other traditions/religions.

People are clamoring that , a store that wishes "happy holyday" instead of " Merry Christmas " should be boycotted. But the gift giving at chrismas is an oldover froM pagant tradition that were considered heresies when done by other religions. Gift giving is not celebrating the birth of christ. Christ is supposed , if I understand well, to be about helping each other , loving others like we love ourselfs. Not about maxing the credit card.

The real war against Christmas is the one walmart , target and every store is having against each other for our money !