War on Christmas?

[okeydokey]

No thanks. My cards will continue to have my children on them and Christmas Trees and wreathes.

Me too, and they are the ones I most enjoy getting.

 

[Magix]

So, is that article staying that since I'm not religious and wouldn't dream of buying or sending cards with a picture of Jesus on them, I shouldn't send out Christmas cards? Yeah, whatever...

Anyone who thinks that way would REALLY hate my cards!! The past 3 years, I've sent out pirate Christmas cards. Last 2 years had a skull and crossbones on the front. This years is a photo (gasp!) of me swordfighting Capt. Hook at WDW (one of those nifty PhotoPass shots that add the character graphic). People seem to love the card, so far.

Some folks need to lighten up and have some fun. Keep the holiday in your own way, but don't try to insist that others should be the same.

 

[luvmy3]

Well the non-photo cards go in the garbage on December 26th, but I keep the photo cards forever.

Exactly

 

[Oreo Cookie]

Don't listen to that remark, Brother.

Too Cute!!!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

To all who bemoan this "war." Perhaps Pogo was right? "We have met the enemy and he is us." Does this piece from NPR strike home with any of my fellow DISers? fess up now, be honest.

All Things Considered, December 17, 2008 · It's the middle of the day, and I'm opening my Christmas cards. And what do I see when I tear open the envelope? Not Baby Jesus in his manger. Not the Virgin Mary. Not even the Wise Men. No, chances are the card will be a photo of a family on some beach in the Caribbean. Or a picture of somebody's house. Or someone's dog wearing reindeer horns.

These are the new favorite Christmas cards, for even the most pious Christians: the family cards.

Family cards display — on the front — a photo of a happy family, typically wearing red-and-green scarves or red-and-green sweaters. Sometimes the family dog is included, wearing a scarf covered with slobber. Just as often, family cards show the clan on their summer vacation, posing jauntily in bathing suits in the Caribbean. These cards don't say "Merry Christmas" as much as "Look where you didn't go!"

Look, I love family photos during the holidays. Plus, I actually read those annual holiday letters, all of which start with "What a busy year it's been!" Seeing photos of my friends and their families and even enjoying a few sunny beach scenes when it's cold and dark outside is a highlight of December.

But I enjoy the photos more when they're inside the card, not the card itself. Because more and more, even devout Christians have been replacing Jesus, Mary and Joseph with themselves. Doesn't it strike you as weird to set aside the Holy Family in favor of your family? Does a photo of Cabo San Lucas trump the story told by the original San Lucas? Is Christmas really about you?

Still unconvinced? Try a thought experiment. For your next birthday, how would you feel about getting a birthday card with my photo on it? "Happy Birthday! It's a photo of me!" My modest campaign against family cards has less chance of success than another Ralph Nader presidential bid. People will accuse me of being anti-family. But I'm not: I'm more pro-Holy Family. Plus, I'm battling Snapfish, Shutterfly, Kodak and a lot of online card stores that have been promoting this idea with more resources than a poor Jesuit can muster.

So I'll leave you with a simple plea. Place those great photos inside the card. Or how about this: When choosing your Christmas cards this year, think more Jesus and less you. Or, more Virgin Mary, and less Virgin Islands.

The Rev. James Martin is a Jesuit priest and author of My Life with the Saints.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97854252&sc=emaf

New Rule quote.

I don't know about NPR, but I saw the Pogo cartoon many years ago in the paper! (yeah it was in the sixties!!)

with all the brouhaha about picture cards versus religious icons, I think the only people that lose out when you make your own is the Hallmark company.

Don't the picture ones show a family? and what could be more nice than going on vacation together and having fun? I think the author of the article is missing the point, that a FAMILY is sending holiday greetings to you, and that they are trying to show you that they celibrate the season and wish you and yours well.

IS this the next step in PC'ism? You HAVE to send a religious based Christmas Card?

Sorry, but there are a LOT more important things to worry about than what someone is sending you. (and I love the "family" letters, they are a GREAT source of joking and sharing at work!! heheheheheh)

 

[profdsny]

Again, what does all this have to do with an alleged war on Christmas? If that is the case, then people who celebrate Christmas with giant Santas and Polar Bears and Winnie the Pooh, and snow globes on their lawns, and 10,000 lights on the house, and 3 trees inside with a miniature village with 100 Dept 56 houses hate Christmas? It doesn't make sense.

 

[corndog]

I don't understand the poll question.

 

[themilesfamily]

If someone cares enough to send me something at Christmas, the VERY LAST thing I'm going to do is sit around and critique their Christmas card.

I get some religious cards, some family letters, some family photos, some cute cartoon cards -- I love them all. I'm just thankful that I HAVE family and friends who care enough to send me something during the holidays.

I think this priest should focus on more important issues -- and there are PLENTY out there -- than whether someone puts a family photo on their Christmas card. That just seems really petty and judgemental to me.

 

[clgwli]

I've done all types in the past. i admit the cost of paper cards is so sky high now that the photo cards are much preferable to me at the moment. Spending $100+ on cards vs $30 is a no brainer in my mind

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Well the non-photo cards go in the garbage on December 26th, but I keep the photo cards forever.

Me too, and they are the ones I most enjoy getting.

Some folks need to lighten up and have some fun. Keep the holiday in your own way, but don't try to insist that others should be the same.

Don't the picture ones show a family? and what could be more nice than going on vacation together and having fun? I think the author of the article is missing the point, that a FAMILY is sending holiday greetings to you, and that they are trying to show you that they celibrate the season and wish you and yours well.

IS this the next step in PC'ism? You HAVE to send a religious based Christmas Card?

Sorry, but there are a LOT more important things to worry about than what someone is sending you. (and I love the "family" letters, they are a GREAT source of joking and sharing at work!! heheheheheh)

love ya, grumpy! merry christmas!

 

[TLSnell1981]

I only send religious cards. Usually, with the Holy Family or sometimes...Angels. I believe it's the reason for the Season. For me anyways!

 

[Liberty Belle]

Sure there is a "war." It's been fought here in previous posts. You know, all the religious stuff in the county buildings, being unable to tell customers "Merry Christmas," all that anti-christian stuff.

So I guess the point is . . . do the defenders of CHRISTmas send the "offending" cards? I know several who do . . .

I'm a Christian. I celebrate Christmas and I wish people Merry Christmas if I know they celebrate. If I don't, I wish them Happy Holidays or something similar. It's not that difficult. I don't get the big deal.

Oh, and yes, we did photo Christmas cards this year. It's the first year that we have. I love them. I find them much more interesting than a boring picture of a wreath or Christmas tree.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I think those photo cards are tacky. They just look cheap to me! No creativity whatsoever.

No creativity? It took a lot more creativity for me to choose the photos and layout on my card than to pick up a box of cards from a store.

 

[wall*e2008]

I never send a photo of us as our Christmas card. If the person I am sending to would appreciate a religious card, then I send a religious card otherwise they get a secular card.

I love to get the family photo cards or cards with photos in them. Especially from ones I hardly get to see due to our distance apart.

 

[jemgumby]

OK why do people who celebrate Christmas and claim "Jesus is the reason for the season" need validation? I just don't get it. Is it because deep down you know it is really wrong and are really trying to justify it. My goodness, get over yourselves!!!! There are so many more important "wars" out there that people deal with everyday. Bottom line is I am a Christian and choose not to celebrate Christmas due to VERY pagan origins and that is the bottom line. I don't go around looking for validation or acceptance as I truly feel like I am doing the right thing. If you truly feel like you as a Christian are doing the right thing by trying to incorporate Jesus in a pagan holiday then go ahead and do it. We all have to answer for our own decisions. Just quit this war nonsense and get over it!!!!!

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

And thus..the gauntlet is thrown!!!

 

[Free4Life11]

No creativity? It took a lot more creativity for me to choose the photos and layout on my card than to pick up a box of cards from a store.

I don't like cards either, especially where they just sign their name. What's the point? At least do a short note? Anyway, I prefer the letters that give you an update on the family.

 

[dementia412]

What must people think of the cards I always sent in the past (I don't bother anymore)? I sent funny cards because I am not celebrating a religious holiday and trees, snowflakes and santa get very boring. The thing is who cares whats on the card? What matters is whats in the card; cash, check of gift cards! Just kidding, what matters is that you are letting people know you are thinking of them and maybe dropping them a little note. Does it really matter if Jesus or The Smith Family are pictured on the card? In fact a picture of Jesus may offend those who feel we shouldn't have pictures of God, Jesus, ect.

 

[crazyforgoofy]

Life is tough;
and times are hard.
Here's your blanking Christmas card.



http://www.aroundmd.com/whitechristmas/


Seriously, this is the card I sent via e-mail (ok, not the verse). No time to get real ones in the mail. I send secular cards if/when I send 'em, sometimes with a photo card of the kidlet, sometimes just a regular card. I hate the bragging or complaining holiday letters btw.

Oh and Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa to you all.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Still unconvinced? Try a thought experiment. For your next birthday, how would you feel about getting a birthday card with my photo on it? "Happy Birthday! It's a photo of me!"

"Hi Apple how are you?" "I'm great Orange. Did you get my Christmas card I sent you?"

"Yeah...it was a little too artsy for me."
Since a b-day card is a celebration of the person receiving the card and the person making this article should realize that the Christmas isn't about the person receiving the Christmas card, what a great experiment!!!

The people in my sig are on my card this year. I have nothing to do with the cards. My wife is in charge. Prior to us having kids she chose humorous non-religious cards. We always attended mass at midnight (prior to the little ones) together on Christmas eve. That is what matters. The card is just marketing and a way for people to keep in touch. Since we send people cards on all ends of the religious spectrum from deeply to atheist it seems pointless to put a stamp on a card to purposefully offend someone for us. But following in the spirit of the season our cards have always made people smile.

This article is tripe.