Bonnie Rogoff
Christmas desecrations: Anti-Christian bigotry reaches new lows
By Bonnie Rogoff
Here in liberal New York City, where uttering the words "Merry Christmas" in the wrong place can bring anything from a sneer to an ACLU lawsuit, you can always find left-wing lunatics who love to ruin the yuletide spirit.
Take Manhattan multi-millionaire Joel Krupnik and his wife, who express joy by displaying a knife-wielding murderous Santa Claus in front of their East 18th Street brownstone. A 10 year old girl left a note at his front lawn, instructing him that "Christmas should be about giving, sharing and being joyful." The child's plea went ignored. Why does it take a child to understand that depicting Santa as a gore icon like Jason or Freddy and displaying Barbie dolls with heads lopped off is not funny? In Orlando, Florida, a bleeding Rudolph is on display causing more disturbances. Perhaps a knife-wielding Jesus is next.
Christmas jeers take on new lows. Planned Parenthood has once again sent out their "Choice on Earth" cards to mock Christians and promote the death of unborn children. In place of Christmas trees there are 'Holiday Trees,' 'Grand Trees,' 'Friendship Trees,' 'Union Trees,' 'Peace Trees' (in deference to the late John Lennon, perhaps?) a "Finals Week' tree at Florida Atlantic University and 'Giving' trees (that last one was too controversial at a Seattle elementary school so it was thrown out). The Catholic League's news release 'Christmas Party Etiquette' reports on how companies deal with the dilemma; by providing non-exclusionary alternative displays guaranteed to provide a stress-free environment for non-Christians. A St. Louis florist recommends Christmas trees decorated in Chanukah colors. Is that inclusive or what?
A Fox News poll shows that 95% of Americans celebrate Christmas, 83% support the display of nativity scenes on public property, and 58% of respondents say that public displays of the Christian symbols of Christmas are more under attack than in the past. In contrast with public opinion, what often occurs is that only the Christmas religious symbols, such as Christmas trees and crèches, are targeted for removal. Menorahs are allowed to stand because they are deemed "secular" symbols. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a menorah does not promote an exclusively religious message. That is incorrect. The miracle of Chanukah commemorates a blessed event in Jewish history and a menorah is not a jack-o-lantern. Still, menorahs remain safe for public viewing while crèches are deemed unacceptable.
Anti-Christian bigots will never stop unless people of faith start fighting back. It happened one "Silent Night" at a school in Wisconsin. The newly-adopted secular lyrics "Cold in the Night" have finally been retired and the original "Silent Night" lyrics were restored after school officials received numerous chilly e-mails and telephone complaints.
Sometimes, attacks on Christians get vicious. Comedy Central aired a blasphemous 'South Park' episode crudely entitled "Bloody Mary," depicting a vile statue of the holy Virgin Mary bleeding from a private body orifice that will go unmentioned here. Details of the disgusting plot include a Vatican investigation of this "miracle," and are described in a news release from the Catholic League. When a major cable network airs a program presenting revered religious figures in a disgusting manner intended to insult Catholics, it's time to intervene.
Earlier this year, syndicated columnist and author Don Feder announced the formation of the organization, "Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation." Their Board of Advisors and founding members include prominent Jewish leaders and rabbis, and one entertainer (comedian Jackie Mason). Their stated purpose: "We span the spectrum from Orthodox to non-observant, but are united by our determination to answer attacks on our fellow citizens of the Christian faith."
Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation sponsored an event in New York City, in which Jackie Mason rode from St. Patrick's Cathedral down Fifth Avenue in a Ford Excursion with banners proclaiming: "Jews For 'It's OK to Say Merry Christmas."' Speaking of the anti-Christian cultural elite, Mr. Feder observes: "By purging public celebrations (or even acknowledgements) of Christmas, they hope to move us further down the road to a spiritually sanitized — and spiritually bankrupt — America, one divorced from biblical values. Christmas is a subtle reminder that Americans are people of faith." Touché!
Christmas is a tradition; a religious and national holiday. We can say "Merry Christmas," and keep the religious significance alive or we can bury Christmas to the detriment of all. For 95% of Americans, the choice is clear.
© Bonnie Rogoff
Here in liberal New York City, where uttering the words "Merry Christmas" in the wrong place can bring anything from a sneer to an ACLU lawsuit, you can always find left-wing lunatics who love to ruin the yuletide spirit.
Take Manhattan multi-millionaire Joel Krupnik and his wife, who express joy by displaying a knife-wielding murderous Santa Claus in front of their East 18th Street brownstone. A 10 year old girl left a note at his front lawn, instructing him that "Christmas should be about giving, sharing and being joyful." The child's plea went ignored. Why does it take a child to understand that depicting Santa as a gore icon like Jason or Freddy and displaying Barbie dolls with heads lopped off is not funny? In Orlando, Florida, a bleeding Rudolph is on display causing more disturbances. Perhaps a knife-wielding Jesus is next.
Christmas jeers take on new lows. Planned Parenthood has once again sent out their "Choice on Earth" cards to mock Christians and promote the death of unborn children. In place of Christmas trees there are 'Holiday Trees,' 'Grand Trees,' 'Friendship Trees,' 'Union Trees,' 'Peace Trees' (in deference to the late John Lennon, perhaps?) a "Finals Week' tree at Florida Atlantic University and 'Giving' trees (that last one was too controversial at a Seattle elementary school so it was thrown out). The Catholic League's news release 'Christmas Party Etiquette' reports on how companies deal with the dilemma; by providing non-exclusionary alternative displays guaranteed to provide a stress-free environment for non-Christians. A St. Louis florist recommends Christmas trees decorated in Chanukah colors. Is that inclusive or what?
A Fox News poll shows that 95% of Americans celebrate Christmas, 83% support the display of nativity scenes on public property, and 58% of respondents say that public displays of the Christian symbols of Christmas are more under attack than in the past. In contrast with public opinion, what often occurs is that only the Christmas religious symbols, such as Christmas trees and crèches, are targeted for removal. Menorahs are allowed to stand because they are deemed "secular" symbols. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a menorah does not promote an exclusively religious message. That is incorrect. The miracle of Chanukah commemorates a blessed event in Jewish history and a menorah is not a jack-o-lantern. Still, menorahs remain safe for public viewing while crèches are deemed unacceptable.
Anti-Christian bigots will never stop unless people of faith start fighting back. It happened one "Silent Night" at a school in Wisconsin. The newly-adopted secular lyrics "Cold in the Night" have finally been retired and the original "Silent Night" lyrics were restored after school officials received numerous chilly e-mails and telephone complaints.
Sometimes, attacks on Christians get vicious. Comedy Central aired a blasphemous 'South Park' episode crudely entitled "Bloody Mary," depicting a vile statue of the holy Virgin Mary bleeding from a private body orifice that will go unmentioned here. Details of the disgusting plot include a Vatican investigation of this "miracle," and are described in a news release from the Catholic League. When a major cable network airs a program presenting revered religious figures in a disgusting manner intended to insult Catholics, it's time to intervene.
Earlier this year, syndicated columnist and author Don Feder announced the formation of the organization, "Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation." Their Board of Advisors and founding members include prominent Jewish leaders and rabbis, and one entertainer (comedian Jackie Mason). Their stated purpose: "We span the spectrum from Orthodox to non-observant, but are united by our determination to answer attacks on our fellow citizens of the Christian faith."
Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation sponsored an event in New York City, in which Jackie Mason rode from St. Patrick's Cathedral down Fifth Avenue in a Ford Excursion with banners proclaiming: "Jews For 'It's OK to Say Merry Christmas."' Speaking of the anti-Christian cultural elite, Mr. Feder observes: "By purging public celebrations (or even acknowledgements) of Christmas, they hope to move us further down the road to a spiritually sanitized — and spiritually bankrupt — America, one divorced from biblical values. Christmas is a subtle reminder that Americans are people of faith." Touché!
Christmas is a tradition; a religious and national holiday. We can say "Merry Christmas," and keep the religious significance alive or we can bury Christmas to the detriment of all. For 95% of Americans, the choice is clear.
© Bonnie Rogoff
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