Forward: Fox can't disguinish between discussion and a war! Hint: People die in wars. Isis beheads people, Hams kills Jews. This is war. Informing people what one believes about Christmas is not a war…. It a scam. Look at the photo – Even Fox uses Happy Holidays! What jerks.
Since 2005, Fox News has deployed its minions to wage their war on the "War on Christmas," and the American Family Association has pushed for a boycott of stores for not using the words "Merry Christmas" in their seasonal marketing. Like many public institutions, some retailers opt to use the inclusive phrase "Happy Holidays" which these groups interpret as a slam to Jesus Christ- the real "reason for the season."
It amazes me that in less than a century Christians have gone from opposing over-consumption at Christmas to demanding it be done in Christ's name alone. The explanation may be in the numbers. Two-thirds of the U.S. economy is based on consumer spending, and 50-75 percent of most retailers annual profits are generated during December. This means the weeks before Christmas are the high holy days of consumerism. If Christians engaged the Advent season as they did in generations past, by modeling moderation and self-denial or by ignoring the holiday altogether, it would likely destroy (what remains of) the economy.
To ensure economic survival consumers are stirred into a buying frenzy every winter with the goal of making this year's shopping season more prosperous than the previous. Santa Claus has been the mascot of this manipulation since the early 20th Century, but if more Consumer Christians have their way the season of shopping would be inaugurated by the appearance of Jesus Christ at the end of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade instead.
Sadly, the "War on Christmas" and "Christmas Under Siege" campaigns pushed by some conservative Christians says more about the church's captivity to consumerism than its commitment to the love of Christ and their neighbors. MORE>>>>>>