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FOT Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: God Stewart on December 21, 2007, 09:16:41 AM

Title: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: God Stewart on December 21, 2007, 09:16:41 AM: I came across this today and had to share:

Roland Martin on CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/20/roland.martin/index.html)

First, I will say it's high time that someone took a stand on this. Usually someone writes an editorial like this around December 7th every year but, since no one stepped up to the plate, it was up to Roland.

Second, is Roland Martin in the fifth grade? This is some of the worst writing I've ever seen. I thought editorials were meant to have at least some elements of logical debate.

Third, what planet is this happening on:

Quote
From CNN.com

What the heck are "Seasons Greetings"? Can someone tell me what season we are greeting folks about? A Christmas tree? Oh, no! It's now a holiday tree. Any Christmas song that even remotely mentions Christ or has a religious undertone is being axed for being overtly religious.

Has anyone ever heard anyone call their Christmas tree a "Holiday Tree?" And the last part about religious songs ambiguously being "axed" certainly doesn't pertain to the light rock station I'm forced to listen to at work all day. They luvs the Jesus.
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Laurie on December 21, 2007, 09:23:08 AM: Hey, guys, let's chip in and send this dude that Sufjan Stevens box set. Every other song on there mentions Jesus or three kings or something like that.

Also, it's called a Chanukah bush, Roland. Have some respect.
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: God Stewart on December 21, 2007, 09:34:55 AM: That was the other thing that drove me nuts. The little paragraph about, "Hey, I'm not saying we should be afraid to discuss Hanukkah or the Muslims' pilgrimage," which he doesn't discuss at all. Then he dangles this sentence at the end which he never ellaborates on:

Quote
again from CNN.com

In fact, Americans are so ignorant of other faiths that we can all learn from one another.

That's the worst. It's like he gave a little tip of his hat to those other guys so that now he can get back to his rant without seeming like a jerk. I hate that.

Ugh. No likey.
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Vambo on December 21, 2007, 09:53:54 AM: Damn, I read "Rowan Martin" and thought this was gonna be about the Laugh-In guys.
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: senorcorazon on December 21, 2007, 10:28:23 AM: I think this is part of the Bill O'Reilly Mad Libs Rant Book. You put in a few words like immigrants and feminazis and it generates the most generic, asinine, dull column ever written. This stinks of the type of writing I used to do for my college newspaper when I got paid by the word.
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Chris L on December 21, 2007, 10:30:26 AM: Someone send this guy a telegram: O'Reilly already declared the War on Christmas over this year and himself the winner.
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Sarah on December 21, 2007, 12:43:00 PM: The article certainly does seem behind the times (wasn't it last year that all the "happy holidays" bullshit was really prevalent?), and he should have researched "Xmas" more carefully. Still, judging from this thread, I expected to hate every word he wrote, and instead I found myself agreeing with him about all the Christmas consumption. I don't give a hoot whether people think of Jesu Christo at this time of year, but I sure wish they'd stop all the frantic buying.
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Laurie on December 21, 2007, 01:45:10 PM: Either way, it's not Jesus's birthday. It's the birthday of the Unconquerable Sun.
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Sarah on December 21, 2007, 01:48:39 PM: That reminds me: I should have a little celebration tomorrow.

Happy solstice, everyone!
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: erika on December 21, 2007, 02:13:19 PM: Quote from: Vambo on December 21, 2007, 09:53:54 AM
Damn, I read "Rowan Martin" and thought this was gonna be about the Laugh-In guys.

Haha me too!

SOCK IT TO ME, CHRISTMAS!
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: buffcoat on December 21, 2007, 02:33:44 PM: Quote from: Sarah on December 21, 2007, 12:43:00 PM
The article certainly does seem behind the times (wasn't it last year that all the "happy holidays" bullshit was really prevalent?), and he should have researched "Xmas" more carefully. Still, judging from this thread, I expected to hate every word he wrote, and instead I found myself agreeing with him about all the Christmas consumption. I don't give a hoot whether people think of Jesu Christo at this time of year, but I sure wish they'd stop all the frantic buying.

I was thinking about this earlier this month: What do you think would happen to the world's economies/world economy if Americans simply didn't buy anything for Christmas.

It would be a complete disaster, which is bad for all of us who aren't sort-of-hermits. So Keep the Consumeristic Orgy Going, America!
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Sarah on December 21, 2007, 02:49:10 PM: No, no, America, give up the consumeristic orgy and see what happens! I bet it would all work out for the better in the end.
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: erika on December 21, 2007, 03:29:10 PM: But I love shopping for presents as much as I like getting them.

Yay presents! Yay stuff!
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Amplituden on December 21, 2007, 03:34:07 PM: Quote from: Mrs. Jarvis Cocker on December 21, 2007, 01:45:10 PM
Either way, it's not Jesus's birthday. It's the birthday of the Unconquerable Sun.

Are you referring to Mithras?
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Sarah on December 21, 2007, 03:39:18 PM: I hate to make an enemy of a supercaller, but . . .

BOO, STUFF!!!! BOO, EXCESS!!!! BOO, SELF-INDULGENCE, GLUTTONY, AND HEDONISM AT THE EXPENSE OF THE REST OF THE WORLD!!!!
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: erika on December 21, 2007, 03:50:48 PM: Sarah I just sang your post to the tune of a cheerful Christmas jingle. It's catchy!

;)
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Sarah on December 21, 2007, 03:58:42 PM: Ho ho ho.
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Stan on December 21, 2007, 10:31:41 PM: Happy Frank Zappa's Birthday to all (it was today).
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: A.M. Thomas on December 22, 2007, 01:02:10 AM: The "Attack on Christmas!" commentary is just cover for the "I Hate Other Cultures!" commentary that neo-cons and other close/no-minded people love to represent, just not in the open.
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: A.M. Thomas on December 22, 2007, 01:03:51 AM: Quote from: Sarah on December 21, 2007, 03:39:18 PM
I hate to make an enemy of a supercaller, but . . .

BOO, STUFF!!!! BOO, EXCESS!!!! BOO, SELF-INDULGENCE, GLUTTONY, AND HEDONISM AT THE EXPENSE OF THE REST OF THE WORLD!!!!

I was going to make this my signature, but it is too long.
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Sarah on December 22, 2007, 08:43:19 AM: Quote from: No Underbites on December 22, 2007, 01:02:10 AM
The "Attack on Christmas!" commentary is just cover for the "I Hate Other Cultures!" commentary that neo-cons and other close/no-minded people love to represent, just not in the open.

Oh, I know. But I still agreed with it, except for not caring about the "think about Jesus" part.

Quote
I was going to make this my signature, but it is too long.

How's about this:

BOO, STUFF!!!! BOO, EXCESS!!!! BOO, SELF-INDULGENCE, AT THE EXPENSE OF THE REST OF THE WORLD!!!!
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: God Stewart on December 22, 2007, 09:13:51 AM: I definitely agree with what he says about charity and giving to those who truly need it. Again it's hardly an original idea. I don't think there's anything wrong with giving gifts to family and friends that you love. The problem is that people get wrapped up in the commercial hype of it when they hear ads saying, "be the ultimate gift-giver." What is it— a contest? People just need to get back to the season of giving and not the season of shopping.

A friend of mine is asking everyone to make him a frozen meal. I think that's pretty cool. He's gonna get the best lima bean and mayonaise casserole he ever had!
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Sarah on December 22, 2007, 09:31:15 AM: A problem for me is that I live in a very poor little town where I know a lot of people who go into massive debt or work themselves to sickness just to buy their kids ridiculously extravagant presents. My favorite cashier in the supermarket, for example, works there full time and then exhausts herself making wreathes (an important seasonal occupation 'round these parts) well into the night. And that's nice, safe, indoor work. There are also the crazy bastards who scallop in all weather because the season is so limited and then go out tipping (getting the wherewithal to make those damn wreathes) or clamming in the freezing cold. All so they can give their children piles of electronic gizmos and other crap--even such big-ticket as four-wheelers (a suitable gift for a child, no?). Sure, these people are crazy and dumb to do what they do, but they are encouraged in their madness. It makes me sad and angry.
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: TL on December 22, 2007, 09:39:40 AM: Quote from: amplituden on December 21, 2007, 03:34:07 PM
Quote from: Mrs. Jarvis Cocker on December 21, 2007, 01:45:10 PM
Either way, it's not Jesus's birthday. It's the birthday of the Unconquerable Sun.

Are you referring to Mithras?

Sol Invictus was technically a separate deity, though there was crossover worship with Mithras, who is, of course, as you point out, also born on Dec. 25, and it all dovetails nicely into Jesus as Apollo/Sol Invictus/Mithras etc.
Interestingly, Dec. 25 is also the birthday of Jimmy Buffet... Coincidence?
Title: Re: Read It and Weep: Roland Martin Xmas
Post by: Beth on December 22, 2007, 12:08:17 PM: Quote from: TL on December 22, 2007, 09:39:40 AM
Quote from: amplituden on December 21, 2007, 03:34:07 PM
Quote from: Mrs. Jarvis Cocker on December 21, 2007, 01:45:10 PM
Either way, it's not Jesus's birthday. It's the birthday of the Unconquerable Sun.

Are you referring to Mithras?

Sol Invictus was technically a separate deity, though there was crossover worship with Mithras, who is, of course, as you point out, also born on Dec. 25, and it all dovetails nicely into Jesus as Apollo/Sol Invictus/Mithras etc.
Interestingly, Dec. 25 is also the birthday of Jimmy Buffet... Coincidence?

Speaking of all this, has anyone seen that Zeigeist documentary yet? They spend like two hours telling you how many deities were born on December 25th.

I don't know about other people, but it's not news to me that Christianity has pagan origin. In that documentary, they were acting like it was some shocking thing. The fact that the Solstice and Christmas are 3 days apart is a pretty big clue.

Also, a side note, what is this guy talking about with the banning of religious holiday music? I heard Celine Dion singing O Holy Night at least a dozen times while I was shopping yesterday, and a couple more times as I was driving home.