Bill O'Reilly, a "Horror"ible person.
 

"Bring horror"!?! What a lovely Christmas sentiment, Mr. Oreilly.

Let's welcome Mr. Oreilly to reallity for a moment. No one is stopping HIM or any other individual from celebrating Christmas. There is no protected right for him to have the word Christmas show up wherever he goes. Hell, no one is "stopping" all of the stores from saying "Christmas", they are doing it of their own free will because, *gasp*, they find they get more customers when they offer an image that includes everybody (wow, rocket science). There are no laws, there are no nefarious plots, there are business people maximizing their profits and individuals making the decission to be inclusive. And then we have O'Reilly promising "horrors." What a patently disgusting thing to say.

I have my own thoughts regarding the subject and how the "holidays" movement is a far greater threat to NON Christian traditions than Christian, but I stop well short of proclaiming the forces behind it to be an evil plot to destroy me.

Bill, go home, go plug in your Christmas tree, have Christmas dinner with your family, wish your neighbors Merry Christmas, give some money to charity. The gaul to liken marketing sense to religious persecution. Screw off with your horror.

The marketing issue is is remarkably similar to the Jag/LR and Ford issue and specific marketing to gays. It is a marketing decision based on the bottom line.

However, in the same way I don't fault the stores, I don't fault O'Reilly. He has an opinion show where he offers opinions. I don't quite understand how he and his 1 million viewers (or so) will have the power to inflict horror, but go for it. Just the same as if the gay community wishes boycott Ford.

I have some issues with how various retailers market themselves, and so I shop elsewhere. Obviously, though, they have done their market research.

On a side note, I find it funny that there is much of an outroar over using Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. Christmas = Christ's Mass. Holidays (from the latin, I believe) = Holy Days. Both obviously have religious overtones.

anyone have a good definition for Kwanza? I'd search for it, but Im far too lazy. :P

Merry (winter-ish sorta day for festivities of every sort and denomination, if any)

I ahve all sorts of opinions about Kwanzaa, none of which would be considered politically correct.

Just to give a hint about my thoughts, this is a day to celebrate the African heritage of African Americans. I have no problem with that. However, the man who created the day (in the 60s, I think, but can't recall his name) created a whole ritual based on corn and the importance to African Americans and their African heritage. The problem is that corn isn't grown in Africa, and it wasn't until they were in the Americas as slaves that Africans ever saw corn. Doesn't seem to have a lot to do with African heritage.

Just always thought that was funny.

But that's what scares me...I don't know what the hell he is thinking when he says "horror", but "boycott" is not the first thing that comes to my mind. It's irresponsible. I'm rarely one to "blame" a talking head for the individual actions of nutjobs, but the first person who torches a store and scrawls, "O'Reilly rules, Merry Christmas!" on the walls, Bill will deserve every bit of backlash he gets. Talk about how much you hate it all you want, but "bring horror" is dangerously close to the line of inciting violence.

(oh, and I forgot to give a link... http://mediamatters.org/items/200512070010 )

As a humorous side-note...

The first day O'Reilly began his Christmas/Holiday rantings, Keith Oberman made an interesting discovery. As Bill spouted about the evils of the word "Holiday", on Fox News' website, you could buy, O'Reilly Factor "Holiday" ornaments. :D Oberman put him on the day's "Worse, Worser, Worst" list (I believe he had the honor of holding all 3 spots that evening)...and the next day they had been changed to "Christmas" ornaments. I guess Bill watches Keith. lol

He may be the only one watching Keith Olberman. I used to love Olberman on ESPN and Sportscenter. I think he was a much better sports anchor than political pundit. He is a very smart man, though I disagree with his politics. His Sportscenter schtick was to compare various sports happenings of the day to historical events with that day as their anniversary.

That is funny, though.

Yesterday at Ralphs we saw "Eurotrees" advertsied. Though I'm not responsible for this, I hereby volunteer to be the PC replacement for Christmas - heck I've got the right first name and my birthday is on the 24th (of the next month).

Merry Euromas!

To the tune of "Oh Christmas Tree"

Oh Eurotree, oh Eurotree
We put you in our living room.
Oh Eurotree oh Eurotree
We did it 'cause that's what we do.

Happy Birthday to Jesus
or Winter Solstice, it's up to us

Oh Eurotree oh eurotree
Youhavenoreligioussignificancewhatsoever.

I've heard a similar carol, but is was entitled "Oh Eurotrash" instead of "Oh Eurotree".