tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17164534.post113628839447795844..comments2007-03-20T08:48:20.316-04:00Carlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08674198657010416085noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17164534.post-25421823470989666272007-03-20T08:48:00.000-04:002007-03-20T08:48:00.000-04:00The problem is thus: the origin of the spirit of giving we associate with Christmas, was when John the Baptist invited people to give an extra coat to someone who has none, etc. How that became Santa Claus and "you deserve a new car for being good" is a massive marketing brainwashing that starts when you are 2 years old. Charity is not about lusting for new toys you really can't afford, but this is how Christmas works outside of Christianity. Thus, there is good justification to say it has become a perversion of its roots.labradorthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14884628727488655490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17164534.post-1136402680206786892006-01-04T14:24:00.000-05:002006-01-04T14:24:00.000-05:00That's tellin' 'em. Thought you might like my poem on the topic: "<A HREF="http://empirecontact.com/sonnets/saturnalia.html" REL="nofollow" TITLE="The True Spirit of Saturnalia">The True Spirit of Saturnalia</A>".Michael J. Farrandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07771091074431185013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17164534.post-1136321980228514822006-01-03T15:59:00.000-05:002006-01-03T15:59:00.000-05:00What is it? Paranoia. The same paranoia that causes some Xtians to think that gay marriage will somehow destroy "real" marriage.<BR/><BR/>I had to walk past a picketer at Target a few weeks ago - judging by his signage, he was annoyed that the store personnel were wishing people "happy holidays" rather than "merry christmas." I've begun saying "happy solstice," myself....Hiram R. Shadraskyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08900969536162486535noreply@blogger.com