Even though to claim there is is ludicrous, there should be a "War on Christmas" led by followers of Christ.
Christmas is NOT nor has it ever been Christ's birthday and the holiday, borrowed from earlier Pagan religions, has degenerated into nothing but a commercial undertaking to fleece the public.

American Christians should take it as the insult it has turned out to be - crass commercialism.

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I wrote this for Christmas '07 - but recycling is a good thing, right? So here goes...


16 Questions For Christmas

Who would Jesus torture?
And who would Jesus kill?
What would Jesus buy for Christmas?
And Who would pay the bill?

What did Jesus speak against?
And who did Jesus curse?
The lenders deep inside the temple?
And who has served Him worse?

Who dares talk of Jesus?
And blasphemes in His name?
Who now barters blood for comfort?
Who hides from truth in shame?

Who lays the blame on others?
Politician, banker, foe?
Who can look straight in the mirror?
And tell me you don't know?

"We are what is wrong, and we must make it right."
- Al Gore, when accepting the Nobel Peace Prize

- John Hechtman (c) 2007
- may be freely distributed if name & copyright are retained

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linked story

GOP's politically charged crackdown on illegal immigration, which led in 2005 to a new policy of detaining undocumented non-Mexicans until they receive a deportation hearing

I think it is ethnic cleansing and torture.

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Date: December 12, 2005 1:19:45 PM PST
To: lpitts@herald.com
Cc: kindGSL
Subject: The true meaning of Christmas

Dear Mr. Pitts,

I am delighted to celebrate my pagan solstice holiday with you. I am also quite happy with the name Christmas, or the Christmas season, if you will. It feels inclusive, I like that. The Romans renamed our holidays long ago, we witches went along with it to avoid death and torture, what need is there of a new name now? Christmas will do.

I am especially happy to share our many symbols of joy, unity, the expansive, cyclical nature of the universe and so much more. But most especially, I am proud to share the Christmas Tree, a precious symbol to some of the tree of life and knowledge, Ganja. A sacred tree brought down from the Himalayas, growing wild in India, Asia, and parts of Africa. The tree god ordered Adam not to eat, the one growing to this day in the walled gardens of Eden, now known as Iraq. The one Jesus used when making his holy anointing oil. The one leading to the happiness, enlightenment and spiritual awakening of so many people around the globe.

In the Koran, Christ was born under the palm tree. This is a Sufi way of speaking in riddle, the palm tree being a symbol for marijuana. I have no doubt Jesus was a dedicated cannabis consumer. That he enjoyed a distinctive, cannabis induced mental state is clearly demonstrated in the historical literature. It is not surprising his ministry only lasted three years before they did him in. His community persists though, a testament to the greatness of his vision. Other religions also have wonderful vision and insight about the nature of god and the universe, well worth investigating and weighing in balance. After all, trying to comprehend the nature of god is what religion is really all about, right? Or, is it about teaching children stories?

I'm asking Santa this year for the huge, internationally powerful, Borders Bookstores to stop discriminating against me and my people. I'd like to ask you for your help. I don't normally ask Santa for stuff, being mostly satisfied, but this seemed a special case.

Borders should include Native American in their religion section, they have everything else. That would be nice, that would be a small step towards freedom and respect for Native American religion in America, but they don't and they are quite pointed about it. It is a shameless, shameful denial of Native America. Many people think this is OK, they are wrong.

I bet you could help me get Borders to change that policy. But then, why would a nice christian columnist like you want to do anything to help a witch achieve freedom of religion? Many christians prefer that my people be denied legally practicing their mysterious religions forever.

I have witnessed, the very idea of witches, Sufis or Native Americans, and freedom of religion, makes some folks very uncomfortable. Uncomfortable enough to treat us with a tremendous amount of religious discrimination and defensively claim the US to be a christian country, rather then the more accurate, christian invaded country. There are a great many Americans with ancestors who were here long before the last 200 years, that was not when American history started. If one takes a look at the role of christianity regarding Native American religious practice, one sees an unending 500 year ethnic and religious cleansing. I think it is time for that to stop. Borders should make amends and include the Indians. God is also Red.

Please consider my plea, publicity is all it needs. You have the voice. Please, help me free my people. Thank you,

Lauren Unruh

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Not long ago, Bill O'Liely said on his show that he now believes the war in Iraq was a mistake. However, he never apologized for calling all of us who opposed it from the beginning "anti-Amercans, "un-patriotic" and "left-wing kooks", even though some of these "unpatriotic" Americans who opposed it from the beginning were former conservative high-ranking military officers, one a friend of mine who has napalm burns all over his body.

It would seem that the real "kook" in America is Bill O'Liely. Perhaps if he loses a few pounds, he can star in a Christmas--whoops, I mean "Holiday" movie, the Life and Times of St. Kook.

Richard Aberdeen
FREE 20-Track CD, Who Would Jesus Bomb?
www.FreedomTracks.com

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"Christmas" is called by its proper name when the retailers need it. Such as now when the economy is vanishing day by day. When times are good, it's the "holiday". It's not about intellectualizing beliefs. Not a time for phlilosophizing. It's about a climate that prevails only for a short time each year. Most of us enjoy some aspect of Christmas for a wide variety of reasons. For those who find it offensive, try to bear with the rest of us. For some reason Christmas wins out every time. People just like it. It brings out the best in us regardless of beliefs. Bill O'Reilly makes millions of dollars stirring up ashes about anything. He ought to leave this alone. ANNA

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