Salvation Army Bell Ringers

[alchemia]

I hope this is appropriate for the community... I was wondering if any of you have any thoughts on how to deal with those salvation army bell ringers? ( Read more... )

More from the "war on Christmas"

[sashajwolf]

This time, I'm ashamed to say it's a very poor piece by the leader of my own denomination, published in the UK Radio Times (our main TV and radio listings magazine). It's not just that he perpetuates the "war on Christmas" myth, although he ought to know better; he also manages to say that Christmas "touches something universal" (not judging by some of the contributors in this community, I think) and uses Orientalising language about the Wise Men.

And he describes Christmas as a "European export", which I'd consider at least dubious. It celebrates an event that took place in Palestine; the first mention of that event being celebrated at all - albeit on a different date - refers to Egypt, and the modern Western date is based on the writings of an African author. Unless he means just the cultural trappings, but if those are supposed to be what has struck a chord in some quarters outside Europe, that kind of works against his argument that the nativity story itself has some kind of universal appeal.