Tuesday, October 08, 2013

With only a month or so before her Christmas book hits the dollar bin at bookstores and Wal-Marts around the country, Sarah Palin tries to get people riled up over the insidious, and imaginary, "War on Christmas."

Her tweet links to this Fox News article:  

The Wausau, Wis. School District says it’s okay to jingle bells and don gay apparel but lay off the Baby Jesus stuff – and that has parents and students ready to deck somebody’s halls. 

The community became enraged after the elementary schools canceled their upcoming Christmas concerts and the school district issued guidelines that curtailed the number of sacred holiday songs the high school choir could perform. 

Phil Buch, the director of the Wausau West High School choir programs since 1981, told the Wausau Daily Herald that he was given three choices after meeting with school officials about the upcoming yuletide season. 

He was told the choirs could perform one sacred song for every five secular songs performed; eliminate all Christmas music or postpone December concerts. 

He was also reportedly told that the district had to approve every musical selection. Instead, Buch announced that he was temporarily disbanding the school’s elite choir. 

School Board member Pat McKee told me it’s nothing short of a war on Christmas. 

“When you look at it on the surface, it’s hard to argue against that train of thought,” he said. 

“People are justifiably making that correlation – that it’s a war on Christmas.”

OMGAWD! A War on Christmas you say?

Well fortunately there is a book coming soon that will set the record straight about the TRUE meaning of Christmas, and how important it is to protect it from the heathen scum who want to strip Christ out of the holiday that does not really fall on his birthday, but we pretend it does, and return it to its pagan roots where virtually all of its traditions were taken.

I imagine that Palin will spend a lot of time in the month or so before the book comes out fanning the flames of frustration of Christian zealots panicked that their stranglehold on the holiday might be loosening as the country becomes more and more diverse, and less and less religious.

Speaking of history it might be informative if somebody explained to little miss "I slept through history class" that for almost the first hundred years of this nation's history it was not even considered a federal holiday.

Courtesy of The History of Christmas: 

After the American Revolution, English customs fell out of favor, including Christmas. In fact, Congress was in session on December 25, 1789, the first Christmas under America’s new constitution. Christmas wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870. 

It wasn’t until the 19th century that Americans began to embrace Christmas. Americans re-invented Christmas, and changed it from a raucous carnival holiday into a family-centered day of peace and nostalgia. But what about the 1800s peaked American interest in the holiday? 

The early 19th century was a period of class conflict and turmoil. During this time, unemployment was high and gang rioting by the disenchanted classes often occurred during the Christmas season. In 1828, the New York city council instituted the city’s first police force in response to a Christmas riot. This catalyzed certain members of the upper classes to begin to change the way Christmas was celebrated in America. 

In 1819, best-selling author Washington Irving wrote The Sketchbook of Geoffrey Crayon, gent., a series of stories about the celebration of Christmas in an English manor house. The sketches feature a squire who invited the peasants into his home for the holiday. In contrast to the problems faced in American society, the two groups mingled effortlessly. In Irving’s mind, Christmas should be a peaceful, warm-hearted holiday bringing groups together across lines of wealth or social status. 

Irving’s fictitious celebrants enjoyed “ancient customs,” including the crowning of a Lord of Misrule. Irving’s book, however, was not based on any holiday celebration he had attended—in fact, many historians say that Irving’s account actually “invented” tradition by implying that it described the true customs of the season.

I bet that historical information will not make it into a certain poorly written book attempting to make a buck off of the most overly commercialized holiday in history. What do you think?

56 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:46 PM

    Why would this Fake Politician be concerned with Wausau? Sarah Palin left her own City of Wasilla with $20 million in debt.
    How dare she take issue with the policies of another city. She is a Fake XTIAN with a bunch of Sinners within her own Family. God does not condone Pimping, or Grifting.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous4:41 PM

      This is a handy resource:
      http://justsaynotobs.com/Palin_by_the_Numbers.html

      Every now and then I get so steamed by that boiler plate the Palinbots use on any and all comment threads about her; especially touting her executive experience vis a vis Pres Obama. It is just so ludicrous...can you imagine her up in front of the press, as he was today, dealing with a crisis...

      Aurora

      Delete
  2. Anonymous2:49 PM

    Bernie sanders on the senate floor talking about you Koch whore skank!
    You who has no morals, no principles, no values except amassing as many dollars as you can and yet-there till isn't happiness for you. The hate you feed off of will burn through you and your money.

    You skank-you who believe in prayer warriors-well there is a whole army of warriors praying for your quick demise. We don't need you dead. We don't need you sick. We need you locked away in prison or an asylum and our numbers are growing in prayer. Hear that hum skank? That is the sound of millions every day thinking, saying, hoping, wishing and praying for your imminent fall. Your followers are a drop in the sea of our numbers.

    We are praying every day for you to get locked up.

    Proudly praying away the cray cray!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Don't these "war on Christmas" complainers go to church any more? I thought sacred songs were sung in church. Or by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

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    1. Anonymous3:54 PM

      ROFL!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous9:40 PM

      Is Piper in a children's choir at their church? Our church had a seasonal children's choir and we Catholics sing alot during mass. I did not claim a "war" when public school choruses sang less secular holiday songs.

      Just saying the loud mouths ought to meet their religious needs and wants attending church services, caroling, even buy a kareoke machine and secular christmas songs.

      They can invite the entire school to a town caroling party. No one will stampede them by horse, ring bells nor stab them with bayonets:)

      Delete
    3. Anonymous9:45 PM

      Someone please tweet What do they sing in the church you regularly attend Sarah?

      Seriously, I listen to Johnny Mathis sing O Holy Night at home and have not been captured, taken as a prisoner during this war...not once!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous3:50 AM

      Remember, the O Sarah bin Palin do NOT attend church...so, doubt Piper is singing in anything!

      Delete
  4. Anonymous2:57 PM

    Yeah, Sarah, your sorry stinky, dirty ass can't wait for parents to do what you never did for your High School Dropout kids. You inject yourself into every issue that is not your business. Clean up your Family, if it is possible. Sing 'YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE' to your Pimp Husband Todd 2-toned peewee.

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    1. Anonymous3:39 PM

      I know, she can take them 'homemade' cookies to show her support. You know she won;t be sending any of that hard-earned cash.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous3:54 PM

      Yes, clean up your own family. Lay off my country.

      Delete
  5. Ok, Gryph. I've got to add my two cents, and I may or not get flamed for it, but I'll gladly accept other view points. I grew up in a secular household, meaning that my mother decided to let all of her children decide if they wanted (any type of) religion to be part of their lives. I decided to be atheist. That being said, I also grew up before this so-called "War on Religion."

    I was a HS Choir/Jazz Choir nerd. My HS performed all sorts of songs, ranging from show tunes to Pop to religious. I always loved the religious songs. Hallelujah and Ave Maria were my favorites, not because they were religious, but because they challenged my vocal abilities as a soprano.

    As much as I hate to see religious teachings in a public school, I'm also saddened to see music of all types to be castigated. All music belongs to the all of the world.

    //soapbox off

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    1. Anonymous3:38 PM

      My daughter was in a select choir in high school, and the director came from a church music background. They sang LOTS of sacred music, and very little show tunes or pop. The sacred music is what builds voices, not the pop claptrap. He solved the 'no religion in schools' issue by having them perform exclusively in churches. They took a yearly trip to Chicago or Toronto, and part of that was singing a mass or something in a cathedral. many of the kids went on to major in music, and they sang beautifully.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous3:53 PM

      And, I love southern gospel music. Does this make me a Christian? No. So, Sistah Sarah, go have yourself a hissy fit over nothing.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous5:29 PM

      Here's a few things about Buch you need to know - these are from his students:
      Overly religious, and if you're not, his actions towards you differed. Definitely has favorites. He also anticipates students to know what to do without telling them. As a conductor, he needs to conduct, not be a metronome. Piano never hurt anyone, either. He is a good teacher overall and will keep a group going without effort, but has his quirks.

      Delete
    4. Anonymous5:34 PM

      As a former school director, I'd like to say that religious songs CAN be sung in a school concert, so long as it is part of a mix of different songs. "Silent Night" can be sung if secular Christmas songs are sung as well. Anyone attending the concert should not walk out feeling they have attended a religious event. Only Christians feel that singing a range of songs is a personal attack on them, and frankly, at this point in my life, I don't really give a rat's ass what they think.

      That said, it sounds like they tried to explain the basic principle to the choir director- sing a variety of seasonal songs- Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer and Frosty and I'm Getting Nuttin' for Christmas as well as Silent Night or Ave Maria- and that the choir director asked how many of each and they probably said, Oh, say, every fourth or fifth song can be religious.

      I don't know why Christians are so frickin' incapable as parents. They're always whinging about how we aren't teaching their children religion. They need parenting classes.

      Ivyfree

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    5. Anonymous5:41 PM

      Oh bullcrap 3:38. There is a lot of music that is not necessarily "sacred" that is of the same period and thus similar in type. there is also modern chorale music.

      Delete
    6. Anonymous5:43 PM

      OK. so how many Muslim songs did you sing? Hindi? Tuvan? Greek tragedy? Renaissance. including the drinking songs?

      Delete
    7. BabyRaptor12:23 AM

      @338

      You're an idiot. The content of any given song has no effect whatsoever on "building voices." Religious songs do not offer anything in the way of training or mastery that secular songs don't.

      You know what *does* matter? How the music was written. Note composition. Tempo. How rapidly the previous two change. Scales. Things that actually Fucking affect the voice, and that singers have to know how to do.

      None of those things are limited to "sacred" music.

      Signed,
      Someone with 8 years of voice training, 10 years in various choirs (including the elite ones in both junior high and high school), and several awards from state-wide competitions.

      In other words, someone who would actually know.

      Delete
  6. Anonymous3:08 PM

    War on Christmas? I say, "Let Allah sort it out!"

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    1. Anonymous3:23 PM

      OMG! That made me laugh out loud! BAM! Right on the money.

      Delete
    2. AKinPA4:43 PM

      Anon at 3:08

      We should all get a pack of post-it notes; scribble "Let Allah sort it out" on them and take them to bookstores (if there any left where we live) and nonchalantly stick them on a page in her book while we pretend to peruse it. But we have to be quick. Those books will probably hit Wal-Mart and the dollar stores soon and they have better security.

      Delete
    3. Anonymous9:34 AM

      Oh WOO HOO! That's exactly what I'm going to do when I make my bookstore rounds!

      Delete
  7. Anonymous3:18 PM

    Choke on this OSarah BinPalin!! Bwahahahahahahaahha!!!!!!

    http://thegrio.com/2013/10/07/rev-al-sharptons-new-book-the-rejected-stone-is-a-story-of-redemption/

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    1. Anita Winecooler8:02 PM

      Love "O Sarah Bin Palin"! It's the perfect description for the slug thug grifter!

      Before she gets RAM fired up and ready to blow chunks on Facebook, someone should remind her that Rev. Al Sharpton's job description is Reverend.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous3:19 PM

    If Sister Sarah was so concerned about Christmas and offended it is increasingly becoming harder to keep the religious part in it, why doesn't she do the religious part, and GIVE the proceeds of her book to some charity that gives poor families food and heat this Christmas?

    If Sister Sarah is so concerned about the religious content in Christmas, why doesn't she go to church and celebrate privately? There is no law against christians celebrating in their own ways. If they want christian carols and hymns that describe the meaning of Christmas, listen to them at home.

    Sarah's interest is in the traditions of men. She doesn't even speak or act as a christian, so how can this book convict anyone that would be drawn to Christ?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous3:21 PM

    It won't be much longer before Sarah becomes a full-fledged Evangelical Preacher.

    The Republican Party is splintering in two: She will be on the side without the money. She has to do something to keep the cash rolling in....she's getting desperate.

    Republicans: Always. At. War. With. Everything.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous3:24 PM

    Yep, it's that smarmy Todd Starnes that she links to. He's another one of those always outraged about something guys at Fox, mostly promoting lots of lies. I wouldn't trust his ass for one second. What a rube. No surprise she links to him. Losers like to hang with losers.

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  11. Anonymous3:26 PM

    Sarah Palin talks a lot about "heart." But I haven't seen any evidence that she actually has one.

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    1. Anonymous3:50 PM

      I met a man who was worked up about this in 2006 after a performance at his fundy church by its Glenn Beck addicted pastor. Again, this is where this crap comes from. Even we heathens love ourselves some Christmas! So, what’s the beef Sarah?

      Delete
  12. Anonymous3:26 PM

    Christmas is not the only thing this idiot is tweeting about. She is not an expert about the debt ceiling. Will someone please shut this woman up.


    Scorpie

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  13. AKRNHSNC3:50 PM

    Palin's only interest in Christmas is the money she can make in promoting a faux war on the holiday. When she spoke about her book this past summer, she didn't talk about the religious aspect. Instead, the Wasilla Wingnut touted her knowledge of Christmas because she was of her proximity to Santa Claus and the North Pole! (FACEPALM)

    Sarah Palin is as clueless as ever, her book undoubtedly will try to associate the will of the founding fathers with Christmas and she'll attempt to claim that they would be horrified with how this sacred holiday is ignored with today's standards. As usual, Sarah will open her mouth and reveal her ignorance!

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  14. Anonymous3:59 PM

    I am a Christian. I do not want schools nor do I want government to teach my children their/its views on religion. My church and my family do that. That is MY job as a parent. We have a church choir and Christmas program every year.

    Why do the Republicans (who don't want the government interfering with their lives) want the government to teach their kids about God? Why can't they do that themselves?

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  15. Anonymous4:10 PM

    As a longtime wife and mother, my first thought is "I wonder how many Christmas dinners she has cooked?"
    My guess is ZERO!

    TEXASMEL

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    1. Anita Winecooler8:35 PM

      LOL That brought back memories when she "proved" she "cooks" on "Sarah invites "Good Morning Amerryka" to her home.
      Yeah, she "cooked" in high heels, black hose, pencil skirt, matching black jacket, white blouse, painted nails and perfectly coiffed "updo" while Matt Lauer yakked with Mr Mom. Forgot what she made, but it was something boiled and phallic. Moose Kielbasa, maybe? LOL

      Delete
  16. Anonymous4:12 PM

    Looking forward to her book next year about the war on "in god we trust" moved to the edge of coins.

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  17. Anonymous4:19 PM

    I'll betcha she's lappin' up the free advertisement...

    If nothing else, she and the GOTP are masterful at manipulation.

    8^}

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous6:09 PM

    I love Christmas because I am a Pagan! I love all the rituals and symbols on display because they are all Pagan rites and symbols. I celebrate the natural times of the seasons: the winter and summer solstices and the equinoxes, which have all been usurped by the Christian Church.

    If Sarah is so dismayed by a "War on Christmas" she is completely dis-informed (as usual). Everybody loves a good party, especially in the dark of winter.

    As for the Christ part, of course it is an overlay to the rich and ancient celebrations of the winter solstice. I just ignore those parts.

    As a Pagan, I do, however, see the wisdom, kindness, tolerance, and love in those words reputed to be said by Jesus. I try to live my life according to those words of love.

    So why do so many if not most Christians ignore Christ's teachings while putting his name on display?

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Anonymous10:24 AM

      As a Pagan myself, I have to laugh at the wreath on the cover of her book. The circle of leaves is a symbol dear to the hearts of Pagans, just sayin'. If she is so in a snit about the so-called war on christmas, where is the baby Jesus on the book cover?

      Delete
  19. Anonymous6:15 PM

    What will Sarah war on next? War on Valentine's Day? "Put St Valentine back in Valentine's Day!"

    Oh and btw, nothing much is known about the saint. I did find that Feb 14th was originally also a Pagan holiday.

    From Wikipedia: "English eighteenth-century antiquarians Alban Butler and Francis Douce, noting the obscurity of Saint Valentine's identity, suggested that Valentine's Day was created as an attempt to supersede the pagan holiday of Lupercalia (mid-February in Rome)."

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  20. Anonymous6:18 PM

    I wouldn't read it if I were you. It'll suck any joy and happiness out of your Christmas season...

    the hate and bitterness is strong with this one

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous6:20 PM

    No wonder Sarah's beating that money drum! She (I.e. Sarah PAC) gotta a lot of books to buy.... Another instant best seller which for a $100 donation to Sarah PAC, she will send a free copy. What a scam!

    Doesn't she (Sarah PAC) already pay for storage of all those other books Sarah PAC bought?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous6:25 PM

    she's such a twunt...

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  23. Anonymous7:04 PM

    I wonder how many pre-orders she has on her book at Amazon?

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  24. Anonymous7:49 PM

    Did Todd buy shailey nice Christmas gifts? I heard he did?

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  25. Anonymous7:50 PM

    wondering? Did sarah tell her kids who the daddys were yet?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anita Winecooler8:13 PM

    Sheesh! She didn't get the e-mail. Christmas is being cancelled this year due to the Republican Hostage Taking.

    Not ONE article about a plastic baby Jeebus being kidnapped of some hardware store's nativity display, replete with the owner's original "Donald Duck" receiving blanket his sainted dead mother wrapped him up and took him home from the stork repository at the hospital, and Sarah Banana is shilling her jebus book already?! I mean, we haven't had hell night, halloween, nor thanksgiving yet.

    I wonder what present Todd's getting her this year? Pretty hard to beat a pink pistol and a huge honking rack! I hear a rifle with a "U" shaped barrel is all the rage this year!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous2:06 AM

    Wausau is the town with the graduation song Praise Jesus. Lyrics here:Here’s a question for you: Would it be okay for a choir to sing a song called “Worthy to be Praised” (lyrics below) at a public high school graduation ceremony?

    Ha, hallelujah, ha, hallelujah,
    You’re worthy to be praised.

    Ha, hallelujah, ha, hallelujah,
    You’re worthy to be praised.

    Lord, Lord I love You,
    Lord, Lord, I love You,
    You’re worthy to be praised.

    Lord, Lord, I love You,
    Lord, Lord, I love You,
    You’re worthy to be praised.

    Chorus 1:

    From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same,
    You’re worthy to be praised

    For the rest of my days, I will give You praise,
    You’re worthy to be praised.

    There's more about this on http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/10/08/after-wausau-school-district-limits-religious-music-at-holiday-concerts-community-members-freak-out/

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous5:12 AM

    As a person who has always taken Christmas seriously, loved to decorate, listen to carols, wrap presents, write cards, bake cookies and entertain holiday guests, I really resent Sarah Palin's intrusion of her particular brand of vileness into this season. There has never been a war on Christmas. Fox News created a fake war for the sake of getting viewers; Sarah's paid someone to write her "book" so that she can jump on the Fox News bandwagon and make a few bucks along the way. If that isn't excessive commercialism, the real bane of Christmas, I don't know what is. And I bet that there has never been a creche in a Palin household and that they do not attend church services during Advent or at Christmas and that they do not have a stash of Christmas cd's to play from the end of Thanksgiving weekend until 12th Night and on and on.
    Beaglemom

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  29. Anonymous7:16 AM

    United States of America is in a crisis and that daughter of a bitch is hawking her fucking useless Me M Me Christmas book.

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  30. Anonymous7:55 AM

    Sarah's book was supposed to be released Oct.29. Now the date at Amazon is Nov.12. Maybe Sarah is having a hard time remembering what'll goes in festive moose stew.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous7:57 AM

    People can sing all of the religious songs they want at home, in church, in the car, anywhere. Religion does not belong in the public school, especially when it is only one religion being promoted there.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Anonymous9:17 AM

    Downloaded Bill Ayers new book on my Kindle. An interesting read. The WeatherUnderGround never killed anyone.

    However, the ChristmasWarriors have trampled to death and injured others in their quest for bejeezus bargains. We are going to stock up and and bunker down from around sacrifice the turkey day until three days after the calendar turns to a new year.

    Sarah we won't be buying your book, The last thing we would want is your FRUITCAKE recipe or need to know how your family celebrates the Happy Holiday.

    RJ in Brownbackistan

    ReplyDelete
  33. Anonymous2:21 PM

    Anonymous7:50 PM

    wondering? Did sarah tell her kids who the daddys were yet?


    Was is it Santa Claus?

    ReplyDelete

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