Replies

why doesn't this clueless mayor call it ...hari krishna day....

Because the Hari Krishnas have no problem with Christmas. Nor do Buddhists, Hindus, Taoists, Shintoists, nor even Muslims. It's mainly a few atheists, a few neo-pagans, (and yes) Jews who are most upset with Christmas, albeit for different reasons.

As I've said about The Passion, it's not that "liberal" Jews hate Christmas and "observant" Jews don't. It's insecure Jews who hate Christmas (and that includes many Orthodox and conservative Jews) and secure Jews who don't mind Christmas (and that includes many liberal Jews.)

I grew up in a Jewish section of Queens, NY, went to school and worked in Manhattan, and live in Los Angeles, so I've been among Jews my whole life. Many don't hate gentiles -- but they do fear, and sometimes even hate, Christianity. They fear that their children will be picked on by the Christian majority for not celebrating Christmas, or that they'll appear to be "the other" in the office for not celebrating Christmas. Jews fear being a visible minority, because it's led to suffering in the past. Diluting Christmas with menorahs, or even suppressing Christmas, obscures Jews' minority status, so they feel safer.

People here talk of PC liberals -- but whose sensitivities do you think those PC liberals are catering to? Hindus, Buddhists, and Shintoists don't mind Christmas, though they're helpful as camoflague (i.e., "We can't celebrate Christmas because it will offend Hindus, Buddhist, Jews, Shintoists..."). Atheists and neo-pagans do mind Christmas, but bobody much cares what they think; no one caters to their sensitivities.

It's The Passion all over again. In a poll earlier this year, 71% of American Jews said they thought The Passion was anti-Semetic, so I'd estimate that 71% of American Jews are insecure Jews and thus dislike Christmas. 29% of American Jews are secure, and so don't mind Christmas. That includes many liberal Jews who don't mind Christmas. This issue is not liberal v. conservative.