Posted on 11/22/2002 7:02:28 PM PST by Recovering_Democrat
Fisher Price sells a toy Nativity set. Great. Unfortunately, our DOG chewed up baby Jesus. So, we decided to go on the Fisher Price web site to see if we could get a new plastic Jesus.
What we saw astounded us...Fisher-Price has a "HOLIDAY" section of their web site. The URL is above. But when we investigated the December Holidays, we noticed a distinct bias against the Christian holiday.
Specifically, if you investigate "Hanukkah" or "Kwaanza" on the Fisher-Price web site, you'll get a wonderful little section called "How to share traditions and meanings", where a simple history of the event is given. But when you click on the "Christmas" icon, no "traditions and meanings" is offered. Oh, to be sure, you're given information on how to visit SANTA CLAUS, how to decorate a tree, advice on driving your neighborhood to see lights, but strangely I've not found any reference to the birth of Christ.
Let me give specific examples. Under the "tradition and meanings" for Hanukkah, here is what we find:
The eight-night Hanukkah festival, which usually falls in December and frequently coincides with Christmas, offers an appealing antidote to winter's gloom. The blaze of the candles burning in the menorah (an eight-branch candelabra, with a special place for the shamash candle, which lights all the others), the sharing of potato pancakes with friends and relatives, and the exchange of presents create special family memories.Hanukkah celebrates the victory of Judah Maccabee and his followers over the Syrian King, Antiochus. This king had denied the Jews their religious freedom, and ordered his soldiers to destroy the Temple-which Judah Maccabee and his army restored. While cleaning the Temple, there was only enough oil to light the lamp for one day. But it went on to burn for eight days, which is the miracle Hanukkah commemorates.
Very nice explanation, and I commend Fisher-Price for recognizing this holiday. I really do, because few Christians (maybe many Jews) probably know the significance of the holiday.
Let's move on to Kwaanza. Here's what we find about Kwaanza:
Kwanzaa is a relatively new holiday, invented in 1965 by American black nationalist Maulana Karenga. Since then, it has been widely adopted by blacks all over the world. It is celebrated by almost 20 million people.In creating Kwanzaa, Karenga adapted harvest festivals and rituals from Africa. The name comes from a Swahili phrase, matunda ya kwanza, meaning first fruit. Karenga's idea was to bring families together to celebrate and strengthen important values in the black community. Karenga chose seven principles, called Nguzo Saba, from the various African harvest festivals he studied. They are- unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Each of the holiday's seven days is devoted to celebrating one of the principles.
Some people mistakenly believe that Kwanzaa is a black version of Christmas, since it is celebrated from December 26 to January 1.
Again, another simple explanation of the holiday. No one wants to take away this holiday or the explanation thereof.
Is there a similiar explanation of what the real meaning of Christmas is on the Fisher-Price web site? Not that I can find.
FREEPers, we've already decided to contact Fisher-Price and ask them to accurately reflect what the Christmas holiday's meaning to Christians. We hope you will, too.
Take that, Ron Everett you sadistic scumbag!
It is never too early to Kwap on Kwanzaa.
In your Fisher-Price website, we see the following description of Hanukkah:
"Hanukkah celebrates the victory of Judah Maccabee and his followers over the Syrian King, Antiochus. This king had denied the Jews their religious freedom, and ordered his soldiers to destroy the Temple-which Judah Maccabee and his army restored. While cleaning the Temple, there was only enough oil to light the lamp for one day. But it went on to burn for eight days, which is the miracle Hanukkah commemorates."
It would be a great thing for your description of Christmas to have at least as detailed an overview of why Christmas is celebrated:Christmas is the time of year
When friends and families meet
To celebrate the birth of Christ
With song and gift and feast
The angels sang to men below
A song of silver light
That sent them running to the town
To find the child that night
Let the moon, the sun, the stars
The galaxies rejoice
Their Master sounds so different now
He has a human voice
Let the nations, cities, people
Old and young him praise,
Our master looks so different now
He has a human face.
(copyright, aruanan)
Last year I made a decision that every time someone said "happy holiday" to me, I would respond with a pointed "merry christmas". It may not do any good in the long run, but I refuse to surrender the most wonderful time of the year to a PC ethnic cleansing campaign.
We bought a different version (safe for under three) in the store last year and plan to get another this year (our toddler loves them so much we can't find all the pieces, he carries them everywhere).
karenga was not a black panther. he was the founder of the United Slaves Organization.
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