Free Republic

FAUX FAUX FAUX In a marketing ploy as plain as a mall full of Xboxes, a band of politicians, pundits and pastors is assailing those who dare to voice holiday cheer without the word "Christmas." These militants say seasonal greetings reflect the secular siege on a holiday that rightly belongs to Christians. But the real war on Christmas was fought almost two centuries ago. Although the Rev. Jerry Falwell, television host John Gibson and the American Family Association might deny it, their side won. Christmas today is an inextricable part of U.S. public life, celebrated on TV specials, welcomed in...

Walter Cronkite is doing a lot of talking these days, what with writing a syndicated column and working for several TV networks, and he recently spoke with the San Francisco Chronicle, disseminating some of his "Moses-like rhetoric" on everything from the Christian right to President Bush to Janet Jackson's anatomy. Chronicle interviewers asked Cronkite to what he attributes his 63-year long marriage, and he quipped, "I do think one of the factors was we were of different sexes." As laughter filled the room, he added, "That doesn't mean I wouldn't have been happy to be married to several friends I...