Yahoo News offers us a choice of emphasis for tomorrow's lead - a "values voters"/ "spirit of the season" story -
Clash over Christmas, or a story about
renewal of fighting in "Conquered" Fallujah. Let's consider -
Touted as the season of harmony, Christmas in the United States has become a source of discord and debate over how to celebrate the holiday without promoting religion in a way that might alienate non-Christians. The argument is a perennial one, but this year, with the Christian right taking credit for Bush's re-election, traditionalists are fighting harder than ever against what they see as a political effort to take the Christ out of Christmas.
"A covert and deceptive war has been waged on Christmas to remove any mention of it from the public square during the Christmas season," declares the California-based Committee to Save Merry Christmas on its website. The committee has launched a campaign to boycott major retailers, including big-name department stores like Macy's, which favour in-store decorations proclaiming "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" rather than "Merry Christmas.
All right, I've heard enough. That's not a story, that's a press release. Next, Fallujah:
U.S. Marine infantrymen fought with insurgents in Fallujah on Thursday as warplanes and tanks bombarded guerrilla positions in the heaviest fighting here in weeks. The clashes raged as nearly 1,000 residents returned to the devastated city for the first time since U.S. troops drove out most of the militants last month. At least three Marines were killed in combat that underlined how far the city and surrounding area are from being tamed as the United States and its Iraqi allies try to bring quiet before national elections Jan. 30.
Yes, this is an actual story with an actual fucking point for us for Christmas.
We are governed by the lyingest, most incompetent, scummy bastards in the history of the nation. They don't have a clue as to what to do about this Iraq Debacle. We're in deep shit.
Happy Holidays and, don't forget, Merry Christmas to the Save Merry Christmas Committee.
Update [2004-12-24 1:11:36 by Armando]: Still feeling cheery? Then read ttagaris "heartwarming" diary.