Kristof Challenges Bill O'Reilly's war on Christmas

Kristof's had enough of O'lielly's phoney war. He starts out with a prayer and ends his column with a challenge. Great read!!

The New York Times

Let us pray that Mr. O'Reilly will understand that the Christmas spirit isn't about hectoring people to say "Merry Christmas," rather than "Happy Holidays," but about helping the needy.

Let us pray that Mr. O'Reilly will use his huge audience and considerable media savvy to save lives and fight genocide, instead of to vilify those he disagrees with. Let him find inspiration in Jesus, rather than in the Assyrians.

Finally, let's pray that Mr. O'Reilly and other money-changers in the temple will donate the funds they raise exploiting Christmas - covering the nonexistent "War on Christmas" rakes in viewers and advertising - to feed the hungry and house the homeless.

Perhaps I'm particularly sensitive to religious hypocrites because I've spent a chunk of time abroad watching Muslim versions of Mr. O'Reilly - demagogic table-thumpers who exploit public religiosity as a cynical ploy to gain attention and money. And I always tell moderate Muslims that they need to stand up to blustery blowhards - so today, I'm taking my own advice.

•  Kristof

  Please read the column - It's a grand smack down to "Billy Bully"

  Tips Please

  by Kitty on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 07:06:20 PM PDT

  •  I can't wait...

    ... to hear Billy Boy's "table thumping" response to this one.

    Being compared to ANY kind of Muslim will make his head spin around and spew lava, of course, but being called a phony is what makes him go downright nu-cu-lar.

    What a great smackdown -- thanks for sharing.

    by pat208 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 07:15:37 PM PDT

    •  I don't think he'll

      even respond to Kristoff.  if he does, he'd have to explain why he's not stepping up to Kristoff's offer to take him to Darfur...and we all know THAT ain't gonna happen!

      what a loser

      by lpettit4662 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 07:45:26 PM PDT

      •  can't have the chief chicken hawk take a

        chance he might get his loofah twisted in his falafel ..

        by shpilk on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 10:08:55 PM PDT

•  Don't tell O'Lielly

  But the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo sent cards that don't say Merry Christmas.  They must be complicit in the war on Christmas:

  The folks in the Office of Communications for the Catholic Diocese of Buffalo recently sent out about 250 Christmas cards with - gasp - absolutely no mention of Christmas.

  The card features an angelic violinist on the front with the message "Love, Peace, Hope."

  Inside, it reads: "Wishing you a Beautiful Holiday Season and a New Year of Peace and Happiness."

  Those are fightin' words for some Christians concerned that the phrase "Merry Christmas" is being banished in favor of the more generic "Happy Holidays."

  But diocesan spokesman Kevin A. Keenan, who picked out the card, said he wasn't avoiding the term Christmas or trying to be politically correct.

  He choose the card from a local vendor because of its message of peace, he said.

  "We focused on the quote about peace. We're not trying not to say Merry Christmas," Keenan said.

  Besides, he added, the card was picked out in September, long before some evangelical ministers, conservative pundits and Catholic commentators began railing against retailers for eliminating "Christmas" from their advertising to appeal to non-Christians.

  From the Buffalo News.

  Imagine that...they aren't trying to say Merry Christmas and Peace is really the message...the heathens.

  Peace?
  

  by tvb on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 07:17:54 PM PDT

  •  Actually, Billy was complaining

    about the Catholics the other day, so i guess they aren't even christian enough for him anymore...
    mediamatters

    by lpettit4662 on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 07:43:15 PM PDT

    •  Duh

      Most religious extremists and Christian fundies don't consider Catholics to be true Christians...and the Pope is tantamount to Satan on Earth.

      by Perdition on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 08:59:40 PM PDT

    •  O'Reilly and the pope

      O'Reilly declared Pope John Paul II to be a "Saddam Enabler" back in March 2003, while describing himself as a "loyal Catholic."  He also called John Paul II "senile" (adding that he says this "with all due respect"), and later denied ever saying this, calling the claim a distortion by "crazy left-wing nuts."

      by dtj on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 09:19:12 PM PDT