Politically Incorrect

[Santa Claus]

Merry CHRISTMAS, that's right, Merry CHRISTMAS. Not happy holidays, seasons greetings or any other covered up greeting. Ya see the federal government declared that the birthday of Jesus Christ would be celebrated as a national holiday many, many years ago. So don't let anyone tell you that it is not appropriate to say MERRY CHRISTMAS. Chaps my hide to hear of all these so-called Americans that are offended because they don't believe in it. This country was founded with these beliefs, if don't like it then go live in Afghanistan or wherever.

[slip-bobber(MT)]

GO GET 'EM SANTA

[Backwater Eddy]

Happy Chanuka and a joyous Kwanzaa to you too Santa!

Ho-Ho-Ho!

[A little bitter]

Santa, have you been sampling too much egg nog? While I agree on the sentiment behind your post, you could deliver it on a pillow, not on a brick.....Remember what Christmas is really all about.

[mlc]

Ummm. Seems like I've heard a similiar attitude from radical Islamic fundamentalists concerning their holy day celebration.

It seems America's beginning was rather rebellious and bloody. Was that all in Jesus name also?

Grace and Peace,
mlc

(Santa, does this mean I do not get my 176C GPS unit for CHRISTMAS?)

[Sparky]

Check into the background of the "gentleman" that started Kwanzaa and why. That way, when they teach your kids about "Kwanzaa" at school, and rank it along with Christmas, you can develop a good case of indigestion or disgust.

[Backwater Eddy]

Many cultures celebrate holidays this time of year, a mine is best controversy is just plain lame.

I would rather wish all well (as is the custom of my beliefs) then say Happy Happy Joy Joy to everyone, except you over there you suck.

(Instead of cabin fever this year we are seeing ice envy I think?)

Happy Holidays and may the ice be with you!

[RANGER]

Eddy,


..........................>>> MERRY CHRISTMAS <<< ..............................

To you and your's and everyone else here at Walleyel Central!

God Bless America!

[THUMPER]

One of the western provinces in Canada went back to calling the tree a Christmas tree rather than the "Yuletide Tree". The spokesman said if it walks like a duck and looks like a duck lets call it what it is. Merry Christmas to all.

[beetle]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
herb

[Don Ho]

From the Islands!

[Juls_WI]

I say Happy Holidays on the message boards out of respect for other people's choices and beliefs. Not to be politically correct. Heck, I don't even like politics! I respond to people with a fake made up names, so I don't know what they celebrate. I don't feel right saying Merry Christmas to someone who might celebrate Hanakah (sp?), or something else. But hey, that's just me.

What difference does it make anyway? Always makes me laugh at what pisses some people off.

Happy Holidays!

Juls

[Schnauzer]

Wow! Well, I guess one of the great things about living in a free society is you have every right to run up and down the street yelling "Merry Christmas" to everyone you meet. But, I have the right to disagree with you too... and I do. I think this country's biggest strength is its diversity. In a land rich in diversity, tolerance is critical. Comments like "if don't like it then go live in Afghanistan or wherever" tell me tolerance isn't high on your list.

I love Christmas and to me it means Jesus, family, and excited kids. I can't wait for it every year. On the other hand, to me the Christmas season has never been a reason to make others feel uncomfortable or to insist they be just like me.

I always try to avoid the non-fishing or political related threads here but I guess finally took the bait.

Long Live General Mills!... just kidding.

[Schmitty]

Merry Christmas to all, Happy Holiday's to all.

AND TO ALL A GOOD BITE...
SCHMITTY

[RDJ]

"Merry Walleyes to all,and to all a good bite"

Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday season!! GO UofM GRIZZLIES Football(playing Friday for the NCAA Div 1-AA National Championship at 3:30PM MST,live on ESPN).

RJ in Montana

[SetTheHook]

Amen Schnauzer.

Was scanning the list to see if anyone had already typed in my post and you did it very nicely.

[TBO/MN]

I guess Merry Christmas doesn't bother me, even though I am not a Christian, but when I think of the Christmas holiday, I think of commercial things, and that doesn't fit my way of thinking. I do know that most americans think that if you don't celebrate the christian holidays, you are less of an american. First, I don't know how being an american has anything to do with being a christian, and second, why do most americans think that if you aren't christian, you are less of a person. I do think the same as many people from other countries around the world, and that is that Americans have an attitude of being better than people of different nationalities and religions.

Americans need to understand that American and Christianity are not synonymous. I do not believe in the Christian God, but I am an American. I have given my flesh and blood for this country. I have given my life to see that the American children have the highest level of education possible, and the fruits of my life's labors.

Should I say Merry Christmas? Yes, to those that are Christian, and to all others.........if you are having a holiday(holy day)...have a Happy Holiday.

There is a word for all of this.........Diversity...Webster defines it as "variety or difference"....

THAT! is what this country was built upon, Santa Claus

Good Fishin' and to all that are celebrating holidays, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

TBO/MN

[Lundman1701]

God'll get you for that Biggun. Ha!!! Only funnin' ya Buddy. Hope you are having a good, hmmmm, how should I put this? Jeez, some people just worry way too much about stuff that really doesn't matter a whole lot, donchyathink? May you all enjoy whatever Holiday it is you celebrate, but for lack of something better to say...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Set the Hook!!

Lundman

[Eyecon]

Hey Santa, don't sugar coat it next time. Tell us how you really feel! HO HO HO

[Cangl]

Hey Santa!

If America captures Ben laden in time for Christmas, molecularly how many American people can have a peice?

And ohh yes how do you feel about "sharing" there is a global demand?

All WE want for Christmas is his two front teeth, his two front teeth, his two front teeth.......

No "X" mas around here though.

[BubbleBurster]

Just a little piece of info from snopes.com. Thought I'd help everyone continue debating while we all search for the Truth.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Claim: The day celebrated as Christmas (December 25) is the actual birthday of Jesus.
Status: Undetermined.

Origins: The biblical narrative of Jesus' birth gives no date for the event, though it more likely occurred in spring than in winter. Saint Luke tells us that shepherds were "abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night" -- shepherds guarded their flocks day and night only at lambing time, in the spring; in winter, the animals were kept in corrals, unwatched.

The idea of celebrating the Nativity on December 25 was first suggested early in the fourth century, a clever move on the part of Church fathers, who wished to eclipse the December 25 festivities of a rival pagan religion, Mirthraism, that threatened the existence of Christianity.

It is important to note that for two centuries after Christ's birth, no one knew, and few people cared, exactly when he was born. Birthdays were unimportant; death days counted. Besides, Christ was divine and his natural birth was deliberately played down. In fact, the Church even announced at one point that it was sinful to contemplate observing Christ's birthday "as though He were a King Pharoah."

On December 25, pagan Romans, still in the majority, celebrated Natalis Solis Invincti, "Birthday of the Invincible Sun God," Mithras. The Mithras cult originated in Persia and rooted itself in the Roman world in the first century B.C.E. By the year 274 C.E., Mithraism was so popular with the masses that Emperor Aurelian proclaimed it the official state religion. In the early 300s, the cult seriously threatened Christianity, and for a time, it was unclear which faith would emerge victorious.

Church fathers debated their options.

It was well known that Roman patricians and plebians alike enjoyed festivals of a protracted nature. The Church, then, needed a December celebration.

Thus, to offer converts an occasion in which to be pridefully celebratory, the Church officially recognized Christ's birth. And to offer head-on competition to the sun worshipers' popular feast, the Church located the Nativity on December 25. The mode of observance would be characteristically prayerful: a Mass; in fact, Christs's Mass. As one theologian wrote around A.D. 320::

We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of him who made it.

Although centuries later, social scientists would write of the psychological power of group celebrations -- the unification of ranks, the solidification of collective identity, the reinforcement of common objectives -- the principle had long been intuitively obvious.

The celebration of Christmas took permanent hold in the Western world in 337, when the Roman emperor Constantine was baptized, uniting for the first time the Crown and the Church. Christianity had become the official state religion in 313. And in 354, Bishop Liberius of Rome reiterated the importance of celebrating not only Christ's death but also his birth.

[ufda]

And mine. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.
ufda

[CJHughes@Norstan.com]

I have tried to compare in my mind what reading a post like this is (the humor of it) . I don't know that I can compare it , but it sure is good for the soul . It is going to be a long winter and from the looks of things it won't be to boring . I do enjoy the sarcasm . Merry Christmas may God Bless you and yours ( I don't care what God you want to bless you and yours )only in the USA .

[Walizz 1]

To me the Christmas season means getting together with family and enjoying their company. Some live far enough away that we don't see each other often enough. New stories to catch up on, new babies being born, new animals, it's a lot of fun. We hope all of you enjoy the holidays. Keep a special thought for our military people serving around the world, some of them in harms way. Best of luck to you all in 2002.

Dale and Ginny Frank

[Santa Claus]

Santa has cooled down a bit now. Those little elves can sure get me fired up. What Santa really means is that you shouldn't be worried about offending someone by your celebration of Christmas. Santa is not offended by other religions, so please don't make me tap dance around mine. Some people are so afraid of how other people perceive things that they will not even acknowledge that it is Christmas. If it is so specific in nature, then maybe only Christians should get a paid day off from work. Again, I do not have any problem with other religions and I am not offended by them. Please don't be offended by mine!

[Wallydoc]

Why look for topics that divide, like religion and politics. The amazing thing to me about fishing is how universally enjoyable it is. The love of fishing transcends race, religion, gender, political persuasion, whatever. This is the only thing that unites those that read or respond to this web site. I would wager our income levels range from embarrassingly low to embarrassingly high, and opinions on virtually any topic would vary along a similar continuum. Go to a reservoir or lake near any large city and you will find black, white, yellow, american, laotian, etc. If they made us in green they would be out there fishing too. If there is hope for universal understanding it will come on a boat or on the shore of a lake. Keep on fishing, and celebrate opening day!

[tbomn]

Maybe only veterans should get Veteran's Day off with pay??????

I don't get any paid holidays, including Christmas.......go figure..

[Jawjerker]

Sounds like you have an identity problem and can't cope.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

[BIG jim]

Sounds like you have a job w/ your name on your shirt

[exnj]

Perfectly put, WalleyeDoc. Just wanted to add something humorous. Regardless of everyone's beliefs, I think many people would agree that Christ was a person who really existed on this planet at some time. The debate is obviously whether or not He was the savior and therefor not of this planet. Everyone enjoy your beliefs on this, they are yours to have. My point is this, if we agree that he existed, we may also agree on some of the stories we have read about, especially the fishing ones. Seems Jesus hung around the docks and beaches at times when the fisherman came in with the catches. One story even says he helped create a larger catch when the nets were empty and the people were hungry. Whether that happened, who knows for sure? But, who hasn't exaggerated their catch a little? We must be a great group of people (fishermen/women) if we were written up in the Bible, again, just quoting from a book, whether it's fiction or non-fiction, that's everyone's own opinion.

Peace to all 24/7/365 (366 in leap years!)

Lou

[BD]

According to the Gospel of Luke, Zacharias was in the temple during the course of abaya which was from June 13th to 19th (4BC) inclusive. He could not return home until the 21st as the 20th was the sabath. Six months later Gabriel apeared to Mary and among other things told her that Elizabeth was six months pregnant. This would put the conception of Jesus on Dec 21st. This being the winter soltice was to pagan for the church so it was determined (rightly so) that it would take Zacharias a couple of days to reach home to his wife Elizabeth. This pushed the conception of both John the Baptist and Jesus both to the 25th of each respective month. This was still to pagan for the church and the celebration of the conception was changed to the birthday celebration over time. With Jesus conception being the 25th of Dec; His birthday would be on or about Sept 29th (3BC) which is the Feast of Tabernacles.

Sadly; There are many church traditions that are not supported by scripture. A study of the manuscripts might change even TBO's mind about Jesus. Also; Did any of you realize that Jesus is included in the Q'ran as the "prophet" that returns to defeat Islams version of the anti-Christ?

[tbomn]

Name tag....:7