Bill O'Reilly is Going to Hell

The sight of Bill O'Reilly gassing on about the "war" on Christmas makes me want to kill myself. The intense blast of self-centered, self-righteous, condescending, mean-spirited, nasty, PETTY energy all this whining sends out is not good for my psyche or spiritual health. And it makes the "Christians" that buy into it look really shitty and hypocritical as usual. I'll also add exclusionary, divisive and paranoid (did I mention petty?).

Oh yeah, the word "war" is ridiculously exaggerated - and highly inflammatory. Just feeling the need to point this out makes me feel like I live in an alternate universe (I guess that's good).

Don't Christians like Bill O'Reilly have better things to do with their precious air time and soapbox than browbeat us with this shit? Like, I don't know, talk about helping earthquake victims in Pakistan or people starving in Sudan?

Merry Christmas

I have several co-workers that go absolutely apeshit over Christmas in regards to shopping, cooking and entertaining.

One of them - who never goes to church - just told me she had a big fight with her husband about Christmas preparations (probably in front of the kid).

Apparently, she has to do all the Christmas "work" (shopping, packaging, sending, baking, decorating) while he sits around on the couch.

And she's mad at her mother too, for being "a pill" about the holiday arrangements.

She also told me that if her husband doesn't get her a gift that meets with her approval, she gets very upset about his lack of consideration (or something). I mean, WTF?

This is the "Christmas" that's being "threatened" by the rest of us? I'm just so glad I don't have to participate! It's my absolute favorite time of year to be Jewish! That's what I say when people tell me Merry Christmas: "I'm Jewish!"

Marijuana for Mind & Body

Reported December 7, 2005 by Reuters Health

A new study suggests pot may help people with multiple sclerosis. Specifically, relieve muscle spasms, fight pain, help people sleep, and improve their overall perception of their illness.

Reported September 30, 2004 by Reuters Health

Another French/British study finds pot may also help with:

• Obesity
• Memory loss
• Drug dependence
• Multiple sclerosis
• Pain
• Appetite
• Tumors
• Depression

Jesus Weeps

Letter to the Editor, published Dec. 18, 2005 in the Stockton Record (CA) (emphases mine)

Why are some people angry at retailers for using Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas? What do retailers have to do with the true meaning of Christmas? They're in the business of selling merchandise, which has absolutely nothing to do with the birth of Christ. They're wishing a happy winter holiday season to all customers, including those who celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Yule, Rohatsu, Ramadan and Epiphany. All of these people love and worship God and celebrate during December and January.

It's shameful how Christmas is celebrated today by shopping, shopping and more shopping. What do people say to each other during December? They say, "Is your Christmas shopping done yet?" This important event has been reduced to the obligation of giving retail merchandise to each other. What does that have to do with the birth of Christ? The original symbolism of the gifts of the Magi has been lost to crass commercialism. The proper place to celebrate the birth of Christ is not in retail stores, but at church or at home with your family. Pat Yee, Valley Springs

This sums up my own opinion about the so-called "war" on Christmas pretty well. Although I would also add the New Year to the list of holidays I thought we were celebrating (a secular one at that)! It's so ironic that, supposedly, Jesus drove the merchants from the temple to show that materialism and spirituality don't mix.