Approaching Christmas, a Ringing in My Head

First posted eight years ago today.... 

Triggered, perhaps, by pre-Christmas readings in the book of Revelation (considering a second-coming while preparing to celebrate the first, maybe?) I detected a persistent ringing in my ears that was not so much like sleigh bells as a fire alarm.

What happened to Christmas in the world's number one self-certified christian nation?

Congressional Republicans' Christmas Tiff

The Obamas

Obama Message: "We Celebrate the Birth of Jesus this Christmas"

Republicans vow to celebrate Kwanzaa

(Washington, DC)

In a sharp rebuke to President Barack Obama, Republicans from both Houses of Congress pledged in a statement to: "uphold the quiet dignity and communal values of Kwanzaa.

"We will redouble our efforts to avoid the implicit endorsement of religion for which this administration has become famous in eight long years of war against the Constitution," the statement read.

Asked for his reaction, Vice President Joe Biden, a self-described Catholic who may have become radicalized during his Scranton, Pennsylvania childhood, said, "Republicans in Congress couldn't tell you how many A's there are in Kwanzaa — go ahead, ask Paul Ryan to spell it for you — buncha knuckleheads...."

DJesus Uncrossed | back in action

In the spirit of Christmas I'm sure, a number of people came looking this week for the SNL short, DJesus Uncrossed. Unfortunately the link was dead, but now, after just a few days, it's...well, you know.

The clip is still guaranteed to offend about as many as it delights (though delight is probably not the right word). Anyway, the question remains: Is this, or anything like it, really anyone's preferred image of Jesus — let alone the Jesus of Matthew, Mark, Luke and/or John? Sadly, it probably is.

If you haven't already, you can find DJesus Uncrossed right...here.

I've got your Santa right here Ms. Kelly

A beloved part of our Christmas celebration. Can you infer
anything from this image about the color of our skin?