Christmas Warrior O'Reilly Doesn't Practice What He Preaches

Last week, I noted how Fox's Bill O'Reilly, as per usual, was kicking his annual "War On Christmas" into high gear. Each year, O'Reilly inveighs against people, especially retailers, who refuse to offer him the proper "Merry Christmas" greeting -- opting instead for the ecumenical "Happy Holidays." This is clearly threatening the fabric of our great republic! But, if you remember, we warned that parent company News Corp. was a frequent antagonist in O'Reilly's personal yuletide psychodrama, consistently using the "Happy Holidays" solicitation.

Well, O'Reilly's "War On Christmas" aggression is about to be turned inward, as soon as he discovers that he avoids using "Merry Christmas" himself! The folks over at NewsHounds capture this image from O'Reilly's own site:

OH NOES! A "Holiday Reading List?" What's with all the secular humanisting? And really, what on earth is this mention of "the winter season?" Could it be that O'Reilly is secretly worshiping Wiccan moon gods at Solstice time?

Comments

[Kambriel2]

I hear this every year. I began to say 'Happy Holidays' because it was only polite. Some people do not celebrate literal Christmas as in Christ's Mass, but other holidays like Chanukah. Some celebrate Christmas and St. Nicholas Day, Winter Solstice or Mithras Day as well. As most people don't have buttons on that say, "Oh, by the way, I celebrate - this (fill in blank)." Happy Holidays became the good mannered response. Christmas as a holiday has lasted a good, long bit of time so I don't think a courteous statement is going to destroy it.

Merry Christmas, spoken by most people is simply that, a well-wish for the joys of the season. For most people it is not a snub to other practices or holidays - and frankly most people who hear it respond to it as such - if they observe the holiday or not.

Picking a fight over this issue may protect the letter of the holiday, but it certainly violates the spirit of it, which advocates peace on earth and goodwill towards all men and women.

[Pupadup4oBama]

can i get an A-MEN!

[shanefish]

I personally just like having a month where we think about others rather than just ourselves. I wish it was more like Christmas (there, I said it!) all year long.

[GlenRast]

An interesting point. The great lie is that you need to join a religion or have a religious holiday for it.

[deminmo]

Wouldn't it be refreshing to just have families together
for the sake of being together? Lose the trappings of
Christmas. Maybe put the money spent on useless
gifts into food pantries or help serve a meal to the less
fortunate? Bail out a neighbor by paying on their electric
or heating bill for one month? Buy a months groceries
for an elderly person?
Maybe we could all spread some good will and cheer
that way this Christmas?

[greatbear451]

Do we have to put up with Bill-O getting in a twist over what greetings people use every year?

Just ignore him. We have much more important things to worry about these days.

[ReverseCurve]

This is what makes me apprehensive about supporting "gay marriage." Now you say, "What the heck does happy holidays have to do with gay marriage?" It's pivotal stuff:
Proponents of gay marriage (vs civil unions, domestic partnerships, etc). want the language of the country changed to accomodate them. They are not willing to stop at gay marriage. That is the slippery slope GM will take us to: Advertsing that uses a man and a woman will be deemed "heterosexist." Anything that does not include same sex couples (history books, classroom books, the omission of grandparents saying, "I hope my grandson meets a nice woman someday," will now be cursed for not saying man or woman (the assumption of gays here is that no one should use one preference over another) - all of it will be criticized if there is omission of same sex references.

It's arrogance. I do not apply it broadly, but those out there know who they are.

[MathIsTruth]

Wrong.

O'Reilly is talking about the social use of a word.

The gay marriage issue concerns the legal use of a word.

The "slippery slope" of gay marriage will eventually bring us to a state where all people have civil rights, just like we've been hoping for since the Declaration of Independence was signed.

[TKDuff]

This has nothing to do about Christmas but oh well. Gay marriage is about accepting people for who they are and as a society we must be tolerant of it. Your argument falls upon clinging to the old ways. Well in the old ways they refuse to give minorities African Americans in general, Rights. Did they worry about advertising and creating a market niche to African Americans? Of course they did. They only started advertising to African Americans later on when it was economically viable as more African Americans become upwardly mobile. Washington Carver and other African Americans inventors that had historical impacts were just a footnote in history back then despite their big contributions to science. I do not know of any publishing company who got sued for not writing books about African Americans, however companies got sued for slandering people. As for Grandparents well they will still say the darndest thing. My aunt is married to an African American man a very nice guy I may add and my Grandma's first response: He's Black.

I don't have kids yet but when I do I hope someday they find a "NICE PERSON" to marry. As our society changes so will its language. For now we must fight to allow them the same rights and privileges that those of us who are heterosexual totally enjoy or take fore granted. It is pretty arrogant to think otherwise.

[Pupadup4oBama]

You are completely wrong on this comment, and this really has nothing to do with gay marriage.
I think you will find that gay people will just be content to be able to get married.
Why do you have a problem with that? Does it impede on your marriage, if you are married? Does it impede on your friend's marriages? It's just about 2 people who want to spend the rest of their lives together because they love each other - there is no GAY agenda. It's a hoax by the right-wingers to keep this under the table.

[ReverseCurve]

I've no problem with all the legal rights afforded to same sex couples. But marriage is a sacred vow before God between a man and a woman, Any couple (same sex or opposite) who do not believe in God who wish to gain those same legal rights should be brought together in a legal union known as a civil union, domestic partnership (sic).

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

So that's what being a Christian is all about. Every chance you get you have to offend somebody.

[LMPE]

Bill Orally and his ilk are what make people want to say Happy Holidays in the first place. They've turned Christmas from a holiday into an excuse to rant against people who don't share your narrow view of things.

[rwt1138]

Wait. . . I thought that's why we celebrate Festivus

[Pupadup4oBama]

LOVE Festivus!

[Volubrjotr]

Wal-Mart: We're not afraid to say Merry Christmas__For those who are__why try to circumvent over 2000 years of History?

[greatbear451]

Wal-Mart: Merry Christmas, soon you'll all be working for us!

[GlenRast]

WalMart...low quality goods produced by Chinese slave labor sold by minimum wage employees with no benefits.

[Pupadup4oBama]

don't forget telling employees how to vote.

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

I don't shop at Wal-Mart because I realize that there are more costs involved in what you buy than the purchase price.

[GlenRast]

Like human dignity? Sorry gets in the way of profit.

[BetterDeadthanRedState]

A Holiday Reading List?!

Bill can read?!

[Truye]

When I went to Catholic School we were taught to say Happy Holidays because we were talking about Christmas, St. Nick's Day, and New Years. (Plus all the other Saints Days that occur in Dec.) Christmas is not the only Christian holidays by a long shot.

[deminmo]

"Happy Holidays" is politically correct. But it doesn't take into
account those who do not celebrate any holiday. It does reflect
the only priority of retailers nation-wide, and that is to make the
holiday take as big as possible, starting with Thanksgiving.
Not just the thousands of commercials that pound into tiny tots
the need for the latest Chinese made toxic toy, but that now you
can begin your quest for those beginning at Midnight! Having
worked last year from 11pm Thanksgiving to 7am Friday, I can
assure you people will be lined up for a night of shopping.
Happy Holidays, everyone!!

[dmsdzinr]

PRICELESS! After All Bill O'Reilly IS THE GRINCH!!!

[GlenRast]

Now that you mention it there is a remarkable likeness. The next time he's on TV everyone set their tint all the way to the green side and check it out.

[helonias]

Bill we get it now

God likes you better then us

and your a chosen one and we are not

[GlenRast]

You've got it all wrong. Bill IS God come back to set us pagan secularists back on the path to righteousness.

[helonias]

He should read his bible then

May he will get to the part about not worshiping graven images

[Pragman]

The Holiday season and "Christ Mass" are 2 different things. And church services are seldom "merry".

[Culturemaven]

Well, that depends on whether you bring your own wine.

[GlenRast]

Altar wine is awful tasting. Keeps the priests from getting loaded.

[neocon666]

Festvus for the rest of us.

[Culturemaven]

Let the Airing of Grievances begin!

[FeelinGroovy]

Happy Festivus!

[prdbldngheart]

What is wrong with Happy Holidays? It's all inclusive--oh wait, that's what's wrong with it.

As a minority, I think the sensitivity shown by using Happy Holidays is great. Save the specific greetings for people you know and general expressions for those you don't.