I'm tempted to camp outside of Bill O'Reilly's studio so I can flash a smile and greet him with "Happy Holidays." But I'm afraid he'd stab me in the heart with a crucifix.
In light of O'Reilly's success at drawing attention to this phony "War on Christmas," it'll be interesting to see how Fox News celebrates the holidays this year. In 2004, the network produced an amazingly inclusive montage of Fox employees wishing the world Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, Happy Hannukah, and a Prosperous New Year, alongside Merry Christmas messages.
If O'Reilly is so offended at attempts to be inclusive of those who worship someone other than Jesus, why does he choose to accuse George Soros and liberals of bashing Christmas instead of his own colleagues at Fox?
Sean Hannity may be regretting that the News Hounds documented his wishes from on Dec. 26, 2004: "From all of us here at Hannity & Colmes, Happy Holidays." Alan Colmes added, "And we wish you a wonderful New Year."
And O'Reilly himself seems to have expressed some sense of inclusivity in 2003 while pimping his web store: "Also, we'd like to invite everybody to go to billoreilly.com where no-spin elves are standing by in our all-inclusive Christmas/Hanukkah/Holiday/Anything You Want Store. Get a jump on holiday gift giving."
The Fox News Shop was caught selling The O'Reilly Factor "Holiday" Ornaments up until a few days ago. After various bloggers pointed out hypocrisy, Fox now calls them "Christmas" ornaments. The website Conservative Thinking calls that progress.
Oddly, Fox has kept the heading "Christmas and Chanukah Collection," yet none of the items has anything to do with Chanukah (or even Hanukkah for that matter).
Personally, I take no offense whatsoever if someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, but Happy Holidays works for me too. For me, Christmas is not a religious holiday; it's a family tradition. For me, it's a season of giving, caring for others, pretty lights, wrapped-up surprises, family, charity for those less fortunate, sentimental music, and schmaltzy TV specials. It's a time of wonder for children, for Santa and reindeer and Nat King Cole and talking snowmen and one-horse open sleighs. Jesus ought to be the reason for the season for practicing Christians, but that doesn't mean it's not a meaningful holiday for the rest of us.
Technorati tags: O'Reilly, Christmas, Fox, Holidays
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