The War on Xmas

PZ at Pharyngula notes a great article about who really started the "War" on Christmas. . . and why.

Max Blumenthal traces the counter-assault to some knuckle-dragger named Peter Brimelow. Brimelow notes the "true" scrooges here:

Unlike their more respectable counterparts, Brimelow’s writers dared to name the true anti-Christian Grinch: Jews. The winner of Brimelow’s 2001 War on Christmas competition, a “paleoconservative” writer named Tom Piatak, insisted that those behind the assault on Christmas “evidently prefer” Hanukkah, which he called the “Jewish Kwanzaa,” a “faux-Christmas.” “Teaching children about Hanukkah, rather than the beliefs that actually sustained Jews on their sometimes tragic and tumultuous historical journey,” Piatak fumed, “inculcates negative lessons about Christianity, not positive ones about Judaism.”

To that last sentence I must ask; Really? Celebrating an oil lamp that burned longer than anyone expected somehow points a finger of blame at an upstart cult that follows a dead carpenter? Really?!?

Wow. It's refreshing to note true anti-Semitism for a change.

Update, December 15: PZ at Pharyngula notes that the US House of Representitives has gotten into the act, sponsoring House Resolution 847. Let's read:

H. Res. 847
In the House of Representatives, U. S.,
December 11, 2007.
Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United States and the world;
Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the United States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the American population;
Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of the world population;
Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization;
Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its Judeo-Christian roots;
Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ;
Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a recognition of God's redemption, mercy, and Grace; and
Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world;
(2) expresses continued support for Christians in the United States and worldwide;
(3) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;
(4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization;
(5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and
(6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and Christians throughout the world.

(Yup, Emphasis mine once again.)

Most of the Republicans (and 2 Democrats) of the US House of Representatives: Appeasing the fear mongers Keeping the country safe from non-Christians with non-binding resolutions that do absolutely, positively nothing. Follow the Pharyngula link to see exactly who sponsored this banal hysteria!

Another addendum, Xmas Eve: Just to take the seriousness out of the whole issue: