War on Christmas my Gigantic Round Ass.

[polychrome_baby]

In my home, Santa is an idea. Not a person. Specifically, not a person

Comments

[thatgirljj]

I saw this ad and immediately thought to myself "Fuck you Rick Perry!" And now I totally want to punch him in the face over and over.

[bluedano]

I'm bluedano, and I approve this message.

[amyura]

I'm an actively involved, practicing Christian and I agree just about 100% with everything you posted here. We don't do Hanukkah because I have no Jewish heritage, but most of the traditions western cultures observe this time of year have nothing to do with Jesus, and even the most fundamentalist of Christians generally observe at least three different holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's) during the winter holiday season, to say nothing of more Catholic/mainline observances of St. Stephen's Day and Epiphany. What's wrong with saying holiday season? It's the simple truth

[bealsabubbette]

I'm honestly more surprised that they had Santa at the special needs class. FWIW, they haven't had Santa at Trey's school, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they did. They seem more careful to be neutral, like "fall festival" at Halloween, and they're talking about Winter Holidays.

Ideally it'd be all or nothing, failing that the opportunity to opt out is an imperative.

[polychrome_baby]

That's the part of it that makes sense to me, really. The special needs class has kids that mostly aren't going to be able to truly do "Santa at the mall," or any of the loud and flashy Santa experiences.
My guess is that they do this every year as sort of a "service" to the special needs kids.
I mean, really, it's sort of a kindness. It's why I'm not super pissed at the school. I know they really truly meant well, and that there are probably 7-8 other families that most likely feel grateful that the school does this for their kids. It's a fairly safe bet where I live, too, you know that.

What sort of drove me crazy about it was being told that children aren't allowed to openly celebrate Christmas. Yes they are.

[bealsabubbette]

Yanno, I think I might have read something about special needs Santa appts, I just honestly didn't think the *school* would be where you got it. But you do live in Crazy Town Annex, so I guess I shouldn't be all that surprised.

And don't even get me started on the "war on Christmas!" that Rick Perry dude needs a good punch in the junk.

[raeyn]

We rarely did mall Santas, for which I am grateful - both of my parents were in retail when I was younger, which probably quashed their desire to deal with it. I DO think it incredibly inappropriate that they arranged that at school and didn't run it past parents. I understand that the modern practice of Christmas is more secular than religious, but still...

[bluedano]

I know it's the South, which is practically a nation within the US, but the last time I visited my dad in South Carolina we drove past an elementary school that cheerfully proclaimed on the reader board that Christmas photos with Santa were on Monday so make sure your child dressed up

[polychrome_baby]

We still get a lot of jazz about not doing Santa with the kids. A bunch of "where's the magic?" and "they'll ruin it for other kids

[bluedano]

I just wanted to add that my sister is over today and I was discussing this with her after she mentioned her roommate (a 2nd grade teacher) had her kids sing Christmas songs and make Christmas cards in class this year and invited them all over for a Christmas party at their house today (wtf?). She also told me that our mom (a Special Ed teacher) told her that at the new school she's at this year the principal put up a giant Christmas tree, but told my mom that it "isn't Christmasy because it has cupcake ornaments". Well... yeah, I get the the tree is pretty secular, but there's my Jewish mom not wanting to say anything about it being inappropriate to decorate for Christmas in the public school because she doesn't want to get a bunch of crap from the other teachers and the administration.