Just to weigh in here a little, I don't think that most of the Christians that are complaining about a "War on Christmas" are specifically (or even partially) thinking about Jews.
I would divide the people complaining into two groups.
The first want be able to say "Merry Christmas" without having to think about if it's going to upset or offend anyone else - and yes, this is insensitive. Some are simply oblivious to that, though - "If date like Dec% then response.write("Merry Christmas")" Others are, paradoxically, trying to get up in your face with some Glad Tidings of Joy in order to somehow 'prove' this is a Christian country or something. But they are a minority of a group that is itself a minority.
The majority of the people are of the second type: they are themselves trying to be sensitive to other's feelings, or have been subject of criticism that's made them feel they better act like they are sensitive ;).
They're worried that expression of the fact that they are Christians and they're celebrating Christmas is being removed at the hands of a philosophy of "no one can have special rights (of talking, of displays, of activities), and we can't accommodate everyone, so no one will have any at all." It's the triumph of blandness over diversity.
Back to if this is all aimed at Jews - aside for a few of group one, I don't think it is at all. In fact, I think that many of the people complaining would think of people that are religiously Jewish as fellow 'sufferers' of this phenomenon (perceived or actual, as the case may be) of religion being removed from the public square. Most Christians are at least vaguely aware of the Hanukkah story, and quite a few know it pretty well - I learned about it in Sunday School, where it was taught as a factual miracle of God and another sign of His faithfulness. Most Christians are quite happy to say "Happy Hanukkah!"
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branchandroot
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Date: 2006-12-13 06:20 am (UTC)I would divide the people complaining into two groups.
The first want be able to say "Merry Christmas" without having to think about if it's going to upset or offend anyone else - and yes, this is insensitive. Some are simply oblivious to that, though - "If date like Dec% then response.write("Merry Christmas")" Others are, paradoxically, trying to get up in your face with some Glad Tidings of Joy in order to somehow 'prove' this is a Christian country or something. But they are a minority of a group that is itself a minority.
The majority of the people are of the second type: they are themselves trying to be sensitive to other's feelings, or have been subject of criticism that's made them feel they better act like they are sensitive ;).
They're worried that expression of the fact that they are Christians and they're celebrating Christmas is being removed at the hands of a philosophy of "no one can have special rights (of talking, of displays, of activities), and we can't accommodate everyone, so no one will have any at all." It's the triumph of blandness over diversity.
Back to if this is all aimed at Jews - aside for a few of group one, I don't think it is at all. In fact, I think that many of the people complaining would think of people that are religiously Jewish as fellow 'sufferers' of this phenomenon (perceived or actual, as the case may be) of religion being removed from the public square. Most Christians are at least vaguely aware of the Hanukkah story, and quite a few know it pretty well - I learned about it in Sunday School, where it was taught as a factual miracle of God and another sign of His faithfulness. Most Christians are quite happy to say "Happy Hanukkah!"