Scrooges In North Philly

The Inquirer’s Amy Rosenberg writes today about a street in North Philly that’s full of Christmas cheer.

Almost every house on the 800 block of North 10th Street is decorated in a smiliar fashion, and the neighbors walked around exchanging presents. (”And so you had Joan Adams in her white bathrobe leaning out of 810 and Marva Lazenbury in her turquoise and pink paisley silk bathrobe and pajamas leaning out of 806,” as Rosenberg puts it.)

But the Inky also blows the whistle on those who didn’t join in the decoration:

Pretty much the only ones who opted out of the decorations were the Jehovah’s Witnesses who live in two homes and the Sturgis family at 807 who, for various reasons, just couldn’t find the time this year.

Not to mention the undecorated house of Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz.

A block reborn, a neighborhood united in sharing [Inky]
Archives: Hurricane Schwartz

Hurricane Retreats From War On Christmas

Allow me to update — late, sorry — the ongoing battle of Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz against Christmas.

The Inquirer’s Michael Klein reported Tuesday that Schwartz refused to read a promo about Santa before his newscast because he’s Jewish. This pissed all the Christians off, with Santa, of course, being the chief honoree of Christmas.

But Tuesday night, Schwartz led off his weather forecasts at 6 and 11 p.m. by raising the white flag:

He labeled the report as “absolutely untrue” and “apologized” that “some of us were left with the impression” that he has anything against the holidays. He mentioned that Christmas symbols have been part of his reports and urged viewers to have a merry Christmas, a happy Hanukkah and a joyous Kwanzaa.

Hmm. He labeled the report absolutely untrue, yet he apologized! Looks like Schwartz has been defeated in the War on Christmas. Santa must be proud.

Weathercaster comments on report [Inquirer]
Tuesday: You’re A Mean One, Mr. Hurricane

You’re A Mean One, Mr. Hurricane

The Inquirer’s Michael Klein reports today that, well, Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz is a a member of the frontline infantry in the War on Christmas.

The NBC 10 chief weatherman, Klein reports, refused to read a voice-over about Santa leading in to his forecast. When asked about it later, Schwartz said he refused because he’s Jewish. As we all know, Christmas is the time when Christians celebrate Santa Claus’s victory over the Jews.

Either way, Schwartz wouldn’t comment, saying his War on Christmas didn’t “belong outside the station.” Oh, it’s out now, Glenn. And we won’t tolerate your war on Christmas and its honoree, Santa. It’s on.

Inqlings | ‘No Santa’ clause at NBC10? [Inquirer]

Letters from the frontlines in the War on Christmas

In these jolly times, sometimes we must turn our attention to something less happier. Yes: The War. No, not that little skirmish over in the Sandbox — the insurgents are in their “last throes,” I swear — but the War on Christmas.

The WoC has been heating up for the past few years, but this year it has just gotten way too much. Secular humanists ripping down Christmas trees, Athiests burning wreathes, Muslims not celebrating at all. And don’t get me started on “Happy Holidays.” But it’s also important to know who’s fighting the good fight, and who’s clearly trying to win the battles.

Those battles, of course, are taking place on the letters pages of community newspapers across the country. In this week’s Northeast Times, some of the warriors — on both sides of the fight — have weighed in, and I’d like to highlight a few choice examples. For example, this week’s letters page contains this dispatch:

Don’t you dare take away my faith

Now that the Christmas season is upon us, it’s time for those dreaded “Happy Holidays” remarks to be tossed about as well as the documentaries about Christ on the Discovery Channel.

I do enjoy the documentaries, and it is interesting to learn more about Christ the man, his life and times, etc., however, I cannot help but detect in these programs the scientific views and explaining away of Christ the son of God.

It would seem that everything Christ was said to have accomplished really didn’t happen at all. Isn’t it any wonder Christmas is so secular these days?

I don’t believe in Christ the son of God because my church tells me that’s what I’m supposed to believe. I believe in Christ the son of God because a man named Jesus, the son of a carpenter, obviously accomplished something so momentous that today, 2,000 years later, the world is still affected by those accomplishments, hence, the religion called Christianity. It’s called faith, people, and no one has the right to take that away from me. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Esther Skitek
Tacony

Esther gives us a little history lesson here to blunt the attacks of the WoC, as well as a catchphrase-able statement: “It’s called faith, people!” In case you’re a little confused about the history here, you can get the result via simple math:

Carpenter’s son does something momentous + 2,000 years = Christianity

See, aren’t you glad that you have my analysis? The rest of the Northeast Times holiday — err, Christmas — cheer after the jump.

More »

Putting the ‘Christ’ back in ‘Christmas’

From — where else — NBC 10:

Wait, it gets better:

Why is Santa break dancing just days before Christmas? It could be related to our video iPod giveaway contest.

And people get angry when someone says “Happy Holidays,” hmm? And not at this? Okay, whatever you say.

Santa Does Worm Dance For Viewers [NBC 10]