Where are the SM nativity scenes?

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by DontH8Me

As a matter of fact I do know what that statue represents. I even know where it is.

I'd rep you but I have to spread reps first.

I'm really really hoping it's not Romanian, lest we'll have you-know-who coming here and doing victory laps.

[DontH8Me]

Originally Posted by Exitus Acta Probat

I'm really really hoping it's not Romanian, lest we'll have you-know-who coming here and doing victory laps.

No, it adorns a cemetery in Spain. Romanians are predominantly orthodox, their Catholic population is comprised of other-than-romanians. As long as he's doing those victory laps wearing Champion shorts like the ones you bought at the Target on Sepulveda it's all good.

I think the City of Santa Monica should be able to afford the space for holiday displays to suit all faiths. I just hope no one ever tries to make Sandra Lee's Kwanzaa Cake - that thing was atrocious.

[Cinema Cat]

Originally Posted by bigdumbgod

And they don't whine about the "War on Christmas", nor conveniently forget that separation of Church and State does exist.

Santa Monica aside, the "War on Christmas" properly refers to a broader cultural "war," and not necessarily anything to so with the state.

I first noticed the "War on Christmas" over 30 years ago, long before Bill O'Reilly co-opted it. From the early 1980s onward, I noticed that businesses in New York City were saying "Merry Christmas" less and less. Store decorations increasingly said "Season's Greetings" and "Happy Holidays" and yes, "Happy Hanaukah," but not "Christmas." Menorahs were on the rise, Santa and snowmen were plentiful, but nativity scenes were in decline.

TV shows and films, TV commercials and print ads, likewise, were less and less likely to say "Christmas."

I've noticed this cultural trend in the private sector for over 30+ years. You might like it. I do not. But like it or not, it is so.

[SpaceMonkyPunks]

Originally Posted by Cinema Cat

I've noticed this cultural trend in the private sector for over 30+ years. You might like it. I do not. But like it or not, it is so.

...Maybe it has something to do with the very simple fact that our population has significantly diversified in the past 30 years? Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and everyone else have every right to live here and not celebrate a holiday they don't believe in.

[Exitus Acta Probat]

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkyPunks

Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and everyone else have every right to live here and not celebrate a holiday they don't believe in.

I do not see how nativity scenes conflict with freedom of religion.

BTW, how do you feel about the menorah on the Whitehouse lawn? Do you oppose that as well?

[Cinema Cat]

Originally Posted by SpaceMonkyPunks

...Maybe it has something to do with the very simple fact that our population has significantly diversified in the past 30 years? Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and everyone else have every right to live here and not celebrate a holiday they don't believe in.

Diversity is great, but I don't see much diversity in the corporate/mainstream media, at least not here on the Westside. Instead I see much mention of Hanukah and Menorahs, but scant mention of Christmas. Instead of saying "Christmas," businesses and media use euphemisms like "the holidays" and "holiday trees" and "this season of giving."

The Santa Monica Daily Press published a special "holiday" insert, filled with notices of upcoming "holiday events" around Santa Monica. They mentioned all the Hanukah events by name, including the "Hanukah Menorah Lighting" on the Third Street Promenade. But no mention of any Christmas event by name. Instead, they called it the "Holiday Tree Lighting." (Nobody tries to make Menorahs more inclusive by calling them "holiday candles.")

Likewise, Malibu magazine's special holiday issue mentioned Hanukah by name in its Hanukah articles. But articles pertaining to Christmas instead spoke of "the holidays."

So while diversity is great in theory, in practice it seems to mean much mention of Hanukah (lest Jews feel excluded) and scant mention of Christmas (lest Jews feel excluded).

As for Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims -- they are completely invisible in corporate/mainstream media, so I don't think the erasure of Christmas is to sooth their feelings. There are about as many Muslims as Jews in the U.S., yet I've seen no mention of Ramadan in any Westside publication, although enough Muslims live here to support a mosque in Culver City.

So yes, let's celebrate diversity. But diversity should include ALL holidays by NAME. Let's go back to saying "Christmas" and give Nativity scenes equal time to all those Menorahs. And sure, let's also mention Ramadan along with all those mentions of Hanukah.