The Times has a short report today from the great state of California. It appears as if there is a controversy involving Christmas and schoolchildren. (As an aside, we are already five days into November and I have not heard a single person complain that the "holiday season" has begun earlier than in previous years. These dreary complaints generally start at the end of October. A phony "trend" has either died out, or--even better--the real trend of complaining about a nonexistent trend has vanished.) Anyway, the piece begins:
If Merry Susan Hyatt has her way, every public school pupil in California will have the voter-approved right to sing “Joy to the World” in the classroom. Ms. Hyatt, 61, a substitute schoolteacher, is the chief proponent of a proposed California ballot initiative that would require the state’s public schools to offer Christmas music during the holiday season.
As a fan of Christmas music, I feel that I can speak on this issue with some credibility and fair-mindedness. The problem here is Ms. Hyatt. We have all met her. In fact, we have all had her as a teacher. She does not simply want kids to enjoy their Christmases (because who does not?); no, she demands the forced cheeriness and conformity that Christmas' critics contend is all that is left of the holiday. More amusing, however, was this bit from the piece:
[S]he added that in her experience as a substitute teacher in schools in largely Latino, largely Christian neighborhoods in Southern California, she had not often encountered people who do not celebrate Christmas. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a Jewish child in one of my classes,” she said. “If so they never said anything.”
Hard to imagine they would keep silent, what with the soothing Ms. Hyatt presiding over class. No matter: The real point is that Ms. Hyatt will end up entrenching the problem she seeks to rectify. But a Merry Christmas to her regardless.
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COMMENTS (9)
When I lived in Shanghai, I used to get a kick whenever I went to any of the big stores during the season and hear the most retrograde 50's style religious themed Christmas music imaginable. And some of it is pretty, there is no question, it does set a mood. The Chinese just think this is the way of being fashionable. This kind of tells me two things, one, that even in a non-religious, officially Commie Godless country, that everyone seemed to have zero problem with this music being played. And two, obviously the shit doesn't work. I seriously doubt a single Chinese person heard that music and said, you know, I will become a Christian. So I gotta be honest I wish we all could take a page fro ... view full comment
When I lived in Shanghai, I used to get a kick whenever I went to any of the big stores during the season and hear the most retrograde 50's style religious themed Christmas music imaginable. And some of it is pretty, there is no question, it does set a mood. The Chinese just think this is the way of being fashionable. This kind of tells me two things, one, that even in a non-religious, officially Commie Godless country, that everyone seemed to have zero problem with this music being played. And two, obviously the shit doesn't work. I seriously doubt a single Chinese person heard that music and said, you know, I will become a Christian. So I gotta be honest I wish we all could take a page from the Chinese and get our self-righteous heads out of our asses (on both sides of the equation) and just enjoy the music, and while they are at it, throw in some Chanakuh songs as well.
And during Ramadan, all children will have the right to chant from the Koran. Allahu akbar!
The capitalization of "Merry" suggests that it is Ms. Hyatt's given name, and not an adjective describing her. And with a name like that, we could hardly expect her not to be either insanely Christmassy or really into The Lord of the Rings.
And during Ramadan, all children will have the right to chant from the Koran. Allahu akbar!
The capitalization of "Merry" suggests that it is Ms. Hyatt's given name, and not an adjective describing her. And with a name like that, we could hardly expect her not to be either insanely Christmassy or really into The Lord of the Rings.
Ms. Hyatt commits the fundamental error of all conservative reformers. Seeing that something she prefers has been banned, she proposes a measure not to un-ban or permit it, but rather to require it. We see the same phenomenon in, for example, conservative efforts to outlaw flag burning. The Supreme Court ruled that a state may not outlaw flag burning. The correct remedy, therefore, would be to amend the Constitution to say that flag burning may be outlawed, and then leave the actual outlawing to the states. Instead, conservatives propose amendment after amendment outlawing flag burning in the text of the Constitution itself.
The thing is that even more than this approach of pushing for the p ... view full comment
Ms. Hyatt commits the fundamental error of all conservative reformers. Seeing that something she prefers has been banned, she proposes a measure not to un-ban or permit it, but rather to require it. We see the same phenomenon in, for example, conservative efforts to outlaw flag burning. The Supreme Court ruled that a state may not outlaw flag burning. The correct remedy, therefore, would be to amend the Constitution to say that flag burning may be outlawed, and then leave the actual outlawing to the states. Instead, conservatives propose amendment after amendment outlawing flag burning in the text of the Constitution itself.
The thing is that even more than this approach of pushing for the prohibited to be required rather than merely permitted is stupid, it's deeply and irreconcilably anti-conservative. But then, American "conservatives" wouldn't recognize an actual conservative thought if Edmund Burke rose from the dead and slapped them across the face with it.
Anyway, isn't the real solution here to take a page from blackton's experience and simply let public schools perform all the religious music they want, provided it's in a foreign language? "Adeste Fideles," "Stille Nacht," and "Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant" are among the most beautiful Christmas carols anyway, and since Americans don't speak dead or foreign languages, there's no real danger of anyone being proselytized or oppressed by these beautiful songs they cannot comprehend.
As I left to go to work this morning I noticed that the Mrs. had decorated the fence next to the front gate with a large Christmas wreath, complete with peace-symbol ribbons. As she is again hosting a meeting this evening of her coven (it's amazing whom you can find with Meetup--turns out the suburbs are crawling with witches), she no doubt wanted to add a little cheer to our usual rural squalor.
She may be a witch and me an agnostic, but we're quite happy to sing a few bars of "Joy To The World," "Chipmunks Roasting On An Open Fire," et al. this time of year. Well aware that singing Christmas carols is a sure-fire method for diagnosing tone deafness, we sing only in private or in large grou ... view full comment
As I left to go to work this morning I noticed that the Mrs. had decorated the fence next to the front gate with a large Christmas wreath, complete with peace-symbol ribbons. As she is again hosting a meeting this evening of her coven (it's amazing whom you can find with Meetup--turns out the suburbs are crawling with witches), she no doubt wanted to add a little cheer to our usual rural squalor.
She may be a witch and me an agnostic, but we're quite happy to sing a few bars of "Joy To The World," "Chipmunks Roasting On An Open Fire," et al. this time of year. Well aware that singing Christmas carols is a sure-fire method for diagnosing tone deafness, we sing only in private or in large groups.
Once her coven convenes and they "close the circle," I have to retire to my grotto on the other side of the garage (the coven's a gals-only affair). Not that I mind, of course, given that, from what I can gather, at least one member of the group is, like, nuts.
We're also looking forward to having the minister from our wedding over for Thanksgiving. Her husband will be celebrating Turkey Day with his (devout Christian) family, who regard his wife, um, not so well. But she like just about anyone else who isn't violent or shedding H1N1 virus or overly opinionated can boogie down at our place anytime. She and my wifey are also thinking of starting a little S&M business on the side; if they insist on yammering away about nipple clamps and butt plugs and what not, I'll have to grab my slice of pumpkin pie and head back to the grotto again. Shop talk puts me to sleep faster than watching golf or football with a belly full of L-tryptophan-laced turkey.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse on the same page again! The sun comes out and the birds they are a'singin.
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse on the same page again! The sun comes out and the birds they are a'singin.
I believe Sen. Larry Craig was very keen on including a significant nipple clamp subsidy in the Stimulus Package, but he just couldn't get Reid on board.
Reid is of course beholden to the testicular vise industry in his state. Clamps are just unwanted competition to them.
Until there's a merger.
I believe Sen. Larry Craig was very keen on including a significant nipple clamp subsidy in the Stimulus Package, but he just couldn't get Reid on board.
Reid is of course beholden to the testicular vise industry in his state. Clamps are just unwanted competition to them.
Until there's a merger.
Can I be Death, pleeeeeze???? I'm the only one explicitly named in the Book of Revelation, plus my horse is GREEN! How cool is THAT?!
Can I be Death, pleeeeeze???? I'm the only one explicitly named in the Book of Revelation, plus my horse is GREEN! How cool is THAT?!
irony, if the gals can succeed in horning in (so to speak) on a mere fraction of the perverted-politician market, I could retire. Keep your fingers crossed (if unbound)!
irony, if the gals can succeed in horning in (so to speak) on a mere fraction of the perverted-politician market, I could retire. Keep your fingers crossed (if unbound)!
bill yard, indeed. I can only envy your set-up there.
bill yard, indeed. I can only envy your set-up there.