Wow, only August and already Christmas themes? Christmas trees are hardly “Christian.” Like most traditions associated with Christmas, they are PAGAN. Even the Bible, in Jeremiah 10:2-4, in the Old Testament long before there was even a birth of Jesus to celebrate, condemningly acknowledged the festive decoration of trees and describes them as being of Pagan or heathen in origin.
Clearly, Christmas as we know it has NOTHING to do with Jesus.
@FLASH: You’ve got it totally backwards. Google the Wahabi religion and its ‘tolerance’ for anything that varies from it, even a bit. Not only do they persecute Christians and other followers of Islam, but they teach vile hatred toward anyone not following Wahabism to the boys in the madrasas (schools). Recently, a new ruler has allowed some freedoms to women in Saudi Arabia, such as driving (even though they still have to get permission from the man who ‘owns’ them first.) Meanwhile, those in that country who dared to speak up on behalf of freedom for Saudi women are on house arrest at best. There’s a lot of ugliness around. It isn’t just from us. You might want to ask the US student who was arrested and tortured in North Korea for pulling a stupid prank. No, wait, you can’t. When he was finally sent back to the US, he was brain dead.
I lived in Saudi Arabia for a number of years growing up. It is a very circumscribed world they have built for themselves. ANY mention or reference to Israel was cut out of ANY publication that entered the country. Newscasts and rebroadcasts of US television or radio news were all similarly censored. A Christian minister living in SA had visited Israel on his vacation. When the Customs authorities saw the stamp in his passport, they gave him (& his family) 48 hours to pack up their belongings and get out of the country.
The flow of information is very tightly controlled. A free media is anathema. Living there was kind of surreal to American adults like my parents.
the american army was stupidly PC over there. while the europeans didn’t give a damn. Friends of mine who were in the 1st war said they would happily trade food for beer with the British troops and the french made it quite clear their men were entitled to and would receive wine. The SA’s made no noise over it so the american troops suffered for no good reason except fluffy bunny political correctness.
“Christmas” was created to combat the pagan winter solstice celebrations by the Pope. Easter is VERY Christian, though the date is based on the Jewish calendar at Passover. It always amazed me that so many Jews were persecuted by “Christians” forgetting that Christ was a Jew.
One memory I have of Desert Shield/Desert Storm – listening to the radio and hearing Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” with the line “loves Jesus” cut completely out. No bleep, no overdub of some other name – chopped. The Saudis barely tolerated our being there, and really hated seeing our women servicemembers with their uniform jackets off (so that they only wore t-shirts up top) because it was so damn hot.
My oldest son has lived, and worked in Kuwait, Qatar, and the Arab Emirates for over 30 years as a structural engineer. There is, according to him and to what I’ve observed on my visits, a great deal of hypocrisy when it comes to observing religious taboos.
So long as they are not under the puritanical gaze of the Religious Police, Saudis and their counterparts in other Muslim countries, will turn a blind eye to their religious prohibitions, throw their own inhibitions to the winds, and get down and party !
One Saudi “prince”, who was a buddy of my son’s, always had the best stash of ‘forbidden’ Scotch whiskey in the country.
Saudi Arabia has just tossed out the Canadian Ambassador and imposed sanctions on Canada.
Why?
Because Canada had the guts and temerity to criticize the Saudis for mistreating women, and Canadian citizens.
“Canada is gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and women’s rights activists in #SaudiArabia, including Samar Badawi. We urge the Saudi authorities to immediately release them and all other peaceful #humanrights activists.” — Foreign Policy CAN (@CanadaFP) August 3, 2018
And how did the U.S. State Department react ? They diplomatically kissed Crown Prince Mohammed’s ass
BE THIS GUY over 6 years ago
So considerate of Sid to provide Boopsie with company while BD is deployed.
Davis D Danizier (3D) over 6 years ago
Wow, only August and already Christmas themes? Christmas trees are hardly “Christian.” Like most traditions associated with Christmas, they are PAGAN. Even the Bible, in Jeremiah 10:2-4, in the Old Testament long before there was even a birth of Jesus to celebrate, condemningly acknowledged the festive decoration of trees and describes them as being of Pagan or heathen in origin.
Clearly, Christmas as we know it has NOTHING to do with Jesus.
Argythree over 6 years ago
@FLASH: You’ve got it totally backwards. Google the Wahabi religion and its ‘tolerance’ for anything that varies from it, even a bit. Not only do they persecute Christians and other followers of Islam, but they teach vile hatred toward anyone not following Wahabism to the boys in the madrasas (schools). Recently, a new ruler has allowed some freedoms to women in Saudi Arabia, such as driving (even though they still have to get permission from the man who ‘owns’ them first.) Meanwhile, those in that country who dared to speak up on behalf of freedom for Saudi women are on house arrest at best. There’s a lot of ugliness around. It isn’t just from us. You might want to ask the US student who was arrested and tortured in North Korea for pulling a stupid prank. No, wait, you can’t. When he was finally sent back to the US, he was brain dead.
Rosette over 6 years ago
Christmas in July came a little late.
Liverlips McCracken Premium Member over 6 years ago
I lived in Saudi Arabia for a number of years growing up. It is a very circumscribed world they have built for themselves. ANY mention or reference to Israel was cut out of ANY publication that entered the country. Newscasts and rebroadcasts of US television or radio news were all similarly censored. A Christian minister living in SA had visited Israel on his vacation. When the Customs authorities saw the stamp in his passport, they gave him (& his family) 48 hours to pack up their belongings and get out of the country.
The flow of information is very tightly controlled. A free media is anathema. Living there was kind of surreal to American adults like my parents.
Wizard of Ahz-no relation over 6 years ago
the american army was stupidly PC over there. while the europeans didn’t give a damn. Friends of mine who were in the 1st war said they would happily trade food for beer with the British troops and the french made it quite clear their men were entitled to and would receive wine. The SA’s made no noise over it so the american troops suffered for no good reason except fluffy bunny political correctness.
nyssawho13 over 6 years ago
“Christmas” was created to combat the pagan winter solstice celebrations by the Pope. Easter is VERY Christian, though the date is based on the Jewish calendar at Passover. It always amazed me that so many Jews were persecuted by “Christians” forgetting that Christ was a Jew.
summerdog86 over 6 years ago
Does BJ even like Christmas? My DH hates it all. He passed that trait along to the younger DS, unfortunately.
JohnHouck over 6 years ago
One memory I have of Desert Shield/Desert Storm – listening to the radio and hearing Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” with the line “loves Jesus” cut completely out. No bleep, no overdub of some other name – chopped. The Saudis barely tolerated our being there, and really hated seeing our women servicemembers with their uniform jackets off (so that they only wore t-shirts up top) because it was so damn hot.
Snolep over 6 years ago
War on Christmas!! Call Sessions and his task force!!
Linguist over 6 years ago
My oldest son has lived, and worked in Kuwait, Qatar, and the Arab Emirates for over 30 years as a structural engineer. There is, according to him and to what I’ve observed on my visits, a great deal of hypocrisy when it comes to observing religious taboos.
So long as they are not under the puritanical gaze of the Religious Police, Saudis and their counterparts in other Muslim countries, will turn a blind eye to their religious prohibitions, throw their own inhibitions to the winds, and get down and party !
One Saudi “prince”, who was a buddy of my son’s, always had the best stash of ‘forbidden’ Scotch whiskey in the country.
bakana over 6 years ago
Perhaps we should all get together and send Merry Morale Day cards to someone who needs cheering up.
I’m sure we can all think of Someone who needs cheering up …
Linguist over 6 years ago
Saudi Arabia has just tossed out the Canadian Ambassador and imposed sanctions on Canada.
Why?
Because Canada had the guts and temerity to criticize the Saudis for mistreating women, and Canadian citizens.
“Canada is gravely concerned about additional arrests of civil society and women’s rights activists in #SaudiArabia, including Samar Badawi. We urge the Saudi authorities to immediately release them and all other peaceful #humanrights activists.” — Foreign Policy CAN (@CanadaFP) August 3, 2018
And how did the U.S. State Department react ? They diplomatically kissed Crown Prince Mohammed’s ass