Hey, kid, here's some candy... now how about this God thing?

The main newspaper for Raleigh-Durham in North Carolina just ran an ad urging Christians to spend their money only where merchants display “Merry Christmas” in their advertisements.

And even if we spank our children we don’t want school teachers or random strangers to do it.

I too read the little red paper that accompanied the candy cane and thought it was interesting to learn the symbolism of the J shape (for Jesus) and the white & red to represent purity and blood from the cross. As Joel noted above, I (as a parent) never knew that they were originally intended to be anything but traditional holiday confection. I promptly showed my 2 year old that it was the letter J for Jesus and His birthday candy, :) so I guess they did provide one family a bit of education in line with our core beliefs anyway.

I have far less problem with this approach than I do with Christian fundamentalists passing out those vile comic books on Hallowe’en. Christmas is a celebration, our society (for good or ill) celebrates with sweets, this particular confection has religious significance … so all in all, I wouldn’t throw a flag.

A professed Christian source discusses the issue: http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/newsletter/christmas/cane.html

I hear the green stripe represents the religion of Islam.

“The opposite of every great truth - is another great truth.” —Niels Bohr

I think we all have to remember that this parade was a Christmas Parade. Not some non-religous parade, but a “CHRIST”mas parade. Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth here on earth. This being the case what is so wrong with passing out literature about Jesus during a parade to celerbrate Him. Also I don’t know if you had the opportunity to read the back of the green pamphlets that were passed out. If you did, you may have noticed that it was advertising a program put on by the choir of that church (Grace Baptist) at the confed center. With ALL the money and food raised being distributed to those who are in need this Christmas season. I think that shows that these people are not only just pushing their own agenda, but are truly trying to help the community that we all live in. I hope you all have a great Christmas season. Jon

Why are we constantly reminded that we need to be more tolerant of other cultures and traditions, especially if they

Thank you for the vigorous discussion. Some thoughts: 1. Yes, candy is a drug. Forget any medical evidence: watch a four year old’s reaction to the presence or possibility of candy. It has the power of an addictive substance. The “don’t accept candy from strangers” fear that parents try to instill in kids has basis in reality. 2. The fact that Christians have to believe that Christian truths are “universal” truths does present some “getting along with non-Christians” problems. This is not unique to Christianity, of course. 3. Despite the best efforts of the religious, Christmas ceased to be an effective celebration of Christ years ago. To suggest that Christmas is still primarily about Christ is to suggest that Labour Day is still primarily a celebration of labour solidarity. Christmas is a secular celebration — more a retail necessity than anything else these days — based on a Christian folk tale (that Christian believe to be true). I don’t mean to diminish the importance of the holiday to Christmas to Christians, but you’ve lost the greater “let’s put the Christ back in Christmas” battle. 4. It’s as impossible for me to understand the importance of Christmas to Christians as it is for Christians to understand why I can say that. 5. Next year, I’ve giving out condoms at the parade.

Since we’re in touchy territory, let me emphasize that I did not choose the word “story” to subtly slight religion. I’d be just as happy to say that astrophysics and biology produces “stories.” But re: #2 above I would also say that when you accept a scientific story you are accepting one that has won a different kind of competition than popular religions win to become popular.

“I don’t know that Atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.” President George H. W. Bush, during an August 27, 1987 interview by Rob Sherman, as reported in Brochure # 8286 (circa 1991) published by American Atheist Veterans.

True, non-existence is hard to prove. Shall we all compromise at agnosticism?

I would just add to Alan

Let’s drop the child molesters and JFK assasination and talk about Ronald McDonald. That’s the degree of pernicious evil I’m talking about.

According to this http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/jfa-ha/index_e.cfm Christmas is a Canadian national holiday. Do we all agree that Canada is not Christian?

Forget the candy canes! How about the seditious Eastern values cunningly inserted into those tasty cookies you get at the Golden Wok and other fine oriental eateries after a feast? It’s almost overwhelming to get three fortunes in one cookie (a dangerous plot most likely).

I nominate Laurent for the most appropriate response in this thread to date.

Late on this - but if we were Romans, we might be saying that these Christians had highjacked Saturnalia - the ancient winter solstice festival celebrated at this this of year. Or we could say that the Christian had highjacked an even more fun festival Lupercal (Easter to you and I) during the spring solstice. Or we could be be a tribal society saying that Christians had highjacked “tribal values” and replaced them with a bizarre idea called a “family” where there were only two adults. My point? What is normal is only a matter of the time we live in. All social norms shift. Smart organizations always highjack the best of the old.

5. Next year, I’ve giving out condoms at the parade. This alone is enough to drag my ass into the streets to see the parade. I’ll be there. But don’t hand out Ramses brand. Too much religious debate tied in there. I have to agree with you Peter. It’s a bit much to tie religious scripts to a child’s candy stick. If they wanted to pass out things, why not have someone walking around giving the papers to the parents. Then, as an adult, they could choose whether or not to accept it. But in the long run, how many of the children even stopped to look at anything but the candy in hand and for Santa and his sleigh? While we live in a society that caters to people who try to brainwash us with advertising, I would bet doughnuts to dollars most of the children didn’t pay much attention.

“New opinions often appear first as jokes and fancies, then as blasphemies and treason, then as questions open to discussion, and finally as established truths.” - George Bernard Shaw

My thoughts: 1) I nominate Wayne for the most appropriate response in this thread to date. 2) RUK says, “Christmas ceased to be an effective celebration of Christ years ago”. I’d say Christmas continues to be an effective celebration of Christ. However, with the prospect of “heathen bastards for nuclear war” floats in the CHRISTmas parade, the celebration may unfortunately be somehow tarnished. 3) Mandy says, “If they wanted to pass out things, why not have someone walking around giving the papers to the parents. Then, as an adult, they could choose whether or not to accept it.” I’d say that by going to the parade, the adult ALREADY chose to take their child to a celebration of Christ, and should not be upset about some literature about the candy cane. 4) RUK says: “It’s as impossible for me to understand the importance of Christmas to Christians as it is for Christians to understand why I can say that.” Peter, you don’t have to understand. But if you want to begin to understand, feel free to attend even more Christian celebrations. They can be found all across PEI, and not just around CHRISTmastime. 5) I was at the Souris CHRISTmas parade yesterday, and noticed that these candy-canes-with-literature were being passed out there as well. There were no red-and-white striped condoms, no heathen-bastards-for-nuclear-war floats, and no terrorists to hijack the Shriners Plane, and fly it into Town Hall. Thank God!

Christianity is first an option. For anyone who knows anything (truly) about Christianity, it’s all about free will. Why is it that the world is now so over whelmed by this way of life. We live in a land of “freedom” (supposedly). If this offends to the matter of spending so much energy to abolish a life style of Americans that will under the protection of Rights and Freedom, then what happens to our (Christian)freedom and rights. The only reason it is perceived as being “pushed upon or over loaded with” is there are some who just don’t want it. It’s your choice. It’s your “free will”. But when you try to abolish Christianity or put a Christian’s way of life in a cup and tell them they are only able to drink from that cup when no one is looking. Well now who is being imprisoned with “yucky vegetables” that you don’t want? If you don’t beleive in a Christian’s way of life then don’t. It’s your choice. I don’t believe in drugs. So I don’t go around people who do drugs. But the distinct difference is,”drugs” kill. Real Christians don’t. What is everyone so afraid of?

3) Mandy says, “If they wanted to pass out things, why not have someone walking around giving the papers to the parents. Then, as an adult, they could choose whether or not to accept it.” I’d say that by going to the parade, the adult ALREADY chose to take their child to a celebration of Christ, and should not be upset about some literature about the candy cane. While this Holiday is a “celebration of Christ”, I’m pretty sure a fat man in a red suit on the back of a flatbed truck is nothing more then a commercial reminder of the money we need to dosh out. Anytime I’ve gone to a Santa parade, I don’t remember getting bombarded with God. Looks like I’m glad I missed the Souris parade. It’s all about the the toy man. We’ve lost the fact it’s about Christ ages ago. Oh boy, Tim’s certs… thankie Santa.