Iraq Declares Christmas a National Holiday

Originally posted by centurion1211
Well, at least people that still want to enjoy Christmas will have a place to go since the PC left is very busy destroying the holiday in this country. Last I heard they were trying to get Christmas lights banned as "bad for the environment".

I personally had a very pleasant holiday at the Christmas services at My church, Walked the Mall and sang carols with some friends and Celebrated the birth of Christ at home.

At no time was I accousted by a PC leftist, trying to put a damper on my Christmas Celebration.

What in the hell are you talking about?

I suppose there are many religious holidays along with prayer breaks etc. A national holiday for christians doesn't mean they get paid for it. I think this is being done as some token PR jesture. Christmas for a small percent of the population doesn't seem very national.

Not my favorite holiday because I can't ever afford it.

I was beaten to the punch. Iraqi Christians have faced much more severe persecution since Hussein was taken out than they ever did with him in power. One thing I will say about the man, and I was surprised to learn this several years back, he did not harbor hatred for Christianity. His very own Baath party was largely composed of and founded by Christians. One of the first acts the Islamists did when they imported fighters from outside Iraq to fight the coalition forces was start rounding up and executing known Christians.

This is what the cited article has to say about the treatment Christians in Iraq.

Iraq's Christians, estimated to number only a few hundred thousand of the country's 26 million people, have often been the target of attacks by Islamic extremists in Iraq. Tens of thousands have fled; many of those who stayed were isolated in neighborhoods protected by barricades and checkpoints.

A coordinated bombing campaign in 2004 targeted churches in the Iraqi capital, and anti-Christian violence also flared in September 2007 after Pope Benedict XVI made comments perceived to be against Islam.

www.foxnews.com...

Regardless of what the perpetual malcontents and whiners have to say, any step in the direction of religious tolerance anywhere in the world is a positive thing.

Those who seek to destroy religious tolerance here in the US and elsewhere, naturally, will find nothing to celebrate in this news.

Well the estimates of Assyrian Christians in Iraq was 1 million prior to invasion after invasion the numbers has gone down as the result of persecution from radical Islam new found liberties.

So that doesn't take over the fact that there were more Christians in Iraq before invasion.

Giving them a holiday doesn't take away from the fact that many are now destitute after having to leave their birth place and homes for safety.

I don’t know what the big stink is all about
Muslims preach about Jesus as one of their prophets so celebrating the supposed birth of one of their prophets seems normal to me now if they get on all of the Brainwashing about Holiday shopping for gift giving then The US has really conquered them

Good Job Wal-Mart!

Originally posted by SLAYER69


Good Job Wal-Mart!

For those who may not know, the gift-giving tradition of Christmas is symbolic both of the gift of salvation which Christian believe was paid for by Christ's death on the cross and symbolic of the gifts which are believed to have been brought to Jesus at his birth by the three wise men from the east.

We should not forget the origins of this tradition or even let them be obscured by the hate-filled hearts of some or the sometimes crass commercialism that characterizes the Christmas season in the minds of some.

[edit on 2009/1/13 by GradyPhilpott]

Originally posted by GradyPhilpott

Originally posted by SLAYER69


Good Job Wal-Mart!

We should not forget the origins of this tradition or even let them be obscured by the hate-filled hearts of some or the sometimes crass commercialism that characterizes the Christmas season in the minds of some.

[edit on 2009/1/13 by GradyPhilpott]

I have no hate filled heart. And I hope this will play out in the positive but only time will tell. I hope nobody got the wrong impression of the above mentioned Wal-Mart statement I was making a sarcastic point that what is really important is the coming together in the true meaning of the Holiday and NOT the commercialization part of the Holiday.

Do Christians really care if government makes Christmas a government holiday? I hope not....The day off I'm sure might be nice though

[edit on 13-1-2009 by ghaleon12]

reply to post by ghaleon12


I think that it means something to the Christians in Iraq.

These, however, are the sentiments that count.

...Chaldean Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly praised the establishment of Christmas as an official holiday as a step toward easing tensions.

"I thank it too for making this day an official holiday where we pray to God to make us trust each other as brothers," he said at the Christmas Mass....

A senior Shiite cleric, Ammar al-Hakim attended the event....

"We came here to bring a message of love, respect and gratitude to our Christian brothers and to share happiness with them as we have shared sadness with them during the cruel targeting they came under," al-Hakim said....

[emphasis mine]

www.foxnews.com...

[edit on 2009/1/13 by GradyPhilpott]

Originally posted by NatureBoy
reply to post by bodrul

 

America however was rocked by the shock rumor that Obama might be an arab which caused so much anger and hate among americans that people conspired to try and kil him!

I too would like to know how a black/African man can be Arab, seeing as how they come from two different regions. "Arab" and "Muslim" are not interchangible, so please don't use them as if they are
On topic:
Does this mean Iraqis get Christmas day off from work now?

[edit on 13-1-2009 by eslon]

reply to post by Trolloks


It's not xmas, it's Christmas. What's wrong with the Iraqis choosing to recognize Christmas? I'm sure America is not forcing it upon them.

reply to post by whaaa


Oh, come on you know what is being talked about. The liberal majority in this country has been trying for quite some time to remove God and Jesus from everything in this country.

reply to post by marg6043


Are you sure you aren't mixing up things just little. Saddam was a Bathist, which means he was a nationalist despite his many faults. He was not a religious bigot. He was more interested in who challenged his power more than the religion of the person.

But the most telling aspect of your comment is what you admit yourself. You say that there were 1 million Assyrian Christians before GW2 but their number drastically dropped. There were Muslims in Iraq before GW2 yet the Christians were still kicking. The country was invaded and guess what, a lot of people died. The Muslim Iraqis didn't suddenly become fundamentalists and there were not enough Al Qaida or Islamic fundamentalists around to do that much damage.

Most of the fighters were described as 'insurgents' by the US on MSN and were targeting the US so why turn around and start attacking other Iraqis because of religion? Does not make sense and is really a product of your pre-programmed assumptions.

The only religious aspect to this invasion was Dubya and the Iranians extending their sphere of influence through Shia clerics to cook American soldiers every time Bush opened his mouth.

I don't see how this is a bad thing at all. How is cultural diffusion a bad thing? It's just the way how the world is. Btw, Christmas has lost its original meaning to most plp. I don't understand why you guys whine about it being religious while bitching about its pagan roots.

reply to post by bodrul


According to several biographers including Con Coughlin, Hussein only employed Christian housekeepers and cooks because the were much cleaner than other Iraqis. His cabinet also included Christians and Shiites. Hussein apparently was only religious in front of the camera, he really seemed more influenced by tribal politics which is par for the course there.

reply to post by eslon


That came from confusion over his middle name. Hussein is a common Arab tribal name. A lot of people confuse Iranians and Arabs too, I don't think most Americans have a basic knowledge of that area's geography.

reply to post by GradyPhilpott


And yet if Muslims tried to have Eid become a National holiday here in the US, people cry that we're not "assimilating" and trying to "Islamicise" the US.

Gotta love hypocrites.

Originally posted by whaaa
Why stop with Christmas?

Perhaps there should Be a President George Bush day as he has probably influenced their daily lives more than anyone.

Actually, perhaps we should have GWB day also. To remind us!!

Maybe you do not see the benefits of a more open Iraq that takes even the minoritys in its country seriously... A more open minded middle east is what should be strived for, this is the only way to fight extreme fundamentalists. This is a positive step forward for not only Iraq, but the greater middle east.

how come they get xmas and we get "winter holidays" ??


seriously, what the smeg is goin on with political correctness??

The other day i heard that the term "fairy lights" was changed due to offense to homosexuals. So to battle this, they called them "Puff lanterns" Smart f**kers they are aint they??

Plus, anyone to get offended being in a christian country celebrating a holiday bassed upon christianity, should seriously think of emigrating or growing the hell up.