Michigan Court Rules Against Atheism Sign

A court has ruled that the Freedom From Religion Foundation had no right to place their sign amongst religious Christmas displays in the Warren, Michigan town hall. The sign was refused by the mayor, prompting the lawsuit. From the ruling:

[T]he Mayor sets forth permissible bases for denial — that the Sign was meant to counter the Nativity Scene, not celebrate the holiday season, and that the anti-religious language of the sign, in this context, could lead to a disruption of city business. There is nothing indicating the Mayor denied placement of the Sign solely in defense of religion; religion was simply not the appropriate subject-matter.

The sign reads: "At this season of the Winter Solstice, let reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

A Cartoon By David Mamet

(Source)

NEW JERSEY: Atheism Billboard Goes Up At Lincoln Tunnel

The American Atheists have erected the above billboard at the New Jersey entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel as part of a campaign to encourage people to "come out of the closet" about their atheism and "stop going through the motions" of taking part in Christmas shopping and celebrations. Some Christians, who are not the target of the campaign, are upset.

“I don’t think it’s any good for the kids. I’ve got a 7-year-old daughter — she believes in Christmas,” one woman told 1010 WINS’ Terry Sheridan. “I don’t think that’s right. We don’t go around telling them what we think about [atheists], so why should they put up something like that,” another man said. The billboard went up the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and is expected to be up through Christmas Day. [American Atheists president David] Silverman said atheists were unfairly targeted in the “war on Christmas,” a phrase often related to the public display of Christmas imagery on government funded property. “We get blamed for a war on Christmas every year. This time we’re actually going to pay attention to that. We’re actually going to earn a little bit of that,” Silverman said. “We have been blamed repeatedly for being unpatriotic, we have been told that there are not atheists in fox holes, we have been told that we are immoral. Nobody has ever cared if we would be offended.” While acknowledging “everybody has the right to believe as they see fit,” Silverman said his group believed there were “a lot more people” who were atheists, but feared publicly admitting it. “A lot of people in church, a lot of people in the mosque, a lot of people in the synagogue know they’re praying to air,” Silverman said.

The Superions - Crummy Christmas Tree

The Orlando-based Superions are a side project from B-52's frontman Fred Schneider. Their holiday album Destination: Christmas is now on sale.

UPDATE: JMG reader Hightemp suggests you might like this one better. I do.

NEW YORK CITY: Marine Corps Wrestles Name Back From Gay Holiday Toy Drive

For 25 years one of the glitziest events on NYC's homo holiday calendar has been the Toys For Tots party at Chelsea Piers, where the gay glitterati gather to booze, schmooze, and deliver mountains of new toys for the city's needy kids. As a Marine brat who went to USMC Toys For Tots events back in the 60's, I've always thought it was neat that the Marines let the gays use their famous (and trademarked) 63 year-old name for the event. Well, that's over.

A glitzy "Toys for Tots" charity party underwent a name change Tuesday after a stern reprimand from the Marines. The annual bash at Chelsea Piers is organized by gay men, not the U.S. Marine Corps, which uses the name for its own well-known toy drive. The Marines, which will field 1 million requests for toys in the city this year, doesn't get donations from the party, which draws A-listers like Mayor Bloomberg. "I want people to understand that when they donate to Toys for Tots that they are donating to the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots program and the reputation it carries with that name," said Staff Sgt. Ivan Lebron, coordinator of the Toys for Tots NYC campaign.

The creator of the Chelsea Piers event says that he just "pulled the name out of a hat" back in 1985. Right. The new name for the gay event, which will take place as planned on December 3rd, is "Holiday Gifts for Children and Seniors." Oy.

This Is An Actual Movie

Screening tonight at the Family Research Council's Values Voters Summit is Christmas With A Capital C, a movie depicting how one Satanic atheist tried to ruin Christmas for an entire Alaskan town.

"Christmas with a Capital C" was filmed in Seward the last of February and early March. The movie stars Daniel Baldwin (the second-oldest of the Baldwin brothers) and Ted McGinley (from "Married ... with Children), plus a slew of Seward extras, including high school students, stay-at-home moms and guys standing in the cold rain for hours without a jacket. The straight-to-DVD movie centers around two high school rivals - Baldwin and McGinley - at odds over a Nativity scene in a city building. Baldwin plays the antagonist, or the Grinch, who experiences an eventual change of heart. "This is a feel-good movie, with a lot of conflict and the theme of the Grinch finally coming home," said Anchorage-based executive producer David Cuddy. "The final scene is like 'It's a Wonderful Life,' where his character melts and becomes a good guy."

The CHRIST-Mas Tree

From Boss Creations:

In recent years, our Christmas holiday has been made to become a generic holiday for all religions with many being forced to call it a "Holiday" season instead of Christmas season. We, as Christians, must take a stand and rescue our religious holiday. We at Boss Creations believe that one way to do this is to decorate with more Christian-themed holiday decorations including The CHRIST-mas Tree. We have figured a way to enhance the tradition of decorating a tree for Jesus at Christmas by adding a cross that acts as a reminder of Him. By changing our tree to include a cross, we are making a statement that we want to keep our Christmas holiday! Our new tree and decorations ideas will not only help to enhance our celebration of the Christmas holiday but will help to enlighten those who may decorate for Christmas but may not be "Christians."

When the holidays are over, you can crucify your heathen neighbors! Convenient! Well, maybe their kids. It looks a little small. But it's only $299.99!!!

AFA: Gap Stores Support Witchcraft!!!

One day after I wondered if Gap's new holiday ad wasn't a giant "fuck you" to the American Family Association's boycott claim that the company was "anti-Christmas," the AFA has sent out an "action alert" describing the commercial as supporting witchcraft.

Gap has responded to AFA's call for a Christmas boycott of their Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic stores with a commercial that takes a cavalier approach towards Christmas.

The video entitled Ready for Holiday Cheer features a group of people dancing and chanting:

Two, Four, Six, Eight, now's the time to liberate
Go Christmas, Go Hanukkah, Go Kwanza, Go Solstice.
Go classic tree, go plastic tree, go plant a tree, go add a tree,
You 86 the rules, you do what feels just right.
Happy do whatever you wanukkah, and to all a cheery night.

Go Christmas, Go Hanukkah, go whatever holiday you wanukkah.

Did you notice it? Gap compares Christmas to the pagan holiday called "Solstice." Solstice is celebrated by Wiccans who practice witchcraft!

Gap also encourages you to "86" or "dismiss" traditions and "do what feels just right."

Take our Poll! Since Gap has now included the word "Christmas" in a television ad, should AFA call for an end to the boycott of their stores?

Is This GAP's "Fuck You" To The American Family Association?

After being targeted with a boycott by the American Family Association as an anti-Christian retailer, GAP began airing a commercial that does use the word "Christmas." But it also mentions Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the pagan-y Winter Solstice. It even says you should celebrate however "you wannukah." MEOW.

The ad's been running for a least a week and popped up on YouTube a couple of days ago. Did GAP's ad agency already have this in the pipeline or is it a sly "fuck you" to the AFA? We hope it's the latter. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times argues that negative notice from the AFA actually helps the bottom line.

Perhaps the AFA did Gap a favor. If you look at the history of the organization's boycotts -- often involving punitive actions against companies that support gay rights -- you'll see that they have no commercial impact. Actually, these boycotts seem to be good for business: In the decade of the AFA's boycott against Disney, which ended in 2006, the world's largest entertainment conglomerate's revenue roughly doubled to $34 billion. Likewise for Ford, which just posted a billion-dollar profit in the third quarter of 2009.

I'm not suggesting causality, but condemnation by the AFA does seem to be a kind of lucky charm for big business. Personally, I am inclined to patronize Gap as a statement of cultural tolerance, even though at my age I look like an overcooked ballpark frank in its clothes. The big loser here is the AFA. The annual War-on-Christmas drumbeat is absolutely not about defending the sacredness of Christmas. It is instead -- transparently -- marketing, a ratings gambit for Bill O'Reilly and Sean Hannity, and for the AFA, the centerpiece of its annual fundraising. This year, thanks to Gap, the AFA fumbled its boycott ball and in the process managed to look both intolerant and out of touch. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

AFA Expands "Christmas" Hit List

After last week announcing a boycott of all stores under the GAP umbrella because its three chains don't use the word "Christmas" in their holiday ads, this weekend the American Family Association published an expanded list of national retailers "for and against Christmas."

Based on current advertising, below is a list of companies that avoid, ban, or use the term "Christmas" in their advertising. We will continually update the list, so check back often. Criteria - AFA reviewed up to four areas to determine if a company was "Christmas-friendly" in their advertising: print media (newspaper inserts), broadcast media (radio/television), website and/or personal visits to the store. If a company's ad has references to items associated with Christmas (trees, wreaths, lights, etc.), it was considered as an attempt to reach "Christmas" shoppers. If a company has items associated with Christmas, but did not use the word "Christmas," then the company is considered as censoring "Christmas."

AFA Launches GAP Boycott

Ho hum, another holiday season, another wingnut boycott of a retailer over the "Christmas Sale Vs. Holiday Sale" nonsense.

This week, the American Family Association announced a two-month boycott of Gap stores and the company’s other store brands, Old Navy and Banana Republic. The boycott is based on the store’s refusal to use the term “Christmas” in its advertising campaigns during the last few years. AFA encourages concerned consumers to boycott all three of the clothing retail chains. “The boycott is part of our ongoing campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to put Christ back in Christmas,” reports AFA President Tim Wildmon. He says Gap has refused to use the word “Christmas,” despite tens of thousands of consumer requests for the company to recognize the holiday by name. AFA has played a role in persuading some advertisers to change their Christmas season policies. For example, Sears backed away from its censorship of the word “Christmas” and now even offers a Christmas Club on its Web site.

The AFA says the boycott will continue until the word "Christmas" appears in a GAP ad.

O'Christmas Hat

Aretha Franklin's famous inauguration hat is now available as a Christmas ornament.

The hat that dazzled millions of people during the inauguration of President Barack Obama, is now being offered as a Christmas ornament. Aretha Franklin's stylish big-bowed hat was the inspiration for the glittery-glass ornament. The ornament's designer hopes it too will be a big fashion hit. Curtis Posuniak is the brain-child behind the ornament. He says the minute he saw Aretha's hat he knew he wanted to make a tiny glass version of it. They will cost $43 a piece and will be sold at gift shops and by email.

(Tipped by JMG reader Sam)

Xmas In Central Florida

I think this video pretty much says it all - a prog-rock version of O' Little Town Of Bethlehem set to 40,000 computerized Xmas lights. More videos here, including a freestyle version of Jingle Bell Rock.

Xmas 1966

Yeah, it's seems pretty obvious, even 42 years ago.

Santa Gmail Account

You must embiggen to enjoy - the whole thing is a riot: the IM box, the subject lines, even the status messages.

(Via - Someone In A Tree)

The Gayest Xmas Special Ever

Over at Listverse they have counted down the best and worst Christmas specials of all time.

Top Five Best:

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas
2. How The Grinch Stole Chrismas
3. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
4. Frosty The Snowman
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

But my personal favorite will always be Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special. Gay, gay, gay. The guest list alone! And played at my house every year.

By the way, those aren't actual Marines. It's the UCLA Men's Chorus. Gay, gay, gay.

Letters To Santa Really Do Work

A man in Texas was arrested for child molestation after a 9-year old girl wrote a letter to Santa asking for it to stop.

The 9-year-old's plea to Santa, written as a school assignment, launched the investigation and led to the first charge of continuous sexual abuse last week. On Tuesday, Cantu was accused of abusing the girl's older sister, who was also mentioned in the letter. Investigators have refused to share the letter to Santa, saying it is evidence in an ongoing investigation. But the charging affidavit described it as "a wish list to Santa" asking that the girl's relative stop touching her and her sister. Pharr Police spokesman Lt. Guadalupe Salinas said the girls' mother had been unaware of any abuse but that the relative had moved out of the home after an earlier falling out.

The kid's teacher had read the letter and called a school counselor, who brought in the cops.

The 12 Gays Of Christmas

The gay Rockettes? The gay Riverdancers? As a commenter on Dan Savage's post just said, "I think I gained a Kinsey point just watching this."

Jeff Gannon Redux

If you are familiar with Cpl. Matt Sanchez, you probably know him as the handsome 36-year old Columbia University junior and USMC reservist who recently made the rounds of right-wing talk shows like O'Reilly Factor and Hannity & Colmes, where he received praise for coming forward and complaining about his treatment at the hands of Columbia's "radical anti-military students" who called him names and mocked his military service. Sanchez was then feted at the CPAC conference where Ann Coulter made her "faggot" remark. Sanchez wrote an op-ed piece on the Columbia experience for the NY Post and began a blog and MySpace page chronicling his media exposure.

Now, if you're like me, you might think, "Hmm, 36 years old and he's a junior in college and only a corporal in the Marines?" Odd, but not totally implausible. But Sanchez' face tinkled a few gay bells out there in fairyland, and last night I began to get emails letting me know that his rather late appearance on the Ivy League scene was because Sanchez has had a lengthy career in gay porn, working under the names Rod Majors (NSFW) and Pierre LaBranche, starring in such art films as Jawbreaker, Donkey Dick, and Glory Holes Of Fame 3, where his "11-inch uncut monster cock" earned him a devoted following.

Now, porn stars are entitled to enter the miliary, although Sanchez obviously had to do it on the downlow. Porn stars are entitled to have a right-wing ideology, even though the very people he supports would love to see gay porn stars strung up by the nuts. (Wait, have I seen that movie?) But, Oh.The.Irony. of Sanchez appearing with Bill O'Reilly who only a couple of days went apoplectic over San Francisco's "Colt Studio Day." And OH, the irony of Ann "Faggot" Coulter happily posing with Sanchez for a photo-op. The right-wing has gobbled this porn hunk up with a spoon, never knowing that tons of men have gobbled up his monster cock ON FILM. I love it, I love it, I love it.

Thanks to those that tipped me to this story. In particular, please visit the blog of Tom Bacchus, who has written a thoroughly hilarious post on Matt Sanchez/Rod Majors/Pierre LaBranche, with many totally NSFW photos. Now let's all watch how Coulter, Malkin, O'Reilly, etc try and spin THIS one. This is gonna be good.

UPDATE: Sanchez also writes Amazon reviews under his own name, where he plugs a book called Facercise, which he credits for changing his appearance. Here's a 1998 interview he did for porn studio Kristen Bjorn.

UPDATE II: Sanchez appears to have commented on this post, below. I emailed him an interview request and he's agreed. Stand by.

UPDATE III: I just had a 35-minute phone call with Matt Sanchez, in which he was very candid and friendly. We spoke about a wide-range of topics: freedom of speech at Columbia, the Marine Corps, the gay porn industry, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Chi Chi Larue, his upcoming book and the CPAC conference. Matt has promised to respond via email to the set of questions that I sent him, and I will post his responses unedited tomorrow. If his responses are as candid and thought-provoking as our conversation, it should prove fascinating. Sanchez is no dumb bunny.

UPDATE IV: Email from Sanchez @ 4:21pm: "Wow, who knew a little award and a couple of pictures would get me all this attention? Death threats, hate mail and plenty of strangers who want to be my "friend"--and it's not even 4 pm!!! I'm going to be writing a piece and posting it on this site by tomorrow. You'll forgive me for the delay, but between this week's midterms, my full-time job and working out at the gym, there's just not enough time in the day." Same message on his blog, Cpl. Matt Sanchez, plus a pic of Coulter.

UPDATE V: I have interviewed Matt Sanchez here.

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