Tag: war on Christmas

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Letters To The Editor Opinion

Letters to the Editor

New Deal on Beale

Here’s an idea for Beale Street visionaries (“New Deal on Beale,” November 21st issue): Let’s hijack Ohio’s funk-music legacy and add it to our repertoire of musical claims. Cleveland did it to us in 1986 with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and created a huge economic generator. The funk-music genre is old enough and loved enough to be enjoyed by people from all over world for decades to come.

Home of the Blues. Birthplace of Rock-and-Roll. Foundry of Funk. 

We got Isaac Hayes, the Bar-Kays, Rufus Thomas (who invented the “Funky Chicken”), the Funk Brothers, (who were the rhythm engine at early Motown), and Maurice White of Earth, Wind & Fire. Con Funk Shun cut their chops here; funk super-producer Leon Sylvers III was born here. We have lots of justification for this claim.

Besides, celebrating funk music and costuming could have some festive fringe benefits. Could you imagine a “Rick James Sparkle Walk” instead of downtown’s Zombie Walk? Just saying — platform shoes and glitter instead of blood and gore. I hope the Beale Street of my golden years will have replaced Ruby Wilson with Le Chat. Funk is next up to bat!

New Beale Street slogan: “We Grit. We Grind. We Groove.”

Anthony D. Lee

Memphis

Sales Tax

Pre-K sales-tax proponents (“For the Kids,” November 14th issue) said $30 million of the revenue raised would “fully fund high quality pre-K for the more than 4,500 children in Memphis currently left out of the system.” OMG, people! That’s $6,667 per 4-year-old! Seems like a lot of money to teach a kid shapes and colors. Why not just fund a stock portfolio for each toddler? By the time they’re 21, they’ll be in fine shape, and they’ll have learned the only color that matters in Memphis — green.

Jim Adams

Memphis

Happy Holidays!

Thank you very much for Bruce VanWyngarden’s article in the Flyer regarding the so-called war on Christmas (Letter from the Editor, November 14th issue).

I’m retired now, having served as a minister for 45 years, and this was the best commentary I’ve read on the religious mania that goes on during this time of the year. I send an email out regarding this each year to all my friends and parishioners. I’m sure they are tired of it by now. But this year, I’ve copied this article and will be sending it instead. I’ve credited you and the Memphis Flyer.

Thanks again for a most thoughtful and provoking article. I wish it would be printed in every church’s newsletters or bulletins.

Ed Walton Olive Branch, Mississippi

It is that wonderful time of year when we give thanks to God for allowing us to kill the Native Americans and then steal their country. Then, a month later, we honor the birth of our mythical savior by maxing out our credit cards in an orgy of materialism. Strange customs indeed.

The furor over using “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” is the most ludicrous battle I have ever seen. We all know how true to scripture Christmas is: all those Bible passages about Santa Claus, Rudolph, Christmas trees, and how Jesus was born on December 25th. Oh, and let’s not forget all those biblical elves toiling away at the North Pole making toys.

Frankly, I love the wonder and magic of the season, regardless of its origins. I am not offended by a cheery “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukkah,” “Happy Kwanza,” or “Happy Winter Solstice.” I even welcome a “May Allah bless you” from my Muslim friends. 

Life is too short to throw away any blessings that come our way.

Jim Brasfield

Memphis

Correction: Last week’s book column should have read that the state Criminal Court of Appeals upheld Noura Jackson’s conviction for second-degree murder. The Tennessee Supreme Court heard Jackson’s appeal for a new trial on November 6, 2013. It has not issued a decision.

Categories
Letters To The Editor Opinion

Letters To The Editor

For the Kids

I think Jim Strickland’s and Shea Flinn’s hearts are in the right place (“For the Kids,” November 14th issue), but getting a tax increase (any tax increase) passed in this tightfisted, Tea Party era is going to be very difficult, no matter how worthy the cause.

I will vote for the increase, but I do not have great hopes for its passage. Hopefully, Memphis voters will (pleasantly) surprise me.

Charlotte Bird


Memphis

The Hamp

Thank you for Bianca Phillips’ excellent article on Binghampton (“The Hamp,” November 7th issue). To the long list of nonprofits, businesses, churches, and individuals working in Binghampton, it would be remiss not to name and honor Rachel Coats Greer, her late husband Harry, and their Rachel’s Kids, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives in Binghampton.

Rachel is a tireless guardian angel for children and adults alike in Binghampton. Stop by Rachel’s Flowers on Poplar any Saturday between now and Christmas, and you’re very likely to see a group of Binghampton children and teenagers in Rachel’s shop busily crafting reindeer for sale. Rachel returns every penny from the sale of the reindeer to the child to save and use. Bravo, Rachel! Bravo, Binghampton!

Peggy Williamson

Memphis

Merry Christmas, Dammit

Just got home to Jackson after picking up a Flyer in Memphis. I read Bruce VanWyngarden’s column about the “war on Christmas” (Letter from the Editor, November 14th issue). My wife and I will be sitting down this weekend and addressing our “Christmas cards” that we purchased at Lifeway Christian Bookstore. We do not send out Season’s Greetings or Holiday cards. We send out the real thing.

When I am out this time of year, if I see someone I think might be Muslim or Hindu, etc., I make it a point to wish them a very Merry Christmas. God bless you, and Merry Christmas.

George Dean


Jackson, Tennessee

Jim Santoro

Many of us who lived in Memphis during the 1970s and 1980s fondly remember the Memphis Star. This publication was the brainchild of publisher/owner Jim Santoro, and it promoted all genres of Memphis music on a monthly basis. Besides publishing the Memphis Star, Jim was also an excellent performer and songwriter who had many of his songs recorded here and in Europe. However, his heart and soul were always in the promotion of talent in the Memphis area through his paper.

Sadly, Jim passed away last month. If anyone remembers the Memphis Star and has stories or thoughts they wish to share, please forward them to me at the email below and I will get them to his wife, Jackie.

Thank you to the Flyer for this space. We miss you, Jim.

Phil Olive

Memphis

lowdrivemusic@yahoo.com

Tim Sampson

Another good issue ruined. I get to the back page, and there is Tim Sampson with his ideas on how to save the world or, in this case, the homeless (The Rant, November 14th issue). Tim’s always good for a liberal dig at the wealthy too.

Add the private school stickers on the SUVs as something else he doesn’t have the loot for, in addition to a hotel run by the homeless. Who do you think would finance such a project? A Northside High School alum or an MUS alum? That’s usually who it takes.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for the homeless getting off the streets. But instead of knocking the conservatives who could fund these projects, point the homeless in the direction of Bellevue Baptist Church. That’s five acres for sure.

Scott Blankenship

Memphis

Like Tim Sampson, I too could care less about nachos, billboards, or Lady Gaga, but I do love the idea of a hotel named SHELTER. (I don’t know why all caps were used in the column, but decided to follow suit.) What a great concept! Shabby chic in the heart of Midtown Memphis.

The resurrection of the French Quarter Inn is highly overdue. What better way to enliven the square and lure tourists to our fair city? I spent my “first life” in the hotel/bar/and restaurant industry and would be more than willing to help with planning, training, and organizing this endeavor.

Great vision, Tim. I’m holding out for the innovative loot-holders.

Carol Ricossa

Memphis

Categories
Letter From The Editor Opinion

Letter From The Editor: The War on the War on Christmas

I’m hereby declaring war on the war on the “war on Christmas.” I can no longer sit idly by as Fox News escalates this annual crusade of duplicitous demagoguery every holiday season. Yes, I said “holiday season.” Get used to it.

Bill O’Reilly is the primary culprit, having spent the past several Novembers and Decembers ginning up outrage over the mythical “war on Christmas.” In O’Reilly’s world, saying “Happy Holidays” is an insult, part of a craven liberal plot designed to demean Jesus’ birthday and remove Christianity from Christmas. If a corporation, a school, or any other public entity posts “Season’s Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” in its stores or as part of its marketing or advertising, it’s perpetrating the war on Christmas and insulting all good Christian Americans, and O’Reilly will call you out on it. Because … he’s tough that way.

Now, predictably, O’Reilly’s Fox-mate Sean Hannity is jumping into this ignoble fray. And, even more predictably, so is the grizzly grifter, Sarah Palin, who’s “written” a book about this horrific problem. It’s called Good Tidings and Great Joy, and it is neither.

Palin went on Hannity’s show on Veterans Day to plug her book. Hannity introduced her by bemoaning the “unbridled and unprecedented attacks” on Christmas. Palin turned it up a notch, claiming that “angry atheists” armed with attorneys “want to tell patriots … that no longer can you acknowledge that Jesus is the reason for the season.” Because … rhyming.

Stop it, you tools. There is no Santa Claus, and there is no “liberal” war on Christmas. Yes, we can all agree that the idea of Christmas as a simple Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ has gotten lost in the blow-up yard snowmen, the billion-light house displays, the shopping binges, the chrome and neon Christmas trees, and the relentless commercials and sales. But let’s be honest: It’s opportunistic retail capitalism and our own lust for more “stuff” that’s waging war on the true meaning of Christmas. If you want to get back to simply gathering your family, filling a stocking for everyone, and having a nice turkey dinner, no one’s going stop you, patriot — though Walmart won’t be pleased.

And people don’t say “Happy Holidays” because they are angry liberal atheists who hate Jesus. They say it because they’re aware that several other holidays occur in December and/or that not everyone celebrates Christmas. They’re being sensitive and sensible, especially if they don’t know you. They’re doing unto others as they would like others to do unto them. (I read that somewhere.) Anyone who could twist a greeting wishing you happiness into an insult or a declaration of war is not a Christian. They’re a fool or a demagogue. Or both.

Bruce VanWyngarden

brucev@memphisflyer.com