# John Gibson fo Fox Nwes, a Class Act in the War on Christmas. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 22, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864 "2005-12-22T21:25:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/21 "2005-12-23T11:53:57Z")
> [@betenoir](#): > > While I’m not aware of Larry’s personal beliefs … Just in case there’s any doubt, I _myself_ would never think of telling the political faction that advocates social and political conservativism, school prayer, and federal aid for religious groups and schools to go to hell. Rather, I think they should piss up a rope. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/22 "2005-12-23T13:52:27Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Ah, yes…more enlightened open-minded tolerance from one on the enlightened open-minded tolerant left. Anyone with half a brain should not have a moment’s difficulty comprehending this. The left does show vastly greater tolerance… for different people, different cultures, different lifestyles. We have no tolerance for bullshit behavior and hate mongering, and hopefully we will continue to express this at every turn. It’s what people want from us. Try to understand - tolerance does not equal “put up with all your bullshit.” By the way, care to come back to the thread about whether the press should cowboy up and challenge Bush? I’m curious how you are going to backpedal on your “read” of the situation knowing that you were operating out of ignorance. ---
**Author:** ![Amok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Amok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amok)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/23 "2005-12-23T14:57:55Z")
And here I thought Josh Gibson died in 1947. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/24 "2005-12-23T15:16:25Z")
Wow. I watched the clip and came away with a different impression. While Gibson did get quite angry, his reaction may be quite justified, as Boston had called him a liar. From the clip, it _appears_ that Boston was wrong, as Gibson claimed that he did NOT make the claim (children wearing red and green in Plano) that Boston attributed to him. It seems that if Gibson is right and that his book doesn’t make that claim, then Boston was wrong and, in fact, lying. Or, at the very least, mistaken. Regarding the story about the kids in a Plano school not being able to wear red and green over the holiday, I’ve heard that quite a few times, does anyone know if it is true or not? ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/25 "2005-12-23T15:50:31Z")
This explains much; for the last few weeks I’ve noticed a number of co-workers making weird remarks that seemed to be vague attempts at witticism. I offer a sample exchange: CO-WORKER: Merry Christmas–OPPS! I guess we’re not supposed to say that to each other these days. ME: (BAFFLED) We’re not? CO-WORKER: Yeah, we’re supposed to say “Happy Holidays” or something instead. ME: Since when? Who says this? CO-WORKER: (VAGUE HAND-WAVING) Oh, it’s the same old stuff, trying to keep people from celebrating Christmas-- because it’s not “PC,” you know. There’s just a lot more of it in the news this year. So now I know where this free-floating notion has been emanating from… although I probably could have guessed without too much trouble if anyone had asked me. > [@Apos](#): > > Ugh. The keyboard I’m using is pertty awful and awkward, but I could have at least checked for typos in my subject. Yuck. Why, on account of the “Fox Nwes?” I thought you were just taking a subtle jab at them: \*“Fox Nwes: it looks and sounds sort of like ‘news,’ without actually _being_ news.” \* In any case, I thought it was funny and I’m going to steal it. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/26 "2005-12-23T16:10:00Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > Regarding the story about the kids in a Plano school not being able to wear red and green over the holiday, I’ve heard that quite a few times, does anyone know if it is true or not? Well, according to one of the articles linked in the OP, it’s not: > [@](#): > > On December 9, Bill O’Reilly falsely claimed on both Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor and the nationally syndicated The Radio Factor with Bill O’Reilly that the Plano Independent School District (Texas) “told students they couldn’t wear red and green because they were Christmas colors.” He labeled the alleged ban “fascism.” On December 12, the school district released an official statement by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Doug Otto refuting O’Reilly’s contention: > > “The school district does not restrict students or staff from wearing certain color clothes during holiday times or any other school days,” noted Dr. Otto, who said that the school district’s attorney has requested that Mr. O’Reilly retract the statement. > > Last year, four families filed suit against the Plano Independent School District for allegedly prohibiting the distribution of religious materials at holiday parties and on school grounds. Among the allegations was the claim that the district excluded the use of red-and-green colored napkins at the annual school holiday party. The complaint made no mention of restrictions on red and green clothing, though the plaintiffs did allege that the school district banned red pompoms. According to the Associated Press, a day after the suit was filed, a federal judge ordered the school district “to let students distribute ‘religious viewpoint gifts’ at a party the following day.” By then, though, the AP reported, “the district said the order was unnecessary because officials already had decided to allow students to distribute all materials – religious or otherwise – at the party.” In other words, the source of this rumor is an earlier dispute about distributing religious-themed gifts at a school party, and it was already a non-issue by the time it got any publicity. Rumor, stupidity, and aggrieved vicitimization managed to turn it into a wholly illusory ban on red and green clothing. (And no offense, but if you’d looked over the OP’s links more carefully before participating in the thread, you wouldn’t have needed to ask.) ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/27 "2005-12-23T16:17:46Z")
I hear a lot of stupid things from the far right and far left, but turning “happy holidays” into a “war on Christmas” is pretty near the top of the imbecile list. It seems so obvious that it’s simply said because one’s audience may not celebrate Christmas, yet it still includes Christmas. Or even simply shorthand for including both Christmas and the New Year. Has there ever been an actual argument to support the notion that people who say that are “warring” against Christmas? Or does the simple inclusion of possible references to other holidays mean you are declaring war against it? Was includng women in the workplace a “war against men”? Do these pundits actually believe this “war” shit, or are they just using it to trigger that “we’re being discriminated against!” response that people seem to love to feel? ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/28 "2005-12-23T16:36:55Z")
> [@Starving Artist](#): > > Ah, yes… **more enlightened open-minded tolerance from one on the enlightened open-minded tolerant left.** > > Just more proof of something I’ve been aware of for decades: there is very little difference between those on the left and those on the right. It’s the left, however, that likes to pretend tolerant open-minded moral superiority over the right when in reality it is just as quick - if not even moreso - to want to punish, censor, hate and condemn those on the other side. > > I can just imagine the response I would get if I were to come in here saying something like ‘The Secular Left should to hell’. Suffice it to say such a response would be nothing like the tepid-to-nonexistant moral outrage **Larry Mudd’s** comment above is likely to draw. Oh give us a damn break. How long do you expect people to have “happy thoughts” for these assholes? As far as Gibson goes, well he’s a damn pussy. If he wants to be a rough tough bad ass, well shit. Tell us ALL on the network “news” exactly WHAT BAR you are daring us to come to. Put up or shut up Gibson. Of course that will never happen. He’s just a little bitch, just like the rest of the Fox crew. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/29 "2005-12-23T16:39:09Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Wow. That was…wow. I wonder why Fox News let Gibson air what was essentially going to be an infomercial for his own book. I’m guessing the parent company probably published the book. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/30 "2005-12-23T16:49:00Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > As far as Gibson goes, well he’s a damn pussy. If he wants to be a rough tough bad ass, well shit. Tell us ALL on the network “news” exactly WHAT BAR you are daring us to come to. Put up or shut up Gibson. Of course that will never happen. He’s just a little bitch, just like the rest of the Fox crew. It didn’t really sound to me like he was DARING Boston to come into the bar. After all, he reportedly said: > [@](#): > > “Don’t come in where I drink… Don’t come visit a bar when I’m in there.” I bet if Boston did visit a bar when Gibson was there, Gibson would do something really mean like order a round for the house, and then point to Boston and say to the bartender, “Except THAT guy, right there!” That would probably hurt Mr. Boston’s feelings, real bad. Poor Mr. Boston. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/31 "2005-12-23T16:56:34Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > (And no offense, but if you’d looked over the OP’s links more carefully before participating in the thread, you wouldn’t have needed to ask.) :rolleyes: The amount of offense you intended—your claim to the contrary aside—was received and processed. FYI: I did read the links. I was wondering if there was a more unbiased site for the debunking. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/32 "2005-12-23T16:56:59Z")
I don’t think anybody except the shrillest of the right-wing _offenderati_ is seriously referring to this issue as any kind of “war”. There **are** some disputes and disagreements about the proper balance between Christmas themes and more inclusive/secular “winter” or “holiday” motifs for year-end (how’s that for a nice neutral term, eh?) parties at places like public schools. Check [here](http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/121405dnmetoreilly.129ac712.html) for a more realistic discussion of the Plano TX flap. Yes, people don’t always agree about what kind of celebrations are suitable, but most people are far too sane to describe their disagreements as a “war”. The silver lining here, it seems to me, is that when O’Reilly or Gibson singles out a heavily majority-Christian Middle American town like Plano or Saginaw as a hotbed of anti-Christmas activity, the resulting publicity lets the average Americans there see what this right-wing _offenderati_ mindset is really like. Earnest churchgoing PTA members who were doing their best to figure out a pleasant and inclusive holiday celebration that could be enjoyed by everybody are suddenly confronted with hate mail from distant strangers who consider their tolerance treasonous and offensive. And in the long run, that can’t be doing Gibson and O’Reilly’s crusade any good. ---
**Author:** ![Plynck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Plynck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plynck)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/33 "2005-12-23T16:57:12Z")
> [@lonesome loser](#): > > Gibson is a perfect fit for Fox. They are all nuts. I don’t watch Fox, so I don’t know if this is an isolated example, but I liked Shephard Smith’s reporting during Katrina. Of course, they may just keep him around to justify called it “fair and balanced”… > [@Starving Artist](#): > > I can just imagine the response I would get if I were to come in here saying something like ‘The Secular Left should to hell’. We know we’re going to hell. That’s where all the cool kids are going. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/34 "2005-12-23T16:59:17Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Well, according to one of the articles linked in the OP, it’s not: > In other words, the source of this rumor is an earlier dispute about distributing religious-themed gifts at a school party, and it was already a non-issue by the time it got any publicity. Rumor, stupidity, and aggrieved vicitimization managed to turn it into a wholly illusory ban on red and green clothing. (And no offense, but if you’d looked over the OP’s links more carefully before participating in the thread, you wouldn’t have needed to ask.) **Not only were O’Reilly’s (and Gibson’s) claims outright lies, they were recycled lies.** They tried to use the same story on Saginaw Township in Michigan. [http://mediamatters.org/items/200512130006](http://mediamatters.org/items/200512130006) “O’REILLY: In Plano, Texas, just north of Dallas, the school told students they couldn’t wear red and green because they were Christmas colors. That’s flat-out fascism. If I were a student in Plano, I’d be a walking Christmas tree after that order. Have a little thing on my head.” “The school district does not restrict students or staff from wearing certain color clothes during holiday times or any other school days,” noted Dr. Otto, who said that the school district’s attorney has requested that Mr. O’Reilly retract the statement." [http://www.wnem.com/Global/story.asp?S=4235657](http://www.wnem.com/Global/story.asp?S=4235657) '(TV5) – A Mid-Michigan Township makes national news but there’s a problem, local officials say the whole thing was made up. Bill O’Reilly is making the claim that Saginaw Township officials banned residents from wearing red and green during the holiday season. Local officials say he’s dead wrong. Syndicated controversial talk show host Bill O’Reilly said on his radio show: “In Saginaw , Michigan , the township opposes red and green clothing…on Anyone, In Saginaw Township they basically said anybody, we don’t want you wearing red or green. I would dress up from head to toe in red to green if I were in Saginaw Michigan .” " Further, even that was just a rehash of an old John Birch Society fantasy from 1959. I can’t believe we are still “discussing” the truth or falsehood of these things. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/35 "2005-12-23T17:04:00Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > I was wondering if there was a more unbiased site for the debunking. Then you should have asked that. What you asked was, “does anyone know if this is true or not?”, and the OP’s links (and the links within them) were quite definite that it isn’t. Sorry to snark at you with the “no offense” comment, though. In any case, the Dallas Morning News link in my most recent post, plus [this link](http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15751866&BRD=1426&PAG=461&dept_id=528208&rfi=6) to the Plano Star Courier, should satisfy your request for a “more unbiased site”. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/36 "2005-12-23T17:06:13Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > It didn’t really sound to me like he was DARING Boston to come into the bar. After all, he reportedly said:I bet if Boston did visit a bar when Gibson was there, Gibson would do something really mean like order a round for the house, and then point to Boston and say to the bartender, “Except THAT guy, right there!” > > That would probably hurt Mr. Boston’s feelings, real bad. Poor Mr. Boston. That’s not how I read it. Everywhere I’ve been, everyone I’ve know, when someone says something like this, when they say “don’t you come around here”, the underlying message is “if I see you I’m gonna kick your ass”. If it had only been “I ain’t buyin’ you any drinks” then he could have said that. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/37 "2005-12-23T17:38:09Z")
RE: The War on Christmas I recently read an essay by a Muslim who remarked that the tighty righty outrage resembles Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch. Like The Grinch, these people seem to think removing the trappings of Christmas destroys the sentiment, too. 'Tis a pity that their joy and spirit are so shallow. It’s sad their Peace on Earth and Goodwill Towards Men means less than _fighting_ for a crèche on public property. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/38 "2005-12-23T18:07:21Z")
> [@Frostillicus](#): > > How lengthy is this John Gibson book? 6 pages (including the intro by Bill O’Reilly)? That was my thoughts. Someone wrote an entire book on this? An editorial, maybe, but a BOOK??? > [@Plynck](#): > > I don’t watch Fox, so I don’t know if this is an isolated example, but I liked Shephard Smith’s reporting during Katrina. Of course, they may just keep him around to justify called it “fair and balanced”… The reason you notice a difference is probably because Shep’s program is News, and O’Reilly and Hannity/Colmes are analysis (editorials). I don’t usually watch much of Shep’s program, but I did see a bit during Katrina, it was very good. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/39 "2005-12-23T18:56:30Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > While Gibson did get quite angry, his reaction may be quite justified, as Boston had called him a liar. From the clip, it _appears_ that Boston was wrong, as Gibson claimed that he did NOT make the claim (children wearing red and green in Plano) that Boston attributed to him. […] Regarding the story about the kids in a Plano school not being able to wear red and green over the holiday, I’ve heard that quite a few times, does anyone know if it is true or not? If you untangle the mess, it boils down to this: A school in Plano was going to have a “Winter break party.” Some fundamentalist parents wanted their wee son to distribute candy cane pens, with a laminated copy of the “Candy Cane Story” text attached: > [@](#): > > According to the legend, there was a candy maker who wanted to invent a candy that was a witness to Christ. The result was the candy cane. > > First of all he used a hard candy because Christ is the Rock of all ages. > > This hard candy was shaped so that it would resemble either a “J” for Jesus or a shepherd’s staff. > > He made it white to represent the Purity of Christ. > > Finally a red stripe was added to represent the blood of Christ shed for the sins of the world and three thinner stripes for the stripes He received on our behalf when the Roman soldiers whipped Him. > > Sometimes a green stripe is added as a reminder that Jesus is a Gift from God. > > Jesus is the Pure Lamb of God come to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world. > So the next time you see a candy cane, hear the Sermon it preaches: Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, isthe Rock of all Ages who suffered and died for our sins. They made their intentions known to the organizers well in advance (which seems to suggest to me that they were spoiling for a fight) and there were some concerns about the school running afoul of the Establishment Clause by allowing organized prosyletizing during a school function, and they were told that couldn’t happen. So the parents went to the principal to ask what was going on, _within the context of parents specifically trying to push their religion into a school function._ This is how their lawyers themselves characterized the “Red and Green” controversy: > [@](#): > > Doug Morgan and Robin Morgan questioned Swanson about the prohibition of using any materials which would symbolize the “Christmas” season and the restrictions on using symbols or colors, such as red, green, or any combination of red or green colors in any of the materials that the volunteer parents bring to the “winter break” party. […] Swanson said she would investigate the schools prohibition of use of certain “colors”; but, she affirmed that pursuant to PISD policy all symbols which would represent or symbolize “Christmas” or the “Christian religion” are prohibited from being used by parents and volunteer home room mothers as a part of the “winter break” parties. No “You can’t use that colour!” forthcoming, and the context isn’t just the use of colour, it’s the use of colour with specific notation: “Red is Blood of Christ!” “White is the Purity of Christ!” Green is the, uh… _Giftiness_ of Christ!" Here’s where the “ban” of the colours comes in-- later, the school sent out a note to volunteer parents saying asking for stuff to bring to the party. Talk of “limitations” does not appear in quotes in the complaint – that language is supplied by the plaintiffs’ lawyers. > [@](#): > > Party “contributions” be limited “to the approved items listed below.” The restrictions specially refer to “white plates,” “white paper napkins,” and “white ready to spread frosting.” Shock, horror! Anyway, by their own evidence, all of those items symbolize the PURITY OF CHRIST!!!111!! and they’re just sore that the BLOOD OF CHRIST!!!11!! and the GIFTINESS OF CHRIST!!!1!! aren’t all over the dessert table. “Help! We’re being oppressed!” The whole thing was resolved before it went through court anyway, and the parents _were_ allowed to distribute their witnessing gifties at a designated area for community-related material (_ie;_ not supplied by the school) within the school. When you look at it, it’s really about fundamentalist parents getting litigious in order to witness to other parents’ children, with the sanction of the school district. Mr. “War on Christmas” latched on to the _mere allegation_ of a **ban** on red and green, based on the presence of a white cake and plates – in the context of aggressive people who were actively trying to make the party a Let’s-make-sure-the-kids-know-about-Jesus fest. It was never really, “Oh no! We aren’t allowed festive colours,” it’s “Oh, no, we can’t serve everybody’s kids cake on paper plates printed with ‘_Take, eat: this is my body which is broken for you – do this in remembrance of me. Your sweetest friend, Jesus,_’ around the rim.” There was never any demonstration that red and green were _verboten_ at the party – just that they wanted white plates and napkins. Gibson himself has characterized the whole debate as the total ban of “festive” seasonal colours: “Well, what we reveal in this book, _The War on Christmas_, is, we all know the nativity scene is a religious symbol and there’s arguments about whether that should be in schools and public places, but we are talking about secular symbols. We are talking about banning Christmas trees, the colors red and green.” (On the _O’Reilly Factor_, October 20th.) I haven’t read his book, but that’s how he’s representing it’s contents, or at least how he _was_. He is in absolutely no position to go apoplectic when people call him a liar – because, well-- he _is_ a liar. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864/40 "2005-12-23T19:00:38Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > Talk of “limitations” does not appear in quotes in the complaint – that language is supplied by the plaintiffs’ lawyers. Talk of “limitations” does not appear in quotes in the _note to volunteer parents_, that is. :smack: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/john-gibson-fo-fox-nwes-a-class-act-in-the-war-on-christmas/336864.md?page=3)