# Silent Night Holy Night 9/11 **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 16, 2004, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silent-night-holy-night-9-11/280066 "2004-12-16T01:06:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silent-night-holy-night-9-11/280066/61 "2004-12-17T03:32:55Z")
> [@](#): > > That a funny reaction you have to this some PunditLisa. You have no problem with a father singing about his grief for his son, why not a son singing for his father? I dunno. I think jjim’s got it right. The song just has no redeeming qualities, IMO. “Cats in the Cradle” has a similar theme but is a superior song because it has lyrics that transcend 10th grade poetry class. “Tears of Heaven” (I apologize for hacking its title previously) is a lovely, moody song. “Unbreak my Heart” is another. Both put me in a funk the second I hear the intro. And, gawd, I hate to admit it here in the Pit where arrows are flung so gleefully, but I also get in a funk when I hear the Titanic music. Whatever that instrument is that wails so plaintively makes me immediately melancholy. And then there’s “Edmund Fitzgerald…” Don’t even get me started on Edmund Fitzgerald or I’ll need to start popping Prozac. So in conclusion, “Edmund Fitzgerald” is quality depressing music while “In the Living Years” and “Christmas Shoes” is dreck. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silent-night-holy-night-9-11/280066/62 "2004-12-17T03:41:19Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#): > > I agree the song is vile. > > Having said that, I’d like to point out - this sort of reasoning always annoys me whenever I hear it. Free will is a vital part of human existence, and that means that human actions will occur that don’t always measure up to the standard of moral or good behavior. In my opinion, once free will is allowed for, it seems that there are two options available: either God allows actions to have consequences, no matter how vile the action might be; or God acts to negate all evil actions, which seems to me would negate the whole purpose (whatever it might be) for allowing free will in the first place. > > I’m not trying to troll, here. Or convert anyone. I’m just sick of that particular non-argument for why a good and loving God can’t possibly exist. Well the song suggests he intervenes by steadying a trembling hand. If people pray for strength and are rewarded that also suggests he intervenes. So if the choices are he never intervenes or he intervenes all the time, which is it? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2004, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silent-night-holy-night-9-11/280066/63 "2004-12-17T04:00:02Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I dunno. I think jjim’s got it right. The song just has no redeeming qualities, IMO. “Cats in the Cradle” has a similar theme but is a superior song because it has lyrics that transcend 10th grade poetry class. > > “Tears of Heaven” (I apologize for hacking its title previously) is a lovely, moody song. “Unbreak my Heart” is another. Both put me in a funk the second I hear the intro. And, gawd, I hate to admit it here in the Pit where arrows are flung so gleefully, but I also get in a funk when I hear the Titanic music. Whatever that instrument is that wails so plaintively makes me immediately melancholy. And then there’s “Edmund Fitzgerald…” Don’t even get me started on Edmund Fitzgerald or I’ll need to start popping Prozac. > > So in conclusion, “Edmund Fitzgerald” is quality depressing music while “In the Living Years” and “Christmas Shoes” is dreck. If you want to get moody over a Gordon Lightfoot song, listen to “If You Could Read My Mind.” One of the most poignant break up songs I can think of. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silent-night-holy-night-9-11/280066.md?page=3)