Santa Forever

[richw]

My son is in Tiger cub scouts 1st grade six years old.

We have a pack meeting/Xmas party including siblings. The big man himself Mr. Claus shows up.

It was great because he was all decked out like father Christmas himself. It's set up like a celebrity meet and greet followed by a Q&A. The guy is in the zone answers all the questions.

One of my Tigers raises his hand but can't get out his question. So Santa comes across the room to hear it as a near whisper. Little Mathew says "My Dad says there is no Santa Claus"... he is six.

Well the guy fields the question with "As long as there are children that believe there will always be a Christmas".

I know by his expression he felt like a complete loser and outsider in that instant. Also in 3 months of cub scouts I have never seen his father, so how involved is he.

So Please

Kids need to know that they are part of something bigger and it's a safe and kindly world. The truth they don't need.

Go with the flow don't make your kid feel like an Alien because of some misguided sense of secular correctness.

[ChrisNoF4i]

Aslam a lakem, my brother.

[TheIglu]

Ya ever think that the kid could have a different religious background?

Oh wait, we are all Christians, I forgot.



We had Jewish kids in my Cub Scout Pack.

[mikeb]

Originally posted by TheIglu
Ya ever think that the kid could have a different religious background?

Oh wait, we are all Christians, I forgot.



We had Jewish kids in my Cub Scout Pack.

i think that if in fact the kid is jewish rich would have said that. your assuming based on the limited info that there's some grand reason the dad told his son there's no santa. i think rich may have a little more info on this kid than us and hardly believe that he would leave out the fact the kid is jewish.

[TheIglu]

That's the whole point.

You never know if the kid is this way, that way or what. Rich was assuming his was Christian. Even if he is, Santa isn't part of our religion, he's part of our culture.

Teach the kids forever about being special, except that they should always try to fit in, right?

[The Snowman]

My son is 9 and still believes in Santa, although he's questioning it this year.

He asked me if I believe and I told him yes. Then asked him why he was asking. He told me it was because a girl in his class told him that Santa didn't exist. I told my son that as long as HE believed in Santa, then Santa is real.

Santa isn't really a physical being, just a representation of childhood innocence. If certain non-Christian groups feel the need to ruin this tradition for the children that would otherwise believe, I say Bah Humbug to them.

If you don't like it, just ignore it. Don't try to change what's been established for centuries. (to quote Beet...) Bunch of Gits!

[mikeb]

well i guess its for rich to say if the kid is jewish if he knows. rich?

i don't equate christmas with religion anymore. i view it as a kick ass day were i get together with friends and family. all are welcome to join in if they please.

[tonyd]

wait... Santa's not real?

[highsider]

I just had a daughter, and my wife an I are arguing this point.

I am fine with the whole Christian view of Christmas (to an extent, anyway), but at this point, what the hell does that have to do with Santa? Santa does not seem to have anything to do with religion, as far as I can tell.

Also, if you are going to pass off a big scheming lie to your kids, why not make it something important - like that you were brought by a stork, rather than Daddy's inability to pull out in time.

Instead, a story about a big fat ass who flies a sled with reindeer (not just any reindeer, but magical flying reindeer with glowing noses and carrot smelling farts, dont'cha know), enters through your chimney, and brings you a bunch of crap because he thinks you behaved yourself? Who wears a big red suit that requires 5 acres of felt, and has never heard of a razor? Personally, I cant think of anything creepier. Actually, yes I can - if Santa was Pee-Wee Herman's Dad.

Since the general public seems insistent on this retarded tradition, I will advise my daughter not to educate her friends on how incredibly stupid the entire concept is. That way, when the other kids find out their parents have been lying to them their entire life for their own sick amusement, Fallon can laugh and say, "Boy, dont you feel retarded now"?

Signed,

The Grinch.

[bigred875]

christmas is not a religous holidy in this country..it is a national one...

For the life of me I cannot get what the fuck is so offensive about christmas..it is a holiday for EVERYONE!! it's about giving and celebrating...tradition...

and most important it is for the kids...not YOU to stage your protest..but out let the kids be....let the kids beleive in something nice, good an wholesome....give them a couple of years before you have to explain to them how horrible and unfair life can be...leave it alone already..its sickening what you seculars have done to this holiday...jew's, muslims and other religions put up christmas tree's and open up gifts on the 25th and they are not christian...

no matter what color, religion, sex or breed you can celebrtate christmas..

religous - get the manger, nativity scene and spend the day in church to celbrate the birth of christ..

non-religous - get out the tree, go see a fat guy in the mall dresed in red, decorate your house with lights and all the santa, frosty and rudolph crap you can get...

crazy seculars that cant fathom a fat guy in a red suit giving toys to kids - decorate in nice lights and festive colors..

it is about joy, happiness, hope...good will to men...all that crap lol

[richw]

Do I know, well no I don't know the childs religious affiliation if any.

I understand that the origin of Santa Claus was some generous guy in Germany that snuck around Christmas Eve and gave things to the village poor. That should be stopped and replaced by a Government Entitlement Program. I also have practicing Jewish friends that celebrate Chanukah but also don't seem to campaign against Santa.

If you have religious leanings of any kind I believe it is time to get the wagons in a circle.

I did not get the impression there was any basis with the kid other then his Dad pissing on his parade.

Secretly I did have the thought to ask the kid if it was easier to believe in a world wide conspiracy to fool him

This SIX year old wanted to believe and have a fun time.

I am sure if you analyse half the stuff you do, want and believe then you would see they are based on falsehoods and deception.

[highsider]

I was just messing around, I have no problem with Christmas.

I'm with bigred, if you're religious the holidays are good fun, and if you're not religious, they're still good fun. A few days to stay home from work and spend time with friends or family is never unwelcome, in my estimation.

FESTIVUS FOR THE REST OF US!!!!

P.S. - The holiday is not complete until I hear Adam Sandler's Hanukkah Song.

[bigred875]

" I also have practicing Jewish friends that celebrate Chanukah but also don't seem to campaign against Santa."

and you won't...you may hear of a rabbi asking for a manura to be put up somewhere but thats about it...most religious people have no problems with christmas, santa or the decorations

What happened in this country? i remember when you would celebrate other peoples holidays and cultures in schools to see what they were like....not anymore...soemone might be offended

[highsider]

Originally posted by bigred875

What happened in this country? i remember when you would celebrate other peoples holidays and cultures in schools to see what they were like....not anymore...soemone might be offended

When I was in grade school, everybody in the class took a different version of the holiday - Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc. - and brought in some examples of related foods, books, ornaments, etc. It was cool.

Many people are simply nervous of having a religion forced upon them.

But then again, many people buy Hyundais and eat anchovies, and we dont question their judgment.

[The Snowman]

It's because they want our children to grow up much too fast now.

No sense in having them believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, imaginary friends, or any such thing, because they need to know NOW that they don't exist.

What happened to letting children be children?

WTF has society done to us?

[bigred875]

Originally posted by 97BladeRider
It's because they want our children to grow up much too fast now.

No sense in having them believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, imaginary friends, or any such thing, because they need to know NOW that they don't exist.

What happened to letting children be children?

WTF has society done to us?

thats what I'm saying

although I think they really want their to be kids sheltered from anything remotely dangerous or that has the potential to hurt their feelings until they are 18 then release them on society...

[The Snowman]

Hey . . . most of us grew up ok and we were allowed to believe in the imaginary people.

[mmracer37]

Originally posted by 97BladeRider
It's because they want our children to grow up much too fast now.

No sense in having them believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, imaginary friends, or any such thing, because they need to know NOW that they don't exist.

What happened to letting children be children?

WTF has society done to us?

I think the tooth fairy changed his name to "The Molinator", at least that's what Santa told him on TV last night

[TheIglu]

Does not beliving in Santa ruin this kid's holiday season?

So knowing that your parents care about you enough to give you lots of gifts from them is harmful?

I know as I kid I was pissed once when my parents didn't get me shit, santa did all the work. I vented my frustration as a 6 year old that if Santa could get me gifts, then so could they.

I didn't mention anything about celebrating the holiday. I didn't mention anything about the over-marketed hype being necessarily a bad thing. I just think that you shouldn't badmouth the kid's parents for choosing how to raise their kids instead of doing what everyone else says to do.

This kid will probably grow up to have a better sense of individualism than the others in the group. Being a Cub Scout he has to believe in some sort of God. And yes, secular humanists count as that. With all the recent "don't raise my kids for me!" outcry about teaching things like evolution I find it hard to believe that we can pick and choose topics.

[odduc]

Jesus f'n Christ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got the whole point of Rich's post, but some need to argue for the simple sake of arguing. Christmas is, to some, a religious time. However, it is and should be, a time for all of us to get together with our friends and family and celebrate in our own way. PERIOD !!! This should be a time for kids to really enjoy. And so f'n what if parents choose to keep the Santa Claus myth alive for their kids. What is so wrong with a big fat jolly guy dressed in a tacky red suit who goes around giving gifts to kids. Kids need something to believe in and I see nothing wrong with believing in a guy who is so generous. Maybe it will teach kids something positive. We could all use something to believe in....

end of rant

[bigred875]

Originally posted by TheIglu
Does not beliving in Santa ruin this kid's holiday season?

So knowing that your parents care about you enough to give you lots of gifts from them is harmful?

I know as I kid I was pissed once when my parents didn't get me shit, santa did all the work. I vented my frustration as a 6 year old that if Santa could get me gifts, then so could they.

I didn't mention anything about celebrating the holiday. I didn't mention anything about the over-marketed hype being necessarily a bad thing. I just think that you shouldn't badmouth the kid's parents for choosing how to raise their kids instead of doing what everyone else says to do.

This kid will probably grow up to have a better sense of individualism than the others in the group. Being a Cub Scout he has to believe in some sort of God. And yes, secular humanists count as that. With all the recent "don't raise my kids for me!" outcry about teaching things like evolution I find it hard to believe that we can pick and choose topics.

then the kid goes to school and ruins it for everyone else in his class....let your kid choose..not you...do you think a kid wants or cares about the truth in this stuff...that is what being a kid is all about...fantasy and imagination.. kids dont read teh wall street journal while sipping his latte with CNN in the background....he's eating fruit loops and watching cartoons...

you want to raise yoru kid that way..fine...make sure he keeps his mouth shut around the other kids who want a childhood...

i can't beleive people think like you....

[The Snowman]

Originally posted by TheIglu
Does not beliving in Santa ruin this kid's holiday season?

It'll ruin the magic that is a child's Christmas, so YES! Although, if it;s a household where the child didn't believe fro the start, then probably not. My issue is when kids find out way too early that Santa doesn't exist. I actually find it to be fun to hold off putting some of the presents under the tree until Xmas eve, when I put the rest out and fill his stocking.

So knowing that your parents care about you enough to give you lots of gifts from them is harmful?

I know as I kid I was pissed once when my parents didn't get me shit, santa did all the work. I vented my frustration as a 6 year old that if Santa could get me gifts, then so could they.

That's why we do gifts from both us and Santa. The usual, boring stuff like clothes we give "from us". The fun stuff, like what he ASKED for, is usually from Santa.

[bigred875]

Originally posted by 97BladeRider
It'll ruin the magic that is a child's Christmas, so YES! Although, if it;s a household where the child didn't believe fro the start, then probably not. My issue is when kids find out way too early that Santa doesn't exist. I actually find it to be fun to hold off putting some of the presents under the tree until Xmas eve, when I put the rest out and fill his stocking.

That's why we do gifts from both us and Santa. The usual, boring stuff like clothes we give "from us". The fun stuff, like what he ASKED for, is usually from Santa.

that is a good way to do it

lol my mother still puts santa on all of ours..ages 30, 24, 23, 20, 16, 16, 15, 12 lol

[richw]

Psst

Santa gives my boys presents

Mom and Dad give them presents

They give presents to Mom and Dad.

Them meeting Santa is a celebrity sighting
like if an SP could meet Rosie O'Donnel or better yet Babs.

I am fascinated how you immediately leap to the somewhat warped beliefs of the extreme snake handling religious right.

It would be like if we started quoting Marks or Nieche (sp?) every time you said ghey rights.

Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus.

The stockings were hung by the fire with care in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there... Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night.

[Doc]

Hey guys what gets me is the complaining about how "society" has changed and "How come it isn't like when we grew up?"

Who do you think "changed" Us or the kids?