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Thomas Sowell

On Christmas, liberals are by no means liberal

If you don’t want to have a gun in your home or in your school, that’s your choice. But don’t be such a damn fool as to advertise to the whole world that you are in “a gun-free environment” where you are a helpless target for any homicidal fiend who is armed. Is it worth a human life to be a politically correct moral exhibitionist?

The more I study the history of intellectuals, the more they seem like a wrecking crew, dismantling civilization bit by bit — replacing what works with what sounds good.

Some people are wondering what takes so long for the negotiations about the “fiscal cliff.” Maybe both sides are waiting for supplies. Democrats may be waiting for more cans to kick down the road. Republicans may be waiting for more white flags to hold up in surrender.

If I were rich, I would have a plaque made up, and sent to every judge in America, bearing a statement made by Adam Smith more than two and a half centuries ago: “Mercy to the guilty is cruelty to the innocent.”

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My only quibble is that we should stop calling them “liberals”. That term is outmoded, they are far from anything that could remotely be considered liberal. “Totalitarians”, “statist”, “leftists”, yes… “liberals”, no.

Marxism is for dummies on December 26, 2012 at 5:44 PM

Sowell’s name should be mentioned in place of all those long-dead Greek yakkers who fondled boys for fun.

platypus on December 26, 2012 at 5:55 PM

“Totalitarians”, “statists”, “leftists”, “Marxists”, “Communists”, “Traitors”, yes… “liberals”, no.

Marxism is for dummies on December 26, 2012 at 5:44 PM

FIFY

The Rogue Tomato on December 26, 2012 at 5:59 PM

Sowell’s name should be mentioned in place of all those long-dead Greek yakkers who fondled boys for fun.

platypus on December 26, 2012 at 5:55 PM

Please expand on your hypothesis.

Or in Democrat Voter Speak, please tell us WTF you are referring to.

Del Dolemonte on December 26, 2012 at 6:05 PM

The annual outbursts of intolerance toward any display of traditional Christmas scenes, or even daring to call a Christmas tree by its name, show that today’s liberals are by no means liberal.

Oh please.

ernesto on December 26, 2012 at 6:28 PM

There are people calling for the banning of assault weapons who could not define an “assault weapon” if their life depended on it. Yet the ignorant expect others to take them seriously.

Oh please.

tom daschle concerned on December 26, 2012 at 6:36 PM

Oh please.

ernesto on December 26, 2012 at 6:28 PM

Since you said please…

I just quit my job as a security guard at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, IA. Cornell and Mount Vernon are VERY liberal. Cornell is the place Obama decided to talk the day after one of the debates, and was passionately received. I use that word to relay the depth of feeling around campus leading up to and during the appearance.

During the last few weeks of the block (as they call their learning segments) before the “holiday” break, there were plenty of references to Kwanzaa, as well as a Kwanzaa display and poster in the Commons. There were fewer references to Hanuka, though there was a Menorah in the Commons area for a short period. There were references to “Happy Holiday,” but the word “Christmas” was strangely missing. There was no mention of Christmas in any of the campus publications or emails leading up to the break. There was no display of a Nativity scene.

So we had Kwanzaa on campus. We had Hanuka on campus. Christmas was strangely missing, though there was some “holiday” celebrated that, obviously, couldn’t be named.

Before my last day, I made of point of returning any “happy holiday” wishes with a “Merry Christmas.” The discomfort in the faculty and administrative people was obvious. The students didn’t have any problems with it for the most part.

Kraken on December 26, 2012 at 6:51 PM

Oh please.

ernesto on December 26, 2012 at 6:28 PM

Well it does get downright ridiculous. It’s a federal holiday and yet we’re supposed to pretend it’s somehow wrong to mention which one we all got off work for yesterday?

If Christmas trees on public property are so wrong, then closing government buildings on the holiday must be that much worse.

Esthier on December 26, 2012 at 6:57 PM

Oh please.

ernesto on December 26, 2012 at 6:28 PM

Keep in mind that the Chicago “Holiday Tree” is about 100 feet away from an enormous menorah, the biggest I’ve ever seen in person, that has been there a long time as well. Shall we rename the menorah “Holiday Candles?”

Emanuel to light Daley Plaza ‘holiday’ tree today
November 23, 2011

Chicago’s first Jewish mayor will flip the switch during the 98th annual tree lighting ceremony in Daley Plaza on Wednesday.

But unlike Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who recently insisted on calling the Wisconsin State Capitol’s evergreen a “Christmas tree,” Mayor Rahm Emanuel intends to refer to the towering Tannenbaum at the city’s center as a “holiday tree,” spokeswoman Tarrah Cooper said.

When asked why it was important for the mayor to light the tree, Emanuel cited the holiday season as a time for people across Chicago to come together, Cooper said.

The 55-foot Colorado spruce from southwest suburban Western Springs will feature 5,800 multicolored LED lights and a five-pointed star perched on the top.

Former Mayor Richard Daley usually lit what he called the Christmas tree — and as it was still referred to on the city website Tuesday — along with a celebrity guest, said Daley spokeswoman Jackie Heard. He will not attend Wednesday’s festivities, she said.

The city has issued permits this year for a variety of holiday displays in Daley Plaza — both secular and religious, including a Santa house, a Nativity scene and a menorah. In the past, an Islamic star and crescent also shared the plaza, but no application for those was received this year.

Emily Soloff, associate director for interreligious and intergroup relations for the American Jewish Committee, commended the mayor’s decision and rationale for lighting the tree.

“Those for whom it isn’t a religious symbol relate to it for the symbol of happiness and joy that we all as Chicagoans can experience this season,” Soloff said. “That adds to our civic pride and our feelings of being a community that we all share in a part of this season.”

visions on December 26, 2012 at 7:12 PM