It isn’t just local TV that is calling attention to the story about anonymous complaint about an Emerson Street Christmas light display. The Newton TAB made it their lead story in this week’s paper.
The story is going national as well. FOX News is positioning the incident as proof that, yes Virginia there is a War on Christmas, inviting the Hunters to appear on FOX & Friends this morning.
And this story appeared in the Christian Post.
And with this second thread here, the story remains alive and well on the local blogs, too!
True Bill. And yet, I think the conversation so far here has been the more appropriate one; focused on whether or not ONE anonymous letter is worthy of all this media attention.
I don’t think it is. And although it appears that the TAB disagrees (and perhaps the family does too) I’ve not met anyone else locally who does.
Meanwhile, our city collects another black eye, playing into the stereotype that we are overly politically correct or perhaps even anti-Christian.
I believe it’s important to have a forum that (a) reminds folks that this thing is based on ONE ANONYMOUS letter and (b) does not reflect our community.
Greg: I agree with you that the Tab’s framing of this issue is unfortunate. If people do bother to peek in, I hope that they read the posts of Newton residents regarding this issue, which capture, I believe, the true sentiment of this community: We have a great deal of respect, if not interest and support for the beliefs and traditions of others. I do hope that people get that.
@Bill: Well said.
Maybe the story hasn’t ended. Maybe when Saturday comes and the neighbors gather to sing carols, Jimmy Kimmel will jump out of a giant snow man.
I knew things would spin out of control when the Tab reported that Fox News and the Christian Post had weighed in on the controversy. I won’t be surprised if Rush weighs in if he hasn’t already. He’ll probably give a sharp jeremiad against creeping secularism in America if he can take time out from bashing Pope Francis. Both Fox and the Christian Post gave the impression (somewhat subtly) that the Hunters were under siege from not just one neighbor, but more than one neighbor. And, of course, it was billed as just another of many attacks by liberals against religious folk in the never ending “War on Christmas”. I know from reading both the Tab and Village 14 blog that some of the strongest statements of support came from people on the liberal side of politics here in Newton. At least there were no references to “progressive secularists” or whatever catch phrases and slogans they use to designate, disparage and denigrate those they disagree with.
@Bob: Just to clarify, the TAB did not mention FOX or the Christian Post, I did. But I agree with everything else you said.
I also want to say that I appreciate Kim’s willingness to call this as he sees it.
I agree that this hype seems totally out of control. But I totally feel for the family because this has been a deep heartfelt tradition. I know people who lovingly plan out, anticipate and decorate their homes for their favorite holiday … whether it be for Halloween or Christmas … it is a devoted act of love when they do this. It may have been only one anonymous letter (which is very cowardly) … but I imagine it struck at the heart and soul of something important to the family.
This media hype is way out of control. There is a fine line between “making an issue public” and “exploitation”. It must be a slow news week.
That said, I hope the outpouring of support and encouragement has helped the Hunter family regain their Christmas spirit and love for their decoration and expression.
I repeat, this is not news. That the media seems to think otherwise is unfortunate. That’s how we end up with absurd claims like the one so wonderfully described here.
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I’m all done feeling bad for the family who are now just reaching out to any and all to get the world to feel sorry for them and further their 15 minutes. Enough is enough. It was one anonymous, non-threatening letter. These people never lost their Xmas spirit for a second Greer.
Can any of you confirm that this family is “reaching out” for all of this publicity? Is that a fact? Or are you just making this up? I certainly hope it’s not the latter.
Because this is what I see: A family had a long-standing Christmas tradition, headed by the father, now deceased. They receive an (obnoxious) letter, from some anonymous source. They, naturally, get upset. Local media picks up on the story and it goes viral.
As for why this is a news story is rather obvious. 1.) There is a hyped-up perennial WOC story line already in play. 2.) Boston media loves to play Newton as the poster-child of liberal excess. 3.) And some members of the Newton community have willingly played into this position in the past with provocative remarks of entitlement or bucking mainstream norms. All of this nourishes the craven WOC story line.
This family might be getting “15 minutes,” but I have no idea whether they wanted that, or if they knew how to get it. Do you? That would be pretty media-savvy. I do know that however they reacted, they are the victim here. I don’t see what traction is gained by blaming the victim. In fact, I see that inviting yet more media blowback. “Some now blame the victim of Christmas hate letter.” Let’s just stick to the facts.
@Gail I agree with you. Not news worthy.
@Kim I guess that depends on what one considers Christmas spirit. Milking the spotlight rather than to spreading and expressisng their happiness and cheer does not seem to be in the giving, caring and sharing spirit at all. The letter was mean spirited and cowardly. I was just saying that I could understand how devastating one letter could feel when targeted at something that one clearly cares so much about. Whether the letter is the cause or that they lost sight of their Christmas spirit before that, I don’t know .. but milking the victim angle is indeed bad form and not in the Holiday spirit at all. And I feel badly for the family for having lost that original Holiday spirit that started this beautiful house decorating extravaganza.
Yes. I call it Holiday spirit and the Holiday Season. I’m generally not a huge fan of commercials, but there is a commercial out right now that correctly points out that it is the HoliDAYS, not just one DAY. I consider the season to be from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day and it is my favorite time of year. Starting right after Halloween is just TOO much. Though some of these holidays move around in the Solar calendar, I don’t think any of the “year end, bringing closure and hope for a new beginning” type Holidays start before Halloween. I DO think it is appropriate to call it a “Holiday Season” and not just Christmas because there are so many Holidays going on this time of year from all religions and cultures. While perhaps calling the Christmas Tree a “Holiday bush” is someone’s twisted idea of being PC … calling it a Holiday Season is simply being inclusive because it doesn’t belong to any one religion or culture. I don’t get why people are offended with such a phrase.
It is this time of year that people of all walks of life start preparations that center around gathering family and loved ones closer together, thanking whatever greater powers that be one believes in for what we have and thinking about what we can do to be better next year. Many have rituals about renewal, re commitment and thankfulness. Many look to children and celebrate children as the universal realization of our future, our hopes and our continuation. That is what this time of year means to me.
So, however you celebrate … and perhaps, all you recognize is the end of one year and the beginning of a new one … I wish you and your loved ones all the best, may you bring closure to all you need for this year and may the future bring you prosperity, hope and joy.
I’m with Bill on this. Yes, they’re getting approached left and right by the media, but where’s the evidence that they are “reaching out” or “milking it”? Toward what end? They were upset that some idiot – purporting to be a “neighbor” – sent a nasty letter to their recently widowed, elderly mother about a tradition she cherished. The media made it about the WOC – for them, it’s personal. Here’s what one of the (adult) children wrote on FB – I don’t see any loss of Christmas spirit:
I’m glad to see their spirit is still in tact. May they take the high road and add more lights and continue with the tradition!
Greer just hit it out of the park.
I think the Hunters have some work to do…
At this time of year I always revisit my favorite Christmas prose by Henry Van Dyke, not because it speaks to Christianity, but because it speaks to humanity. So, with your indulgence I’d like to share a slightly edited version here.
“It is a good thing to observe Christmas day. The mere marking of times and seasons, when men agree to stop work and make merry together, is a wise and wholesome custom. It helps one to feel the supremacy of the common life over the individual life. It reminds a man to set his own little watch, now and then, by the great clock of humanity which runs on sun time.
But there is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas.
Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world; to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground; to see that your fellow-men are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy; to own that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life; to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness–are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.
Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children; to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old; to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough; to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts; to try to understand what those who live in the same house with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave for your ugly thoughts, and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open–are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.
Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world–stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death–and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas.
And if you keep it for a day, why not always?
But you can never keep it alone.”
I have to agree with Greer here.
Small-World Dept: My college roommate’s mother grew up in that house on Emerson Street. He sent me this video of kids playing in the snow outside the house in the late ’50s, and he sent me this note:
@Bruce: I’m thinking about writing an anonymous letter saying I’m offended by the music.
Greg, didn’t you have that same music playing through your neighborhood when you were growing up? Where I grew up, it was constantly in the air,everywhere. And the sun was always shining. Ah, those were the days…
@Bruce: yes that was the music we used to hear when we played in the snow. I’m complaining now because I didn’t know how to write back then.
No, Bruce … that’s a DIFFERENT song …
pretty sure that was the most frighting piece of camera work I’ve ever seen… (Greer’s link)
0:42 director yells closer you imbecile??
OMG! I want to “like” Hoss’s comment. Watched the video more closely, LOL!!!
Hilarious. I’m also planning on writing an anonymous letter complaining to the person who decided that song be over five minutes long.