What Color is Santa?

[peacetraveler22]

Who said Santa is white? I believe he should be whatever you imagine. A slow news cycle in the American press this week and controversy erupted when a black writer suggested that American Santa should no longer be depicted only as a white man. The idea sent a blonde haired, blue eyed news reporter on a conservative news channel into a frenzy. You can read the article and watch video of the controversial news segment here.

This morning I encountered a black Santa on my way to work. In fact, I know this guy very well. For the past ten years, he stands in the same spot on Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC selling newspapers every morning. I've learned a lot about him over the years, sitting at the traffic light on my daily commute. I wonder how many people simply ignore him, thinking he's homeless? For me, it's a great reminder to never make assumptions about others based on appearance or skin color. He's led a very interesting life. A former employee of Harley Davidson, a motorcycle enthusiasts and overall good Samaritan. Today he greeted me with a big hug and Starbuck's gift card. Spreading holiday cheer and kindness. A beautiful way to start the day!

Of course, others say Santa is bad no matter the color but I don't agree with them. Life without imagination and curiosity is some type of prison sentence. Who wishes to strip all sense of wonder, anticipation and excitement from young children during the holiday season? Perhaps it's because I'm not religious and celebrate Christmas in a completely secular way but Santa should live on, in every color imaginable. What do you think? Do you let your kids believe in Дед Мороз?

I've been busy with holiday season preparations and travel to the wonderful State of Tennessee, but promise some new and interesting stories soon. I even visited Moscow! :))

How are your holiday preparations coming? Are New Year's trees up yet?

Like the content of my blog? Please vote here, where I'm nominated for best LJ blog of 2013. Thanks to those who have already voted.

Comments

[siberian-cat.livejournal.com]

Not only Santa is black, he is also a...

[notabler.livejournal.com]

Not much joy in Christmas without children around. I don't celebrate it a lot, just cook a roast (not only turkey, anything)
and glass of wine (not necessarily champagne). We are a bit too old and most of excitement already gone. We in Lithuania almost forgot about Дед Мороз, since they got their Christmas back to celebrate and got Kalėdų Senis (Christmas granddad or similar). Since Independence Lithuanians enjoy 2 Christmas (catholic and orthodox), but New Year is still very important, much more than in West. They saved very interesting traditions for Christmas. I remember how a very brave Lithuanian friend invited me at SSSR time to celebrate Christmas properly. I was amazed

[yarowind.livejournal.com]

>>Who said Santa is white?

History!:)


>>Do you let your kids believe in Дед Мороз?

Already not:)

[alex winter (from livejournal.com)]

в детстве если кто-то играл деда мороза, мне было пофиг, какой он национальности, хотя подразумевается, что это дед славянской наружности. не нравилось только, если дедом морозом был старшеклассник или просто кто-то, кто не мог дать басу.

[mybathroom.livejournal.com]

>>Do you let your kids believe in Дед Мороз?
Of course! My son has been writing letters to him and every year Ded Moroz sent gifts. Once, when my son was small, a friend of mine play a role of the Ded Moroz. My son was very impressed. It's good when there is a place for miracles in the life.

[barabaan.livejournal.com]

Color of the Santa? Does it matters indeed? Lets make Christmas and New Year happy of the bullshit.

[south-of-broad.livejournal.com]

It's the prime example of the reverse racism. Why can't this old kind guy, who brings the toys to the kids all over the world, be white? Why it is so important for the liberals to disempower every single tradition and believe that people have had for so many generations? We don't celebrate Christmas, we don't have a Christmas tree, children don't say the Pledge of Allegiance, now Santa. So if Santa is not white, why don't they , who says so, come up with another idea. They invented Kwanzaa after all. As to Meghan Kelly - they supposed to pronounce her the person of the year.- if that wasn't for her nobody would even know about this ridiculous subject.
Santa is white, sorry, libs. He lives on the North Pole and no black can survive there. Simple, see!

[yarowind.livejournal.com]

Why no one repaints Lewis Armstrong?:)

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

The founder of Christianity, Paul once wrote to the Romans: There are no Greek nor Jews.

And this is how we doody:

[onkel-hans.livejournal.com]

And by the way, there is no Christmas nor Santa in Russia.
In my term of service in Moscow I every God forsaken year congratulated the Russians with Christmas and always their reply was "What is this?"

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

And where do you find these? :))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

It's a distinction in the West that Christmas is celebrated by everyone and not perceived solely as a religious holiday. I guess if you're a believe this is a negative thing, but it's a festive time of year to be around family and friends. I agree it's not the same without children, but I have such a huge family that lack of young children is never a problem. There are always plenty of them running around at all gatherings. I didn't know about Kalėdų Senis, thanks! It's always interesting to read about traditions in other countries.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, but "Santa" in modern times is an imaginary character so we can make him (or her) whatever we wish. :) Why don't you let your kids believe in Дед Мороз? You believe it distracts from the religious nature of the holidays?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

In America, it's always strange to see a skinny Santa. He's meant to be big, fat and jolly with rosy cheeks and a big beard.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes Denis ,I agree. It's always good to believe in miracles. :) We have the same tradition here, where children send letters to Santa and starting a few days before Christmas, you can even track Santa's location through NORAD - http://www.noradsanta.org/. It's fun to look at the map with my nephew and see what Santa enters North America!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

He lives in the North Pole and no black can survive there! :)) Well, it is in fact true. Black people don't like cold weather. I actually like this news reporter. She was a former lawyer and sometimes has interesting analysis; however, I almost never agree with her viewpoint. And you like Bill O'Reilly also? :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Why does it matter?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I understand, but they have a festive New Year's celebration with decorations, light displays, trees, etc. Creates the same type of festive atmosphere, well as festive and joyful as Russian can be. :)

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

Normally these are chocolate rabbits (hares?, bunnies? :) ) and they are sold in Russia for decades.

And see, now somebody decided to make them Santas only by changing the foil :))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I've never seen these chocolates in Russia. Btw, I don't know the difference between a rabbit, hare and bunny. I was just discussing this the other day with a friend.

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

Actually hare and rabbit are two absolutely different species.
Bunny probably is a female rabbit :))

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

In Russian this chocolate is called "шоколадный заяц" so the correct translation would be "chocolate hare".
But I think that in American folklore a figure of a rabbit is much more popular than a hare.
Like "Brother Rabbit" :)

BTW I first heard of "brother rabbit" from my grandmother who spent long years in USA and Canada.
Actually, my father was born in Canada and my uncle was born in USA :)))

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

I agree with you.
Liberals want to create sort of everybody's society.
But in fact they make nobody's society because when they forbid old traditions no new meaningful traditions emerge.
It takes a profet, not politicians, to create a new religion or an equally powerful new way of life.

And for the left all this "fight" serves as a good smoke screen.
A REAL task for the left is fighting with meaningless economic inequality and for justice for all.
That's what the new Pope has started to do. At least, he says openly about it.
But most "left" or "liberal" do not want to do this because they are affluent themselves and have no problems with a society ruled by corporations.

That is why they occupy themselves with a fight for something not dangerous for corporations or even promising new markets for them.
All for gays, new services for gays, all for new traditions instead of old... I thinks you understand what I mean.
But NOTHING of the subjects which could become real dangerous for the rich.

[south-of-broad.livejournal.com]

Honestly I don't watch news much these days. When it's big in America, it is almost a bed time for us in Germany. Every now and then i catch something through my favorite blogs on FB. Like this particular "news" .
I love her, she is witty and sharp and beautiful and conservative) The other day she pretty much crashed some moron from some bs non-religious group for suing one public school. Students of this school were collecting toys and gifts for the poor children and someone didn't like it because it was organized by the religious group. Oh, she was glorious in her sarcasm.
I used to like O'Reilly , but again I barely watch any news now.Too frustrating for me to watch how my past nightmare is coming back and destroying my beloved America. It's good to be far away , easy to separate yourself from the hurtful subject. Otherwise I would be probably somewhere with the bikers blocking the traffic in your town)

Here is the quote from one of my favorites regarding the whole Santa nonsense: "I submit that the majority of blacks have more to be concerned about than the skin color of Santa Claus. Blacks need to be concerned about the fact that they lead the nation in single parent households, incarceration, out-of-wedlock births and abortions, they lead the nation in school dropout rates, and children being raised by grandparents, aunts/uncles because the child’s parents have abandoned them, are in prison, or dead. Black-on-black crime results in approximately 8,000 black deaths annually — and these knuckleheads are worried about the skin color of Santa Claus?"
http://mychal-massie.com/premium/blacks-have-more-important-issues-than-skin-color-of-santa-claus/

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of "Brother Rabbit." I had to google it. :)