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	<title>Comments on: Christmas Commercialized</title>
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	<link>http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/</link>
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	<pubDate>Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:00:51 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>By: Buy Now Learn Spanish Like Crazy Nive Dos</title>
		<link>http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-7952</link>
		<dc:creator>Buy Now Learn Spanish Like Crazy Nive Dos</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 19 Jan 2008 07:07:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-7952</guid>
		<description>&lt;strong&gt;Buy Now Learn Spanish Like Crazy Nive Dos...&lt;/strong&gt;

Buy Now Learn Spanish Like Crazy Nive Dos...</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Buy Now Learn Spanish Like Crazy Nive Dos&#8230;</strong></p>
<p>Buy Now Learn Spanish Like Crazy Nive Dos&#8230;</p>
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		<title>By: retro</title>
		<link>http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-7867</link>
		<dc:creator>retro</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 13:49:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-7867</guid>
		<description>Hard to believe Christmas is already around the corner. I am ready for some Thanksgiving turkey though.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hard to believe Christmas is already around the corner. I am ready for some Thanksgiving turkey though.</p>
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		<title>By: Matt</title>
		<link>http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-1593</link>
		<dc:creator>Matt</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2005 20:29:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-1593</guid>
		<description>Man, that was a fascinating comment.  I wonder if he actually read my post, which was directed at Christians who complain EVERY SINGLE YEAR about the commercialization of Christmas.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Man, that was a fascinating comment.  I wonder if he actually read my post, which was directed at Christians who complain EVERY SINGLE YEAR about the commercialization of Christmas.</p>
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		<title>By: Sean</title>
		<link>http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-1592</link>
		<dc:creator>Sean</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 22 Dec 2005 19:47:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-1592</guid>
		<description>All I have to say is, maybe you should view Christmas in a different light. Maybe the light that it only HELPS the economy and people's standard of living with Christmas bonuses, extra overtime pay, and all the other fringe benefits involved with the season. If you want to take my commercialization out of your holiday, then why don't you take your religion out of my government? In a government you expect to be Christian and for Christians, you hardly seem to care that commercialization exists within.

If it benefits and spreads your ideas it is only viewed as a good thing, until it twists your ideas to the point where they become a lesser meaning in the whole scheme. Then it becomes the commercialized beast you view as Christmas. Just because you complain about it doesn't mean that people like me will listen and stop celebrating it because Christians are up in arms about it EVERY SINGLE YEAR. If you want to return to the time that was the Dark Ages in which nothing progressed, science regressed, and humanity was drunken in a religious stupor that kept them focused singularly on "The Lord" and off of society's future, then so be it. But what you do on a private basis is your own thing. DON'T celebrate commercially, it's YOUR choice. 

Typical though, trying to shove your beliefs down other people's throats as if this is some super-imposed structure that should dictate every waking moment in our lives.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>All I have to say is, maybe you should view Christmas in a different light. Maybe the light that it only HELPS the economy and people&#8217;s standard of living with Christmas bonuses, extra overtime pay, and all the other fringe benefits involved with the season. If you want to take my commercialization out of your holiday, then why don&#8217;t you take your religion out of my government? In a government you expect to be Christian and for Christians, you hardly seem to care that commercialization exists within.</p>
<p>If it benefits and spreads your ideas it is only viewed as a good thing, until it twists your ideas to the point where they become a lesser meaning in the whole scheme. Then it becomes the commercialized beast you view as Christmas. Just because you complain about it doesn&#8217;t mean that people like me will listen and stop celebrating it because Christians are up in arms about it EVERY SINGLE YEAR. If you want to return to the time that was the Dark Ages in which nothing progressed, science regressed, and humanity was drunken in a religious stupor that kept them focused singularly on &#8220;The Lord&#8221; and off of society&#8217;s future, then so be it. But what you do on a private basis is your own thing. DON&#8217;T celebrate commercially, it&#8217;s YOUR choice. </p>
<p>Typical though, trying to shove your beliefs down other people&#8217;s throats as if this is some super-imposed structure that should dictate every waking moment in our lives.</p>
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		<title>By: Dave B</title>
		<link>http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-1550</link>
		<dc:creator>Dave B</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 02 Dec 2005 12:32:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-1550</guid>
		<description>Santa Clause etc. can be a good way to introduce the ideas of "giving" and "good will towards men"... I don't think completely eliminating that part of x-mas is a good idea... tho in a few if my kids get too cought up in "what did you get me"... I mage change my tune...</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Santa Clause etc. can be a good way to introduce the ideas of &#8220;giving&#8221; and &#8220;good will towards men&#8221;&#8230; I don&#8217;t think completely eliminating that part of x-mas is a good idea&#8230; tho in a few if my kids get too cought up in &#8220;what did you get me&#8221;&#8230; I mage change my tune&#8230;</p>
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		<title>By: Ben362</title>
		<link>http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-1547</link>
		<dc:creator>Ben362</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Dec 2005 01:58:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-1547</guid>
		<description>Hey Tom most of the people reading this are probably in Iowa hence Walden books not the other bookstore of different name but same corperation.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hey Tom most of the people reading this are probably in Iowa hence Walden books not the other bookstore of different name but same corperation.</p>
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		<title>By: Tom</title>
		<link>http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-1546</link>
		<dc:creator>Tom</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2005 23:38:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-1546</guid>
		<description>"Read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” sometime. Dr. Seuss knew what he was talking about."

Available for only $13.99 from your local "Borders"</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;Read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” sometime. Dr. Seuss knew what he was talking about.&#8221;</p>
<p>Available for only $13.99 from your local &#8220;Borders&#8221;</p>
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		<title>By: nate</title>
		<link>http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-1545</link>
		<dc:creator>nate</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 30 Nov 2005 23:29:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.mattandnancy.org/matts-external-brain/christmas-commercialized/#comment-1545</guid>
		<description>Matt, 

I totally agree.  Sarah and I decided not to have a christmas tree in our family.  Or to do lights or to ever tell our kids about "Santa Claus".  Her mom told us we were ruining Christmas, but I'm convinced that there are more important things, like... family, love, generosity, and remembering the Child that was born for us.  

Plus, I just don't feel like "bearing false wittness" with my kids and tell them some freaky old man broke into our home and gave them the gifts they imagined.  Better to have them know that Sarah and I gave them the most generous, appropriate gift we could, and have them learn about Christ instead.

I was out of the country on Black Friday...  Thank God.

Good thoughts.  As for me and my house too...  We'll keep Christ the point of this season.</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Matt, </p>
<p>I totally agree.  Sarah and I decided not to have a christmas tree in our family.  Or to do lights or to ever tell our kids about &#8220;Santa Claus&#8221;.  Her mom told us we were ruining Christmas, but I&#8217;m convinced that there are more important things, like&#8230; family, love, generosity, and remembering the Child that was born for us.  </p>
<p>Plus, I just don&#8217;t feel like &#8220;bearing false wittness&#8221; with my kids and tell them some freaky old man broke into our home and gave them the gifts they imagined.  Better to have them know that Sarah and I gave them the most generous, appropriate gift we could, and have them learn about Christ instead.</p>
<p>I was out of the country on Black Friday&#8230;  Thank God.</p>
<p>Good thoughts.  As for me and my house too&#8230;  We&#8217;ll keep Christ the point of this season.</p>
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