Really...

Interesting attempt on your part at mind reading.

It read like permission to me. I'm a word reader, not a mind reader.

Permission.

Not even visually close.

Nice combination of misogyny and anti-Semitism there

I missed the implications of that line.

Hitchens was an asshole. He could easily have said "A young girl in a very bad situation" to get his point across.

I've been saving it for this time of year so now is as good a time as any I suppose.

As a big tough Aussie guy this one always gets me to choke up a little, it doesn't help that I'm an expat and it is my parents back home drinking white wine in the sun. Literally.
But I know they are there, will be there and they are waiting. And that is what is really important to me this time of year.

You can find lots of ideas and a certain well aired business card company prints them up.

It truly is the reason for the season no matter how co-opted by Jesus.

Solstice cards for some. Christmas for others. A few Hanukkah cards. And some winter scenes to those whose beliefs we don't know.

It's the recipient who matters, not the sender. We wish them a Happy Whatever They Celebrate.

We don't assume anything, really.

How did you get that from his post?

When I sent Christmas cards. As I'm sure you know, I'm a devout Episcopalian, but I honestly detest Christmas. I don't take anything in the bible literally, and I'm sure Jesus's birth was put near the solstice to bring in pagans. I have no idea when he was born.

In the meantime, the weather is crappy, and the days are short. And we whip ourselves into a frenzy of spending too much money and trying to pretend we're merry whether we are or not.

I do love the solstice because the days start to get longer. I think I'm going to celebrate it with a small feast this year.

The Solstice happens whether one believes in Jesus or not. It marks the days getting longer. Definitely a reason to celebrate.