President Bush releases Christmas statement
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/12/23/art.bushchristmas.gi.jpg caption="Bush released a Christmas message Tuesday."]
The White House released a Christmas statement from President Bush Tuesday. Full statement follows:
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THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release December 23, 2008
Christmas 2008
"'I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'"
Luke 2:10-12
"Each year, Christmas brings together families, friends, and communities to rejoice in the birth of Jesus Christ and celebrate the wonderful gifts God has bestowed upon us. During this season, we remember Jesus' birth from the Virgin Mary, His justice and mercy that changed the world, and His ultimate sacrifice for all people. Though Jesus was born humbly in a manger, He was destined to be the Savior of the world. The light He brought into the world continues to break through darkness and change people's lives two thousand years later.
"This holiday season, as you rejoice in the good news of Jesus' love, forgiveness, acceptance, and peace, I encourage you to show grace to those less fortunate, just as God showed it to us. By serving those in need and through other acts of love and compassion, we can honor God's goodness and affirm the immeasurable value God places on the sanctity of life. We remember the members of our Armed Forces serving to protect our country and secure God's gift of freedom for others around the globe. All Americans are indebted to these men and women and their families for their sacrifice, devotion to duty, and patriotism.
"Laura and I send our best wishes for a very Merry Christmas. May you be surrounded by loved ones and blessed by the Author of Life during this joyous holiday and throughout the New Year."
GEORGE W. BUSH
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I have no problem with the President issuing a "Christmas" message as long as he also does the same for Channukah, Ramadan, etc. But I'm guessing he didn't. Or if he did, that he managed to do so in a screwed-up, condescending manner.
Keep it to yourself said: "Can't we care for all living creatures and the earth as a whole without invoking Christ or God?" Hate to break it to you, but God created ALL the living creatures and the EARTH, so we do have to invoke His name. He even created you and loves you. God bless you.
up yours george!
I am all for anyone wishing me a Merry Christmas. Christians are not the enemy. (Even though we ALL know Christ was not born on the 25th of December, he was born in April – GET OVER IT)
However, as the President of the United States, the person who is supposed to represent us all, would it have hurt for him to say something like, "I would also like to recognize those of the Jewish faith during the Chanukah Season and to those celebrating Kwanzaa – Best Wishes for you and your families." A nod to those faiths celebrating during the same time is not just PC – it's just Good Manners – something this President forgot long ago.
My co-worker is a Jehovah's Witness and I made a point to give him a Thank You card instead of a Christmas card to let him know he was being thought of. He was touched that someone took the time to understand him as a person and not persecute him for not celebrating Christmas.
After all, it's what Jesus would have done, himself. It's called respect.
Beelzebub has a devil put aside for him (and Cheney).
I agree it is an appropriate address for a Christmas prayer. But, as he is addressing a nation who is celebrating the holidays he shows that he is not a president of the people, but a president of the evangelical people. I also feel people do not like George bush saying these words because he has lost his legitimacy as a leader.
I'm glad President Bush wished everyone a "MERRY CHRISTMAS". I am glad he kept Christ in Christmas. I am tired of everyone wishing everyone else "Happy Holidays", "Seasons Greetings" or some other greeting because they are afraid of offending someone. A person can celebrate anything and anyway they want to, but they don't change their greeting. They don't remove the word Hannukah, Ramaden or Kwanzaa out of their celebration and greetings. Why should they expect Christians to remove Christ from theirs. They want it their way, but not mine.
Feel the Christmas love...
Could you guys give it a rest? Bush isn't the only one to blame for our crisis, does anyone of you read the Bible? It would happen no matter who is in office and is going to get worse. And as for Christmas, have you people ever read any history THE USA (the FREE Country of the world) was founded on CHRISTIANITY, the birth of Christ, hence CHRISTmas should be recognized for what it is, an American holiday that should be celebrated by ALL because he LOVED and came to die for ALL. If we as Christians hadn't laid down and compromised on issues in our government we might not be in this shape. Don't bash Bush for one of the only statements that he made actually representing Jesus as he should be represented! Merry Christmas to All and Happy New Year!!
I'm still waiting for my holiday wishes for Ganesha Chaturthi-the festival celebrating the birth of Ganesh.
Ganesh is the elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati, and is widely worshipped as the supreme god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune.
"Even Jesus would never forgive what you do."
It is Christmas. But it is also Solstice and Hannukah. The reality is that virtually every act of the Bush presidency violated the primary principle of the Christian faith (and this sentiment is found in most other world religions), simply "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." To mention the sanctity of life (for obviously political reasons) when you have presided over so much torture and so much death seems to show a genuine lack of sympathy for the suffering of others. It is Christmas. A good time to reach out to all Americans, to all citizens of the globe. A good time to humble yourself and repent for your sins. If George Bush used his final Christmas message to acknowledge his sins against man and God, I doubt that it would have offended anyone, regardless of their faith. However, his hypocrisy is hard to stomach, even at Christmas.
Only 28 days left of your reign King George the Boob!
I love you Mr. President and Laura. Thank you for your service as our president. Thank you for keeping me and my family safe from terriorist. Be sure to tell Obama how to take care of us.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Thank God it's his last one!
Is he gone yet? For Christ's sake, hurry up and go already.
Keep the solstice in Saturnalia! 😛
Thank you President Bush. Merry Christmas!
Boston Irish December 23rd, 2008 4:26 pm ET
I'm glad President Bush wished everyone a "MERRY CHRISTMAS". I am glad he kept Christ in Christmas. I am tired of everyone wishing everyone else "Happy Holidays", "Seasons Greetings" or some other greeting because they are afraid of offending someone. A person can celebrate anything and anyway they want to, but they don't change their greeting. They don't remove the word Hannukah, Ramaden or Kwanzaa out of their celebration and greetings. Why should they expect Christians to remove Christ from theirs. They want it their way, but not mine.
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Ummm I don't think you get it.
The reason people say "HAPPY HOLIDAYS" isn't supposed to take anything away from Christmas...it is because there are several holidays right around the same time of the year (Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa) and with all the people walking around out there, sometimes it's just not obvious which one someone celebrates. If you were Jewish, wouldn't you get at all annoyed if someone kept saying "MERRY CHRISTMAS" to you during Hanukkah? "Happy Holidays" is the correct way to address a general group of people this time of year.
Bush said – "This holiday season, as you rejoice in the good news of Jesus' love, forgiveness, acceptance, and peace, I encourage you to show grace to those less fortunate, just as God showed it to us...we can honor God's goodness and affirm the immeasurable value God places on the sanctity of life".
Ha! Tell that to the Iraqi's and their families, tell that to the American's who are losing jobs and homes, tell that to families who have lost loved ones in this senseless war, go on, preach to the world Mr. Bush.
Bush, you should take your own words to heart. Practice what you preach hypocrite.
Whether people like to admit it or not, or just refuse to accept it. Jesus is not just the savior of Christians. He was born and died for all of our sins. Jesus accepts all who seek and acknowledge him; regardless of one's prior religious beliefs. Why is it that people are so afraid to acknowledge Jesus? Is it because then you will have to admit that you're a sinner? How dare Jesus make you feel shame, you should crucify him again.
Honestly, President Bush is the President of the United States for 30 more days. I did not vote for President-Elect Barack Obama but I am accepting of him as our president and am supportive of him.
Why is it so difficult to be civil to the sitting president who had to deal with some of the hardest circumstances any president in the modern time has had to deal with? He did a job, and President-Elect Obama is about to start a job, that you couldn't pay most people to do, but they are doing it because they feel it is their duty to the country they love.
So let a Christmas message from the President be that, and let's not deal with politics on this holiday. For just one day, maybe, we can escape from the problems of the world.
Don't worry all... you won't get anything like this next year.
Alah Salam Alakum
January 20,2009 that is all one needs to know when it comes to Bush.
Oh, my, he is not in prison yet.
Funny how you insecure Libs have to insult the Christmas holiday. You have a right not to celebrate and the freedom of speach to proclaim it. Its too bad that you do not have the tact or manners to simply allow a well meaning Christian wish go without spewing your usual hate.
For all of you who can't wait for Jan 20, remember that the party is over then as well. From that point on, using the same standard that you applied to Bush, everything bad that happens is automatically Obama's fault because it happened on his watch. Keep that in mind and Merry Christmas.