bigpoppanils Posted December 9 Report Share Posted December 9 http://mediamatters.org/items/200412070004FOX News Channel host Bill O'Reilly responded to a Jewish caller to his radio show who objected to "Christmas going into schools" and explained that he "grew up with a resentment because I felt that people were trying to convert me to Christianity." O'Reilly told the caller that America is "a predominantly Christian nation" and that "if you are really offended, you gotta go to Israel." O'Reilly labeled the caller's concerns "an affront to the majority" and insisted that "the majority can be insulted, too." During his exchange with the caller, O'Reilly also mistakenly referred to "the seven candles" of Hanukkah.From the December 3 broadcast of the nationally syndicated The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly:CALLER: I agree with what you've been saying recently -- you're concerned about the secularization of Christmas and -- I'm concerned about the secularization of Jews and about the -- and Christmas going into schools.When I was growing up -- I'm Jewish, but I was not in a very Jewish area. There were some Jews there but, I was kind of -- grew up with a resentment because I felt that people were trying to convert me to Christianity --O'REILLY: Were they?CALLER: Yeah, when I got to college I found out -- that's true. A lot of people were. I found that millions of dollars were spent trying to convert --O'REILLY: I mean that you really believe that people were trying to convert -- you personally -- were trying to make you change from being Jewish to Christian?CALLER: Absolutely.O'REILLY: How do they do that?CALLER: Well, for example, there are various organizations in the colleges that go to people -- try to invite you to Bible study groups --O'REILLY: Yeah, I know, but -- I mean, you don't have to go. I mean they do that to me. They come -- the Jehovah's Witnesses come to my door and invite me places. I mean, I don't care -- I just say no, get outta here.CALLER: The thing is, is when you have -- for example, Christmas carols or gift exchanges being done in school, that kind of sets the kids up to being converted.O'REILLY: Yeah, but you give gifts on Hanukkah, don't you?CALLER: No, there's not really a Jewish tradition of giving gifts on --O'REILLY: Well, the seven candles [sic], you get a gift for every night, don't you?CALLER: Actually, the Jews give gifts on -- O'REILLY: All right. Well, what I'm tellin' you, [caller], is I think you're takin' it too seriously. You have a predominantly Christian nation. You have a federal holiday based on the philosopher Jesus. And you don't wanna hear about it? Come on, [caller] -- if you are really offended, you gotta go to Israel then. I mean because we live in a country founded on Judeo -- and that's your guys' -- Christian, that's my guys' philosophy. But overwhelmingly, America is Christian. And the holiday is a federal holiday honoring the philosopher Jesus. So, you don't wanna hear about it? Impossible.And that is an affront to the majority. You know, the majority can be insulted, too. And that's what this anti-Christmas thing is all about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tres-b Posted December 9 Report Share Posted December 9 Every religion has fanatics who are out there recruiting. The caller is obviously hypersensitive about the issue. Personally, I think O'Reilly got this one right. If you want to live in a nation that is predominately Jewish, Israel is for you. If you can handle living in a nation that is predominately Christian, stay here. I went to an Episcopal school and there was a Jewish kid in our class. Every year, we had a Chanukah(sp) party that his mom put together for us. We played dradel, sang songs, etc. I didnt feel like they were trying to convert me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigpoppanils Posted December 9 Author Report Share Posted December 9 If you want to live in a nation that is predominately Jewish, Israel is for you. where did the caller say that he wanted to live in a jewish nation? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tres-b Posted December 9 Report Share Posted December 9 Double post.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tres-b Posted December 9 Report Share Posted December 9 where did the caller say that he wanted to live in a jewish nation?The caller didnt. OReilly said that.Im not sure what a "Jewish" nation is, but Israel is the only one around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtk4 Posted December 9 Report Share Posted December 9 So based on religion we should force people out of the country?Or should i say if you do not like the fact that we throw our religion down your throat, you should not complain you should just move.sounds good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kramadas Posted December 10 Report Share Posted December 10 Actually I kinda agree with O'reilley on this one. The guy is not FORCED to give presents, or go to church or anything like that. I mean when I was growing up every Friday we had to sing hymns, and all that stuff, and though I was not Christian, I in no way felt that the religion was being forced on me. In fact, it was an interesting experience to learn about Christianity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howardstone Posted December 10 Report Share Posted December 10 frigen jews Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tres-b Posted December 10 Report Share Posted December 10 So based on religion we should force people out of the country?Or should i say if you do not like the fact that we throw our religion down your throat, you should not complain you should just move.sounds good1-no one is getting forced out2-Christianity is not shoved down people's throats all the time. Are there fanatics? Of course and they annoy me as a Christian as much as they would annoy a non-Christian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howardstone Posted December 10 Report Share Posted December 10 frigen christians Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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