I haven't read the thread or watched the link, but

1. Santa is white since he's based off of European folklore and a Greek saint.
2. Jesus was "white" since Semites are "white." Did he look like he often does in stained glass windows? No. But he certainly wasn't black or East Asian or whatever. He looked like a Jew in first century Palestine.

3. None of this matters.

It matters because the left-wing race-baiters are up to their dirty tricks again, attempting to keep racism alive and well because that's how they profit themselves.

This is silly.

I don't get pissed off when I see a black Santa in the mall. I could care less. People can represent their fictional characters however they want to. This includes Jesus.

As long as the Santas aren't right next to one another, or the stores at least TRY to get that "only one Santa" vibe, I'm fine with it.
If people want a black Santa, that's fine, just don't make it obvious to the kids that there are two or more Santas in the store.

FWIW krellin, I don't think this is race-baiting. I think a smart lady grew up realizing the culture in which she lived did not reflect her own terribly well. She suggests replacing Santa with a penguin.

At it's heart, this is a harmless idea, and if you read the article, you'll probably agree it may make race somewhat (however marginally) less of an issue for some kids (probably not much).

Now, you and I both like the tradition of the fat guy, and say keep him, but this doesn't have to be race-baiting for us to disagree with the lady.

"Jesus was "white" since Semites are "white." Did he look like he often does in stained glass windows? No. But he certainly wasn't black or East Asian or whatever. He looked like a Jew in first century Palestine."

...Which would be olive-toned or dark-skinned or anything BUT white, yes?

Especially given that Judea/Palestine is a stone's throw from Egypt which is part of, well, Africa?

"It matters because the left-wing race-baiters are up to their dirty tricks again, attempting to keep racism alive and well because that's how they profit themselves."

O.o

...Megyn Kelly brought this up as she took issue with someone having a Santa of a different race...

How is that the LEFT-wing dragging this up?

And how is my "Who gives a fuck what color Santa is he's a fictional character" shtick race-baiting?

Grasping at straws, krellin...

Jesus was human. And he was God. Who cares what color he was?--His blood was red.

I demand to know what colour his beard was.

I always think of things like this lady's article as, "symptoms of the problem."

But seeing things like this continue as long as the problem of racism continues. Do you really think that if a black kid felt like he was truly part of the American mainstream culture, he would care what color Santa is? No, it's only painful if it's a reminder of your own disenfranchisement or even inferiority in society's eyes.

It's like putting a bandage on your knee when you're dying of a gunshot wound. People want to DO something, but all they can really do is raise awareness. Sometimes that's done through rather silly/ineffectual means like this lady is doing. It's annoying, but it draws attention to issues. While folks like krellin see race-baiting and stirring up problems where there are none, many of the rest of us are forcibly reminded of the reality of racism.

Mujus: I agree, I don't care what color he was... much like I don't care what Aragon's color was, or any other fictional person.

Vampirism and cannibalism. Freaky combination. :P

@Obi - Olive skinned (as one would expect Jesus to be) is classed as white. Italians and Greeks both have Mediterranean/olive skinned people in their nations in great abundance because that is the natural skin tone around the Med. But they are still classed as white.

And if you actually read the original article Ms. Kelly took issue with, you'd find it was a mixed bag. I liked the satirical "make him a penguin" but the author's lame ass "I felt insecure and ashamed" excuse is just that, an excuse. Kids don't feel insecure and ashamed because their skin is a different color than the mall Santa and the Santa they see on TV. They don't honestly give a fuck as long as he is bringing them presents. It's their parents that instill the shame in them by having the black or Hispanic or Asian Santa imagery around the house.

But I also actually liked her parent's explanation and the idea of a movie where Santa changed as he came down the chimney. Imagine Cheech Marin, Eddie Murphy, Jackie Chan, and Tim Allen all playing Santa Claus in the next Santa Clause movie...

@Draug,
In the education and curatorial side of museum work, there's no money. But when you're in fundraising, if you're good at it, you can do okay. Not software development okay, but okay enough to own a small but comfortable house and have a few bucks socked away for a rainy day.

If you can bring in the cash, they'll put up the cash to keep you.

And for those who are going to say kids do care, think back to when you were a kid who believed in Santa. Did you recognize Santa as a color? Or was he just a fat man in a red suit with a beard? I guarantee a little black or Mexican or Asian 4 year old doesn't give a fuck if the mall Santa is zebra striped so long as he is fat, has a red suit, and promises to bring presents on Christmas Day.

But, hecks, I love my six figure salary and what it can buy. Maybe when I retire, I can go work for pennies as a museum guide or something fun like that.

"I could care less."

Why don't you? #shotsfired

"...Which would be olive-toned or dark-skinned or anything BUT white, yes?"

I guess Italians and Greeks aren't white now huehue

Draug there's nothing satirical about her article. She was serious about the penguin.

I think you're dead wrong about the way kids feel (see my above post). It's only painful if it's a reminder of something, and kids are particularly sensitive to that kind of thing. WHITE kids don't care what color Santa is.

I don't understand why you'd think putting a black Santa in your house would make your kids feel ashamed.

+1 PE! Of course, I already made that point. :-)

@Oct,
"I demand to know what colour his beard was."

He died at 33, right? I'm 33, and if his beard was anything like mine is, his beard was at least partly gray.

What I really find interesting is that the original article (and the corrected edit listed at the bottom) show the poor education of the author. She didn't know penguins were birds? Da fuq you say?

Wow, so somebody doesn't know a penguin is a bird and that means she is poorly educated? I mean it's a strange thing to not know, but she writes more eloquently than anything I've ever see YOU write.

"...Which would be olive-toned or dark-skinned or anything BUT white, yes?

Especially given that Judea/Palestine is a stone's throw from Egypt which is part of, well, Africa?"

What are you even talking about? Semites are "white," according to the ultimately meaningless racial categories people create. White people aren't only pale wraiths like Conan O'Brien.

"Wow, so somebody doesn't know a penguin is a bird and that means she is poorly educated?"

Yes, yes it does. Education =/= intelligence. At least not necessarily.

@hecks

You have a graying beard at 33?!? You suck :p

@YJ - I already said I liked aspects of the article. I was more poking fun cause, hell, who *doesn't* know a penguin is a bird? I mean, fuck, we have Chilly Willy, Opus, and Tux. My friends 3 year old knows a Penguin is a bird, for cryin' out loud! So I had to poke a little fun.

@Draug,
If you're very good at it and work in a large city for a large organization, you can make up to mid-six figures in fundraising.

@Oct,
I had a graying beard at 25, my friend.

I'm probably not good at it, though, being as I'm not the best people person from a "salesman" kind of view. I am great with helping people, but not with prying open their pocket books. :-)

No, I'd want to work some where I could use my lepidoptery or conchology knowledge could be used. That or my woodworking history knowledge.

Yeah. I used to work in finance in Boston, but it made me pretty miserable. I got out before the golden handcuffs were locked up.