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Good Tidings and Great Joy: Protecting the Heart of Christmas
From the Back Cover:
Wish me a Merry Christmas.
At a time when Christian values are challenged—when the greeting "Merry Christmas" has been replaced by the supposedly less offensive "Happy Holidays"—Governor Sarah Palin makes the case for bringing back the freedom to express the religious spirit of the season.
In her bestselling books, Going Rogue and America by Heart, Palin has revealed how her strong Christian faith has guided her life and family. Now, in Good Tidings and Great Joy, she discusses one of Christianity's most sacred celebrations, and how the holiday has been robbed of its meaning and true tradition by the pressures of political correctness.
Palin defends the importance of preserving Jesus Christ in Christmas—whether in public displays, school concerts, and pageants, or in our hearts—and delivers a sharp rebuke to today's society for the homogenization of the holiday season. Sharing personal memories from Palin Christmases past, she illustrates why she holds the celebration of Jesus Christ's Nativity so dear.
Good Tidings and Great Joy revisits our traditional roots and the true meaning of Christmas. It is a call to action to readers to defend and openly celebrate the joys of their Christianity, and to say to one another, "Merry Christmas!"
Wish me a Merry Christmas.
At a time when Christian values are challenged—when the greeting "Merry Christmas" has been replaced by the supposedly less offensive "Happy Holidays"—Governor Sarah Palin makes the case for bringing back the freedom to express the religious spirit of the season.
In her bestselling books, Going Rogue and America by Heart, Palin has revealed how her strong Christian faith has guided her life and family. Now, in Good Tidings and Great Joy, she discusses one of Christianity's most sacred celebrations, and how the holiday has been robbed of its meaning and true tradition by the pressures of political correctness.
Palin defends the importance of preserving Jesus Christ in Christmas—whether in public displays, school concerts, and pageants, or in our hearts—and delivers a sharp rebuke to today's society for the homogenization of the holiday season. Sharing personal memories from Palin Christmases past, she illustrates why she holds the celebration of Jesus Christ's Nativity so dear.
Good Tidings and Great Joy revisits our traditional roots and the true meaning of Christmas. It is a call to action to readers to defend and openly celebrate the joys of their Christianity, and to say to one another, "Merry Christmas!"
238 pages, Hardcover
First published October 29, 2013
22 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Palin
21 books108 followersGovernor of Alaska from 2006 until her resignation in 2009 and the Republican Party's vice-presidential nominee for the 2008 United States presidential election.
http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin
http://www.facebook.com/sarahpalin
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
November 14, 2013
I just finished reading this about an hour ago. It's a short read, but it is pretty good. Sarah did write this with the help of Nancy French, who also helped Bristol with her memoir. Even so, Sarah's voice shines through. She uses her folksy sayings and I can easily imagine Sarah actually reading it all out to me, so kudos to both Sarah and Nancy.
The subject matter is obviously timely, as the secular left works harder and harder to scrub every reference to Christmas out of the public square (and at times, elevate other holidays such as Hanukkah and the fake Kwanzaa crap). Sarah writes these funny little stories to illustrate just exactly what they've done over the years, using actual events, and it makes these atheist activists look incredibly petty. Sarah also punctuates each chapter with Christmas anecdotes from her own family life. The dictionary one was pretty funny, and I can identify with that, both as a gift recipient and a gift giver (I've never been good at giving gifts).
Oh, and for those Ann Coulter/Charles Krauthammer "conservatives" who keep insisting that she doesn't "know stuff" and that she doesn't "put forth any solutions" you will be happy to know that not only is it fairly well researched, she also gives public officials advice on how to handle complaints from atheists and how to have Christmas displays that are truly inclusive, as opposed to the childish and mean-spirited displays that atheists usually put on display.
Of course, leftists won't like it because they hate her guts and think she's the dumbest person to have ever lived, blah blah blah. They'll trot out the usual garbage - she's dumb, she can't read, she didn't write it herself (kinda-sorta true because she did have help from Nancy French, but I believe that she wrote most of it, and Nancy probably helped her organize everything into a coherent narrative), that she's paranoid, that she's a bigot, that she hates atheists, that she's pushing her religion on everyone, etc. Basically, every single stupid bullshit insult these leftists have pulled out of their flabby asses for the past five years. So no, if you are a liberal who fantasizes about Sarah being mauled by a bear, you won't like this book.
The subject matter is obviously timely, as the secular left works harder and harder to scrub every reference to Christmas out of the public square (and at times, elevate other holidays such as Hanukkah and the fake Kwanzaa crap). Sarah writes these funny little stories to illustrate just exactly what they've done over the years, using actual events, and it makes these atheist activists look incredibly petty. Sarah also punctuates each chapter with Christmas anecdotes from her own family life. The dictionary one was pretty funny, and I can identify with that, both as a gift recipient and a gift giver (I've never been good at giving gifts).
Oh, and for those Ann Coulter/Charles Krauthammer "conservatives" who keep insisting that she doesn't "know stuff" and that she doesn't "put forth any solutions" you will be happy to know that not only is it fairly well researched, she also gives public officials advice on how to handle complaints from atheists and how to have Christmas displays that are truly inclusive, as opposed to the childish and mean-spirited displays that atheists usually put on display.
Of course, leftists won't like it because they hate her guts and think she's the dumbest person to have ever lived, blah blah blah. They'll trot out the usual garbage - she's dumb, she can't read, she didn't write it herself (kinda-sorta true because she did have help from Nancy French, but I believe that she wrote most of it, and Nancy probably helped her organize everything into a coherent narrative), that she's paranoid, that she's a bigot, that she hates atheists, that she's pushing her religion on everyone, etc. Basically, every single stupid bullshit insult these leftists have pulled out of their flabby asses for the past five years. So no, if you are a liberal who fantasizes about Sarah being mauled by a bear, you won't like this book.
November 29, 2013
I read this while visiting my parents for Thanksgiving. I had nothing better to do than read this book. I saw that my mother had picked it up on her most recent trip to Costco. I am glad I didn't waste my money on this book. I enjoyed parts of the book, parts that she wrote about her family and how they celebrated Christmas together. I can tell that she loves her husband and children. I hate the term "War of Christmas." Guess I am one of the horrible secular Americans because I think she is arrogant. I am glad she loves Jesus. Just because I don't exactly believe like she does then I am "at war" with Christmas. I hated her fictitious stories throughout the book. This book just illustrates that if you are Christian and you believe what she does then all is right with America. If not you are a horrible secular, even worst an atheist. With more than 75% of American's being Christians what does she have to worry about? Christmas isn't going anywhere. The horrible Atheists make up less than 5% of the American population. This book just makes me angry. I think it's rude of Christians who think that their belief is the only belief in America. In our current life NOT all people celebrate Christmas. What's wrong with saying Happy Holidays? It's taken out of context that I am against Christmas? I think it's being respectful. It's time to wake up and realize that NOT all people are Christians AND that is okay. Many American's believe in God, but do not consider themselves Christians. Christians like her are narrow minded and judgmental. Sad to think that some people think that she represents the majority of American Christians, she does not. Her fifteen minutes of fame have been over for awhile. This book was an attempt to let her fans know that she is still around clawing for another shot in the spot light, her subject: The War on Christmas.
November 25, 2013
This could have been a good book, Sarah Palin notwithstanding, if she'd left out all the things she doesn't know anything about. Like politics, the history of Christianity, the intent behind the writings of John Adams, and the meaning of the phrase "deliberately offensive".
The parts about her family, where she wasn't changing dates, glossing controversies, or lying outright (seriously, 2008 was 5 years ago--we know what happened), are actually pretty nice. If she was just another person with the Christmas spirit, it would be a fun book. But she's a militant warrior fighting against the so-call "war on Christmas", and there's no way to forget that for more than a page or two. The made-up wackadoo political history "lessons" just don't leave room for the sweet family story buried between the lines.
The parts about her family, where she wasn't changing dates, glossing controversies, or lying outright (seriously, 2008 was 5 years ago--we know what happened), are actually pretty nice. If she was just another person with the Christmas spirit, it would be a fun book. But she's a militant warrior fighting against the so-call "war on Christmas", and there's no way to forget that for more than a page or two. The made-up wackadoo political history "lessons" just don't leave room for the sweet family story buried between the lines.
November 22, 2013
What a motivational book! She explains things in such a simple, warm, understandable way. She has a cute sense of humor and will use it to lite a fire under you! Such a great reminder about how we can't let our religious freedoms be taken away from us (slowly and sneakily). We can't be lazy! When our kids' schools do unacceptable things, we need to be the parents with the voice! We need to do this in loving kindness....But we need to be bold! Love her spirit! Love her values and points! Loved this book! Merry Christmas and God Bless everyone! :) <3
August 26, 2016
Okay, I admit it, I've been fascinated by this lady since she first came on to the stage with McCain. I loved that the Republicans and Democrats were finally putting more cracks in the glass ceiling. I looked forward to gender and color no longer being problems in the bid for the White House -oh well, I was a little naive.
She and I would not be friends. Oh I'm sure we could be nice to each other, we could even enjoy a delicious meal -if we were tied to our chairs and armed guards were posted at the room's locked doors. I'm not exactly sure what draws me to her, she's well put together but I'm not into women so, no, it isn't that. Maybe it is because she has managed to keep herself in the public spotlight despite showing no skill or talent for deserving it. Maybe because I can't wait to know what facepalm worthy uneducated nonsense she'll share with the world next.
Rating this book is difficult. She's catering to a particular audience. In this, she, or at least her ghost writer, has five star material -drama, drama, drama. I'd even go as far as to say she out paces Glenn Beck -his shtick has a little too much crazy train.
As for the material, the title doesn't apply well to the content. Honestly, I was hoping for a discussion on why Christmas is important. Christmas has some virtues that might be worth reminding the world about and I could have given her ghost writers kudos for something nicely written about good will toward man, taking time to form lovely memories with family and friends, etc. Alas, no. Ms. Palin attacks her neighbors in a most unflattering way, through argument fallacies and painting groups of people with a very broad brush. It is one of the most anti-Christmas books I've read in a very long time.
Fortunately, I know that most Christians, as well as non-Christians, are pretty awesome around the holidays. If wishing others a very Merry Christmas brings you joy, then please, by all means, say it loud and proud. I wish everyone, Ms. Palin included, the very best when I say Happy Holidays!
Will I read her next book? Sure, why not? And for those scandalized that I'd be contributing to her bank fund, blame my family who thinks it is funny to keep buying me her books.
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/The_Fine...
She and I would not be friends. Oh I'm sure we could be nice to each other, we could even enjoy a delicious meal -if we were tied to our chairs and armed guards were posted at the room's locked doors. I'm not exactly sure what draws me to her, she's well put together but I'm not into women so, no, it isn't that. Maybe it is because she has managed to keep herself in the public spotlight despite showing no skill or talent for deserving it. Maybe because I can't wait to know what facepalm worthy uneducated nonsense she'll share with the world next.
Rating this book is difficult. She's catering to a particular audience. In this, she, or at least her ghost writer, has five star material -drama, drama, drama. I'd even go as far as to say she out paces Glenn Beck -his shtick has a little too much crazy train.
As for the material, the title doesn't apply well to the content. Honestly, I was hoping for a discussion on why Christmas is important. Christmas has some virtues that might be worth reminding the world about and I could have given her ghost writers kudos for something nicely written about good will toward man, taking time to form lovely memories with family and friends, etc. Alas, no. Ms. Palin attacks her neighbors in a most unflattering way, through argument fallacies and painting groups of people with a very broad brush. It is one of the most anti-Christmas books I've read in a very long time.
Fortunately, I know that most Christians, as well as non-Christians, are pretty awesome around the holidays. If wishing others a very Merry Christmas brings you joy, then please, by all means, say it loud and proud. I wish everyone, Ms. Palin included, the very best when I say Happy Holidays!
Will I read her next book? Sure, why not? And for those scandalized that I'd be contributing to her bank fund, blame my family who thinks it is funny to keep buying me her books.
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/The_Fine...
November 24, 2013
A Christofacists dream. The poster girl of the religious right wing brings out the right's alleged "War on Christmas". Something that, apparently, has been happening for a long time. The premise of this "war" is that people are no longer treating Christianity as the exception, people are becoming more inclusive and acknowledging other religions(GASP!) and holidays is somehow an all-out assault on Christianity. We hear this every Christmas season, that there is a war on christmas and the overarching alleged Christian persecution in the United States. In the mind of the religious right, if it doesn't immediately acknowledge Christians before everyone else there is an problem. Then they talk about the revisionist history of the United States being a Christian Nation and that out Founding Fathers would be turning in their graves over this. If you honestly believe that christians are being persecuted, read it. If not, like me, don't waster your time, like I did.
January 7, 2014
I would like to write something clever and witty about this book but it just isn't worth the effort. If you thought Saarah Palin was stupid before, you will still be amazed by this book. This book clearly demonstrates that Sarah Palin has no concept of what democracy is even about. She does not understand the distinction between public and private property, freedom of speech or freedom of religion. She does not understand that the rights of minorities need equal protection. How many times in this book does she claim that the problem with the so-called War on Christmas is that it denies position of Jesus, the one true god? In her world, there is no reason to protect the rights of other religions because they are simply wrong.
This book makes me so angry that John McCain, whom I once admired, would expose the country to the possibility of a Sarah Palin presidency. Maybe he thought he would live forever, or maybe he just doesn't care what happens to the country after he dies, but that is totally inexcusable.
One star is more than this book deserves.
This book makes me so angry that John McCain, whom I once admired, would expose the country to the possibility of a Sarah Palin presidency. Maybe he thought he would live forever, or maybe he just doesn't care what happens to the country after he dies, but that is totally inexcusable.
One star is more than this book deserves.
January 29, 2014
I've finished this book, and I'm not really sure what it is. Is it a holiday memoir? A political essay? A religious self-help primer? Recipe book? Comedy? Tragedy?
I guess it's all of the above. I can't help but wonder if Palin had a ghost writer for this book. If she did, I feel really sorry for that writer, trying to make any sense at all out of this complete nonsense. It's mind boggling that someone with such a fundamental misunderstanding of the concept of freedom of speech and religion was once a serious candidate for the vice presidency. Palin clearly sees religion as some kind of contest that must be won by any tactic possible. At one point, after droning on and on for pages about how Christians are in danger of losing their fundamental rights to push their religion onto other people, she stops to pay tribute to the proud day that Christianity confiscated the Winter Solstice from the Pagans. They won the Solstice for Christ, and it's the duty of every American Christian to make sure the pagans never take it back. The thought process behind this argument is so bonkers and un-christlike, you can't help but laugh. Still, she makes a lot of emotional arguments that will successfully incite fear in her fans. And maybe some of the arguments almost seem convincing on their surface, if you live in a fear bubble, and if you take her words as a balanced representation of the facts. It's too bad there isn't a single citation anywhere in the book, so good luck with the fact checking. Palin seems to misunderstand the most basic issues upon which she bases her thesis. She fundamentally doesn't seem to understand the difference between public and private institutions and property, and she has no concept of why the government should remain religiously neutral, all the while attacking all the religions she doesn't want to have any part of. You can taste the irony. There should be a recipe for it in the last chapter. She cries 'freedom' over and over, but she's not interested in freedom. She wants a Christian Theocracy, and the further we move away from that ideal, the more violated she feels.
If the book weren't written at a 4th grade reading level and easily readable in a couple of hours, I never would have been able to finish it, but I'm glad I did, because I really appreciated her detailed recipe on how to make Rice Krispies Treats. But if you don't have 2 hours of your life to waste on complete drivel, I recommend you skip straight to the chapter where Palin imagines visiting her grandson in college 20 years in the future. It is a fascinating inside look at the rantings of a clearly delusional mind. Incidentally it's also in this chapter that I think Palin got one fact right. In 20 years, no one is going to remember who she is.
I guess it's all of the above. I can't help but wonder if Palin had a ghost writer for this book. If she did, I feel really sorry for that writer, trying to make any sense at all out of this complete nonsense. It's mind boggling that someone with such a fundamental misunderstanding of the concept of freedom of speech and religion was once a serious candidate for the vice presidency. Palin clearly sees religion as some kind of contest that must be won by any tactic possible. At one point, after droning on and on for pages about how Christians are in danger of losing their fundamental rights to push their religion onto other people, she stops to pay tribute to the proud day that Christianity confiscated the Winter Solstice from the Pagans. They won the Solstice for Christ, and it's the duty of every American Christian to make sure the pagans never take it back. The thought process behind this argument is so bonkers and un-christlike, you can't help but laugh. Still, she makes a lot of emotional arguments that will successfully incite fear in her fans. And maybe some of the arguments almost seem convincing on their surface, if you live in a fear bubble, and if you take her words as a balanced representation of the facts. It's too bad there isn't a single citation anywhere in the book, so good luck with the fact checking. Palin seems to misunderstand the most basic issues upon which she bases her thesis. She fundamentally doesn't seem to understand the difference between public and private institutions and property, and she has no concept of why the government should remain religiously neutral, all the while attacking all the religions she doesn't want to have any part of. You can taste the irony. There should be a recipe for it in the last chapter. She cries 'freedom' over and over, but she's not interested in freedom. She wants a Christian Theocracy, and the further we move away from that ideal, the more violated she feels.
If the book weren't written at a 4th grade reading level and easily readable in a couple of hours, I never would have been able to finish it, but I'm glad I did, because I really appreciated her detailed recipe on how to make Rice Krispies Treats. But if you don't have 2 hours of your life to waste on complete drivel, I recommend you skip straight to the chapter where Palin imagines visiting her grandson in college 20 years in the future. It is a fascinating inside look at the rantings of a clearly delusional mind. Incidentally it's also in this chapter that I think Palin got one fact right. In 20 years, no one is going to remember who she is.
January 25, 2015
I love Jesus, I love Christmas, and I like Sarah Palin though I don’t agree with her on every issue. I was really looking forward to this book, pre-ordered it in October even. I thought it was going to have more personal stories of her life and past Christmases. In between the stories I was assuming we’d get that passion of hers in keeping Christmas alive. I was wrong. What I got was a sprinkling of her Christmas stories with basically all atheists are bad and ruining Christmas for the morally superior Christians. This is hard to buy since the Bible itself contains stories of God’s people behaving badly and secularists being used to fulfill God’s work instead, so the generalization seemed a bit much. However, I’m not denying there are many Atheists that are looking to do away with all religion that has to go along with Christmas, but unfortunately they are not alone and some of the loudest Christmas critics I have encountered were Christians. I have come across quite a few from my old blogging days. These Christians believe that Christmas is a pagan holiday and no matter how much Jesus you put in it any celebration of it is purely demonic. I have come across some people like that in a Pentecostal church I used to attend as well. I’m not sure if any Christians have filed suit against any Christmas displays, I didn’t write a book about it she did and I was hoping to find out more. The West-Borough Baptist Church has gotten political with their anti-Santa/anti St. Nick stance – they are anti-Catholic among other things – that was not mentioned in the book. Nor was anything mentioned in the book about the Christians that have popped up teaching that Santa is Satan, no the ‘Santa lie’ according to Sarah is all the Atheists fault too. However, If it is only Atheists that are bothering with court then mention that some Christians are voicing their freedom of speech against Christmas but refusing to stop others from the celebration –if that is the case since I don’t know if any Christians have sued over Christmas hence why I bought the book. The inclusion would have given the book a more balanced view and much more credibility.
I didn’t learn anything more from this book than randomly surfing on the net “The War on Christmas” could teach for free and I am very frugal on books. I buy used most of the time or trips to dollar stores for books for a buck (found a Bill O'Reilly book once for a dollar), so to pre-order at full price, you betcha I had high hopes for this book and am disappointed especially since I enjoyed ‘Going Rouge’.
I didn’t learn anything more from this book than randomly surfing on the net “The War on Christmas” could teach for free and I am very frugal on books. I buy used most of the time or trips to dollar stores for books for a buck (found a Bill O'Reilly book once for a dollar), so to pre-order at full price, you betcha I had high hopes for this book and am disappointed especially since I enjoyed ‘Going Rouge’.
December 8, 2013
Once again, with the Christmas season upon us, it seems that the struggle between those who love the season and everything it stands for and those who want to be “politically correct” begins afresh. Addressing this very real and sometimes distressing situation, Sarah Palin takes on the cynics in her book, “Good Tidings and Great Joy: Protecting The Heart of Christmas.”
In her unique and very distinguishable voice, Palin steadfastly shares her beliefs that Christmas should be a revered time that focuses on the observance of the birth of Jesus. She shares, through family stories and other accounts, how much Christmas means to her and the country as a whole, and how distressing it is to find that there are those who would wipe all mention of the true meaning of the season from collective memory. From public displays being forbidden to spiritual carols in schools being stopped to the lack of “Christmas” promotion in retail chains, more and more the celebration is being turned into a vanilla observance, and Palin is determined to defend the origins of the day as best she can.
The Palin family stories of Christmas’s past are charming and give great insight into the former Governor of Alaska’s upbringing. And some of the stories are poignant as Palin recounts the heartwarming holidays spent with her children and husband. She also openly shares how much the meaning of the Nativity and the Christian celebration of Christmas has influenced her life and the lives of her loved ones, and how committed she is to seeing that the meaning of the season, as she sees it, is not diminished.
“Good Tidings and Great Joy” will not be a book appreciated by everyone, but for those who share in Palin’s beliefs, this will be an interesting look at the dedication and commitment of the feisty and faithful lady.
In her unique and very distinguishable voice, Palin steadfastly shares her beliefs that Christmas should be a revered time that focuses on the observance of the birth of Jesus. She shares, through family stories and other accounts, how much Christmas means to her and the country as a whole, and how distressing it is to find that there are those who would wipe all mention of the true meaning of the season from collective memory. From public displays being forbidden to spiritual carols in schools being stopped to the lack of “Christmas” promotion in retail chains, more and more the celebration is being turned into a vanilla observance, and Palin is determined to defend the origins of the day as best she can.
The Palin family stories of Christmas’s past are charming and give great insight into the former Governor of Alaska’s upbringing. And some of the stories are poignant as Palin recounts the heartwarming holidays spent with her children and husband. She also openly shares how much the meaning of the Nativity and the Christian celebration of Christmas has influenced her life and the lives of her loved ones, and how committed she is to seeing that the meaning of the season, as she sees it, is not diminished.
“Good Tidings and Great Joy” will not be a book appreciated by everyone, but for those who share in Palin’s beliefs, this will be an interesting look at the dedication and commitment of the feisty and faithful lady.
November 29, 2013
America is an exceptional country. God has given us freedom in this land to choose, to speak, to dream, to experience, and to worship. Writing this note on the day after Thanksgiving 2013 (black Friday), thinking about Christmas 2013 and our family traditions, I can not forget the manger and what Jesus has done for me. I pray that our country we will not remove Christ from Christmas. Thank you Sarah Palin for your family Christmas stories and your warnings about what might happen in the future.
January 26, 2015
[Review originally posted on Mainlining Christmas]
Sarah Palin's new book is, more or less, a long-winded, nonsensical rant from someone who has absolutely no idea what she's talking about.
I'll pause to let the shock sink in.
The book is largely driven by a pervasive misunderstanding of the war on Christmas, who's fighting it, and what it's over.
In her worldview, those fighting Christmas are offended atheists who want to push Christ out of Christmas and replace it with a Solstice festival, ceremonies venerating sun gods, and even Islamic holidays. She doesn't mention push from Jewish households - both liberal and conservative - who are bothered by the holiday's status in schools, nor does she acknowledge the sizable numbers of conservative Christians who boycott the holiday because of its pagan roots.
She seems to have at least a passing familiarity with those roots. There's a brief mention that Jesus probably wasn't born on 12/25, and that the holiday's date was likely co-opted from Saturnalia, but she underplays the importance of this. As she puts it, "But over time those old pagan celebrations faded into obscurity because they weren't grounded in much of anything but myth, while Christmas gained ever more prominence and meaning."
Interesting. But wrong. To the extent the Roman Solstice celebrations died out, they did so because the religions they were founded on where systematically eradicated by Christians. To be fair, the pagans had tried to do the same to the Christians first.
But, in a real sense, those celebrations didn't really die: they evolved and changed their name to "Christmas." Many of the trappings survived, including elements of the decorations and even the central narrative of a god being born on the Solstice. They simply traded out the old gods for the new one, warping the nativity into a myth that fit the holiday.
As Christianity spread, it incorporated elements from other cultures' Solstice celebrations - almost every culture had one, since almost every culture was conscious of the changing length of the day and had attributed some meaning to it.
So Sarah Palin doesn't understand Christmas. She doesn't understand her opponents, either. She devotes a chapter to speculating on where the War on Christmas is going. This is presented as a riff on the "Ghost of Christmas Future" trope, and features two possible futures. She describes two imaginary trips to the University of Alaska - Anchorage, one where "the Militant Atheists and Secular Liberals Have Their Way", and one showcasing "true religious freedom."
Needless to say, these don't shed any real insight into the future of this country. They do, however, provide us with a stark and disturbing look into the head of Sarah Palin.
The darkest time-line demonstrates just how little Palin actually knows about her enemy. In her example, the college has effectively outlawed Christianity and embraced pagan festivals, as well as other religious festivals. In the best-of-all-possible worlds, atheists and theists are sharing the same campus, placing their displays beside each other, and debating the merits of Christianity.
It's odd she'd describe the first as an atheist victory. By and large, atheists oppose other religions to the same degree they oppose Christianity. Replacing Christmas with pagan ceremonies wouldn't appeal to them. Nor, for most, would forcing religion out of view. It would be disingenuous of me to claim there weren't any atheists out there who'd like to see all religion pushed out of the public eye, but that's a pretty extreme position (akin to the small percent of extreme Christians who want to outlaw non-Christian religions). Most atheists just want it divorced from government.
Sarah Palin doesn't just build a straw-man argument here. She names her straw-man "Joe McScrooge" and uses him throughout the book.
Regardless, Palin can rest assured that a future where festivals glorifying sun gods are supported by colleges while Christian groups are outlawed isn't remotely plausible.
In addition, the left isn't entirely made up of atheists. A lot of liberals are Christian, and they want to celebrate Christmas as much as the right. They just tend to be more understanding of those who don't.
Bizarrely enough, Palin's "best case scenario" more or less describes what's occurring at colleges all over the country now as a result of liberal pressure to include other groups. Atheist organizations are now able to display their message beside Christians, as well as other religions. Free debate is welcome: that's what secularists are after.
Can you cherry pick examples from around the country that sound extreme? Sure, though I noticed that a large number of the ones Palin uses originate at private colleges, which have the right to set their own rules about groups, just as private religious colleges do.
All of Palin's talk about the War on Christmas is laid out as evidence for a larger assault on religion, freedom, and democracy. Palin writes, "Again and again, secular leftists complain that religion - especially Christianity - is a source of violence and repression, but in this country our Judeo-Christian heritage is the source of the very freedoms they so angrily use to denounce Christ and rid his very mention from the public square."
A good reminder that Sarah Palin doesn't understand history. Of course, the primary source of the freedoms laid out by American's founders was Greek philosophy, not Christian theology, which actually served as the justification for systems of European monarchy the colonists were rebelling against.
Regardless, liberals aren't trying to rid anyone from the public square. However, we do want the government's involvement to be neutral in matters of religion, and we want to ensure that public schools aren't pushing any kind of religious indoctrination. That doesn't mean we want them to teach that Christianity is bad - in fact, that's just as bad.
To put it simply, we don't think government - and that includes local - should be able to dedicate land or money to display a nativity scene, unless other groups - religious and otherwise - have an equal right to the same resources. Because there's at least one quote in Palin's book I do agree with: "A democracy without respect for individual liberty is just a tyranny of the majority."
There's a lot more I could go into: her mangled attempts to combat the phrase "Happy Holidays" as an attack on Christmas, her tedious accounts of her family's boring holiday traditions, the completely out-of-place snipes at Obamacare, the utterly random recipes wedged in the back... but I think I've gone on long enough. This thing is badly written, badly argued, and badly researched. It displays a profoundly idiotic point-of-view that's lacking even a basic understanding of history and culture. It wasn't even good for a laugh. The best aspect is it's length: I can't find an official word count, but I'd estimate around 55,000 words. I can't imagine trying to get through a 100k version of this tripe.
Oh, and in case anyone's wondering, I got this out of the library. No way in hell I'd risk a penny in royalties getting to Palin.
Sarah Palin's new book is, more or less, a long-winded, nonsensical rant from someone who has absolutely no idea what she's talking about.
I'll pause to let the shock sink in.
The book is largely driven by a pervasive misunderstanding of the war on Christmas, who's fighting it, and what it's over.
In her worldview, those fighting Christmas are offended atheists who want to push Christ out of Christmas and replace it with a Solstice festival, ceremonies venerating sun gods, and even Islamic holidays. She doesn't mention push from Jewish households - both liberal and conservative - who are bothered by the holiday's status in schools, nor does she acknowledge the sizable numbers of conservative Christians who boycott the holiday because of its pagan roots.
She seems to have at least a passing familiarity with those roots. There's a brief mention that Jesus probably wasn't born on 12/25, and that the holiday's date was likely co-opted from Saturnalia, but she underplays the importance of this. As she puts it, "But over time those old pagan celebrations faded into obscurity because they weren't grounded in much of anything but myth, while Christmas gained ever more prominence and meaning."
Interesting. But wrong. To the extent the Roman Solstice celebrations died out, they did so because the religions they were founded on where systematically eradicated by Christians. To be fair, the pagans had tried to do the same to the Christians first.
But, in a real sense, those celebrations didn't really die: they evolved and changed their name to "Christmas." Many of the trappings survived, including elements of the decorations and even the central narrative of a god being born on the Solstice. They simply traded out the old gods for the new one, warping the nativity into a myth that fit the holiday.
As Christianity spread, it incorporated elements from other cultures' Solstice celebrations - almost every culture had one, since almost every culture was conscious of the changing length of the day and had attributed some meaning to it.
So Sarah Palin doesn't understand Christmas. She doesn't understand her opponents, either. She devotes a chapter to speculating on where the War on Christmas is going. This is presented as a riff on the "Ghost of Christmas Future" trope, and features two possible futures. She describes two imaginary trips to the University of Alaska - Anchorage, one where "the Militant Atheists and Secular Liberals Have Their Way", and one showcasing "true religious freedom."
Needless to say, these don't shed any real insight into the future of this country. They do, however, provide us with a stark and disturbing look into the head of Sarah Palin.
The darkest time-line demonstrates just how little Palin actually knows about her enemy. In her example, the college has effectively outlawed Christianity and embraced pagan festivals, as well as other religious festivals. In the best-of-all-possible worlds, atheists and theists are sharing the same campus, placing their displays beside each other, and debating the merits of Christianity.
It's odd she'd describe the first as an atheist victory. By and large, atheists oppose other religions to the same degree they oppose Christianity. Replacing Christmas with pagan ceremonies wouldn't appeal to them. Nor, for most, would forcing religion out of view. It would be disingenuous of me to claim there weren't any atheists out there who'd like to see all religion pushed out of the public eye, but that's a pretty extreme position (akin to the small percent of extreme Christians who want to outlaw non-Christian religions). Most atheists just want it divorced from government.
Sarah Palin doesn't just build a straw-man argument here. She names her straw-man "Joe McScrooge" and uses him throughout the book.
Regardless, Palin can rest assured that a future where festivals glorifying sun gods are supported by colleges while Christian groups are outlawed isn't remotely plausible.
In addition, the left isn't entirely made up of atheists. A lot of liberals are Christian, and they want to celebrate Christmas as much as the right. They just tend to be more understanding of those who don't.
Bizarrely enough, Palin's "best case scenario" more or less describes what's occurring at colleges all over the country now as a result of liberal pressure to include other groups. Atheist organizations are now able to display their message beside Christians, as well as other religions. Free debate is welcome: that's what secularists are after.
Can you cherry pick examples from around the country that sound extreme? Sure, though I noticed that a large number of the ones Palin uses originate at private colleges, which have the right to set their own rules about groups, just as private religious colleges do.
All of Palin's talk about the War on Christmas is laid out as evidence for a larger assault on religion, freedom, and democracy. Palin writes, "Again and again, secular leftists complain that religion - especially Christianity - is a source of violence and repression, but in this country our Judeo-Christian heritage is the source of the very freedoms they so angrily use to denounce Christ and rid his very mention from the public square."
A good reminder that Sarah Palin doesn't understand history. Of course, the primary source of the freedoms laid out by American's founders was Greek philosophy, not Christian theology, which actually served as the justification for systems of European monarchy the colonists were rebelling against.
Regardless, liberals aren't trying to rid anyone from the public square. However, we do want the government's involvement to be neutral in matters of religion, and we want to ensure that public schools aren't pushing any kind of religious indoctrination. That doesn't mean we want them to teach that Christianity is bad - in fact, that's just as bad.
To put it simply, we don't think government - and that includes local - should be able to dedicate land or money to display a nativity scene, unless other groups - religious and otherwise - have an equal right to the same resources. Because there's at least one quote in Palin's book I do agree with: "A democracy without respect for individual liberty is just a tyranny of the majority."
There's a lot more I could go into: her mangled attempts to combat the phrase "Happy Holidays" as an attack on Christmas, her tedious accounts of her family's boring holiday traditions, the completely out-of-place snipes at Obamacare, the utterly random recipes wedged in the back... but I think I've gone on long enough. This thing is badly written, badly argued, and badly researched. It displays a profoundly idiotic point-of-view that's lacking even a basic understanding of history and culture. It wasn't even good for a laugh. The best aspect is it's length: I can't find an official word count, but I'd estimate around 55,000 words. I can't imagine trying to get through a 100k version of this tripe.
Oh, and in case anyone's wondering, I got this out of the library. No way in hell I'd risk a penny in royalties getting to Palin.
January 11, 2020
Thank God this woman never made it to the White House. Her book is about as coherent as her family is functional. Between the thinly veiled racism and crackpot conspiracy theories this book has literally nothing good to offer. Ms. Sarah Palin truly reveals her idols in this book, namely nationalism, family, and Christmas. She puts these idols over everything else, even her faith. In fact, she wields her faith to justify her hatred and bigotry towards those she disagrees with. She smears those with different political views with various names throughout the book, including “militant atheists” and “Joe McScrooge”. She even disparages moderate conservatives as “fake conservatives”, conveniently falling into the no true Scotsman fallacy.
This book is supposed to be about saving Christmas, but she never delivers a compelling argument that Christmas is in any danger outside of her own imagination. All the lawsuits she presented that were against expression of Christian faith all ruled in favor of her own view. She conveniently does not mention this. Her arguments are construed as such that the mere act of lawsuits justify the supposed “war on Christmas.” Which in turn reveals that she doesn’t value true freedom of religion, only the freedom that puts America as an extreme right wing state that condones Christmas as the national holiday.
Don’t read this book unless you like cringing at every paragraph.
This book is supposed to be about saving Christmas, but she never delivers a compelling argument that Christmas is in any danger outside of her own imagination. All the lawsuits she presented that were against expression of Christian faith all ruled in favor of her own view. She conveniently does not mention this. Her arguments are construed as such that the mere act of lawsuits justify the supposed “war on Christmas.” Which in turn reveals that she doesn’t value true freedom of religion, only the freedom that puts America as an extreme right wing state that condones Christmas as the national holiday.
Don’t read this book unless you like cringing at every paragraph.
December 29, 2013
Some of the reviews of this book are downright laughable.
A Christian, political woman wrote a book promoting the importance of keeping the Christ in Christmas and tied it into the benefit of our country's future?! Shocking!!
No, no it's not shocking. It's also not hate/fear mongering and it doesn't impede on religious rights, either.
Actually, saying that all religions should be included except those that offend others, now that's infringing on rights.
We are too diverse of a country and a people to all agree and to never be offended by others thoughts and beliefs.
And in my opinion, this book does a superb job in reminding us how exclusive being "all inclusive" can be when we put a limit on what "all" means.
A Christian, political woman wrote a book promoting the importance of keeping the Christ in Christmas and tied it into the benefit of our country's future?! Shocking!!
No, no it's not shocking. It's also not hate/fear mongering and it doesn't impede on religious rights, either.
Actually, saying that all religions should be included except those that offend others, now that's infringing on rights.
We are too diverse of a country and a people to all agree and to never be offended by others thoughts and beliefs.
And in my opinion, this book does a superb job in reminding us how exclusive being "all inclusive" can be when we put a limit on what "all" means.
January 11, 2014
As a writer who often writes about religious freedom in America, I was anxious to read this book. However, Palin has a constant sarcastic tone that turns me off both in her speeches and writing. I liked the message in this book and her family stories of Christmas in Alaska but her sarcastic tone and made-up stories of anti-Christmas crusaders kind of left a bad feeling after reading this.
December 11, 2013
EXCELLENT!
October 5, 2015
Unintelligible, yet illuminating.
December 29, 2013
Remember when Christmas break was actually called Christmas break instead of the all-inclusive “Winter Break”? Or how about when you could freely wish someone a “Merry Christmas” without having to worry about offending them?
I started to notice a shift when I was in high school and the name of the annual “Christmas Dance” got changed to the much safer “Winter Formal”. It seems like such a small, insignificant kind of change, but it means so much more.
Christianity is being censored all across the nation, and as Sarah Palin discusses in her novel, Good Tidings and Great Joy it’s only about to get worst. Other religious groups, atheists, and the liberal left are constantly pushing to have Christianity removed from not only Christmas, but well, everything.
As I Christian I have seen this happen many times recently. It’s frustrating. I feel as though I cannot freely discuss my religion on most occasions without being “wrong” or “offending” someone. It’s perfectly okay to be exclusive or to poke fun of Christians, yet it’s wrong for Christians to be well, Christians. Double standard, much?
Palin paints a picture of what’s to come in the future if we don’t stand up for our Constitutional rights and defend the Christian views of Christmas. She imagines that by the year 2028 when she visits her grandson at college Christian programs will be removed from campus for not agreeing to strict inclusive terms set forth by the university. Funny how a university (or anyone, really) that preaches about inclusion can be so exclusive to the Christian religion. She further imagines Christmas programs that are 100% removed from the Christian religion and focus on other elements including the commercialized views, or what at times seems even more horrifying, strictly scientific views of Christmas.
It can be easy to dismiss Palin’s predictions as being absurd or unrealistic, but the reality is all of her predictions have already been happening all across the nation. I chuckled a bit when reading about how she imagines by the year 2028 the religious freedom group would begin preaching about Saturnalia and encouraging individuals to remember the original Pagan roots of Christmas and even begin to accuse Christians of stealing the holiday. This sounds a bit insane, but truth be told, they are doing that. Right here, right now.
I grew up in the town of Pitman, NJ. It’s known for being a traditional, fairly conservative small town. A majority of the town is Christian or Catholic. They have held signs across towns from the Knights of Columbus for year that say “Keep Christ in Christmas”. No one’s ever really had a problem with them or at least never mentioned being offended by them in town as far as I know. However, the religious freedom group finds it offensive. Last year they tried to sue the town over the signs. This year they gave up with the lawsuit, but instead chose to purchase an advertisement that reads “Keep Saturn in Saturnalia”.
This is exactly the crazy nonsense Palin fears will happen in the future. However, I must commend Pitman on being less than accepting of the sign. I don’t exactly support the torching of the sign (yes, this is actually happening) but I appreciate hearing that people are still trying to stand up for their Christian beliefs and to protect the real meaning of Christmas (which I do not believe is the Saturnalia view, no matter how hard the religious freedom group tries to make us believe that…).
I know that people will be reading this review thinking I’m unaccepting of other religions and cultures. That is not true at all. I am accepting of all different kinds of people. I have a very diverse group of friends. I believe we should be accepting of others. But I feel like there are double standards. Palin wrote in her book about colleges and universities spending thousands of dollars to create foot washing stations to support the beliefs of Muslims and they are also rearranging gym schedules and times to allow females their own individual hours if they don’t feel comfortable exercising in front of men. All of this okay, but it’s unacceptable to wish someone a Merry Christmas or to call the break from school in the winter “Christmas Break”. Double standard, much?
I agree wholeheartedly with the views Palin expresses in Good Tidings and Great Joy. I know Palin gets a lot of slack from others, but I always found her to be a brilliant woman. She’s fearless, and in this novel it really shows. She says what she honestly thinks and feels and I truly believe many Americans, especially Christians, feel the same way even if they are afraid to admit it. Why are they afraid? Because they don’t want to offend someone? Sure, it’s important to be nice to people and to never deliberately offend them, but when you can’t so much as wish someone a Merry Christmas without worrying about offending them, then that’s a problem.
Our constitutional rights have granted us free speech and freedom of religion. Sadly, the liberal lefts are choosing to ignore the constitution and strip us from these freedoms. It is now our job to join the likes of Palin and others who value and respect their constitutional rights to protect not only the true meaning of Christmas, but our basic rights to free speech and freedom of religion. These constitutional rights are for EVERYONE. Not just non-Christians, as the liberal lefts would like you to believe.
I started to notice a shift when I was in high school and the name of the annual “Christmas Dance” got changed to the much safer “Winter Formal”. It seems like such a small, insignificant kind of change, but it means so much more.
Christianity is being censored all across the nation, and as Sarah Palin discusses in her novel, Good Tidings and Great Joy it’s only about to get worst. Other religious groups, atheists, and the liberal left are constantly pushing to have Christianity removed from not only Christmas, but well, everything.
As I Christian I have seen this happen many times recently. It’s frustrating. I feel as though I cannot freely discuss my religion on most occasions without being “wrong” or “offending” someone. It’s perfectly okay to be exclusive or to poke fun of Christians, yet it’s wrong for Christians to be well, Christians. Double standard, much?
Palin paints a picture of what’s to come in the future if we don’t stand up for our Constitutional rights and defend the Christian views of Christmas. She imagines that by the year 2028 when she visits her grandson at college Christian programs will be removed from campus for not agreeing to strict inclusive terms set forth by the university. Funny how a university (or anyone, really) that preaches about inclusion can be so exclusive to the Christian religion. She further imagines Christmas programs that are 100% removed from the Christian religion and focus on other elements including the commercialized views, or what at times seems even more horrifying, strictly scientific views of Christmas.
It can be easy to dismiss Palin’s predictions as being absurd or unrealistic, but the reality is all of her predictions have already been happening all across the nation. I chuckled a bit when reading about how she imagines by the year 2028 the religious freedom group would begin preaching about Saturnalia and encouraging individuals to remember the original Pagan roots of Christmas and even begin to accuse Christians of stealing the holiday. This sounds a bit insane, but truth be told, they are doing that. Right here, right now.
I grew up in the town of Pitman, NJ. It’s known for being a traditional, fairly conservative small town. A majority of the town is Christian or Catholic. They have held signs across towns from the Knights of Columbus for year that say “Keep Christ in Christmas”. No one’s ever really had a problem with them or at least never mentioned being offended by them in town as far as I know. However, the religious freedom group finds it offensive. Last year they tried to sue the town over the signs. This year they gave up with the lawsuit, but instead chose to purchase an advertisement that reads “Keep Saturn in Saturnalia”.
This is exactly the crazy nonsense Palin fears will happen in the future. However, I must commend Pitman on being less than accepting of the sign. I don’t exactly support the torching of the sign (yes, this is actually happening) but I appreciate hearing that people are still trying to stand up for their Christian beliefs and to protect the real meaning of Christmas (which I do not believe is the Saturnalia view, no matter how hard the religious freedom group tries to make us believe that…).
I know that people will be reading this review thinking I’m unaccepting of other religions and cultures. That is not true at all. I am accepting of all different kinds of people. I have a very diverse group of friends. I believe we should be accepting of others. But I feel like there are double standards. Palin wrote in her book about colleges and universities spending thousands of dollars to create foot washing stations to support the beliefs of Muslims and they are also rearranging gym schedules and times to allow females their own individual hours if they don’t feel comfortable exercising in front of men. All of this okay, but it’s unacceptable to wish someone a Merry Christmas or to call the break from school in the winter “Christmas Break”. Double standard, much?
I agree wholeheartedly with the views Palin expresses in Good Tidings and Great Joy. I know Palin gets a lot of slack from others, but I always found her to be a brilliant woman. She’s fearless, and in this novel it really shows. She says what she honestly thinks and feels and I truly believe many Americans, especially Christians, feel the same way even if they are afraid to admit it. Why are they afraid? Because they don’t want to offend someone? Sure, it’s important to be nice to people and to never deliberately offend them, but when you can’t so much as wish someone a Merry Christmas without worrying about offending them, then that’s a problem.
Our constitutional rights have granted us free speech and freedom of religion. Sadly, the liberal lefts are choosing to ignore the constitution and strip us from these freedoms. It is now our job to join the likes of Palin and others who value and respect their constitutional rights to protect not only the true meaning of Christmas, but our basic rights to free speech and freedom of religion. These constitutional rights are for EVERYONE. Not just non-Christians, as the liberal lefts would like you to believe.
September 27, 2018
Former Alaska governor and vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin discusses cultural attacks on Christianity, specifically on the holiday Christmas, in the guise of political correctness. She weaves in stories featuring her own family in or around the holiday. I began reading the e-book, but quickly decided it would work better in audio format with Palin reading it herself. I switched. Reaction to the book will largely fall along political party lines and views of Christianity. I doubt anyone would change their perspective. I am glad I did not read it at Christmas because it might take a little joy out of the season.
January 20, 2014
There were so many holds placed on this book at my local library that I didn't get to read it until Christmas was well over. I didn't lose anything on that regard, though. Palin's premise, that Christmas is worth protecting, covers the deepest meaningful aspirations of the heart that keep it beating with hope throughout the year. Mercy is the reason. She explains her thesis with personal history beyond that known by the general audience, and evokes in the reader one's own reasons to fight back against the unrepentant Scrooges of Christmas Present. It's a real life look at a smart, articulate, wise and yet folksy lady whose best one-liner advises us how to deal with the many childish rantings of the “Lame Stream Media” intended to spew hate: “ignore them.” Good advice from a woman who has experienced it all—and from mothers everywhere of another time—that's important to hear and heed again. She dispatches the mean-spiritedness of her critics with adult humor, then continues on explaining why Christmas is a pearl to cherish and protect in spite of everything. Her remarkable extended family's support is at the center of her faith and practical steadfastness. This is a book for all ages past toddlerhood, written by a courageous woman who's been through much in order to be granted honor and respect. Year round, remember it's “Merry Christmas!”
December 12, 2013
GOOD TIDINGS and GREAT JOY--Protecting the Heart of Christmas by Sarah Palin is about how Christmas has changed over the years in America and where it is headed. She shares some of her family's Christmas traditions and recipes along with some advice to Christians to stand up to preserve the true meaning of Christmas in America. Words do matter.
This is a thought provoking book with some shocking things that are currently happening in America that I wasn't aware of. I agree that people should be able to acknowledge publicly that Christmas is a religious holiday and that the reason we celebrate Christmas is to celebrate the birth of a Savior, Jesus Christ. If you are interested in civil rights and religious freedom, I recommend you read this book.
(Karen's review)
This is a thought provoking book with some shocking things that are currently happening in America that I wasn't aware of. I agree that people should be able to acknowledge publicly that Christmas is a religious holiday and that the reason we celebrate Christmas is to celebrate the birth of a Savior, Jesus Christ. If you are interested in civil rights and religious freedom, I recommend you read this book.
(Karen's review)
October 26, 2015
I really enjoyed this book for a number of reasons. Firstly, it was hilarious. Governor Palin has such a refreshing sense of humor that always cracks me up. Secondly, it really shined a light on the way that not only Christmas, but Christianity in general is being attacked in today's world. Through vivid images of possible Christmases to come this book gives insight on what it is we need to do to protect it. It shows how all religions can be treated fairly so that we can all celebrate openly. It will leave you feeling very inspired and unwilling to sit down and shut up while the left-wing Scrooges force out what it is that makes the Christmas season so joyful.
February 25, 2014
A Dickensian cast of real-life characters (Bristol! Todd!), the epigrammatic wit of G.K. Chesterton and the steadfast no-nonsense rage of Christopher Hitchens are combined to great effect in this book of essays that show where the traditional American Christmas has gone off the rails and how, maybe, through creativity and patience there is still hope to return it to its rightful spot both on the community calendar and, yes, in our collective hearts. Palin generously includes several delicious recipes from the cookbooks of her family and friends - Merry Christmoose Chili and Juanita's Soft Gooey Oatmeal Raisin White Chocolate-Chip Heaven both look especially appetizing.
noway-josé
March 6, 2014
March 12, 2014
I think Sarah Palin could miss a point if you handed it directly to her and included a set of instructions.
November 14, 2024
I received this as a joke holiday- I mean Christmas present from my dad when I was in high school. At the time I was a baby anarcho-wokescold who took himself way too seriously so the joke was lost on me. I was upset with my dad for giving his money to a conservative. So I shoved this thing in a closet somewhere and forgot about it completely.
Fast forward a couple years later. I visit my dad and he has this out on his coffee table for some reason. I open it to a random page and here she is, Sarah "I can see Russia from my house" Palin, complaining about gender-neutral bathrooms. "Now, what on Earth does this have to do with Christmas?" I wondered. I had to find out. I knew I was in for a "so bad it's good" experience, so I swore to myself I would read it one of these days.
(She later whines about women-only hours at a gym. So, are gender-segregated spaces good or are they bad? Make up your mind, Sarah!)
In 2021, I signed a lease for my current place and my dad packed this book for me in a box when I moved in. Still it continued to sit unread on my shelf. I have a yearly tradition of kicking off the Holiday- I mean, fuck, the Christmas season, by rewatching Hbomberguy's excellent video essay on the so-called war on Christmas. This year I thought I'd switch it up. So I picked up Sarah Palin's Good Tidings and Great Joy from my shelf and finally dived in.
So, I've got more than a few things to say about this book. Enough to write a whole essay. But because this is only a review, I'll stick to the essentials. First, I don't hate everything about this book. It's genuinely nice that Palin ended her book with a collection of family recipes, more authors should do that and I mean this unironically. There is a recipe for gingerbread men cookies which Palin inexplicably refers to as gender-neutral "gingerbread people" and it's vegan! So much for fighting against woke leftist tyranny.
Palin's stories of her childhood Christmases in Alaska are actually quite sweet though she always makes sure to ruin them with mindless drivel about freedom and guns and 'murrica and so on, just in case you were about to be fooled into thinking her book might have some redeemable qualities. And so this is it. Palin makes it frustratingly difficult to fact-check her on any of her claims because she doesn't provide any citations. She'll ramble on and on about an oh-so-terrifying scenario and her "source" will either be "I swear this is a real thing that happened just trust me" or "Okay, fine, this never happened, but imagine how upset I'd be if it did". In the case of one claim, her citation is literally "I read this in a book once". That's it. No title, no author, no nothing. Who edited this? Her book is the epitome of conservatives making shit up to get mad at.
For her little made-up scenarios, she likes to strawman angry atheists who hate Christmas for no other reason than they are sad, evil men who hate joy. She calls these guys "Joe McScrooge". This strikes me as profoundly unserious, bordering on goofiness, for a book that aims to address what is ostensibly the annihilation of one's culture. Something which, at its most extreme, amounts to genocide. Almost as if she knows it's all a grift? In any case, in one of her scary little stories of Christmas erasure, Palin makes up a guy who, while attending a Christmas event, sends the following text message to his lawyer: "I've seen more constitutional violations with my own eyes in just the past hour than a prison guard at Abu Ghraib."
Now, I get that this is a strawman, and it's a fake thing that never happened (by Palin's own admission), and it's far from being the only time something like this comes up in her book. However, this example is, to me, particularly egregious. Distasteful, even, and lacking in self-awareness. She spends a good portion of her book praising the military. Yet she doesn't even realize the horrors of Abu Ghraib occurred as a direct result of the policies she and her party are pushing for.
(If you've somehow never heard of Abu Ghraib, consider yourself lucky and don't Google it, not even out of morbid curiosity. I've seen the pictures and I truly wish I hadn't. Fuck the troops.)
Another gross thing Palin does is claim that Pagan traditions "faded into obscurity because they weren't grounded in much of anything but myth".
No, Sarah. What happened is Pagans lost their culture due to oppression from Christians.
Admittedly, Palin almost has a point: the increasing secularization of Christmas IS worrying, though not for the reasons she thinks. It's not because it's mean to Christians. On the contrary, it serves to reinforce Christian hegemony in Western culture. You see, if Christmas is nothing more than a nondescript, neutral celebration, it gives annoying Christians like Sarah Palin an incentive to shove it down the throats of anyone who might not celebrate it for one reason or another. What do you mean you don't care about Christmas because you're [Jewish, Muslim, what have you]? Christmas is secular now! It's for everyone! God, how dare you be such a killjoy!
The tough pill to swallow here is Christmas is a specifically Christian celebration which concerns Christians only. We just don't see it as such because we in the West assume Christianity to be the default cultural state of the universe, and it's not just die-hard Bible-thumpers who believe this. Even atheists have internalized it. That includes me! I was raised non-religiously but my family still celebrates Christmas every year, because we are by all means culturally even if not religiously Christian.
This belief was evidently internalized by Palin too. Because in spite of the fact that Christmas is utterly unavoidable for 2 whole months out of the year -unlike during the Christmas season, non-Muslims don't have to suffer an entire month of non-stop Ramadan commercials, omnipresent Ramadan decorations, incessant Ramadan songs on the radio, folks telling you you're a bad person if you don't care for Ramadan and so on, and if it were the case I doubt Palin would be too happy about it- she still believes she's the victim of a so-called war on Christmas because sometimes instead of saying "merry Christmas" people might say a different thing.
Essentially, Palin wants to have it both ways. She wants Christmas to be 100% undeniably Christian, but she won't accept that this means not constantly forcing it onto non-Christians.
You wanna know the most ironic thing though? There actually is something of a war on Christmas. Only it's a real war and it's not happening in the US, it's in the Middle East. Last year, on Christmas day, the birthplace of Jesus Christ was raided by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). This is only one of many times the IOF committed terrible acts of violence in Bethlehem (and elsewhere in occupied Palestine). Yet Palin has continually endorsed the Israeli occupation as it destroys some of the first churches ever built and ruins the lives of the Palestinian people, whose Christian community is one of the oldest in the world. Her party has no qualms doing business with Azerbaijan, a dictatorship hellbent on annihilating the Armenian people- the first to have adopted Christianity as their state religion. The hypocrisy is enough to make you vomit.
TL;DR: Sarah Palin is an idiot, her book is trash and its only merit is it gave me a good laugh.
Fast forward a couple years later. I visit my dad and he has this out on his coffee table for some reason. I open it to a random page and here she is, Sarah "I can see Russia from my house" Palin, complaining about gender-neutral bathrooms. "Now, what on Earth does this have to do with Christmas?" I wondered. I had to find out. I knew I was in for a "so bad it's good" experience, so I swore to myself I would read it one of these days.
(She later whines about women-only hours at a gym. So, are gender-segregated spaces good or are they bad? Make up your mind, Sarah!)
In 2021, I signed a lease for my current place and my dad packed this book for me in a box when I moved in. Still it continued to sit unread on my shelf. I have a yearly tradition of kicking off the Holiday- I mean, fuck, the Christmas season, by rewatching Hbomberguy's excellent video essay on the so-called war on Christmas. This year I thought I'd switch it up. So I picked up Sarah Palin's Good Tidings and Great Joy from my shelf and finally dived in.
So, I've got more than a few things to say about this book. Enough to write a whole essay. But because this is only a review, I'll stick to the essentials. First, I don't hate everything about this book. It's genuinely nice that Palin ended her book with a collection of family recipes, more authors should do that and I mean this unironically. There is a recipe for gingerbread men cookies which Palin inexplicably refers to as gender-neutral "gingerbread people" and it's vegan! So much for fighting against woke leftist tyranny.
Palin's stories of her childhood Christmases in Alaska are actually quite sweet though she always makes sure to ruin them with mindless drivel about freedom and guns and 'murrica and so on, just in case you were about to be fooled into thinking her book might have some redeemable qualities. And so this is it. Palin makes it frustratingly difficult to fact-check her on any of her claims because she doesn't provide any citations. She'll ramble on and on about an oh-so-terrifying scenario and her "source" will either be "I swear this is a real thing that happened just trust me" or "Okay, fine, this never happened, but imagine how upset I'd be if it did". In the case of one claim, her citation is literally "I read this in a book once". That's it. No title, no author, no nothing. Who edited this? Her book is the epitome of conservatives making shit up to get mad at.
For her little made-up scenarios, she likes to strawman angry atheists who hate Christmas for no other reason than they are sad, evil men who hate joy. She calls these guys "Joe McScrooge". This strikes me as profoundly unserious, bordering on goofiness, for a book that aims to address what is ostensibly the annihilation of one's culture. Something which, at its most extreme, amounts to genocide. Almost as if she knows it's all a grift? In any case, in one of her scary little stories of Christmas erasure, Palin makes up a guy who, while attending a Christmas event, sends the following text message to his lawyer: "I've seen more constitutional violations with my own eyes in just the past hour than a prison guard at Abu Ghraib."
Now, I get that this is a strawman, and it's a fake thing that never happened (by Palin's own admission), and it's far from being the only time something like this comes up in her book. However, this example is, to me, particularly egregious. Distasteful, even, and lacking in self-awareness. She spends a good portion of her book praising the military. Yet she doesn't even realize the horrors of Abu Ghraib occurred as a direct result of the policies she and her party are pushing for.
(If you've somehow never heard of Abu Ghraib, consider yourself lucky and don't Google it, not even out of morbid curiosity. I've seen the pictures and I truly wish I hadn't. Fuck the troops.)
Another gross thing Palin does is claim that Pagan traditions "faded into obscurity because they weren't grounded in much of anything but myth".
No, Sarah. What happened is Pagans lost their culture due to oppression from Christians.
Admittedly, Palin almost has a point: the increasing secularization of Christmas IS worrying, though not for the reasons she thinks. It's not because it's mean to Christians. On the contrary, it serves to reinforce Christian hegemony in Western culture. You see, if Christmas is nothing more than a nondescript, neutral celebration, it gives annoying Christians like Sarah Palin an incentive to shove it down the throats of anyone who might not celebrate it for one reason or another. What do you mean you don't care about Christmas because you're [Jewish, Muslim, what have you]? Christmas is secular now! It's for everyone! God, how dare you be such a killjoy!
The tough pill to swallow here is Christmas is a specifically Christian celebration which concerns Christians only. We just don't see it as such because we in the West assume Christianity to be the default cultural state of the universe, and it's not just die-hard Bible-thumpers who believe this. Even atheists have internalized it. That includes me! I was raised non-religiously but my family still celebrates Christmas every year, because we are by all means culturally even if not religiously Christian.
This belief was evidently internalized by Palin too. Because in spite of the fact that Christmas is utterly unavoidable for 2 whole months out of the year -unlike during the Christmas season, non-Muslims don't have to suffer an entire month of non-stop Ramadan commercials, omnipresent Ramadan decorations, incessant Ramadan songs on the radio, folks telling you you're a bad person if you don't care for Ramadan and so on, and if it were the case I doubt Palin would be too happy about it- she still believes she's the victim of a so-called war on Christmas because sometimes instead of saying "merry Christmas" people might say a different thing.
Essentially, Palin wants to have it both ways. She wants Christmas to be 100% undeniably Christian, but she won't accept that this means not constantly forcing it onto non-Christians.
You wanna know the most ironic thing though? There actually is something of a war on Christmas. Only it's a real war and it's not happening in the US, it's in the Middle East. Last year, on Christmas day, the birthplace of Jesus Christ was raided by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF). This is only one of many times the IOF committed terrible acts of violence in Bethlehem (and elsewhere in occupied Palestine). Yet Palin has continually endorsed the Israeli occupation as it destroys some of the first churches ever built and ruins the lives of the Palestinian people, whose Christian community is one of the oldest in the world. Her party has no qualms doing business with Azerbaijan, a dictatorship hellbent on annihilating the Armenian people- the first to have adopted Christianity as their state religion. The hypocrisy is enough to make you vomit.
TL;DR: Sarah Palin is an idiot, her book is trash and its only merit is it gave me a good laugh.
December 9, 2013
Sarah Palin's plea resonates with a lot of us who are distressed to see the doctrine of diversity, respect for minority faiths, used not to promote their inclusion, but to repudiate and exclude the practice of the Christian faith in the public square. She cites multiple examples from cases filed by "Angry Atheists with Lawyers," (title of chapter 1), to enforce this.
Municipalities and public school boards capitulate all too often to avoid costly court cases. Though traditionally American courts have not recognized a right not to be offended, some courts have made an exception for those offended by a religious expression with which they disagree. So Nativity scenes are removed from Court House lawns, a cross is deemed offensive in the 9/11 Museum display, and Christ-centered songs are removed from Christmas programs. In fact the programs are renamed as Winter, or perhaps Holiday Programs.
Ms. Palin makes the case that Christians must step up and protect the heart of Christmas from the offended atheists and lists some ways to do it. She also expounds on some of the reasons why. She writes movingly about the true meaning of Christmas, which is "grit, it's mercy, it's vulnerability," as she recalls the ultimate sacrifice of a King who lowers himself into the helpless position of infancy so that he can die to redeem the people he loves. Pondering this helps us "admit when we do wrong, accept forgiveness, and to face any hardship that comes our way." Secondly, she emphasizes how devastating to a child's view of God it can be, when parents accept the censorship of the schools over something as simple as a song, or a Christmas message attached to a candy cane.
Incorporating the traditions her parents started and the ones she and her husband created with their own children, she recalls fondly past Christmas celebrations, several memories of her political life as mayor, governor and vice-presidential candidate, and even uses Charles Dickens' ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future, to help us discover ways to "keep Christmas well."
Her conversational style and wit moves her message forward effectively, and she includes a few photos and even family recipes to round out the picture of the Joy of the Christmas Season.
August 31, 2017
I am sorry I did not learn more about Mrs. Palin when she ran for Vice President of the U.S. She is awesome! She knows how to use a shotgun, self-reliant, from a strong family and community background, working mom with young children and a son about to be deployed around the time of the election, member of the National Guard, re-elected Governor of Alaska, hard-working husband who didn't mind his wife holding a power position. She possesses many professional and personal qualities that is reflective of more Americans than past presidents; qualities I want in my country's leadership. Yes, I am now A FAN.
On to the book. Mrs. Palin talks about essential, worrying ways our country is changing. She discusses basic characteristics of our national identity that we need to cherish and nurture. When we purport to support "equal" religious representation while specifically excluding Christianity, that is not tolerance or religious freedom. When the complaints of the few, complaints, not needs, are placed above the Constitution and the rights of the many, we limit openness, freedom, and liberty.
Her story examples are interesting and realistic. Her tone is kind, firm, and persuasive, not preachy. Loved that she read her own audiobook. Enjoyed this short book.
On to the book. Mrs. Palin talks about essential, worrying ways our country is changing. She discusses basic characteristics of our national identity that we need to cherish and nurture. When we purport to support "equal" religious representation while specifically excluding Christianity, that is not tolerance or religious freedom. When the complaints of the few, complaints, not needs, are placed above the Constitution and the rights of the many, we limit openness, freedom, and liberty.
Her story examples are interesting and realistic. Her tone is kind, firm, and persuasive, not preachy. Loved that she read her own audiobook. Enjoyed this short book.
March 5, 2014
Most of my friends are inveterate Palin bashers, but I have never felt comfortable doing so because I've never actually listened to her or read her stuff. I was expecting something ghastly, but this book was actually ok. I am as annoyed as she at some of the absurd creche activism of the fanatical atheists. But Palin doesn't seem to realize that citing a handful of lawsuits that the "bad guys" won doesn't make a case that there's a massive war on Christmas going on. To read this book, you'd think the ACLU is there every time there is a cross in public, that they never lose a case, and that Christian groups never bring frivolous religious lawsuits. And while showing great concern that others are making fun of her religion, she doesn't have any problem poking fun at camel sacrificing Muslims or Pagans desperately trying to get some sun worship in during the short daylight hours of the deep Alaskan winter.
February 17, 2018
While going through my books, I found this. It was a gag gift from someone who well knows my personal feelings about Christmas. It has never been my favorite holiday and I sure don’t think there is a war on Christmas either. If there was, then Christmas is winning and always has been. LOL.
Anyway, I did a speed read of this before putting it into the donate pile. I guess the theme of this book is to keep Christ in our Xmas celebrations and she relates a story with a moral to help us do so. I’m not sure how people who aren’t Christian are supposed to celebrate the holiday but I may have missed her advice on that because of speed reading. The book is not horrible and it surely is not my kind of book and I’m sure there are loads of people who love stuff like this. Maybe it will be perfect for the person who ends up with my donated copy.
Anyway, I did a speed read of this before putting it into the donate pile. I guess the theme of this book is to keep Christ in our Xmas celebrations and she relates a story with a moral to help us do so. I’m not sure how people who aren’t Christian are supposed to celebrate the holiday but I may have missed her advice on that because of speed reading. The book is not horrible and it surely is not my kind of book and I’m sure there are loads of people who love stuff like this. Maybe it will be perfect for the person who ends up with my donated copy.
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