When Christmas Gets Political
A caged baby Jesus, demonstrating Santas, tree protests — this is what happens when politics and Christmas mix.
Social impact during the holidays
The Holy Family separated and caged | December 8, 2019
A California church created a nativity scene depicting Jesus, Mary, and Joseph separated in cages. On ABC7, Rev. Karen Clark Ristine said she wanted to draw attention to hardships of asylum seekers.
A bi-national mass at the U.S.-Mexico border | December 16, 2017
A binational mass was celebrated and was held in Tijuana but was also took place in Imperial Beach and read by bishops. The focus of the mass was on children in the United States, Mexico and Central and South America. Dozens gathered on both sides of the border to take part in the mass. The binational event kicks off a mass that continues to the tip of South America.
A statue representing Trayvon Martin | December 27, 2013
Instead of an infant Jesus cradled in his mother’s arms, the Nativity at Claremont United Methodist Church — the creation of congregant and artist John Zachary — features a depiction of Trayvon Martin slumped over in his hoodie, a pool of his blood spreading over a bed of straw. The nativity scene was erected to “encourage people to reflect on gun violence and racial privilege.”
A Christmas tree protesting the Iraq war | December 26, 2005
It is at the bridges—about a dozen span the Tigris River, which bifurcates the Iraqi capital—where most violence has taken place. The protest movement, which began in October, has resulted in more than 400 deaths, around a dozen of them security personnel. Over 17,000 people have been injured. In response, the Chaldean Catholic Church in Washington D.C. decided last week to refrain from holding public celebrations of Christmas, trading tree decorations and holiday receptions for prayers of intercession.
A nativity scene denouncing femicides | November 23, 2017
“100 Presepi”, the Italian for "100 Cribs", is an international art exhibition of a vast variety of Nativity scenes that has been staged in Rome, Italy for 43 years. Manlio Menaglia who started the show in 1976 in Rome’s Piazza del Popolo area, wanted to salvage a typical Italian tradition which in those years risked being overtaken by the Christmas tree culture that is not of Italian origin. Maria Carla Menaglia continues to be a curator of the exhibit "100 Presepi"
Santas against deforestation Hernan Girardini Greenpeace activist | December 20, 2006
After the “Save the Rainforest” movement in Brazil and Argentina forced changes that dramatically slowed deforestation across the Amazon basin, activity is roaring back in some of the biggest expanses of forests in the world. That resurgence, driven by the world’s growing appetite for soy and other agricultural crops, is raising the specter of a backward slide in efforts to preserve biodiversity and fight climate change.
Brut.
66 comments
James J.
01/30/2020 13:22Stop spreading false doctrine!
Debbie P.
01/30/2020 11:38They were all summoned to their birth cities for a census. Joseph was born their. They were there legally. So...
Yasmin V.
01/29/2020 06:06While I may not agree with all of these, I think it’s an awesome display of our American right to protest peacefully
Luke S.
01/28/2020 19:57Matthew Peter Clark
Hillarie L.
01/28/2020 00:17No one is in cages like those ..
Kimberly K.
01/26/2020 15:08Were they not traveling to obey a law that was placed and she had the baby didn't say anywhere they living in the country illegally
Sophia B.
01/24/2020 02:45Cj Thiaw
Cherilyn S.
01/23/2020 01:17They put Jesus in a tomb and it didn't hold him...what makes them think a cage will make a statement? The holy family were not illegal immigrants they were made to go by their government leadership. They were obeying their laws.
Kristi B.
01/22/2020 04:22They weren't refugees. They were traveling to their home town for a census.
Corrina M.
01/22/2020 00:20I'm sure God would approve, as long as the rich get richer!!
Liliane M.
01/21/2020 10:24That doesn’t have anything to do with christianity! This is shameful protest!
Cary F.
01/21/2020 07:43Jesus was not a refugee.This just proves what happens when those who don't understand the bible, take it out of context. Jesus was born in the city of his grandfather. Palestine is not promised the land in Israel. For they were of the people who disobeyed God. The children of a slave that could not inherit with the children of the free.
Melinda R.
01/20/2020 23:26that good cz if not people will take them
Tahjanae A.
01/18/2020 04:54Go
Lexi A.
01/11/2020 20:17All I see in the comments are a bunch of racist stupid white people mad over the truth most of you probably wouldn’t even be on Jesus side back then your obviously followers and trump supporters and facts is he’s going to hell .
Mason S.
01/11/2020 15:43I wonder if they used Obama's cages for those too
Kwanna M.
01/11/2020 14:17Hahaha not jesus lol religion been mixed with politics for centuries.
Eric B.
01/10/2020 18:43Religion is the only thing in the world that is taught as a fact but has no proof.
Mark C.
01/10/2020 14:14Give it a rest already
Gary S.
01/10/2020 12:31Trump 2020