General Discussion

Liberty Belle

(9,709 posts)

112. This news editor's response just sent to NORADSANTA.com:

Wed Dec 4, 2013, 12:32 AM

Dec 2013

As a news editor at East County Magazine, which has 150,000 readers a month, we’ve always linked to your site each Christmas eve. But after reading this story, we won’t be this year unless you change your policy:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/12/02/pentagon-tracking-santa-with-new-twist-armed-jet-fighters/aFYyrQhOjNlZw9OnsKSWQM/story.html?s_campaign=email_BG_TodaysHeadline

Weapons such as war planes have no place in a website for children. Christmas is a celebration of the holiday spirit – peace on earth, goodwill to men.

Having fighter jets guiding Santa is the antithesis of that.

What were you thinking?

I hope to hear that you’ve rethought this decision which is in very bad taste, and will eliminate the weapons and militaristic imagery from the site so that we can once again refer children to your otherwise very creative and good-spirited effort.

I grew up enjoying this site as a child, as did my children, and the children of many of our news sites readers.

Please let me know if you change this policy.

Miriam Raftery, Editor
www.EastCountyMagazine.org
editor@eastcountymagazine.org

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Know that thing they do every Christmas Eve where they have NORAD "track" Santa's sleigh? [View all] WilliamPitt Dec 2013 OP

That is so sick and weird Tanuki Dec 2013 #1

Maybe they have to escort him to ensure he doesn't try to fly into the new World Trade tower. nt Ace Acme Dec 2013 #78

'Take the shot! Take the shot!' nt onehandle Dec 2013 #2

Too close for missiles... AtheistCrusader Dec 2013 #135

That's a negative Ghostrider, the pattern is full. Glassunion Dec 2013 #142

There is a dark and sinister psychology behind this. JaneyVee Dec 2013 #3

Just what the Police State ordered. blkmusclmachine Dec 2013 #102

Deviate from that flight path one meter, Fat Boy, and you're toast... nt Buns_of_Fire Dec 2013 #4

Ha ha ha! Actually, the justification is to protect Santa from "threats." MADem Dec 2013 #59

They must have heard about Jon Stewart's liberal media war on Christmas and his STS missiles nilram Dec 2013 #84

Ha! I have to get back to the Daily Show...! nt MADem Dec 2013 #148

This is disgusting. nt octoberlib Dec 2013 #5

Beyond the pale. blkmusclmachine Dec 2013 #103

I kept waiting for the MuseRider Dec 2013 #6

Can't figure out how to edit, or format properly on this tablet so.... MuseRider Dec 2013 #9

Thanks! bvar22 Dec 2013 #51

Hey there! MuseRider Dec 2013 #58

+1 countryjake Dec 2013 #63

Doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle, doodle, oodle, oodle oo MuseRider Dec 2013 #68

So is Santa also involved with the NSA? After all rurallib Dec 2013 #7

Not directly, but they forced him to put a backdoor into his database. Thor_MN Dec 2013 #53

Santa is KGB, not NSA jmowreader Dec 2013 #71

Send the Millennium Falcon and Snoopy in his Sopwith Camel. Are_grits_groceries Dec 2013 #8

This is Canada's fault. Renew Deal Dec 2013 #10

Conditioning children to live in the military industrial complex Generic Other Dec 2013 #11

Exactly. Propaganda. Just what the burgeoning US Police State ordered. blkmusclmachine Dec 2013 #104

Damn! In_The_Wind Dec 2013 #12

Turn on your light saber instead tina tron Dec 2013 #18

Well there goes the neighborhood! Rex Dec 2013 #24

Why do Imperial storm troopers wear armor? tclambert Dec 2013 #45

Oh No!!! In_The_Wind Dec 2013 #65

That's sad. Brickbat Dec 2013 #13

Not sad. I think it is sorta funny. RebelOne Dec 2013 #146

THAT Sissyk Dec 2013 #14

That kind of changes the whole myth into something else gollygee Dec 2013 #15

Well, since you are not privy to the intel available to Sen. Feinstein Ace Acme Dec 2013 #79

We need protection from the NSA. blkmusclmachine Dec 2013 #105

Yes, this is going to scare kids, I can't believe they thought this was a good idea. bananas Dec 2013 #116

A bearded man in a makeshift aircraft flying nap-of-the-earth? JHB Dec 2013 #16

That landscape is just as disturbing as anything else. randome Dec 2013 #17

they should have just put missles on the sleigh... dionysus Dec 2013 #19

Santa is upset the polar ice cap is melting. hunter Dec 2013 #20

All I can say is: sakabatou Dec 2013 #21

Our nation is in the hands of some sick fucks. FiveGoodMen Dec 2013 #22

Sieg Heil, motherf/ckers! blkmusclmachine Dec 2013 #106

FUCK YA! Rex Dec 2013 #23

That's disturbing on every level. Now if Santa was flanked by the Tardis, I'd be ok with that. myrna minx Dec 2013 #25

When the people in government do something fun they get attacked rule #1 Johonny Dec 2013 #26

the "tracking" is fine annabanana Dec 2013 #29

you forgot the sarcasm thingy, yes? niyad Dec 2013 #31

I hope so. Honestly I am speechless (it has happened a few times on DU but this takes the cake) anneboleyn Dec 2013 #97

I do not think anyone who has ever lost somone to war BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2013 #35

Comprehensive Fail. WilliamPitt Dec 2013 #36

It's called propaganda tina tron Dec 2013 #46

Heaven forbid we let the message Peace On Earth stand for one fucking day. Scramble the jets! TeamPooka Dec 2013 #57

Thank you! City Lights Dec 2013 #75

You really think armed fighter jets protecting santa is to teach kids the military harun Dec 2013 #88

Santa is the Magic of the Old Man of the North - He doesn't need escorts and has made it Hestia Dec 2013 #127

I was scrolling looking for a defender/apologist of this. morningfog Dec 2013 #90

I'm with you. CorrectOfCenter Dec 2013 #125

,....... daleanime Dec 2013 #131

You know.. "war on Christmas" Air Force Dominionists and all that .. . . .n/t annabanana Dec 2013 #27

+1 Crowman1979 Dec 2013 #133

But, but, some people BELIEVE in the military! Coyotl Dec 2013 #28

Yes, Virginia, there is a military. GreatCaesarsGhost Dec 2013 #41

And try as people might to get out of their enlistment... dreamnightwind Dec 2013 #121

dear goddess, PLEASE tell me this is actually from the Onion and the globe just copied it. niyad Dec 2013 #30

The SCOTUS ruled against putting GPS tracking devices on Santa's sleigh. OnyxCollie Dec 2013 #32

Queue the Disney-Mattel marketeers MinM Dec 2013 #33

Get on Target! Be the target! Vox Moi Dec 2013 #42

Reminds me of this.... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2013 #82

My brother and I had those. They lasted about a half a day. Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2013 #113

Your last name wouldn't be Banner, would it? FiveGoodMen Dec 2013 #136

No Hassin Bin Sober Dec 2013 #137

Good luck finding jets that can land on roughly 80 millions of rooftops in one night! FarCenter Dec 2013 #34

This decision leaves them open to some pretty obvious lampooning. KittyWampus Dec 2013 #37

This is your Christmas Mission Profile ... Vox Moi Dec 2013 #38

Thanks Obama n/t Fumesucker Dec 2013 #39

The question of course Good without a god Dec 2013 #40

It's done by volunteers and private money. obxhead Dec 2013 #98

Wonderful story as to how NORAD started tracking Santa - but with this one video they can Hestia Dec 2013 #128

Sick and twisted....knr joeybee12 Dec 2013 #43

Now this is a "War on Christmas". Wonder what Bill and Sarah think? Old and In the Way Dec 2013 #44

I don't like this. Nye Bevan Dec 2013 #47

You must be one of those bleedin' heart libruls. Commie! blkmusclmachine Dec 2013 #107

Ah the unveiling of the super duper secret nadinbrzezinski Dec 2013 #48

No worries. Bill O said it was his contribution to the war on Christmas. nt. NCTraveler Dec 2013 #49

Just as long as Santa doesn't die from a leg wound LordGlenconner Dec 2013 #50

That's recruitment imagery. Early childhood branding upon impressionable minds. Loudly Dec 2013 #52

Absolutely! FiveGoodMen Dec 2013 #74

You betcha! blkmusclmachine Dec 2013 #108

Well, points for realism... TroglodyteScholar Dec 2013 #54

Christmas Accomplished! nt raouldukelives Dec 2013 #55

email Norad to let them know you don't like this: noradtrackssanta@outlook.com TeamPooka Dec 2013 #56

Fighter jets? Everyone knows NORAD uses drones to keep Santa safe. FSogol Dec 2013 #60

They don't want St. Nick running off with any state secrets. nyquil_man Dec 2013 #61

The NSA: blkmusclmachine Dec 2013 #110

It's the US Military's ** War on Christmas ** Bernardo de La Paz Dec 2013 #62

Who else will guard against the Grinch flying a Mig? seveneyes Dec 2013 #64

So much for bullsnarfle Dec 2013 #66

And Santa, rebel that he is, changes flight plans... countryjake Dec 2013 #67

What I want to know is: will Santa be required to pass through TSA security? KansDem Dec 2013 #69

They're just following him Politicalboi Dec 2013 #70

They're just protecting him from the War on Christmas jmowreader Dec 2013 #72

usa! usa! We *so* rule! City Lights Dec 2013 #73

This happens when he enters North American airspace. xmas74 Dec 2013 #76

My husband and I check it for fun. We love the Taj Mahal sequence and London anneboleyn Dec 2013 #99

My 13 year old and I will check it yet again this year xmas74 Dec 2013 #115

Santa is a mythological creature in... JimboBillyBubbaBob Dec 2013 #77

since the 30s there's been a lot of commentary on the replacement of myth and mainstream MisterP Dec 2013 #89

There's been other delusions, too. AverageJoe90 Dec 2013 #94

... Spitfire of ATJ Dec 2013 #80

Why would they want to shoot him down? hughee99 Dec 2013 #81

That is really... twisted. MadrasT Dec 2013 #83

Dumb. Starry Messenger Dec 2013 #85

Honest. I was good this year. ThoughtCriminal Dec 2013 #86

santa will need them warrprayer Dec 2013 #87

i don't see anything sinister about this, necessarily, TBH. AverageJoe90 Dec 2013 #91

They'll track Santa over Area 51 near Bigfoot Forest next to Edward Snowen's house. Initech Dec 2013 #92

Next year Santa will be delivering gifts with Drones! adirondacker Dec 2013 #93

Getting rid of the wing tip A2A missiles is the obvious solution. joshcryer Dec 2013 #95

I saw this on NECN tonight and thought it must be a joke. Paper Roses Dec 2013 #96

Military escort for Santa? shireen Dec 2013 #100

Why aren't they tracking Jesus? xfundy Dec 2013 #101

Replacing one fairy tale with another. Woo hoo! blkmusclmachine Dec 2013 #111

I wonder if Santa is spying for the NSA now. hrmjustin Dec 2013 #109

This news editor's response just sent to NORADSANTA.com: Liberty Belle Dec 2013 #112

Great response. Ms. Toad Dec 2013 #114

Here are some other Santa trackers. bananas Dec 2013 #118

Nothing ReRe Dec 2013 #117

Next up - TSA screening after he drops off presents so he can get back in the sleigh suffragette Dec 2013 #119

I love the smell of ever-increasing US militarianism and nationalism in the morning. merrily Dec 2013 #120

Related Headline Savannahmann Dec 2013 #122

Next they will go door to door with Santa RandiFan1290 Dec 2013 #123

I see what you did there... Jesus Malverde Dec 2013 #138

That was quite a surprise, how quickly Watertown and Cambridge merrily Dec 2013 #141

Stop assuming all kids will be scared by this. CorrectOfCenter Dec 2013 #124

That is so twisted. dotymed Dec 2013 #126

well, there is a war on christmas!!!! heaven05 Dec 2013 #129

It's NORAD's websit that's doing this. nt Javaman Dec 2013 #130

It's part of the US government's "Everyone is a Terrorist" policy. Crowman1979 Dec 2013 #132

"Onward Christian soldiers, tra-la-la la-la la-la-la-la!" Good times and fond memories. marble falls Dec 2013 #134

The Militarization of American Culture happyfunball Dec 2013 #139

TAUNT!!! hootinholler Dec 2013 #140

Hey ~ happyfunball In_The_Wind Dec 2013 #143

"You serious, Clark?" maced666 Dec 2013 #144

That's some twisted shit there. The underlying message is clear Pretzel_Warrior Dec 2013 #145

WTF! Seriously, WTF???? n/t Avalux Dec 2013 #147