Did he send this from a hotel in Illinois?

Not only is it inappropriate for him to comment on it who is he to say whether something is important to an entire culture or not. DId he do a survey of hundreds of blacks in all areas of wisconsin to come up with this absolutely aggravating assault. Just like his stupid comment about single parents being neglecttful, this idiot is just that. Who the hell votes for this guy???

The people that vote for this guy are people that have the ability to understand what he says. When did he say single parents are neglectful?

Bren said:

"Who agrees with me that it's inappropriate for Glenn Grothman to exploit his taxpayer funded platform as a state representative to voice his useless opinion on something that has nothing to do with state funding?"

Who thinks that Travon Martin looks like he could be Obama's son?

Point being that a politician can say whatsoever he pleases. You can in turn say whatsoever you like in response.

You nailed it on the head. I agree with you 100%.

It's kind of like us having to listen to your useless opinion. He's probably fed up with all this over sensitive tip toeing around issues that are only brought up by "people" who feel they are owed something for nothing,

Well, he did say that time is being spent in schools promoting this holiday, and education is state funded. Just pointing out that this was part of his argument.

I agree with Bren that it is inappropriate for Glenn to exploit his taxpayer funded platform to shoot his mouth off AGAIN.

Jeff, schools teaching about it isn't "promoting" it. It is a legitimate part of US History. If you don't like that, there are parochial schools to teach edited history.

Amitiel:

Schools are doing more than teaching about Kwanzaa--they are indeed promoting it...

https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/node/8430

I believe that as usual Senator Grothman is trying to determine what Africans in America should think, like, do, and believe. I have celebrated Kwanzaa for over twenty years. It is not a racist holiday, it is a cultural week that gives Africans an opportunity to celebrate our own history which is not taught in public schools, celebrate our heroes who are rarely discussed in public, and love ourselves, which aligns with the bible: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. For those white people who think that this is about them, that we should not have a separate week that celebrates African and African American culture, please shut up! You celebrate St Patty's Day, Presidents Day, July 4th, White Santa, White Jesus, and this is your right. I am not Irish. Until 2008, not one president represented me, a white Santa does not give my children presents, my ancestors were not freed on July 4th, but made three fifths human, and Jesus was not white. There is anthropological and archeological evidence that has proven that Yeshua was African. Why is this important? It is important because Europeans started these misrepresentations and have spent centuries demeaning my people, trying to make us feel ugly, inferior, godless, and worthless. Because of this, Kwanzaa was created. It is an opportunity to love Africa, love our culture, and it has absolutely nothing to do with hating anybody. All African Americans should celebrate it. Those who don't are just Scared Uncle Tom's.

If you want to celebrate, then go ahead and do that. Nobody is attempting to control what people do in the privacy of their own homes. Just don't expect that the celebration should be forced upon others.

Hi Noni: I really liked most of your response, but I do take umbrage with one thing you said. "There is anthropological and archeological evidence that has proven that Yeshua was African". To be accurate, Yeshua, Jesus, was Asian. Born East of the Red Sea, and just West of the Jordan River, he was clearly born in Asia of Semitic parents. Jews are Semites. If you want to see what he would look like, look at an average Palestinian and he would be pretty close to that. It is hard to be really accurate, because the Jews mixed with the Moabites for a long time before they were told not to, and we don't know what they looked like, but they too were Asians.

Clearly, Jesus was NOT white, NOT European, because he was a Semitic Asian. He was also not black. I can understand why you would want him to be, but he wasn't. There is no anthropological or archeological evidence to support your theory; none. There is good evidence that Jews left Judea and went South to an area of South Africa to live and stayed there. There is a small tribe who have been officially found to be Jews, and there is DNA to support that. But the DNA went to the tribe, and not back from it.

Kwanzaa is a celebration that needed to be created.

The curriculum of a school, is in fact funded by local, state and federal taxes, levies, Et cetera. Things being arranged so, saying that he is exploiting his position is incorrect. Voicing his opinion is an enormous part of his job, it is after all, why the people elected him. If you feel like Grothman shouldn't exercise his free speech rights why should you be allowed to? I can't take you seriously if you want other people to be silent, then turn around and run your mouth. We should all desire to hear opposing views so that we might consider a topic from ALL angles. Regardless of whether or not we agree with someone, there is value in dissecting their thoughts to enrich our own.

He gets paid to represent people and the discussion here is whether or not he is properly represenenting his constituents, some of whom do care.

I'll agree Bob - the significant thread that is up on the original story has divulged into less-than stellar discussion of the topic as it is.

This is America, not Africa. Where are your links to said research?

A fairly unbiased review of kwanzaa and its history can be found in Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa

As to the Africa angle, I think JR was pointing out that this ISN'T an African holiday, but rather a made-up American holiday which was dressed in some poorly thought out African-style trappings.

Actually it is. It`s for clowns like you.

I wonder if it’s celebrated as violently as Juneteenth Day is in Milwaukee.

Scot, you'd be the ringmaster.

No, carnivals are fun and enjoyable

Here's a copy of Grothman's press release:

http://www.thewheelerreport.com/wheeler_docs/files/1231grothman.pdf

C/D, did you follow the link? Madison hippies training future protesters.
https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/node/8430

I find that I do appreciate the use of the word "nuts" on official government stationery. It is the first time I recall encountering something like this. One might lament the lack of professionalism exhibited by a well-compensated government representative, but one must take amusement as one can.

"white jerk"....THAT rant has no context....wow.

"some dumb, ignorant man says"

You just can't make this stuff up!

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=2222

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/viewSubCategory.asp?id=536

I love this comment. You are completely right. Some dumb ignorant man is representing me...that really makes me mad though

Johnston, thanks for the link. My day is rarely complete until I have read Ann Coulter.

AWD said,
"Kwanzaa is an arbitrary, hollow, invented holiday created for a people who have made no achievements or contributions to mankind, but still want to feel that their heritage is somehow special. It's an insult to every legitimate holiday there is."

Have you or a member of your family ever had a safe blood transfusion or rode on a safe elevator? You did that because a black man invented the process that made it possible. That is just 2 out of thousands. Go Google and find some more.

I love circus peanuts too.

Very well put....I agree. As I said before, the holiday is all about seperating blacks from the traditional Christmas holiday. It's founder was a radical seperatist. Comparing HIM in ANY way to Jesus should be criminal.

AWD, you can go back in the barn now.

"Very well put....I agree. As I said before, the holiday is all about seperating blacks from the traditional Christmas holiday. It's founder was a radical seperatist. Comparing HIM in ANY way to Jesus should be criminal."
Jesus was a radical liberal...in every sense of being liberal. Conservatives have hijacked Jesus to represent something Jesus never represented. Jesus also didn't ask anyone to worship him and people do. Go back in history and research. The whole topic and history and teachings of Jesus have been bastardized to suit some people's wants.

Amitel wrote: "Jesus was a radical liberal...in every sense of being liberal...."
Actually, Jesus was neither Liberal or Conservative. The Son of Man came to show us the path to GOD, offering it to us as a choice. Jesus did not dictate to his contemporaries, he used parables to teach his lessons.

Damn right. Christmas, enjoyed by millions for centuries. Kwanzaa, made up by a disgruntled black militant for a few decades.

Christmas, made possible by Jews. You are welcome. Kwanzaa, an idea of great weight.

Thanks for murdering that dude so I could go to church and get presents.

@Steve....The Romans executed the man, not the Jews. Get it right for a change.

...besides, Easter, not Christmas is the holiday that resulted from the killing of Jesus.

War on Christmas? Now that's a stretch!

like like like, true true true

My response has been pending since January 2, 2013. Are you going to tell me that my comment doesn't agree with the terms of use? Does it bother you that I'm not black and I don't care?

Hmmmm....... another day and my response is still pending approval. I'll check back tomorrow.

By the way.... I'm still not black and I still don't care. Hahahahahaha!!!!!!

How many days will my response be pending approval?

I'm not black and I don't care.

hahahahaha!!!! Gotcha!!

How is being an anti-Semite related to Kwanzaa? Black Jews? I find this a wild assumption never-the-less.

I believe you are vastly mis informed or confused what Kwanzaa actually is and how it was created. Please either further elaborate for my enjoyment or get you google machine out.

Mr. Grothman says Kwanzaa is an alternative to Christmas (which it isn't), and therefore should be slapped down. The same goes for Jews, the exact same thing. Our holiday and we are an alternative to Christians; we don't believe in any of that at all. When you say that Kwanzaa should be slapped down for not being Christian, you are saying Jews and Jewish holidays should be slapped down for not being Christian. That is exactly the way we look at it. You cannot hate them and their holiday, without hating us and our holiday. That is why he is an anti-Semite.

Kwanzaa does not impinge on anyone else's freedoms, nor does it endanger anyone, so why the explosive hate? It must be because it is different. It is hate of the different. That endangers me and those who are different it the eyes of others. I know this because I have experience.

joanne, I think your paranoia has read a little too much into Grothman's comment

What an excellent piece of trash by LENA TAYLOR. Actually numbers do show what he said there to be true. Child abuse and poverty is a lot greater in broken families.

I wouldn't expect anything less from that crackpot. I envision all that vote for her as or more stupid.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VRMH83kaz54

So a white guy talking about black racism is racist?

All starts with it's creator. If a white guy from the KKK starts a holiday for whites only on how whites are a superior race, well ill let you fill in the rest.

The racist faux news watcher Ann can fill in the rest

http://dailycaller.com/2012/12/30/kwanzaa-is-a-ridiculous-racist-holiday/

Racist

You aren't my sun and moon. Is that the right answer?

Why are you so racist?

It is a good idea as a woman to run from Maulana Karenga.

There IS a difference. Why don't you have it on May 15. On that day the weather is always nice, the grass is green, the sky is blue, and there are nice flowers. May 15 would be a much nicer day for a white holiday. But that would not be okay with you, because April 20 is Hitler's birthday, and that is why you are a Nazi, not because you want a white holiday.

did you ever think i wanted it on 4/20 because i want to celebrate a white holiday with a joint ? you only want me to celebrate on a day when its good for YOU and coincides with YOUR views because you have a narrow minded point of view yet you call me a nazi. your level of ignorance is insurpassable.

gotta love any blog that degrades into arguing about Hitler and weed.

There is NO WAY a holiday about white people could be about weed. Or maybe you are very, very young. Think jazz.

Easter has a pretty damn offensive history to Jews. The Catholic Church taught and again teaches that Jews killed Jesus and not Rome, and we have suffered for nearly 2 Millennium for that lie. He was a small time preacher with a handful of followers. But he challenged Rome and they killed him for it. There were many small time preachers claiming to be the Messiah; he was only one. But he told people to not continue being part of the economy, to drop out, and follow something else, and that was a challenge to Rome, and you Cannot do that and live.

I am still careful around Easter, because there are crazy people. At my parents' temple, they have armed guards around Easter, but not Christmas. It is often not safe to not be a Christian.

Actually joanne, the Catholic Church taught that it was the Sadducees and to some extent the Pharisees that contrived to have the Romans execute Jesus. Look at the early leaders of the church:
Peter (A Jew)
Andrew (A Jew)
Two James (Both Jews)
John (A Jew)
Philip (A Jew)
Bartholomew (A Jew)
Thomas (A Jew)
Matthew (A Jew)
Paul (A Jew)
Thaddaeus (A Jew)
Simon the Zealot (A Jew)
St. Stephen (the first martyr and another Jew)
and the list goes on.

Unfortunately, many early Christians saw the negative side of Jewish involvement, including later church leaders.

Most of us today know the truth and accept Judaism as the root to Christianity.

@joanne

On the contrary, if you study up on your history you will discover that the early Christian church was almost entirely Jewish and struggled with how it should incorporate Gentile converts. Decades after the religion was established they were still debating whether Gentiles should have to assume Jewish cultic practices (i.e., circumcision, food laws and holidays) to be included. Even after Gentile churches were established, they were overseen by Jews, directly or indirectly.

That said, I think it is foolish to bash Kwanzaa, even if it is accurately criticized. I highly doubt anyone will remember it 80 years from now. In the meantime, crash every party you can, make friends and have a good time. Life is short.

Joanne, the statement that Jesus told his followers to go against Rome is false. The problem was that the people (Jews) were looking for a political and military Messiah, which Jesus was not. In fact, when asked about taxes and the ruling government, he pretty much told them to pay their taxes and be good citizens...Render unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar, and render unto God which belongs to God.

The Anti-Alinsky: The German Pope has gone back to the Latin Mass; that bodes ill for Jews.

There is no such thing as a "Jewish Movement". Judaism is a RELIGION. I don't care what you call your beliefs. Our's are between four and five thousand years old. Those who wanted to want their beliefs to become a separate religion and not a Jewish sect, rejected religious rules such as circumcision. When Jewish leaders agreed that rejecting circumcision after a child was no longer a baby was reasonable, sect leaders looked for other ways of separating themselves. The root of Christianity is the Rejection of Judaism. Jesus was changed from the Messiah into God.

Luke: the Early Christian "church" WAS Jewish. They were Jews and considered themselves to be Jews. They practiced all the Jewish rites and added beliefs onto all the Jewish beliefs. It was well over 100 years before it stopped being Jewish, and that was because it wasn't growing. To grow it needed to add non-Jews, but non-Jews didn't want to become Jews first, though many did for over a century.

In your post you said, "Decades after the religion was established they were still debating whether Gentiles should have to assume Jewish cultic practices (i.e., circumcision, food laws and holidays) to be included." We do not see the Jewish religion as a cult. We do not see Christianity as a cult, even if many Christians see Mormons a cult within Christianity. Your statement is ignorant and insulting.

Once the Christians separated for Judaism, they were clearly no longer Jews, and Jews had no more to do with them. Christians had made their choice. Jews did not oversee them, because they had nothing to do with us, and they did not follow our religion; they were foreign.

joanne, that was a very interesting post. I just have a few questions for you:
1) Why the need to emphasis the Pope as being German?
2) Benedict XVI is ALLOWING congregations to use the Latin mass. But why does that "bode ill" for Jews?
3) How did you draw the conclusion that anyone on this blog considered Judaism as a "movement" rather than a religion?

You wrote: "The root of Christianity is the Rejection of Judaism.". You are wrong. The root of Christianity is the acceptance of Jesus as the promised Messiah and the his promises of an eternal life. While many Jewish traditions and rituals have been dismissed, some have remained in today's Christian teachings. Notably, the Ten Commandments.

I'm not sure what has motivated your apparent hatred of Christianity, but maybe you need to understand it a little better before making inaccurate statements.

Gregory Kluck said, "Joanne, the statement that Jesus told his followers to go against Rome is false. The problem was that the people (Jews) were looking for a political and military Messiah, which Jesus was not. In fact, when asked about taxes and the ruling government, he pretty much told them to pay their taxes and be good citizens...Render unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar, and render unto God which belongs to God."

Everywhere Rome went, it brought its religion. You will find temples all over the Roman world to Roman gods. The Romans left the Jews pretty much alone, because Rome chose the High Priests for the Temple in Jerusalem, and they were loyal to Rome. They were Jews, and as long as they made the sacrifices according to Jewish Law, Jews were satisfied. Jews more importantly did not, and do not proselytize.

When Jesus said to render on to God that which is God's, he stuck at the heart of Rome. If he gathered more followers who proselytized against Roman gods, it could eventually bring down Rome. In fact, Rome was forced to embrace Christianity in order to continue to rule. What sounds religious, was in fact political. Jesus was nobody's fool. He didn't intend to leave his people under the boot heal of the Romans to the degree that he could help it. I don't believe he thought his family would be treated they way they were.

@joanne

"Cultic practice" refers to a system of religious worship or ritual. There is nothing negative about the term. It does not mean "cult-like," which should be clear by the presence of "practice," not to mention the context of the sentence and the examples I gave. Consult a dictionary.

Grothman began the stir.

Are you unable to control yourself?

Obviously self control is difficult once the stir has begun...

Apparently that's the case. Maybe what we need is a new law on the books regarding politicians who begin the stir.

"Begin the stir and you're out on your butt, sir!"

Why would celebrating on a different date than his actual birth make it a 'made up holiday'? Jesus was indeed born, and Christmas is a celebration of that birth, is it not?

Kwanzaa is NOT a religion.

Kwanzaa and it's founder are also a "bit out there"

Inappropriate....how? It's an "opinion"....MY opinion. How can you label another persons opinion "inappropriate" I am against THIS statement.

....and yet, most of the people here doing the bitching are white.

Why should Senator Grtham shut his mouth? Your remarks don't make a lot of sense. You attack the man in print on a "personal level" and offer nothing intelligent on the subject being discussed. You seem to think you have a right to your opinion. I happen to think he has a right to his.

Once again, this isn't an issue of what holidays private citizens are permitted to celebrate at home. The government has set a precedent that we cannot celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah on our schools because of religion, yet the despite the inclusion of the Kwanzaa principle of 'faith', there seems to be no issue with celebrating Kwanzaa in our public schools.