Santa died for your Mastercard - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Dion · 12-23-2007, 01:12 AM

Man Nails Santa to 15-Foot Crucifix

BREMERTON, Wash. — Art Conrad has an issue with the commercialism of Christmas, and his protest has gone way beyond just shunning the malls or turning off his television.

The Bremerton resident nailed Santa Claus to a 15-foot crucifix in front of his house.

"Santa has been perverted from who he started out to be," Conrad said. "Now he's the person being used by corporations to get us to buy more stuff."

A photo of the crucified Santa adorns his Christmas cards, with the message "Santa died for your MasterCard."

The display is also Conrad's way of poking fun at political correctness. He believes people don't express their feelings because they're afraid of what other people might think.

His neighbors found the will to express their feelings this past week. Some were offended but many were just curious.

Jake Tally walked by on Friday and chuckled, but didn't pretend to understand the message.

"I don't really know what to think. I know it's about God but Santa has nothing to do with it," he told the Kitsap Sun newspaper.

http://www.katu.com/news/weird/12774337.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,318006,00.html

Locke · 12-23-2007, 01:49 AM

VISA must have paid him off.

DementedReality · 12-23-2007, 10:13 AM

Cant say I disagree ... Christmas has gone stupid

nik- · 12-23-2007, 11:56 AM

not even original .. this has been done before. Pretty hollow statement when you're just copying the idea of others.

Azure · 12-23-2007, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DementedReality

Cant say I disagree ... Christmas has gone stupid

There is some good to giving gifts, but like you said, some people go completely overboard.

Locke · 12-23-2007, 12:43 PM

Doesnt anybody wonder why he went specifically after Mastercard? If you're going to blame credit card companies for christmas commercialism you'd better go after them all.

Or did VISA and AMEX pay his ransom demands?

Irony anyone?

Devils'Advocate · 12-23-2007, 01:24 PM

Whaddya want? "Santa died for you Mastercard, Visa and American Express"? It gets kinda long..... just pick one and the point is made. It's not anti-credit card. He's not telling people to boycott Mastercard. He is saying that people need to stop celebrating the birth of their savior by spending copious amounts of money that they do not have buying stuff they don't need.

As for it being unoriginal.... who give a f__k? Putting up a nativity scene in your front yard is far from original. Pretty hollow sentiment when someone has done it before. There we go. End of nativity scenes in peoples front yards.

nik- · 12-23-2007, 02:43 PM

I don't put up a Nativity scene to make an artistic statement. There's a pretty big difference.

They're not the same thing, so why even try to make the comparison.

McG · 12-23-2007, 03:02 PM

i blame people. no one forced anyone to buy more than they need nor go into debt. this guy's criticism...while kinda understandable...is entirely about shock value. if he really wanted to make a statement he would have nailed credit cards to his cross. which isn't even a Christmas icon!

besides that...i mean come on! nintendo, EA, and Activision are doing their best to keep gear out of stores...(wii, rock band, and gh).

icarus · 12-23-2007, 03:51 PM

Placard down below reads: This effigy is brought to you courtesy of Mastercard.

J pold · 12-23-2007, 04:02 PM

What an over-dramatic fool

Things like this only solidify the statement that there are a lot of stupid people out there

Devils'Advocate · 12-23-2007, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McG

i blame people

Usually that is who to blame.

I just have a huge disgust with how much money the general populace spend on Christmas crap when that money could be spent in so many better ways.

I remember my dad used to tease us as kids. "You guys have enough toys. You have an Atari and hockey gear and baseball gear. More than most kids. How about this year we take all the Christmas budget and give it to those who really need it?" I think back on it and feel guilty that as a 12 year old I didn't say "That's a great idea".

Today I have told my family and friends not to spend a dime on me, but rather if they were planning on giving anything then to give to the food bank.

Reaper · 12-23-2007, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J pold

What an over-dramatic fool

Things like this only solidify the statement that there are a lot of stupid people out there

No, religion solidifies the statement that there are a lot of stupid people out there. (nomex suit on)

McG · 12-23-2007, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reaper

No, religion solidifies the statement that there are a lot of stupid people out there. (nomex suit on)

i don't really know what religion has to do with stupid people.

stupid people are stupid people...regardless of religion or not, or any other ism or not.

i had a smarter person than me say...

"people are always doing stupid things...but that's people for you."

its true.