Wednesday
Dec232009
Happy Festivus!
December 23, 2009 You Seinfeld fans probably remember the made-up holiday "for the rest of us": Festivus. For everyone else: hey, did you know there's a made-up holiday today called Festivus? 'Cuz there is. And folks celebrate it, too.
So, apparently bakers figured, hey, if you can't beat 'em...
...misspell their Festivus cakes.
A good Festivus has a few key components. After you've erected the Festivus pole (an aluminum pole used in place of a Christmas tree) and had the Festivus dinner, you then move on to the traditional Airing of Grievances. This is when you tell each family member how s/he has disappointed you in the last year:
"Dude! Not cool! I told you that in confidence!"
"What? That was a gift!"
So as you can see, the Airing of Grievances is a lot like your average family reunion.
Finally, you wrap up the day's celebration with the traditional "Feats of Strength."
Wow. That's one disarmingly flexible cake.
This is when the head of the household selects one family member to wrestle, since tradition states that Festivus is not over until the head of the household is pinned.
Of course, you can always count on someone to take tradition a little too far.
"Dude! Not cool! I told you that in confidence!"
"What? That was a gift!"Which can also be a time of really opening up to your parents:
So as you can see, the Airing of Grievances is a lot like your average family reunion.Finally, you wrap up the day's celebration with the traditional "Feats of Strength."
Wow. That's one disarmingly flexible cake.
Of course, you can always count on someone to take tradition a little too far.Well, Happy Festivus, Heidi B., Becky L., Wendy B., Rebecca B., & Lynn G.! Oh, and if you're not buying this, just read the Festivus book
; it's all in there.
Today's charity, To Write Love On Her Arms, is dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. The story behind their name is pretty darn cool, too.
; it's all in there.- Related Wreckage: Kwanzaa Will Not Be Spared
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Today's charity, To Write Love On Her Arms, is dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. The story behind their name is pretty darn cool, too.
Click here to donate your dollar via our First Giving page.
Reader Comments (78)
Jen and John,
I LOVE the site, and my husband and I visit daily. We've also thoroughly enjoyed the charitable opportunities presented so far. That being said, I'm with Anonymous and Amanda - TWLOHA is a pretty divisive group. As someone living with a mental illness and a recovering addict, I too wanted to support this group with open arms when I first heard about them. But the message they often spread is one of recovery solely through religion, and that concept has harmed many more people than it has helped. There are lots of recovery organizations that are in need, and as much as I love you guys, I really wish you had chosen one that spread a more accurate message.
sigh. sorry, but i must speak my mind on this one.
with respect to your charity of the day, TWLOHA and the comments from anony @1:56 and amanda t. ... i too noticed it was christian-based and so therefore donated MORE than my $1.
why? because i'm a christian and i support the work of this organization.
i think that john and jen have done an excellent job of offering up a diverse group of charities for us to help this season.
it would be impossible to please everyone, every day with their choices. there have been days that i felt strongly about a particular charity and have given more than my $1/day.
on the other hand, i'm not a cat lover, so i didn't donate to that charity. i just didn't feel right in doing so.
but did i write to complain about their choice of charities that day? no. because ultimately, it's not about whether i agree or not.
if you want to give to a charity, give. if you don't, don't. but whining about a charity being "christian-based" is ludicrous. keep your dollar and move on.
thanks j & j for all you're doing for all of these charities. i, for one, appreciate being able to participate and am thankful for how easy you've made it for the rest of us to give.
Terry, to me the issue isn't about the group being Christian, it's about the message that prayer and faith-based recovery are the best way. I've been dealing with addiction and mental illness since my teens, and in my personal experience, this is a dangerous route.
If J&J want to support and express Christian beliefs, that's one thing, but religion and recovery (from mental illness and addiction) do not mix well.
I'm sorry, but I must correct people here....
I totally respect all your guys' decisions to donate or not to donate and I totally respect the fact that donating to an ostensibly "Christian" organization as a non-Christian may be uncomfortable. I think that as Jen and Jon have done a wonderful job offering up a diverse group of charities it's not an issue. If every charity of every day were 100% Christian, I (as a Christian) would start to see a problem.
However, I think some of you have one thing wrong - their message is not about "recovery through religion". Jamie, the TWLOHA "founder", does talk about faith at a few times, but he's Christian. Do you guys want him to hide his faith?
Their fundamental message is, if you want to phrase it like this, "recovery through love". That "You were created to love and be loved." That "everyone can relate to pain, that all of us live with questions, and all of us get stuck in moments. You need to know that you're not alone in the places you feel stuck." That hope is real, rescue is possible, and "community is essential, that people need other people, that we were never meant to do life alone."
I should hope everyone, regardless of religious denomination, can respect an organization - or at least appreciate their intentions - when they try to bring people together, to end secrets and silence, and to remind those of every religion that they are loved.
The head cake guy's eyes are bugging out because he's saying, "DUDE, I have BACON for eyebrows!!!"
To Stellar:
Q: Is TWLOHA a “Christian” organization?
A: We feel that the story (and the rest of this project) speaks for itself. Identifying something such as a band, store, venue or project as "Christian" often alienates those outside of the church/Christian culture, and we don't want to do that. TWLOHA aims to be inclusive and inviting. This is a project for all people. This is a project for broken people, and it is led by broken people.
And this part of your statement: "it's about the message that prayer and faith-based recovery are the best way."
Can you reference WHERE SPECIFICALLY on the website you found that information because it couldn't be further from the truth, and it's unfortunate you would spread that kind of false information. TWLOHA donated to a VARIETY of organizations, and one groups they donate to is 1-800-SUICIDE, which is not Christian. They also discontinued donating to organizations like Mercy Ministries and Teen Challenge BECAUSE of the "prayer" only type teaching, which TWLOHA DOES NOT believe in.
Members of the team are Christian, Jamie is a believer, and often includes his beliefs in his writing, which should be okay - he isn't saying that you can only be healed through prayer. We are all entitled to our own religious beliefs, or to not believe, but just because TWLOHA is all inclusive and all inviting doesn't mean that they only believe people get better through prayer.
Natalie,
That article is incorrect, and that financial statement is also. You can go to www.twloha.com/financials to see all their financial information.
...is that last one supposed to be the logo for the prog rock band Gentle Giant? :o
If so, very awesome, but they totally mauled it. D:
http://www.blazemonger.com/GG/Gentle_Giant_Home_Page
Others have already pointed out the misconceptions being harboured by those claiming that TWLOHA is "too Christian." I second them all and especially encourage people to read TWLOHA's mission statement and financial info for themselves if they have doubts. Both are easily accesible on the website.
I'd also like to ask why none of the people saying TWLOHA (an organization that specifically states they aren't interested in the Christian label) is "too Christian" commented to the post in which Habitat for Humanity was featured. After all, Habitat for Humanity actually refers to themselves as (and I quote) an "ecumenical Christian ministry."
TWLOHA is the reason why I chose to speak to my doctor about anti-depressants. Not the reason I go to church. Not the reason I pray. The reason I sought medical help for my depression and the reason I resolved to not be ashamed to admit that I needed said medical help.
Hope, love, community... these things aren't limited to Christianity. Does Jamie mention God when he speaks? Yes, and he shouldn't have to hide who he is just because he's trying to help people.
Damn. The "You both suck for different reasons" made me laugh out loud and the kids are finally sleeping!!
Hilarious.
C'mon - I thought EVERYONE knew that a man thong is just the perfect accessory to the "manzier". ;-)
WV: unesse - a quality specific to someone. "That man thong really complements your manzier - they really highlight your unesse."
i was a little surprised at seeing the twloha banner on your page today. i'm so glad you've chosen to support that today! it's surprising how so many people feel so trapped, but every supporter makes a difference :)
I think that seeking God's stregnth and love can be a big help for a mentally ill person and should not be condemned. But at the same time I also hate it when groups say therapy or medication are bad things and try to discourage people from seeking them. I'm not sayin this group does that though. But I agree with whichever posted said that not every group will please everyone and that an array of groups have to be spotlighted.
Awesome choice of charity - to write love on her arms is a great choice. Glad it made it into the list. Thank you for choosing it!
super post too, jen. you're the best!
Today's Wrecks have me wondering, once again, what on earth was going through people's minds. Though for the most part I have to wonder why people ordered such cakes...
Loved your choice of charity today. I'd heard of them before, and from what I can tell they're doing some wonderful work. :)
Love the post, per usual, but THANK YOU for choosing TWLOHA for your charity! There simply is not enough out there about suicide and self injury awareness, so seeing it on such a popular website made my day. So many people have already benefited from this organization. I may just donate again because it was on here and I think that's super awesome :D
Amanda
Why does it matter if a charity is Christian or not? It's still a charity. If you agree with their mission (helping the sick, the enslaved, the homeless, animals, whatever) what is the problem with donating? why should it make anyone uncomfortable?
As the original anonymous poster to talk about the Christian aspects of this charity, I just wanted to make a few things clear.
First, I think suicide prevention, etc., is great. Doing it because your god told you to? Awesome. Keep going.
Second, I think recruiting people who are battling mental issues into a religion, be it mainstream or cult, is sleazy and disgusting. I don't care if you think it will cure them. You're a slime.
Third, this charity never quite says whether they do this or not. They say "we're Christian" but the FAQ on the topic says "the site speaks for itself". Well, no, it doesn't. The fact that they refuse to give a straight answer, like "we seek valid medical treatment, and don't ask people who come to us for help to join our church", which would be such an easy answer to give, is exactly the sort of thing that creeps me out.
That is why I felt compelled to post.
The story behind Uses Man Thong (from someone who helped buy the cake):
We have a friend named Seth Magnuson and his name anagrams to Uses Man Thong, so we got that cake for him. You should have seen the look on the faces of the Dairy Queen workers!
Random post.xD
Thank you for mentioning TWLOHA as your charity of the day.:)
thanks for choosing twloha as your charity today. as some who's written a fair number of things on her own arms, i know that the group is really important to a lot of people.
To the anon near the end who said they don't directly comment on that:
They are not a church, they are a nonprofit organization. They don't "recruit" anyone to anything. You can check out their "Find Help" section to see the resources they list for people to seek out.
TWLOHA is the bridge to help. They respond encouraging people to find help, not saying "We're the rescue squad and we're going to fix all of you."
They say "We aim to be all inclusive and all inviting and by labeling something Christian it can steer peopel away." That answers your questions.
Walk up to any person who works for TWLOHA, or e-mail them (info@twloha.com) and they will flat out respond with "No."
It's a Festivus miracle!
I think that "arm cake" is Matthew McConaughey's from the movide Reign of Fire. Same tattoos.
Is that the hunchback of Notre Dame?
head of the household...thats is one fugly mother. xx
becky osborne here, i made the "head" cake and would like to clarify, that yes, he shaves half his beard like that, and yes, he is quite the character. the comments cracked me up! here is a link to my more "normal" cakes... http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=2045468&id=1375297116
I know this post is several years old but I still have to say that it shocks and appalls me to read the comments denigrating this charity. SO WHAT if they're Christian based? It never fails to baffle me how people could POSSIBLY be offended by something that bases itself around peace, love, and charity. That speaks more to the (lack of) character the people who whine about Christian values have. If you're going to be "offended" about anything why not be "offended" abut things that *really* matter, like I dunno, the lack of suicide outreach programs, or war, hunger, abuse, injustice... but oh no, let's get our panties in a twist over Jesus. You do realize how arrogant and self-serving it is to want them to only feature charities that *you* have approved, don't you? Last time I checked this wasn't *your* blog and giving to charitable causes was 100% voluntary. If the only reason you have against giving to this charity is based upon your bias and borderline bigotry, then you, my friend, have problems. How is it fair to the rest of us, not to mention the people this charity helps support, if it was replaced by a more secular one in order to appease those of you who can't handle a little bit of religious undertone? It's like you're saying you don't care about anybody else's feelings but your own. All in all the solution is simple: don't like it? Don't go to the site. See? Problem solved. You people always seem to forget that equality and tolerance run both ways. I just cannot understand those who flip out over Jesus. "EEK! It's Jesus! Quick, get Him away from me! I'm so offended right now I can't even...!" SMH. Shame on you for turning something good and wonderful into a personal vendetta against Christianity. Did you hear that whooshing sound? It was the sound of the point flying right over your narrow minded heads. *Continues shaking head in abject disbelief."