Putting the [Blank] Back in [Blank]mas 8
The Long Beach Press Telegram ran a reader poll on whether people are offended by Merry Christmas (here). Christina (nice name!) in my office brought this to my attention with the comment, "The fact that this question even has to be asked is absurd." Here are the results:
Offended: 1
Not Offended: 27
There were three I'd like to share. First, the one offended fellow:
I have no religious affiliation. Humans are not much above other mammals such as dogs that go around urinating on everything to mark their territories. Religious groups that want to display religious symbols at city halls, libraries and schools are attempting to "mark" those public structures as part of their own domain. The appropriate place for nativity scenes, menorahs, Kwanzaa displays, or any other religious symbol is on the front lawn of that respective church or temple, not in the public square.
Wasn't that special? Now one from a much more thoughtful "person of no religious affiliation:"
I have no religious affiliation. I am not an atheist, nor am I a member of any religious order. While I don't necessarily believe in a God as described by most religions, I do believe we were created by someone or some thing much more intelligent than ourselves. We didn't just happen.
I am never offended by a heartfelt "Merry Christmas" and nothing pictures the Christmas season more perfectly than the Christmas tree on display.
America is the first nation on Earth where people are truly free to practice their own religious preferences as they see fit, or practice no religion at all. We now seem to be straying from that very principle. No longer do we accept our neighbor's religious beliefs and practices as their right under our Constitution, especially if they are Christian. Instead we chastise them in an effort to drive their religious activity underground and out of sight.
Christianity is now under attack as never before and shamefully so by many of those who this Christian nation has helped the most. It matters not to those who are doing the attacking that it was the Judeo/Christian philosophy, so carefully applied to our Constitution by our founding fathers, that has made our freedom possible. Instead, they have adopted the belief that Christianity is a threat and should be eliminated. There is no greater evidence of the truth in that statement than the relentless attack on the Christmas holiday and its symbols.
We have become so fearful of being labeled Christian that we no longer display Christmas symbols in public places. Christmas decorations are disappearing rapidly from malls, shopping centers and retail businesses, yet the owners of those establishments are very happy to take the profits from their Christmas sales. In some department stores, anything related to Christmas, except profits, are forbidden and clerks are told to never say Merry Christmas to a customer. To be fair, many clerks never say "thank you" either.
Even so, I'm not totally pessimistic. I see the Christian community finally awakening to what's taking place and action counteracting this trend beginning to take form. I also see our liberal leaders coming to the realization that secularism is working against their being elected, and by the next election, many will be shouting "praise the Lord" at every opportunity.
And, as the bow on the box, a fine rejoinder:
When somebody wishes me a "happy holiday," I ask them, "Which one?" It gets them every time.
Offended: 1
Not Offended: 27
There were three I'd like to share. First, the one offended fellow:
I have no religious affiliation. Humans are not much above other mammals such as dogs that go around urinating on everything to mark their territories. Religious groups that want to display religious symbols at city halls, libraries and schools are attempting to "mark" those public structures as part of their own domain. The appropriate place for nativity scenes, menorahs, Kwanzaa displays, or any other religious symbol is on the front lawn of that respective church or temple, not in the public square.
Wasn't that special? Now one from a much more thoughtful "person of no religious affiliation:"
I have no religious affiliation. I am not an atheist, nor am I a member of any religious order. While I don't necessarily believe in a God as described by most religions, I do believe we were created by someone or some thing much more intelligent than ourselves. We didn't just happen.
I am never offended by a heartfelt "Merry Christmas" and nothing pictures the Christmas season more perfectly than the Christmas tree on display.
America is the first nation on Earth where people are truly free to practice their own religious preferences as they see fit, or practice no religion at all. We now seem to be straying from that very principle. No longer do we accept our neighbor's religious beliefs and practices as their right under our Constitution, especially if they are Christian. Instead we chastise them in an effort to drive their religious activity underground and out of sight.
Christianity is now under attack as never before and shamefully so by many of those who this Christian nation has helped the most. It matters not to those who are doing the attacking that it was the Judeo/Christian philosophy, so carefully applied to our Constitution by our founding fathers, that has made our freedom possible. Instead, they have adopted the belief that Christianity is a threat and should be eliminated. There is no greater evidence of the truth in that statement than the relentless attack on the Christmas holiday and its symbols.
We have become so fearful of being labeled Christian that we no longer display Christmas symbols in public places. Christmas decorations are disappearing rapidly from malls, shopping centers and retail businesses, yet the owners of those establishments are very happy to take the profits from their Christmas sales. In some department stores, anything related to Christmas, except profits, are forbidden and clerks are told to never say Merry Christmas to a customer. To be fair, many clerks never say "thank you" either.
Even so, I'm not totally pessimistic. I see the Christian community finally awakening to what's taking place and action counteracting this trend beginning to take form. I also see our liberal leaders coming to the realization that secularism is working against their being elected, and by the next election, many will be shouting "praise the Lord" at every opportunity.
And, as the bow on the box, a fine rejoinder:
When somebody wishes me a "happy holiday," I ask them, "Which one?" It gets them every time.
posted by Laer at 10:48 AM
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