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I absolutely agree with you. see the link above for my reaction to a claim of persecution by a coworker. He was one step away from advocating rounding up the muslims for reeducation camps. Christian fascism is a real danger to the integrity of our democracy.
I'm getting sort of weirded out by this issue lately. I think it is right for the White House to send out Happy Holiday cards, unless they plan on sending specific cards that match each recipient's belief systems. ( I can't see Dubya having that much respect for anyone who doesn't share his beliefs, can you?)
I am not a religious person (raised Catholic, but lapsed). I believe in the separation of church and state. I do not think anyone should be forced to pray if they choose not to. But, I think everyone should be able to if they choose to do so. I don't believe that anyone's religious beliefs should be incorporated into legislation with the exception of the freedom to believe and worship, or not, as you choose as defined in the Bill of Rights.
December 25 is Christmas. It is a legitimate holiday (okay, it's two the Santa one and the religious one), despite the variety of ways it is celebrated and the number of people who don't celebrate it at all. Why can't we enjoy the parts of the season that apply to us and that we choose to and accept that the things we don't believe or celebrate, others might and they are free to do that? I personally want to see the pretty lights, hear pretty music and buy presents for the people I care about.
Sorry for the rant, but I feel like we're being inundated with people who all want to make a big fuss for the sake of making a big fuss. There are real and big problems in the world and this shouldn't qualify. This is propaganda and talking points and fighting words and nonsense that all interfere with any joy anyone could get out of the season. We set a poor example for the places were religious persecution is still alive and well.
From blogger Ron Franscell at http://underthenews.blogspot.com ...
As if a lurking bid-flu pandemic, Armageddon in the Middle East, and the hurricane carousel in the Gulf of Mexico weren't important enough ... we now have people who worry that the word "holidays" is murk-ifying the righteous Christian concept of Christmas.
Religious conservatives have their panties bunched tighter than an alcoholic elf on Christmas Eve. Why? Because the White House's official 2005 Christmas card doesn't use the word "Christmas" ... which is to say, they think George Bush is afraid to use the word "Christ." "This clearly demonstrates that the Bush administration has suffered a loss of will and that they have capitulated to the worst elements in our culture," said William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.
Humbug!
The President of the United States represents a wide spectrum of beliefs, from atheists to Muslims to Catholics to Budhhists to the most devout evangelical Christians. His personal religious beliefs are hardly a closely guarded secret -- just ask the Radical Left. But he leads everyone, and in this case, he's trying to be inclusive, not exclusive.
"The reality is you have people in Beaumont (Texas) that think the United States is a Christian country; it's not," a source recently told my newspaper. "It is a country that is founded on freedom of religion, but the truth is, if you look at what happens at Christmas time, there is very much a sense of Christianity."
Anybody who'd elevate the pathetic "Christmas-vs-holidays" tiff to a major issue -- a "war," no less -- needs to go to church for a time-out.
The folks a head of me already nicely put how I feel about all this. I just wanted to add that I love the idea of sending a Hanukkah card to Donohue. What about a pagan celebrate the winter solstice card. There has got to be one out there. I hope I find it so I can send it. R
How about a solstice/Hannukah/St. Stephen's Day (Ireland)/Boxing Day/Kwanzaa card?
Alright.
So all the athiests don't celebrate Christmas?
I suppose they'll be working on 25th, and they won't be giving any gifts.
Right.
In regards to the Christmas numbers, did you ever think about the fact that a lot of non-Christians celebrate Christmas? That 96% number is accurate, and the fact that you think only Christians celebrate Christmas is kind of sad.
You rightwingers really have no respect for facts. Read the census stats again: Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10%. That equals 22%. Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindis, Buddhists don't celebrate Christmas, and if you think otherwise, you really need to get out of your hole- get some life experience. As for your atheists, you can't have it both ways. Either you bitch about the lack of Christ in Christmas or you acknowledge that Christmas isn't just a Christian holiday. Seriously, your ignorance is blinding, and it's sad.
You hit a nerve with this post! Excellent! I like your revised card idea. Keep up the good work. R
Good post, D. A Wiccan friend of mine celebrates Yule and the Solstice. Does this involve a tree? Yes, just as the seasonal rites have included trees for ages. But it isn't Christmas. A Jewish friend puts up a tree because his kids like it and he thinks it looks nice. But it isn't Christmas. A Hindu friend of mine puts up lights as part of his neighborhood's decoration contest. But it isn't Christmas.
Maybe 96% of Americans get the day off. Maybe 96% of Americans do something of at least a minor nature tied to something that could be construed as celebrating Christmas. But this figure does not mean jack shit.
And as a Deist Christian, I don't think Christmas is under attack by anybody, except the conservative wingnuts that make such claims to sell you a book (Gibson) or to rally gullible individuals to an imagined war (FNC, Dobson, etc...). The worst offenders are those who snidely say Merry Christmas in place of Fuck You.
For many people, myself included, Christmas is a good excuse to go home and see family. The older I get, the less I appreciate the eight hour drive to Ohio, and this year I haven't made it back there at all, so Christmas is a good way to get back. There isn't much Baby Jesus involved for me, although the Christmas story is a good one.
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