The problem here is that while we have a group of people offended by the word "Christmas" being on display in a publicly-owned sector, we also have people equally offended that some people are offended.
Just as the Nondenominationalists assume every public display of the word Christ, in part or in whole, singles a front on the Covert-or-Die Crusade and the institutionalization of a Christian theocracy, many others assume that everyone left of center supports this, or that it is an organized effort of some unseelie cabal of Marxists, Muslims, and angry hippies.
Everyone needs to take a breather. Have a cigarette, drink some nog, eat a little figgy pudding (whatever the hell that is), or whatever, but people need to take ten minutes and just think lucidly on the subject. Some points to ponder:
• America is not, nor has ever been, a Christian nation, as per the Establishment Clause; however , America has a long history of being predominantly Christian. This has influenced much of our culture.
• Many religions celebrate a winter festival about the time of the winter solstice. These likely base on a very primitive celebration of the incremental return of the sun and of the promise (at the vernal equinox) of the glory and magnificence of the return of the long day.
• Over the...
Just as the Nondenominationalists assume every public display of the word Christ, in part or in whole, singles a front on the Covert-or-Die Crusade and the institutionalization of a Christian theocracy, many others assume that everyone left of center supports this, or that it is an organized effort of some unseelie cabal of Marxists, Muslims, and angry hippies.
Everyone needs to take a breather. Have a cigarette, drink some nog, eat a little figgy pudding (whatever the hell that is), or whatever, but people need to take ten minutes and just think lucidly on the subject. Some points to ponder:
• America is not, nor has ever been, a Christian nation, as per the Establishment Clause; however , America has a long history of being predominantly Christian. This has influenced much of our culture.
• Many religions celebrate a winter festival about the time of the winter solstice. These likely base on a very primitive celebration of the incremental return of the sun and of the promise (at the vernal equinox) of the glory and magnificence of the return of the long day.
• Over the...
The problem here is that while we have a group of people offended by the word "Christmas" being on display in a publicly-owned sector, we also have people equally offended that some people are offended.
Just as the Nondenominationalists assume every public display of the word Christ, in part or in whole, singles a front on the Covert-or-Die Crusade and the institutionalization of a Christian theocracy, many others assume that everyone left of center supports this, or that it is an organized effort of some unseelie cabal of Marxists, Muslims, and angry hippies.
Everyone needs to take a breather. Have a cigarette, drink some nog, eat a little figgy pudding (whatever the hell that is), or whatever, but people need to take ten minutes and just think lucidly on the subject. Some points to ponder:
• America is not, nor has ever been, a Christian nation, as per the Establishment Clause; however, America has a long history of being predominantly Christian. This has influenced much of our culture.
• Many religions celebrate a winter festival about the time of the winter solstice. These likely base on a very primitive celebration of the incremental return of the sun and of the promise (at the vernal equinox) of the glory and magnificence of the return of the long day.
• Over the history of Christianity, almost all parts of Christmas celebrations are copies of or assimilated versions of older religious ceremonies and traditions.
• What has been the most common icons in the public commercial sector representing the holiday season have nothing to do with the devout worship of the solemn religious ceremony. Santa and his elves did not bring presents to Baby Jesus.
In the end, it becomes clear that all of this hypersensitivity is moot. We have two holidays, both with the same name. Sure there's the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, and people should be free and welcome to display icons of this, up to and including historically-inaccurate creches. Should these Nativity scenes be set up on public grounds? Well that would depend on whether such displays are at the exclusion of all others. If that is the case, then no, they should not be installed; if any other faiths were to be allowed to display their iconography in the same general area, then by all means display mangers and menorahs, kinaras and lights and pink flamingos.
But we should also note that there is a secular Christmas as well. There is the gift-giving holiday represented by jolly old Santa and his flying reindeer. Elves and decorated trees, talking snowmen and stockings, candy canes and Krampus. We shouldn't abandon our commercial cultural festivities on account that it shares the same name as a religious holiday.
(more)Just as the Nondenominationalists assume every public display of the word Christ, in part or in whole, singles a front on the Covert-or-Die Crusade and the institutionalization of a Christian theocracy, many others assume that everyone left of center supports this, or that it is an organized effort of some unseelie cabal of Marxists, Muslims, and angry hippies.
Everyone needs to take a breather. Have a cigarette, drink some nog, eat a little figgy pudding (whatever the hell that is), or whatever, but people need to take ten minutes and just think lucidly on the subject. Some points to ponder:
• America is not, nor has ever been, a Christian nation, as per the Establishment Clause; however, America has a long history of being predominantly Christian. This has influenced much of our culture.
• Many religions celebrate a winter festival about the time of the winter solstice. These likely base on a very primitive celebration of the incremental return of the sun and of the promise (at the vernal equinox) of the glory and magnificence of the return of the long day.
• Over the history of Christianity, almost all parts of Christmas celebrations are copies of or assimilated versions of older religious ceremonies and traditions.
• What has been the most common icons in the public commercial sector representing the holiday season have nothing to do with the devout worship of the solemn religious ceremony. Santa and his elves did not bring presents to Baby Jesus.
In the end, it becomes clear that all of this hypersensitivity is moot. We have two holidays, both with the same name. Sure there's the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, and people should be free and welcome to display icons of this, up to and including historically-inaccurate creches. Should these Nativity scenes be set up on public grounds? Well that would depend on whether such displays are at the exclusion of all others. If that is the case, then no, they should not be installed; if any other faiths were to be allowed to display their iconography in the same general area, then by all means display mangers and menorahs, kinaras and lights and pink flamingos.
But we should also note that there is a secular Christmas as well. There is the gift-giving holiday represented by jolly old Santa and his flying reindeer. Elves and decorated trees, talking snowmen and stockings, candy canes and Krampus. We shouldn't abandon our commercial cultural festivities on account that it shares the same name as a religious holiday.
I am much more opposed to the corporate-driven media push to waste billions of dollars on crap nobody needs. Materialism is a disease, and corporate supported guilt is disgusting.
my religion is forbiddin´
My only complaint would be, no amplifiers for those carolers. PLEASE.
That is the way God set it up. If you don't like it, you are free to go to Hell but you won't like it.
I'll allow you retain the myth that this country was founded by people denied the right to worship as they pleased. What better to underscore your contradiction: you demand the cross lord over the interred bodies of fallen soldiers, regardless of which religion they followed. Are you so upset you could never convert PFC Horowitz that you do so after he takes a bullet?
I love that you are too thick-headed to see the irony in holding up the idea that this country was founded on religious freedom, then piss and moan about others wish to freely practice religions that are not yours.
So Merry Christmas!!
What's most funny about the rally of folks who participate in this annual ritual are frequently the same who believe that businesses should be allowed to do as they will to maximize sales.
Except in this case. Around the holiday season, if these private businesses don't cater exclusively to the Christian community, all manner of tantrum breaks out.