Friday, December 24, 2010
Dear U.S. Christians,
Wishing someone "Happy Holidays" is not an assault on Christianity.
Following the law by prohibiting agents of the government from leading school children in prayer is not an assault on Christianity.
Prohibiting the government from favoring your brand of religion over another brand of religion is not an assault on Christianity.
Atheists putting up billboards is not an assault on Christianity.
However, this IS an assault. This is persecution of someone for their religious beliefs:
On December 18, Hindu fundamentalists beat two dozen carolers, including young women, and took them to the police station in a Mumbai suburb, charging that by singing Christmas carols they had insulted Hindus.
Doesn't matter what the "flavor" of a particular religion is. Fundamentalism, be it Christian, Hindu, Islam, or whatever, makes people nuts.
Too many Christians in this country feel that if any viewpoint, other than their own, is expressed, it is somehow an "assault" on their beliefs. Austin Cline has a pretty good summary of some recent incidents that illustrate this.
...if atheists insist in being treated as equals and Christians then complain so loudly that whatever program it is must be halted, it's always the atheists who get blamed. It's the atheists' fault for actually expecting equal treatment; it's never the Christians' fault for expecting special privileges or kicking up such a fuss that the program can't continue for anyone.
We see it around the holidays when atheists insist on being allowed to erect displays on public property just like Christians are accustomed to doing. If the prospect of atheists getting an equal public voice is too much for some local Christians to stomach, the local government prevents anyone from having public displays on public property -- and atheists are blamed for "spoiling" things. When kids are allowed to take home advertisements for religious programs and atheist groups request the same, Christians become outraged at the prospect of atheists advertising to kids and the program is eliminated.
Its not just atheists either. Wiccans and recently, Muslims feel this same backlash when they demand the same public access enjoyed by Christians.
This is why the "War on Christmas" is such an overblown sham. No one in the U.S. wants to "eliminate" Christmas, in fact, so long as there are Christians, there will be a holy Christmas. Nor is anyone trying to "stifle" Christians right to expression. No one is physically assaulting Christians, and if they did, they'd be arrested and charged with a crime. Christians are free to put up billboards, worship as they please, and pray however they want. They just cannot, nor should they expect, the government to accord their beliefs a privileged status. Ostracising a person or business for daring to say "Happy Holidays instead of "Merry Christmas" is crazy, as Christmas isn't the only holiday this time of year.
So to close, on this Christmas Eve, Merry Christmas, AND Happy Holidays. We live in a wonderful nation where we are free to worship, or not worship, as our beliefs allow and without government coercion.
Via Hemant.
Wishing someone "Happy Holidays" is not an assault on Christianity.
Following the law by prohibiting agents of the government from leading school children in prayer is not an assault on Christianity.
Prohibiting the government from favoring your brand of religion over another brand of religion is not an assault on Christianity.
Atheists putting up billboards is not an assault on Christianity.
However, this IS an assault. This is persecution of someone for their religious beliefs:
On December 18, Hindu fundamentalists beat two dozen carolers, including young women, and took them to the police station in a Mumbai suburb, charging that by singing Christmas carols they had insulted Hindus.
Doesn't matter what the "flavor" of a particular religion is. Fundamentalism, be it Christian, Hindu, Islam, or whatever, makes people nuts.
Too many Christians in this country feel that if any viewpoint, other than their own, is expressed, it is somehow an "assault" on their beliefs. Austin Cline has a pretty good summary of some recent incidents that illustrate this.
...if atheists insist in being treated as equals and Christians then complain so loudly that whatever program it is must be halted, it's always the atheists who get blamed. It's the atheists' fault for actually expecting equal treatment; it's never the Christians' fault for expecting special privileges or kicking up such a fuss that the program can't continue for anyone.
We see it around the holidays when atheists insist on being allowed to erect displays on public property just like Christians are accustomed to doing. If the prospect of atheists getting an equal public voice is too much for some local Christians to stomach, the local government prevents anyone from having public displays on public property -- and atheists are blamed for "spoiling" things. When kids are allowed to take home advertisements for religious programs and atheist groups request the same, Christians become outraged at the prospect of atheists advertising to kids and the program is eliminated.
Its not just atheists either. Wiccans and recently, Muslims feel this same backlash when they demand the same public access enjoyed by Christians.
This is why the "War on Christmas" is such an overblown sham. No one in the U.S. wants to "eliminate" Christmas, in fact, so long as there are Christians, there will be a holy Christmas. Nor is anyone trying to "stifle" Christians right to expression. No one is physically assaulting Christians, and if they did, they'd be arrested and charged with a crime. Christians are free to put up billboards, worship as they please, and pray however they want. They just cannot, nor should they expect, the government to accord their beliefs a privileged status. Ostracising a person or business for daring to say "Happy Holidays instead of "Merry Christmas" is crazy, as Christmas isn't the only holiday this time of year.
So to close, on this Christmas Eve, Merry Christmas, AND Happy Holidays. We live in a wonderful nation where we are free to worship, or not worship, as our beliefs allow and without government coercion.
Via Hemant.
Labels: religion, war on xmas
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
WATB
Via Spork, we learn once again, that certain people will go to great lengths to whine about "assaults" on their beliefs. This time its Sen. Jon Kyle.
"It is impossible to do all of the things that the majority leader laid out," Kyl said today, "frankly, without disrespecting the institution and without disrespecting one of the two holiest of holidays for Christians and the families of all of the Senate, not just the senators themselves but all of the staff."
Reid isn't suggesting that the Senate meet on Christmas day, just that they return to work the following week. You know, like just about everyone else working for a living.
Perhaps some history is in order, especially for the "original intent" crowd.
The Roman Catholic Church broke from churches in the Eastern portion of the Roman Empire by celebrating Christ’s birth on Dec. 25, the same day as the birthday of the Invincible Sun, worshipped by a solar cult in the first few centuries.The first written mention of Dec. 25 was in a Roman city calendar in 354 AD. Christmas was celebrated in England, especially in the 1500s.Then came the overthrow of the English monarchy, and Parliament prohibited the celebration of Christmas. In America, the influence of the Puritans was even stronger and the banning of Christmas observances was uniform across New England.Before our Civil War, Congress regularly met on Christmas Day. The influence of Dicken’s Christmas Carol and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert brought Christmas back to popular favor. The South was the first part of America to officially recognize Christmas.
So, Christmas wasn't particularly sacred in the antebellum U.S., and the modern "tradition" is a Victorian construct. I really don't care if Congress meets on Christmas day or not, but to whine about having to go back to work the following Monday is churlish.
"It is impossible to do all of the things that the majority leader laid out," Kyl said today, "frankly, without disrespecting the institution and without disrespecting one of the two holiest of holidays for Christians and the families of all of the Senate, not just the senators themselves but all of the staff."
Reid isn't suggesting that the Senate meet on Christmas day, just that they return to work the following week. You know, like just about everyone else working for a living.
Perhaps some history is in order, especially for the "original intent" crowd.
The Roman Catholic Church broke from churches in the Eastern portion of the Roman Empire by celebrating Christ’s birth on Dec. 25, the same day as the birthday of the Invincible Sun, worshipped by a solar cult in the first few centuries.The first written mention of Dec. 25 was in a Roman city calendar in 354 AD. Christmas was celebrated in England, especially in the 1500s.Then came the overthrow of the English monarchy, and Parliament prohibited the celebration of Christmas. In America, the influence of the Puritans was even stronger and the banning of Christmas observances was uniform across New England.Before our Civil War, Congress regularly met on Christmas Day. The influence of Dicken’s Christmas Carol and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert brought Christmas back to popular favor. The South was the first part of America to officially recognize Christmas.
So, Christmas wasn't particularly sacred in the antebellum U.S., and the modern "tradition" is a Victorian construct. I really don't care if Congress meets on Christmas day or not, but to whine about having to go back to work the following Monday is churlish.
Labels: war on xmas
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Why I Don't Get Pizza From Dominos
Well, not really. I don't get Dominos because its crappy. However, Bill Donohue really needs to get a grip. He now has his panties in a bunch because a single YMCA in New York decided to replace one fictional character (Santa Claus) with another (Frosty the Snowman).
"Christmas is not about Jack Frost; it's not about snowmen," fumed Bill Donohue of the Catholic League. "We're not talking about some secular organization that has no religious roots. If they can't celebrate Christmas, then they should check out. What a bunch of cowards."
What does the modern image of Santa Claus, an image from Coca-Cola ads, have to do with religion? Sure, St. Nicholas was a Catholic saint, but the North Pole dwelling, toy making elf of children's stories? Sheesh Bill, get a freaking grip. This isn't an assault on your religion.
The New York Post's framing of the story doesn't help either. The comments section there is a wonderful primer on bigotry though.
"Christmas is not about Jack Frost; it's not about snowmen," fumed Bill Donohue of the Catholic League. "We're not talking about some secular organization that has no religious roots. If they can't celebrate Christmas, then they should check out. What a bunch of cowards."
What does the modern image of Santa Claus, an image from Coca-Cola ads, have to do with religion? Sure, St. Nicholas was a Catholic saint, but the North Pole dwelling, toy making elf of children's stories? Sheesh Bill, get a freaking grip. This isn't an assault on your religion.
The New York Post's framing of the story doesn't help either. The comments section there is a wonderful primer on bigotry though.
Labels: war on xmas
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Uh-Oh
Are Liberty U and Bill O'Reilly aware of this act of treason from God's Own Party in the Christmas Wars?
Labels: war on xmas
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Bucket List!
I vow to shop at as many of the "naughty" stores that are in my area between now and December 25th.
We can already cross off Giant Eagle, I went there today.
WARNING: Link takes you to Looney University's site.
We can already cross off Giant Eagle, I went there today.
WARNING: Link takes you to Looney University's site.
Labels: war on xmas
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Festivus!
