Category: the Rant Board
I've been hearing a lot about schools and other places either minimizing or totally banning anything having to do with Christmas, such as decorations or the playing of Christmas music at concerts and such. Now, before you say anything, I'm not even Christian, but agnostic, but I still enjoy Christmas and am not even bothered by the religious aspects of it. I'm not even bothered by anybody else's celebration either. But I guess what bothers me is that these decisions are made arbitrarily probably out of fear of lawsuits or other consequences if one person gets offended. I don't think the kids or people in general get a vote in this. Plus I admit I'm no fan of the whole politically correct thing in any case. Nice try, but no cigar, human race. So what do you think, and how are your schoolsand other public places dealing with the holidays if at all?
Greetings Labyrinth, What I am finding in my travels throughout the Local Commuity in an area of vast religious beliefs and varius customs paying respect to that many are the folks that seem to be almost desperately trying to rise above the differences and rather be given to find common ground, common interests if you will. To search for becoming united in an effort to find peace in a time of global war where nation rises against nation realizing that it us, the EACH one of us that makes differences ither for good or for the worse in not only our own lives but equally the lives of the others about us. It seems to be not so much the giving and getting of gifts, however pleasant ... but more so the giving of ourselves, of our time. Of lending a helping hand to another. Of realizing the Best Gift may be that unexpectd conversation of warmth when persons meet and share ... if only for a few moments in passing. A few moments of deep touching of inner spirit as it were to another can make for hours of an inner contentment. Connie here
Labyrinth.In certain parts of England they have banned the christian nativty play as it might be offensive to Muslims,also the singing of certain carols is out, again because of Muslim's complaints about blasphemy and discrimination towards them ect.
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In Scotland we go ahead regardless and we haven't had any complaints, mind you this is a very racist country.However there has been hassle over letting children meet Santa due to concerns over paedophiles ..what have we come to eh?.
I'm an agnostic myself but no probs with Christmas and its religious connotations.
Then again I'm all for religious tolerance, I don't like one religion being standardized. And with our rapidly expanding globalization I'm not sure if not experiencing other cultures is a good idea.. But hey I'm not a parent so I have no room to speak.
I'm a christian but I believe if I were something else I'd have no problems with other religions as I do now. I'm a christian but I do respect the other religions out there. I also respect everyones celebrations and holidays.
Troy
It comes down, eventually, to this: if we ever dared suggest in even the most liberal muslim countries such as Malaysia, that we found the holy month of ramadan offensive, we'd be vilified and/or strung up. Another aspect of this deeply worrying nonsense, of course, is the double standards: in England, for instance, Stoke City Council laid on special meals for the holy month of ramadan, and the local constabulary were urged to broaden their understanddng of it and inform the local community of it. Now, in December, the council are planning a 'winter fest' rather than christmas, because the mayor, mike Woolf, is worried about offending religious communities who aren't Christians! similarly the Eden Project, a successful tourist attraction in cornwall, has started referring to Christmas as 'The C word' and it's becoming as tabu to mention Christmas as it is to mention the war in front of Germans. If you are that easily offended, then I say there is something deeply worrying about that and maybe you don't belong in countries with a Christian tradition, countries who are tolerant and embrace other religious festivals whilst adhering admirably and rightly to their own of longstanding. maybe you belong in totalitarian or strictly religious societies, and if you do, then on your way with you. If you choose to remain here, however, don't have the audacity to desecrate our national traditions and celebrations, just as we wouldn't dream of doing the same to yours. Christmas is a wonderful time for both Christian and non-Christian folk, and if you can't handle that, then leave.
Nicely said LawLord old lad, couldn't have putit better myself.
If you're not willing to adjust to your host nation's culture, no one is forcing you to stay there. Add your own culture and educate people about things that are important to you about your culture, even celebrate it as well but don't force your cultural values on the host nation and, more importantly than that, do not try to influence the host nation's culture and take away what they hold special. Essentially the Christian relegion sums this up, whether you are Christian or not, "do onto others as you would have them do onto you" .. it's so simple yet it's a brilliant quote and it applies everywhere, would you want Christians ruining Ramadan for you if you come from, say, Iran, the answer is almost certainly no. Christmas isn't even all about the birth of Christ, Roman scriptures, I've red, have indicated he was born in September and the shpherd story somewhat supports this. Christmas is, in a way, a relegious manifestation of the old winter festival, the time when the days start getting longer and we celebrate that spring has promised its return. In that aspect of it it's everyone's holiday. The Icelandic name for this time of year is actually "jol" stemming from "jul" which I believe to be an old English word, so in a way we're actually politically correct, but this name has been used since the settlement in the 8th century and had not been at all influenced by political correctness.
It's one thing being tolerant, and another thing to be so scared of offending a tiny minority that you ruin everything for the vast majority of people, I just can't see the benefits in that.
Cheers
-B
I hate all this politically correct shit. It is becoming more and more popular in the U.S. to say "happy holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas." I don't care. I still say Merry Christmas, and if someone has a problem with that, too bad.
Right! It's still merry christmas instead of happy holiday, still Madam Chairman instead of Madam Chairperson or some other such half-baked loony claptrap, and I'm jolly proud to be British and patriotic! I will not cease, from mental fight, nor shall my sword sleep in my hand, till we have built, jerusalem, in England's green and pleasant land.
Now now LawLord you would certainly not be calling into the question the term, "ChairLady" would you as being some other such half-baked loony claptrap I ask question of you? I personally have not a problem with folks given to use the phrase, "Merry Christmas," neither do I have a problem with folks given to use the term, "Happy Holidays" as this term includes ALL from those observing Ramadan to those observing The Jewish Holiday of Hanukkah and also not to be forgetful of the Holiday KWANZAA, though fairly a more recent Holiday Tradition that is being observed mainly in the United States in many communities that are more so of an Urban Nature. Then too there is the term, "Season's Gretings," again I have not a problem with this term being used. Also let us not be forget of Having a "Blessed and Joyous New Year" and then too, the Celebration of the Chineese New Year. Now I will admit to being a bit "Off Topic" and my apoligies to Labyrinth, it is just that as stated before by myself that there is in my thots a need to coming into understanding of one the other, in the realizations that there can be a common ground where we meet and conversations may be given to flow. To all Good! Holiday Cheer. CG here
No no no, I've no problem with Madam Chairwoman if you really have to say that, but neither do I have any objection to Madam Chairman. It's this chairperson rubbish that is the most looniest manifestation of the claptrap. I don't have any problem with season's greetings either. However, have you noticed any of you who receive the newsletter from Pulse data, that it wishes us a happy and prosperous new year but not a happy christmas? This is again the stupid sods trying to be politically correct, I bet it is! I've a good mind to write to Pulse Data to clarify this issue with them.
Well it is becoming more and more known that you don't see christmas decorations or christmas celebrated in schools. I remember way back in the day when I was in elementary school that was one of the real big things the kids looked forward to: The holiday stuff i.e. holiday chorus/band concerts, holiday parties, decorating their class rooms and desks, doing activities or assignments that had to do with the holiday spirt. Now you don't see that at all. The only thing that was banned in elementary school was doing decorations. Otherwise we were permitted to do everything else related to the holiday as long as it didn't distract our concentration. Now that my cousin is starting school and another in 2nd grade they no longer do that stuff. The works: No holiday parties, no pagents (Halloween parades even parties.) or even in some states/schools parties. Why? Because they think it's a major distraction to the kid's school work. Whats wrong with a little holiday excitment? Sheesh if you wanna go that far turn the kids into zombies and let them hate school and hate going because they cannot have fun while doing class work.
I also want to add that I heard on the news once that a school was told to take their manger scene down because they were celebrating Christianity, not all religions and that offended some parents of other faiths. I can't remember if that school went to court to keep their manger scene up or not. But evidently they ended up taking it down and replacing it just a winter theme. So it's both faith and distraction these days. Nothin you can do about it.
I guess it won't be any big surprise if, in a few years, businesses have to stay open on Christmas instead of letting their employees celebrate Christmas at home with their families.
Catlover, you should come to the UK. The House of Lords have approved the christmas Day trading bill, which is now an act of parliament, which will prevent such happenings. AS for schools being told to take manger scenes away, I'm happy to report that no such nonsense has happened in the UK as yet. I am writing to Pulse Data, however, to ask why their readers were not wished a merry christmas in the winter issue of the newsletter.
Lucky for me, at my school, there's not really a big to-do about Christmas per say. Just the holidays. But I hear people say, "Let's have a Christmas thing at lunch," and so on, and the teachers sometimes say, "Here's a Christmas treat," and I haven't heard much objection. Basically, I think that it's Christmas, that's the most widely known name for it, so whatevery ou celebrate, jsut deal. Lol. Hope I didn't ofend anyone but this is what I think.
Caitlin
Oh dear me no, Kaitlyn, it's much more than a name! Even to the non-christians entre nous, it's about a time of peace at least isn't it? Much more than a name, though.
Oh Lawlord, I know that! I was saying that, to people who dont' believe it, they should just let it go, because to them, it's just a name, so why bother abusing it, where to us, it's somethign so much more important. See? I hope i"m making sense, I guess I didn't before.
Caitlin
I don't give a damn whether they celebrate it or they don't myself. I have come to despise happy holidays so much that any telephonist or company who has the courage to wish me 'happy holidays' is put in his or her or their place. If you get offended by someone wishing you happy Christmas just because you don't celebrate it yourself but instead celebrate in June by dancing naked on hot coals round a stone circle beating your chest or something like that, then you really ought to be more thick-skinned. bleedin' politically correct woolly-minded idiotic buffoons who have nothing beter to do than to cause trouble, these people.
An egregious styping error in my most recent contribution, this one excepted of course, to this discussion: it should have been better, with two T's.
And an even more egregious typing error in that last contribution, it's been a long day doing nothing, you know.