Today was supposed to be my first day of Christmas break. Instead I spent the entire day analyzing curricular objectives from the new curriculum's I've ordered for my students for next semester. It was more work than I realized but it will save me alot of time on the back end. I still have report cards to do and paperwork to send off. The UPS guy is starting to know me by name because he's dropping off piles of boxes (full of curriculum) every day! The whole day wasn't a complete loss as I did have LOST on in the background. The BF and I started watching it a few weeks ago through Netflix which streams live to our TV. We just started season 3.
Does anyone else find it hard to believe that tomorrow is already Christmas eve? It doesn't feel like it! The BF is sick with the flu so between work and taking care of him, it hasn't felt alot like Christmas yet. We did, however manage to host our first party at our new house when we invited the 20/30-somethings from our church!
In the spirit of the holidays I bring you THIS story about a disabled veteran here in CA who complained that he was completely offended by angels and stars on the Christmas trees. The county complied with his request and forced all county offices to take down any decorations which may offend. As you read the article you see that this disabled veteran has complained many times. This "being offended" is a pattern in his life...
And to be honest (which is always what I am because this is my blog!) that drives me nuts. Where did we get this ludicrous idea that the constitution guarantees a right not to be offended? What that says is that when people don't like something simply because it doesn't sit well with them, they can sue or threaten to sue. I try not to offend people but my very existence offends me. And many of the things I hear and read offend me. So I challenge those ideas or don't support those businesses that offend me but that's as far as it goes.
Perhaps the most telling statement from the disabled veteran is “I don't believe government has the right to use tax dollars to show favoritism to any particular cult like Christianity,” he said. “It's just wrong. That's why we have the Constitution, to protect minorities from the majority opinion.”
To protect you? From what sir? The constitution does not protect you from opinions. It should protect your rights. It should allow you equal access to the law and governmental institution. I do not threaten to sue when I see symbols of heterosexism all around me. I don't threaten hallmark because they don't produce enough gay-relationship cards. The constitution doesn't protect me or anyone from majority opinion. It protects us when that opinion takes away our rights. When that majority opinion bars us from getting married, but not when we see something we don't like.
I appreciate the man's service for our country but past glories don't excuse his present behavior.
Merry Christmas indeed...
3 comments:
Yes, but do you get offended when a store puts up signs saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"? Because I know a lot of Christians who seem to be very offended by this, considering how up in arms they get.
Also , I think there's a difference between the government endorsing only the "majority religion" through erecting displays specific to it and a private business like Hallmark basing their card selection on what's most likely to sell. And I also think reminding government offices to remain religiously neutral isn't necessarily a sign of being offended. Especially when you consider the number of Christians who consider such displays to be a special entitlement that should only be granted to Christians.
I meant to respond to this earlier. You make some good points that I dont think of as a person of faith. I always thought it was silly how up in arms Christians get over things like "happy holidays" too. Especially since most people that say merry Christmas have no idea the details of the reason we celebrate.
Hi, Pomoprophet
Haven't been in touch for a while, but thought I'd make a couple of points.
To Jarred's point: I think the point about saying "Happy holidays" instead of "Happy Christmas" is because (in my country - the UK - at least) the idea of doing this is thought up by a bunch of liberal acacemics who probably don't believe in any religion at all, who think it might "offend" people of other religions, e.g. Muslims, Jews, Hindus etc.
But the reality is that the Jews, Muslims, Hindus etc are not AT ALL offended by the celebration of Christmas, just as Christians in Britain aren't offended by Ramadan, Rosh Hashanna, and Divali etc. I know of Jews in my country who have a jolly good meal with turkey and all the trimmings on Christmas day (I guess avoiding bacon and sausages!) and almost certainly Muslims as well! The truth is if there is a good excuse to have a good time then you'll go along with the local customs. (And if I found some folks who invited me to take part in a Divali festival, I'd definitely be up for it!)
It's the atheists (or at least the religiously apathetic) who invent the offence that just isn't there.
Pomo: thanks for your post - it shows very clearly that atheists are just as prone to getting offended as anyone else. It's very sad that the veteran you cited isn't able to move on from his apparent offence, but insists on using his admirable service for your country as a sort of moral blackmail against the practice of the Christian religion.
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