Comments on: Stirring the Holiday Pot

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:59:24 +0000

*snicker*

That’s my uncle. Who has 3 small children. I’m pretty sure his spelling powers have been long zapped by keeping his 5 year old from smothering his 11 month old.

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 22:47:15 +0000

amendment.
Sorry, just couldn’t help it. If you’re going to advocate for something, please spell it correctly.

By: Mrs. Apron

Mrs. Apron — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:24:52 +0000

I have been fighting this battle my whole life. Growing up I regularly made hand-outline reindeer, and green triangle Christmas trees and a countdown to Christmas paperchain. I even had to endure an entire _unit_ on Santa Claus in 6th grade science class. I don’t know what place it had. Many of my teachers did make inclusive attempts, such as allowing my brother to make a countdown to his December 25th birthday (yes, he is Jesus), but all too often there was misunderstanding (kids asking me why the Jews killed Jesus) and schools getting up in arms when I took off Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur so I could celebrate the High Holy Days. It makes me very upset, but I’m used to the ignorance. Even the ignorant folks that suggest Hanukkah is “instead” of Christmas.

And separation of Church and State? Please. In my (very religous, heavily Catholic) hometown, the Catholic schools held their religion classes on Monday afternoons at 2:00, and school didn’t end until 2:30. So each Monday, through elementary school, I sat in a nearly vacant classroom (of a public elementary school) cleaning erasers and stacking chairs with the other 4 kids who weren’t Catholic. It was so ridiculous my mother started scheduling my piano lessons for that time.

By: megs

megs — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:32:34 +0000

“Our country was founded by various sects of christians fleeing the oppression of both Catholic Countries and England after all.”

As a historian of the 18th c. and the early republic, I have to comment on this. That statement only applies to part of the population, and really only in the 17th century. The guy who wrote most of the Constitution was an Anglican, the official state religion in Virginia. His family had come over, like most Virginians, to profit and make money. If they were escaping anything about Britain, it was the limited resources and lands.

Not to mention the fact that said Anglican was educated by Presbyterians and defended the right of Baptists to practice and preach in Virginia (which was against the law pre-Revolution). I believe he was even fine with people not believing anything (I’d have to go re-read the Remonstrance, tho).

Okay, that’s my 2 cents.

By: kate

kate — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:09:06 +0000

I’m somewhat surprised by your statistics (not doubting your sources, just surprised)- I feel like I have known so many Jewish people in my life that there surely must be a higher percentage of practicing Judaism. intersting. Maybe I just lived in concentrated areas?

Not that this matters one way or another. I totally agree with everything you were saying.

By: Lela Willey

Lela Willey — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:55:38 +0000

As a Christian, I have a problem with the “powers that be” trying to tell everyone they have to do things the same as everyone else does. We don’t go to church because of the hypocrisy of most of the people who attend and act all pious and better that others while in church but totally different in the real world.

I believe we all have the right to celebrate the holidays they choose based on their own religion/beliefs.

Happy Holiday to me means a general greeting for Christmas and New Year. Personally I like the idea of a Winter Break for schools. When I taught school, I tried to put up holiday stuff for all beliefs including Kwanza.

It really bothers me when people try to force their beliefs on everyone else.

I am starting to ramble but guess this post has punched my buttons.

By: lceel

lceel — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:36:12 +0000

Let me guess – the guy is a Republican. And his hair is perfectly coiffed. He wears a suit with a nice power tie. And he always looks like somebody went over him, in detail, with a scrub brush. Right?

By: infiniteknot

infiniteknot — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 10:49:06 +0000

Hi. Love this post. Hallmark sucks for lack of cards other than Christianity. I believe in more separation between church and state. Things have gotten out of control and there is total lack of respect for people who do not practice Christianity. Thank you so much.

By: jothoma

jothoma — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:38:21 +0000

touche

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 06:34:45 +0000

Oh Uncle John. You know I know all about the ratification of the constitution, right? RIGHT? Because my thesis was on it.

And OF COURSE Bakersfield LOVED the changing of the name to Christmas/Easter, but to be honest, I tend to think that Bakersfield liking something is usually not the best measure of whether it’s fair to all people. *cough*Bill Thomas*cough*

See you next week.