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teacher25
Guest
http://www.aclj.org/news/Read.aspx?ID=964
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Carrie in WV
Full Member
Thank you!
Thank you for posting this. I enjoyed reading the article.
Thank you for posting this. I enjoyed reading the article.
SoCalTeach
Senior Member
I don't agree
Being a non-Christian, I did not like the tone of the article - being in the religious minority really makes you understand the religious push the Christian right have, especially at Christmas. I am also one who doesn't believe "under G-d" should be in the pledge, or "In G-d We Trust" on our money. The G-d that is most often meant is Jesus, whether people admit it or not.
Being a non-Christian, I did not like the tone of the article - being in the religious minority really makes you understand the religious push the Christian right have, especially at Christmas. I am also one who doesn't believe "under G-d" should be in the pledge, or "In G-d We Trust" on our money. The G-d that is most often meant is Jesus, whether people admit it or not.
Thanks for the article!
It is really sad where we are going with the holiday of Christmas. The last time I checked, my calandar said that December 25th is Christmas day. I think that a little faith and belief wouldn't hurt todays youth; it might even help. Being kind and patient dosen't sound like a bad concept.
Merry Christmas to all!!
It is really sad where we are going with the holiday of Christmas. The last time I checked, my calandar said that December 25th is Christmas day. I think that a little faith and belief wouldn't hurt todays youth; it might even help. Being kind and patient dosen't sound like a bad concept.
Merry Christmas to all!!
MrsM
Senior Member
to SoCalTeach
This country was founded on religious freedom. It is your freedom not to practice religion if you choose not to. The mention of GOD on our money and in our pledge reflects the historical basis of our country. Christian believers know that God is three persons in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Many people are familiar with the story of Jesus, and maybe that is what you are referring to. Your freedom not to practice religion, however, does not mean you have the right to deny any mention of any religion. Christmas does not become "holiday" because it might offend 5% of the people. YES, the statistic is that when polled, 95% of the people stated that they observe Christmas in some way.
There is a child who won't say the pledge in our school. It's her right not to, and she looks miserable sitting on the floor while the rest of the student body stands and pledges. My students question me about her, but I explain and defend her right to follow her parents' teachings on that matter. In any school I have been, there has not been a mandatory statement that every child must say the pledge no matter what. Family preferences are accomodated.
For others, another website to visit is www.saychristmas.org. There you will find a link to a list of questions and answers about what is permissible UNDER LAW in our schools regarding religious expression. Christmas carols with religious words IS allowed. In fact, in our school, there are many carols sung by third graders, and near the end is "Away in a Manger" while two children walk across the gym, portraying Mary holding Jesus, and Joseph. It's allowed by law. The ADF (who has the website) has NOT lost a case in 3 years against the ACLU on these issues. Now, the music teacher asks for volunteers, so there are NO non-believers being forced to portray religious characters.
I listen to Christian radio on my way to work in the morning. Dr. Dobson of Focus on the Family is also campaigning for "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays". That website is www.family.org. Corporate policy toward Chrisitanity and Christmas will affect my spending this Christmas season.
This country was founded on religious freedom. It is your freedom not to practice religion if you choose not to. The mention of GOD on our money and in our pledge reflects the historical basis of our country. Christian believers know that God is three persons in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Many people are familiar with the story of Jesus, and maybe that is what you are referring to. Your freedom not to practice religion, however, does not mean you have the right to deny any mention of any religion. Christmas does not become "holiday" because it might offend 5% of the people. YES, the statistic is that when polled, 95% of the people stated that they observe Christmas in some way.
There is a child who won't say the pledge in our school. It's her right not to, and she looks miserable sitting on the floor while the rest of the student body stands and pledges. My students question me about her, but I explain and defend her right to follow her parents' teachings on that matter. In any school I have been, there has not been a mandatory statement that every child must say the pledge no matter what. Family preferences are accomodated.
For others, another website to visit is www.saychristmas.org. There you will find a link to a list of questions and answers about what is permissible UNDER LAW in our schools regarding religious expression. Christmas carols with religious words IS allowed. In fact, in our school, there are many carols sung by third graders, and near the end is "Away in a Manger" while two children walk across the gym, portraying Mary holding Jesus, and Joseph. It's allowed by law. The ADF (who has the website) has NOT lost a case in 3 years against the ACLU on these issues. Now, the music teacher asks for volunteers, so there are NO non-believers being forced to portray religious characters.
I listen to Christian radio on my way to work in the morning. Dr. Dobson of Focus on the Family is also campaigning for "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays". That website is www.family.org. Corporate policy toward Chrisitanity and Christmas will affect my spending this Christmas season.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Merry Christmas!
I agree with Mrs. M. I'm glad that someone out there is defending Christianity and Christmas. While we try to accomodate everyone and be politically correct, we are losing rights for the majority of Americans.
I agree with Mrs. M. I'm glad that someone out there is defending Christianity and Christmas. While we try to accomodate everyone and be politically correct, we are losing rights for the majority of Americans.
dramacentral
Senior Member
oh, please
Read this: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/11/21/christmas/index_np.html
Article entitled: How the secular humanist grinch didn't steal Christmas.
Quote:
Another quote:
And finally:
The earliest references in the modern American media to "anti-Christian groups" were made by Henry Fonda back in 1921. He claimed it was a conspiracy of Jewish people out to destory the religion.
We are teachers; we can also be critical thinkers! Don't believe everything you see on FOX News!
Read this: http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/11/21/christmas/index_np.html
Article entitled: How the secular humanist grinch didn't steal Christmas.
Quote:
Another quote:
And finally:
The earliest references in the modern American media to "anti-Christian groups" were made by Henry Fonda back in 1921. He claimed it was a conspiracy of Jewish people out to destory the religion.
We are teachers; we can also be critical thinkers! Don't believe everything you see on FOX News!
teacher2
Senior Member
Hurray for Christmas!
Good News- We can and do make a difference when we want to.
Walgreens and Lowes have announced "Christmas" and "Christmas" trees will return to their stores next year! I say if they want our money, they need to respect our beliefs as well as the beliefs of the minority.
By the way, having a brain and the ability to be a critical thinker does not negate the ability to have faith and deep spiritual beliefs. Don't believe everything you hear on the network news either, it is extremely skewed to the left most of the time.
Merry Christmas!
Good News- We can and do make a difference when we want to.
Walgreens and Lowes have announced "Christmas" and "Christmas" trees will return to their stores next year! I say if they want our money, they need to respect our beliefs as well as the beliefs of the minority.
By the way, having a brain and the ability to be a critical thinker does not negate the ability to have faith and deep spiritual beliefs. Don't believe everything you hear on the network news either, it is extremely skewed to the left most of the time.
Merry Christmas!
F
flateach
Guest
occasional visitor
Thank you for your comments-- I was astounding when I started reading all the letters to the paper this year about the supposed war on Christmas. Kinda like when everyone went around saying kids couldn't pray in schools (also not true). I celebrate Christmas, and have never run into a situation where anyone was offended by "Merry Christmas". If anyone came up to me and said "Happy Hanukah", I would reply in kind also. A little more tolerance for EVERYONE doesn't mean tolerance for no one.
Thank you for your comments-- I was astounding when I started reading all the letters to the paper this year about the supposed war on Christmas. Kinda like when everyone went around saying kids couldn't pray in schools (also not true). I celebrate Christmas, and have never run into a situation where anyone was offended by "Merry Christmas". If anyone came up to me and said "Happy Hanukah", I would reply in kind also. A little more tolerance for EVERYONE doesn't mean tolerance for no one.
Mom4a_and_c
Senior Member
Thank God
Thank God I have the right to choose to say Thank God. I can't believe how everyone is acting over Christmas this year. I currently teach in a Catholic School and boy does that make like life simplier.
For those who don't want to hear, Merry Christmas or don't want to believe in it, do they reject Christmas presents from their students or bonuses they may get from employers. I doubt it. In college, many, many moons ago, their was one guy who threw a fit that he had to listen Christmas caroles during work. But, he had no problem taking his Christmas problem.
Marie from PA
Thank God I have the right to choose to say Thank God. I can't believe how everyone is acting over Christmas this year. I currently teach in a Catholic School and boy does that make like life simplier.
For those who don't want to hear, Merry Christmas or don't want to believe in it, do they reject Christmas presents from their students or bonuses they may get from employers. I doubt it. In college, many, many moons ago, their was one guy who threw a fit that he had to listen Christmas caroles during work. But, he had no problem taking his Christmas problem.
Marie from PA
dramacentral
Senior Member
Why should a bonus be considered religious in nature? Unless you work for a church or religious organization (and even then) you should get a bonus for good work, not for having the same religion as your employer. Personally, I'd rather negotiate a yearly bonus as part of my contract rather than trusting the goodwill of my employer to give out holiday "gifts", which are still considered part of our salary and still taxable - and more likely to be taken away if money's tight, because after all, they're "gifts".
As for true gifts, they should be about the person who is giving them and their desire to be generous to someone they care about. If a family decided to give me a gift for Diwali, Winter Solstice, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hannukah, or whatever, I would accept it as part of respecting their holiday tradition and preserving the relationship. It would be unprofessional to reject a child's gift unless there was some specific reason. I'd hope that people would be sensitive enough to find out what I actually celebrate before addressing religious sentiments to me - mainly to avoid the embarrassment they might feel when they find out that they've made an incorrect assumption.
I think it's worth pointing out that your religious freedom to say Thank God is protected by the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, a secular document. And that the rights of people who work and attend schools are regularly protected by the American Civil Liberties Union as an extension of that basic freedom from government interference in promoting or denying religion.
As for true gifts, they should be about the person who is giving them and their desire to be generous to someone they care about. If a family decided to give me a gift for Diwali, Winter Solstice, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hannukah, or whatever, I would accept it as part of respecting their holiday tradition and preserving the relationship. It would be unprofessional to reject a child's gift unless there was some specific reason. I'd hope that people would be sensitive enough to find out what I actually celebrate before addressing religious sentiments to me - mainly to avoid the embarrassment they might feel when they find out that they've made an incorrect assumption.
I think it's worth pointing out that your religious freedom to say Thank God is protected by the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, a secular document. And that the rights of people who work and attend schools are regularly protected by the American Civil Liberties Union as an extension of that basic freedom from government interference in promoting or denying religion.
V
visitor
Guest
to dramacentral
Although I mostly agree with what you're saying, I don't feel like people need to find out my beliefs before saying Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukah, or whatever. My beliefs are my private beliefs. When I went to Walmart last night, the cashier said Merry Christmas, and I replied Merry Christmas. If the cashier had said Happy Holidays, I would have said Happy Holidays, and so on. Why do we all need to be so sensitive to someone just wants to be pleasant? If someone's made an incorrect assumption, "sorry" should cover it.
Although I mostly agree with what you're saying, I don't feel like people need to find out my beliefs before saying Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukah, or whatever. My beliefs are my private beliefs. When I went to Walmart last night, the cashier said Merry Christmas, and I replied Merry Christmas. If the cashier had said Happy Holidays, I would have said Happy Holidays, and so on. Why do we all need to be so sensitive to someone just wants to be pleasant? If someone's made an incorrect assumption, "sorry" should cover it.
dramacentral
Senior Member
I'm sorry, visitor, but my whole point on this thread is that I'm NOT offended when people greet me for the holidays. My point about the "incorrect assumption" was in response to a poster who asked if I would return a Christmas gift given to me. I said no, I would be happy to receive it, but the GIFT GIVER might feel embarrassed that they made an incorrect assumption.
Please read more carefully next time. Perhaps reading the entire thread before responding would help, too.
Please read more carefully next time. Perhaps reading the entire thread before responding would help, too.
V
visitor
Guest
incorrect assumption
I thought I was reading carefully. The comment I made about incorrect assumption was in response to "I'd hope that people would be sensitive enough to find out what I actually celebrate before addressing religious sentiments to me - mainly to avoid the embarrassment they might feel when they find out that they've made an incorrect assumption." I was not equating "religious sentiments" to the presentation of a gift. I thought you had changed subjects in mid-paragraph, which was my error. BTW, I did read the entire thread.
Next time I will think more carefully before trying to contribute to a discussion.
I thought I was reading carefully. The comment I made about incorrect assumption was in response to "I'd hope that people would be sensitive enough to find out what I actually celebrate before addressing religious sentiments to me - mainly to avoid the embarrassment they might feel when they find out that they've made an incorrect assumption." I was not equating "religious sentiments" to the presentation of a gift. I thought you had changed subjects in mid-paragraph, which was my error. BTW, I did read the entire thread.
Next time I will think more carefully before trying to contribute to a discussion.
Happy Holidays!
This does not bother me in the least. As a Christian who celebrates Christmas, I find it an inclusive way to exchange kind thoughts with people who touch our lives in any way - whether they be friends, colleagues, or strangers. I don't think anyone will argue that we can all use a little more kindness in our lives. My friends who celebrate Christmas are getting "Merry Christmas" on their cards, Jewish friends get "Happy Hanukkah", and anyone I'm not sure of is getting "Have a great holiday and a nice, relaxing vacation!"
I don't think there's anything wrong with this. It surely doesn't offend me that people aren't making assumptions!
This does not bother me in the least. As a Christian who celebrates Christmas, I find it an inclusive way to exchange kind thoughts with people who touch our lives in any way - whether they be friends, colleagues, or strangers. I don't think anyone will argue that we can all use a little more kindness in our lives. My friends who celebrate Christmas are getting "Merry Christmas" on their cards, Jewish friends get "Happy Hanukkah", and anyone I'm not sure of is getting "Have a great holiday and a nice, relaxing vacation!"
I don't think there's anything wrong with this. It surely doesn't offend me that people aren't making assumptions!