As a person who has no belief in a god, I'd have no problem eliminating all things religious in a public capacity. However, I'm a realist in understanding that accomplishing such a thing is impossible without becoming a Nazi-like state, or better yet, a 1984-type world where we all inform on one another.

BTW, was I trying to disprove your point? I don't think I was actively trying to do so, but maybe I was. I guess I'd have to reread my posts again. Ahhh the sweet gift of a swiss cheese brain! I agree whole-heartedly, no matter how it all goes down, someone will always be offended about something. If we keep all the decorations etc., someone will be offended. If we get rid of all of them, someone else will be offended.

Sorry..should have finished reading the post before replying...



--They also wanted a government without religion saying one word about it. The idea of separation of church and state works both ways - Government should not impose itself upon any religion (or those without religion), and those who are religious (and non) should not impose their personal beliefs upon the government. It IS possible to be a nonbeliever and still have morals.



--What is it about those who don't believe in anything offensive? Is it that they don't believe AT ALL, or that they don't believe as you do? How about Muslims? Jews? Buddhists? Hindus? I won't travel down the political path because it takes us a bit too far off topic.

Interesting that you assume that if someone believes in nothing that they are totally miserable. I guess that would also suggest that someone who believes in ANYTHING could never be totally miserable, yes?

Oh I know there's a law against it, but why? Because SOME people are offended by the naked human form? Is something being shown that is foreign to us? Children seem to have no problem with nudity until it is imposed upon them.

I wonder if you did a poll of all Americans as to whether they felt the naked human form was offensive, how many would say it is?

I think it's safe to say if the Obama family did NOT put up a Christmas tree and instead had Kwanzaa decorations that there would be an uproar by quite a few people. He's even been accused of being <GASP> Muslim! I think if he announced that he was agnostic or atheist would be even more offensive than if he announced he was Muslim...

We seem to draw that line at public nudity. You can do it in the privacy of your own home, you can even do it "publically" in privately owned areas with other people. But if you go on your front lawn for nude sunbathing, people have decided that is offensive.

Why is that? If nothing sexual is happening, what is the offense? If it causes sexual thoughts, whose fault is that? And that's all just while you stay upon your own private property. If someone is offended by nudity, isn't that for them to deal with?

Just food for thought...

I'm offended when women wear an outfit that shows cleavage and then get upset when I stare. If you don't want me looking at it, DON'T FRAME IT!

Ahh...but you know before entering that it is a Pagan bookstore. The name even suggests it pretty strongly. But walking into Chase Bank doesn't immediately hint at being a Christian bank, nor does the business inside suggest that is what they do. It doesn't suggest they are Jewish either, although stereotypes would suggest otherwise.

If I walk into the local Christian bookstore, I'd have to be an idiot (or a glutton for punishment)to get offended by religious decor or greetings.

I should point out that I've had quite the bit of exposure to all of this. Born of Hispanic parents (Cuban, I think); adopted by a Jewish family (but never had a bar-mitzvah, by choice); exposed to Christianity in military school (although non-denominational); read up on quite a few of the "pagan" religions including Wicca and Native American beliefs, I now sit here pretty much a Buddhist in mind, body and spirit.

No, BUT.....

"That's the trouble with 'have a nice day'; it puts all the pressure on you. Now you've gotta go out and somehow manage to have a good time. All because of some loose lipped cashier. 'Have a nice day'...Maybe I don't feel like having a nice day. Maybe, just maybe, I've had 63 nice days in a row. And, by God, I'm ready for a crappy day. Let someone wish me a crappy day. I never hear that. "Have a crappy day!" That's no problem at all. All you have to do is get up some mornings. There's no planning involved."

I miss George.

I'll rally my bird minions and we shall bury you and your cars in droppings!

One story tells of the Tree of Thor being cut down by a Saint Boniface: "cut down the tree of Thor in order to disprove the legitimacy of the Norse gods to the local German tribe. St. Boniface saw a fir tree growing in the roots of the old oak. Taking this as a sign of the Christian faith, he said '...let Christ be at the center of your households...' using the fir tree as a symbol of Christianity."

I'm sure those who still believe in Thor and other Norse gods find the Christmas tree to be a lovely and festive symbol...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree

Relating more to evergreen trees, I found this on another site:

"Many Pagan cultures used to cut boughs of evergreen trees in December, move them into the home or temple, and decorate them. Modern-day Pagans still do. This was to recognize the winter solstice -- the time of the year that had the shortest daylight hours, and longest night of the year. This occurs annually sometime between DEC-20 to 23: most often DEC-21. They noticed that the days were gradually getting shorter; many feared that the sun would eventually disappear forever, and everyone would freeze. But, even though deciduous trees, bushes, and crops died or hibernated for the winter, the evergreen trees remained green. They seemed to have magical powers that enabled them to withstand the rigors of winter."
http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmas_tree.htm

Almost a repeat of my last entry:

White Zombie


Ugly Kid Joe....WOW...there's a band I've not thought of in a decade or two....

Rubbish! I guess what I ultimately mean is, you CAN change the situation if you truly dislike/hate it enough. It's all a matter of the pros and cons of where you live. The weather may be a con, but then the job, family, etc. are pros.

The exact opposite for me. Heat rises and the hottest room in the house is my bedroom. I'd rather it not be, so that I could keep the A/C bill lower in cost, but so be it. I keep the a/c at a higher temp during the day with the ceiling fans always on, and then drop the temp right when I go to bed.

Lacuna Coil (rock/metal group from Italy with two singers: one man, one woman)

Actually being EXTREME in being PC would be the problem, just as it applies in other areas.

Remember, it was a long held tradition that women remain barefoot and pregnant at home. They weren't to have careers, except as a waitress or a secretary at best.

It was a long held tradition that a business could deny someone business based on the color of their skin. Hell, we recently had a politician say that businesses should still have the right to serve who they want and deny service to who they want based on the color of their skin. He was quick to say it was a wrong belief, but that it was their right.

I dunno, maybe I've made some sort of disconnected attempt to illustrate my point and that the comparison doesn't hold. Just sayin...

Now I'm offended....what about Festivus, for the rest of us?

Actually, I'd think Season's Greetings is as neutral as can possibly. Happy Holidays would suggest that you do celebrate some holiday, whereas Season's Greetings could apply to ANY season, not just winter.

Faith No More

Ahhh...screw all that! But seriously, I guess the "hate" of the cold/snow/etc. is not strong enough to get up and go. I guess I'm just glad that I was born in Miami so I didn't have to get up and go.