'Tis the season

[maddog]

A week and a half ago, my office (a state governmental agency) held its annual holiday party. Mind you, it has taken 20 years of efforts to get them to call it a "holiday party" rather than a "Christmas" celebration, but they still don't "get it." How do I know this? because in the midst of it was a group-sing of "Silent Night." To any Jews (we have some), Muslims (none that I know of), Buddhists (we used to have one), non-theists (at least one) or other non-Christian employees (we have at least one somebody who is Hindu or Sikh or something like that), this basically says, "screw you, we are the dominant culture and we don't care what you think." It also says, "never mind that we are the STATE, we'll have religion regardless." "'Silent' Night" is quite ironic, in view of the fair few of us who are forced in conscience to remain silent during this religious observance.

Then, yesterday, my small unit was passing around a couple of holiday cards to sign for our supervisory people. Wouldn't you know, the two evangelical Christians in the unit picked out one of the cards, and it was a religious Christian message. I had to tell them that I couldn't sign it, and they tried to tell me, well you can send a separate card. The point is, though, why should I have to? Why should it be that I am excluded by conscience from participating in an activity of the whole group? We got it fixed, as I happened to have on hand another non-religious card. The non-religious card expresses a sentiment to which no one's conscience can have objection, AND the religious members can easily add a personal religious message without requiring endorsement by anyone else. Why, after 27 years here, does this stuff STILL happen?

#1074

[The Lone Ranger]

About this time last year, there was a news report claiming that a school board in Florida canceled all religious holidays rather than grant Muslim students a holiday. Local Christians and Jews raised such a stink (including sending the school board signed e-mails with violently anti-Muslim language) that the school board reversed its decision to ban all religious observances -- but it still refused to recognize any Muslim holidays.

Apparently, for some people, "freedom of religion" only applies if you happen to belong to one of the dominant religions.

*Sigh*

-- Michael

[lisarea]

Why, after 27 years here, does this stuff STILL happen?

I think it can be very, very easy for people in a majority group, or even a perceived majority group, to be completely oblivious to others.

I have met Christians who had no concept that there was any such thing as a NON-Christian.

I heard a well-educated, very liberal Christian once explain that the only problem anyone had with teacher-led prayers in public schools was if you said Jesus. If you just prayed to plain old Jehovah, it was OK. (Because, of course, even atheists believe in Jehovah.)

I have heard second-hand about a Christian who thought that it was racist to say that Muslims and Hindus were not Christians.

Their beliefs are reinforced from childhood, and reflected everywhere they look. Some of them, maybe even understandably, have no real concept that there are people who are not like them.

[godfry n. glad]

Why, after 27 years here, does this stuff STILL happen?

#1074

I think it's a combination of ignorance and arrogance.

I, too, work for a public agency, and have earned the sobriquet of "scrooge" because I've insisted that we celebrate a "winter holiday", rather than Christmas. I boggles me that the university can spend so much time and energy trumpeting it's "diversity" and then throw it all out the window when one or another Christian holiday comes along.

I've repeatedly asked why it is that the institution closes down for a nominally christian holiday, while ignoring Jewish, Hindi, Islamic, Buddhist, Shinto, First Nation, Satanic, Buptkisite, Theosophical, animist, Solstician and secular (and probably other) observances. For years they attempted to mollify me with..."It's really a secular holiday, it's not really religious", "they are pagan traditions" and "tree-trimming, lighting and other customs aren't really christian anyway." I didn't fall for that ruse; my response was to suggest that they then excise the term "christmas", as it was prejudicial toward only one of many traditions which observe winter holidays. I've offered for years to work on December 25, as it has zero meaning to me....and been refused. I've also suggested to my union that they should be bargaining for three paid vacation days for each employee in the month of December...to be selected by the employee. That way, any employee can benefit from a far more tolerant policy towards observance of traditions...of all kinds.

But, in their ignornace and arrogance, they continue to close all on 12/25 and call it "Christmas", but now they have a "Winter Holiday" employee party.

And... by the way, Happy Channukah. Tonight is the night to light the fifth candle on your channukiah.

[quiet bear]

you know, I hardly ever think twice about that stuff when it happens. I sign get well cards all the time without ever looking at the card. The only thing I do is ask who it's for, and that's only so I can write something personal to them. "Hey, slacker, you left a tupperware in the lunchroom" or something like that. I couldn't care less what the card says.

You folks have my respect, standing up like you do.

And maddog, next time, bring your sax and drown them out.

[pescifish]

I'm glad you had the alternate card, maddog, and that they were willing to switch. You are one smart cookie! :einstein:

:psst: In case you haven't wandered into that part of the forum lately, check out this thread. (http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11356)

[godfry n. glad]

I trust y'all will be observing MY birthday, too.
http://www.freethought-forum.com/forum/gallery/files/7/0/babsnakegod.jpg