Smith357
US Veteran
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Can you spot what's missing in this picture?
- Thread starter sipowicz
- Start date
EVERY religion has a holiday this time of year-
Since I believe that all organized religions are man-based and therefore nothing more than fairy tales, I would prefer it be the 'holiday season' and not be pummeled with any religious references.
Since I believe that all organized religions are man-based and therefore nothing more than fairy tales, I would prefer it be the 'holiday season' and not be pummeled with any religious references.
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Today was the last day of my IV infusion treatments for this month and as my wife and I were leaving the hospital the staff was saying "Happy Holidays," we replied "Merry Christmas, Happy New Year!" They looked at us as if we commited some kind of social faux pas. I now realize we weren't being "politically correct."
DeathGrip
US Veteran
Hey prof fate
Merry Christmas.
Merry Christmas.
I have no issues with non-Christian religions celebrating their religious holidays. Absolutely fine with me. I don't even mind atheists not celebrating anything religious.
But what I do mind is the effort to make Christmas, a Christian religious holiday, I am talking about 25 December as we traditionally celebrate it, into a non-religious, or all religious, come one, come all whatever you believe or do not believe, generic holiday for all people and all things.
It ain't that. It is Christmas. And no amount of well, or ill, intentioned people is gonna convince me that it isn't.
But what I do mind is the effort to make Christmas, a Christian religious holiday, I am talking about 25 December as we traditionally celebrate it, into a non-religious, or all religious, come one, come all whatever you believe or do not believe, generic holiday for all people and all things.
It ain't that. It is Christmas. And no amount of well, or ill, intentioned people is gonna convince me that it isn't.
Sebago Son
Member
captorquewrench
Member
I teach in a pubic school.
It is officially a "Holiday Sing A Long" but since I plan the programs, the lowdown is this:
K-Snowman, Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer
1-Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Jingle Bells
2-Up on the Housetop, We wish you a Merry Christmas
3-Frosty the Snowman, Deck the Hall
4-Joy to the World, Rise Up Shepherd, and Follow
5-Feliz Navidad, Jingle Bell Rock
Now, religious songs are approved in school music as part of the curriculum. There is no way around it...religion is too closely tied to the arts. For centuries, the churches were the patrons of the arts. They kept the written records. They commissioned the works. They supported the artists and musicians. So when I was questioned by one teacher, I was quick to point out that all these songs were the best fit with the music concepts each grade level has worked on. We have everything from Englad a few hundred years ago to African American to German Baroque to Mexican American. One teacher asked if why didn't I plan a more multicultural focus. I think it was pretty varied as is, and while we did look at some Hanukah songs, let's be honest...it's a sing a long. And Hanukah and Kwaanza tunes are just not as familiar in our local community. The kids didn't even know what those holidays are (we talked about them and did listen to some of Hanukah music). Now, I'm all about multicultural music. I love ethnomusicology, it's part of my planned focus for grad school--and the TEKS include songs from diverse cultures...but this is a COMMUNITY SING A LONG. Which logically, by name alone, should be familiar and singable on the local community level. So...it's Christmas songs, both secular and Spiritual. And, that is McMusic's final word. "If you don't like it, go sit in the back of the gym and shut up."
It is officially a "Holiday Sing A Long" but since I plan the programs, the lowdown is this:
K-Snowman, Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer
1-Jolly Old St. Nicholas, Jingle Bells
2-Up on the Housetop, We wish you a Merry Christmas
3-Frosty the Snowman, Deck the Hall
4-Joy to the World, Rise Up Shepherd, and Follow
5-Feliz Navidad, Jingle Bell Rock
Now, religious songs are approved in school music as part of the curriculum. There is no way around it...religion is too closely tied to the arts. For centuries, the churches were the patrons of the arts. They kept the written records. They commissioned the works. They supported the artists and musicians. So when I was questioned by one teacher, I was quick to point out that all these songs were the best fit with the music concepts each grade level has worked on. We have everything from Englad a few hundred years ago to African American to German Baroque to Mexican American. One teacher asked if why didn't I plan a more multicultural focus. I think it was pretty varied as is, and while we did look at some Hanukah songs, let's be honest...it's a sing a long. And Hanukah and Kwaanza tunes are just not as familiar in our local community. The kids didn't even know what those holidays are (we talked about them and did listen to some of Hanukah music). Now, I'm all about multicultural music. I love ethnomusicology, it's part of my planned focus for grad school--and the TEKS include songs from diverse cultures...but this is a COMMUNITY SING A LONG. Which logically, by name alone, should be familiar and singable on the local community level. So...it's Christmas songs, both secular and Spiritual. And, that is McMusic's final word. "If you don't like it, go sit in the back of the gym and shut up."
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handejector
Staff member
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Well said!
I decided to quote you rather than try to say it myself.
Most of us here regret the PC nation we have become that seeks to strip us of our values and even our faith because others might not hold those same beliefs.
You all know that religion is a banned discussion topic here. While not allowing proselytizing or discussion here, we don't remove sig lines or avatars that show your faith, delete prayer threads, or prevent you from giving each other greetings on Holidays (from HOLY Days).
Probably 90% + of us grew up with Christmas as an integral part of life. The staff and I would like to keep it that way here.
So, don't abuse us.
We won't be bashing other faiths or other holidays, or drifting into racial remarks or political discussion.
Do you really need to do that to celebrate Christmas?
We won't be drifting into religious discussion.
Stick to Christmas so we don't have close the topic off!
Then you might want to avoid opening Christmas threads, or sit this forum out till about January 3rd!
Merry Christmas!
OP
sipowicz
Member
Okay...to be fair to my kid's school, there were Christmas trees in many of the classrooms along with Menorahs...I found out today that the set was from a Willy Wonka play and they didn't have time to take it all down and put up Christmas decoration. 
Merry Christmas, brother, and I and mine hope you have a speedy and full recovery. God bless.
harrison12
Member
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Merry Christmas.
To My Politically Correct Shooting Friends:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2013, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wish.
To the rest of my Shooting Friends:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 2013
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2013, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wish.
To the rest of my Shooting Friends:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 2013
Merry Christmas to all!
Cook74
Member
When I taught high school, I was able to have a Christmas tree in the classroom because we donated it to a needy family in our area. The students would bring older ornaments and I'd 'find' strings of lights to make it look great. The other teachers for the most part were glad to come in and see it almost every day.
Since I was not union, I could get away with skirting the rules about trees in the classroom. The only requirement was to spray it down before getting it inside with fire retardant. I was fine with that and it made perfect sense. If you read rules and regulations closely, one can get around them. Eventually, the students (66% were on state support) would start to tie dollar bills to the limbs of the tree. Pretty cool kids...
Merry Christmas to all my gun pals...
Since I was not union, I could get away with skirting the rules about trees in the classroom. The only requirement was to spray it down before getting it inside with fire retardant. I was fine with that and it made perfect sense. If you read rules and regulations closely, one can get around them. Eventually, the students (66% were on state support) would start to tie dollar bills to the limbs of the tree. Pretty cool kids...
Merry Christmas to all my gun pals...
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