Razzy Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 Don't get me wrong, universities are good places; people teach, people learn, people advance in their lives. But it is so goddamn anti-religion it sickens me. Today, on my school web page, I saw this in the recent announcements: HOLIDAY SHARING TREE GIFTS -- GIVE TODAY! My face: Holiday Sharing Tree? SERIOUSLY? Okay, can we all just freaking agree that the holiday is CHRISTMAS and it is this particular holiday in which people put up a big pine TREE, under which they put presents, ergo -- logically -- that makes it a CHRISTMAS TREE. It isn't a 'holiday sharing tree' it's a CHRISTMAS TREE. And if they are going to hijack a tradition long associated with MY religion, they can damn well respect it and call it by what it is -- A CHRISTMAS TREE. Anyone else just a little IRKED by this? 3 Quote Battle LogChallenge LogI made a mistake. Link to comment
baking_jeans Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 Yeah, same here.This year commercials don't say "Christmas" when referring to Christmas holidays, but "These special days"... So far "these special days" were used to advertise tampons for ladies' bloody days... Quote Link to comment
bigm141414 Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 It's not anti religious. It's just not exclusively pro-Christian. For those who are not of the Christian faith it is annoying to have Christmas everywhere. There are other holidays of other faiths at this time of year as well. It seems to me as if the university is attempting to be including instead of excluding to those other religions. And this is not a bad thing. The spirit is preserved, but further extended outside the faith by using different words that don't have any overt connotations. 10 Quote "Pull the bar like you're ripping the head off a god-damned lion" - Donny Shankle Link to comment
Toxophilite Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 Oooh contentious issues. This should be good *sits down next to my 'holiday sharing tree' with a tub of popcorn* season's greetings everyone 2 Quote "To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and, whatever you hit, call it the target." Link to comment
Eleanorsbee Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 yeah, I don't care ..... for me its all about indulgence, pretending in Santa Clause for my little girl, having a holiday, GETTING PRESENTS .... I suppose giving them ;-) People can call it what they want as long as they don't take away my mince pies 2 Quote Human | Ranger Level 3 | STR: 8 | DEX: 2 | STA: 8 | CON: 5 | WIS: 0 | CHA: 7 Current Challenge / Second Challenge, / My First Challenge Link to comment
Gainsdalf the Whey Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 I'm personally offended that it is a tree. It should be a Gift Sharing Flying Spaghetti Monster, wearing a santa hat, and holding a menorah in one of its noodly tentacles. 16 Quote Massrandir, Barkûn, Swolórin, The Whey Pilgrim 500 / 330 / 625 Challenges: 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 32 34 35 36 39 41 42 45 46 47 48 49 Current Challenge "No citizen has a right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. What a disgrace it is for a man to grow old without ever seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable. " ~ Socrates "Friends don't let friends squat high." ~ Chad Wesley Smith "It's a dangerous business, Brodo, squatting to the floor. You step into the rack, and if you don't keep your form, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to." ~ Gainsdalf Link to comment
Schmopey Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 I'm Christian and try to celebrate Christmas in that vein, yet I find it interesting that Christmas falls so closely to a long standing pagan day of celebration. Who hijacked whose tradition? 7 Quote Paladin Aspirant Level 3 STR: 13 DEX: 3 STA: 9 CON: 9.33 WIS: 6.66 CHA: 6 MyFitnessPal Challenges: First, Second, Third, Fourth Link to comment
Robpocalypse Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 I don't see why it has to be either or, it doesn't have to be mutually exclusive. You want a tree that you decorate and call a Christmas tree, awesome! Someone else wants a tree they decorate and call a holiday bush? More power to them!If anything you should be flattered. Someone looked at a Christian tradition and said: Hey, I like that pretty tree, I would like to do one as well to celebrate my (insert winter holiday) but I am not a Christian and I want to respect their faith, so I am going to call it a generic holiday tree. Celebration of the evergreen tree and Winter solstice was going in for a looooong time before Martin Luther decided to put candles on a pine tree in his living room.Not to start a debate on Christmas of course, more to point out that you should be happy that people like something your faith was doing and wanted to particpate, but partake in a respectful manner and not claim a faith they clearly don't hold. Christianity may be able to claim invention of what we deem the modern Christmas tree, but they don't hold a patent on decorating evergreens with shiney balls. At the end of the day I don't think it's political correctness, or a war on Christmas, it's that having a tree with shiny bits and lights brings a smile to many people's faces. They're not Christians, so they don't call it a Christmas tree. I think it's honestly that simple. 3 Quote Link to comment
BlackTezca Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 I have no problem with saying 'Happy Holidays', especially since I once said 'Merry Christmas' to a friend only for her to gently remind me that she is Jeiwsh. I then switch to 'Uh- Happy Hanukkah!" awkwardly to dig myself out of the hole . We live in a very diverse place and time so using inclusive terms is not a bad thing for me. However, I WILL call not call a pine tree (fake or real), decorated with a certain flare, that has gifts wrapped in paper under it, a 'Holiday Sharing Tree'. Certainly not a big deal to me, but I would be a bit surprised as well seeing a flyer like that. I wonder...wouldn't it be cool to have different decorations/symbols/etc representing different cultural holidays that happen around this time? I'd be interested learning more about those 1 Quote Race: Were-Jaguar | Class: CodeMONKey Level: 18 | STR: 46 | DEX: 41 | STA: 35 | CON: 51 | WIS: 57 | CHA: 47 Spoiler --- Challenges: CURRENT 18TH | 17TH | 16TH | 15TH | 14TH | 13TH | 12.5TH | 12TH | 11TH | 10TH | 9TH | 8TH | 7TH | 6TH | 5TH | 4TH | 3RD | 2ND | 1ST Accountbilbuddies: Artists unite for March/April 2017! --- "Everyone's the same height when you punch them hard enough" --- NF Character Profile | BATTLE LOG | Tumblr | DeviantArt | Warhammer 40k Shenanigans Link to comment
Jakkals Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 My sister work for a year in Saudi Arabia and she was very surprised to see "decorated holiday trees" in the shops and "holiday themed" cards for sale in the shops. Quote Level 8 : Wizard Blacksmith [ STR 6 | DEX 6 | STA 5 | CON 5 | WIS 10 | CHA 4 ] Jakkals, 2019 nommer 3 Spoiler Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live. -Marcus Aurelius Link to comment
Oramac Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 Anyone else just a little IRKED by this? *Raises hand* For the record, though, I HATE political correctness in all its forms with a burning passion. Exacerbated by the fact that my whole family, including myself, are quite active in the political arena. I can handle the "holiday tree" thing specifically, but it's when people get mad at me for saying Merry Christmas that I question it. I'm Christian. I say Merry Christmas. Deal with it. If you want to say Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa, or whatever other thing you want, more power to you. But don't get mad when people living in a predominately Christian nation wish you a Merry Christmas. 1 Quote "Someone ever tries to kill you, you try to kill 'em right back." - Captain Malcolm Reynolds Current Challenge Also, I Agree With Tank™ Link to comment
Eleanorsbee Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 'Holiday Sharing Tree'. yeah, "Christmas Tree" is a rather catchier name 2 Quote Human | Ranger Level 3 | STR: 8 | DEX: 2 | STA: 8 | CON: 5 | WIS: 0 | CHA: 7 Current Challenge / Second Challenge, / My First Challenge Link to comment
blkhole24601 Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 I'm Christian and try to celebrate Christmas in that vein, yet I find it interesting that Christmas falls so closely to a long standing pagan day of celebration. Who hijacked whose tradition? Pretty much this. IIRC, and I could be very wrong, but I remember reading somewhere that a long time ago, the Christian church decided to celebrate Jesus' birthday around the time of the Winter Solstice, even though he was born in the spring/early summer, in an effort to make their religion more attractive to the Pagans they were trying to convert. That's why a lot of Christmas traditions actually have their roots in the Pagan celebration. ("Your winter holiday has a Yule log? So does ours!") So Christmas is actually a completely hijacked holiday to begin with. (Not that I have anything against Christmas, mind. I do celebrate it and it's my favorite holiday because I love giving gifts and I enjoy the shiny decorations, but I also leave Jesus out of it since I'm not Christian.) 7 Quote Vicki | Sheikah Bard | Level 13 STR 32.5 | DEX 51.1 | STA 25.5 | CON 37.1 | WIS 26.0 | CHA 31.3 blkhoe24601 Gains the Power to Revolutionize the World Past Challenges: 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 2016 Battle Log Link to comment
Thrillho Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 21 Quote The cancer was aggressive, but the chemotherapy was aggressive, as well. There was aggression on both sides. Link to comment
RisenPhoenix Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 I can handle the "holiday tree" thing specifically, but it's when people get mad at me for saying Merry Christmas that I flip out. I'm Christian. I say Merry Christmas. Deal with it. If you want to say Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanzaa, or whatever other thing you want, more power to you. But don't get mad when people living in a predominately Christian nation wish you a Merry Christmas. Fair point. But let me tell you that I've been wished a "Merry Christmas" in an incredibly rude, spiteful and not-at-all-in-the-spirit kinda way by people who found out I was an atheist. Because their argument was we are a "predominantly Christian nation" so I could "deal with it." (Not that I suspect you of doing so, Oramac. Far from it. But sometimes it takes me a good deal of patience to not snark back for that reason.) And hell, I wish people merry Xmas. 4 Quote RisenPhoenix, the Entish Aikidoka Challenge: RisenPhoenix Turns to Ash "The essence of koryu [...is] you offer your loyalty to something that you choose to regard as greater than yourself so that you will, someday, be able to offer service to something that truly is transcendent." ~ Ellis Amdur, Old School Link to comment
Oramac Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 Fair point. But let me tell you that I've been wished a "Merry Christmas" in an incredibly rude, spiteful and not-at-all-in-the-spirit kinda way by people who found out I was an atheist. Because their argument was we are a "predominantly Christian nation" so I could "deal with it." (Not that I suspect you of doing so, Oramac. Far from it. But sometimes it takes me a good deal of patience to not snark back for that reason.) And hell, I wish people merry Xmas. I do my best not to be rude or spiteful. I'm glad you didn't take it that way. It definitely was not meant to be. And, in my eyes anyway, go ahead and be snarky. I'm very much a "speak your mind and who cares what everyone thinks" kind of person. It gets me in trouble sometimes, but it certainly makes my stance clear. And I tend not to get offended by much either. Quote "Someone ever tries to kill you, you try to kill 'em right back." - Captain Malcolm Reynolds Current Challenge Also, I Agree With Tank™ Link to comment
Thrillho Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 I keep wishing people a Happy Crimbo, and get the wierdest looks. Remember the reason for the season. Keep Black Pete in Christmas. 2 Quote The cancer was aggressive, but the chemotherapy was aggressive, as well. There was aggression on both sides. Link to comment
SevenofSeven Posted December 11, 2014 Report Share Posted December 11, 2014 Damn, coffee out the nose! Quote Wait! What............? Link to comment
Chrestomanci Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 I don't see the problem in saying something that relates to more people, so I go with "Happy Holidays" for the small chance that who I'm talking to might not celebrate Christmas (which I think is rare for my area but who knows) Christmas is still a holiday so I don't get why people get so offended by it. Quote Miles ran consecutively: 13.1/26.2 50%50% Pushups done consecutively: 16/20 80%80% Link to comment
Eleanorsbee Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Christmas is still a holiday so I don't get why people get so offended by it.Getting offended by stuff is the latest thing in the uk .... We have professional offendees who spend 24/7 getting wound up and complaining about "top gear", children having fun, sugar, peoples gardens, unexpected floods, price of popcorn .... Anything really 5 Quote Human | Ranger Level 3 | STR: 8 | DEX: 2 | STA: 8 | CON: 5 | WIS: 0 | CHA: 7 Current Challenge / Second Challenge, / My First Challenge Link to comment
SpecialSundae Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Getting offended by stuff is the latest thing in the uk .... We have professional offendees who spend 24/7 getting wound up and complaining about "top gear", children having fun, sugar, peoples gardens, unexpected floods, price of popcorn .... Anything reallyAlso known as "The Daily Mail". 5 Quote Link to comment
Eleanorsbee Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Yay .. first laugh of the day .. thank you SpecialSundae Quote Human | Ranger Level 3 | STR: 8 | DEX: 2 | STA: 8 | CON: 5 | WIS: 0 | CHA: 7 Current Challenge / Second Challenge, / My First Challenge Link to comment
Rookiebeotch Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 I'm pretty sure most American Christians would be more upset if commercials flooded airspace with words about Hanukkah candles, voodoo chicken sacrifices, and Islamic Ramadan fasting as if everyone subscribed to those beliefs. Not sure how freedom of religion translates to Christianity is more special than the rest. 6 Quote Current Challenge March 2016 Second Challenge First challenge, Battle Log Link to comment
Rookiebeotch Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 But I agree, "Holiday sharing tree" is one of the dumbest things I've heard. 2 Quote Current Challenge March 2016 Second Challenge First challenge, Battle Log Link to comment
Ocelot Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Celebrating trees at this time of year goes back longer than Christianity, there is a tree dressing ceremony near here which takes place without cutting the tree down - people just go and hang stuff on it. Its an ancient tradition, and not invented by celebrators of Christmas. While we're talking about 'political correctness gone mad' (aka 'I can say whatever I want and you are not allowed to be upset') I'm pretty sure the title of your battle log is offensive to quite a few people. I know it's pretty much accepted in American English but in the UK its still remembered that its a pejorative term for the disabled and could be quite offputting to some. Obviously you can call your thread whatever you want, just wanted to point it out as I keep seeing it and wincing. Quote | STR 15 | DEX 14 | STA 14 | CON 10.5 | WIS 11 | CHA 7 | Level 5 Ocelot's Dossier - Battle Log | Springing into my Sixth Challenge! Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.