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I'm Offended by my Own Lack of Posting
I'm back from my accidental 2-week vacation. First I had strange technical problems and was unable to log in to movabletype for a week, then I was out of town in North Carolina where we did not have a phone line for a whole week. Picture 2 days with no TV, 6 days with no telephone, and 7 days with undrinkable water and you've got how I spent the last 7 days of my life.
So it's time to do a bit of catch-up here. Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanzaa everybody! [Insert usual rant about New Year's here and how it's a stupid "holiday" that is just an excuse for decadent Americans to make fools out of themselves and drink until they puke all over themselves.]
One thing I noticed in my time off the grid in holy roller NC is that the usual "church and state" rules don't really apply there. There were manger scenes and shamelessly false "Jesus...the Reason for the Season" signs everywhere. This is in stark contrast to the mayor of somewhereorother, Alabama or whatnot that got sued for having a Christmas scene in a public square.
Normally I'm all in favor of making radical religious wackies practice their faith privately rather than all over billboards and such, but come on people. By the time podunk circuit court sees this case it will be March, and the controversial and offensive Christmas tree will be in a controverial and offensive storage shed somewhere. Are people really offended by Christmas decorations? Are there people out there who have so little to worry about in life that they have the time to file legal suits against people who hang up lights? GO GET A JOB!
The anti-religion people are getting to be as bad as the pro-religion people. It's a good thing that, say, our government doesn't force everyone to practice a certain religion. It's a bad thing to waste the courts' time doing stuff like trying to remove "under God" from the pledge of allegiance. Does anyone really believe that the pledge is a prayer? Would it kill people who believe in our country but not a divine deity to just skip the God part while everyone else says it? Is it possible to resolve such issues personally without making a fool of yourself on CNN and cause raging debates with Chris Matthews?
These people are as bad as the dumbasses that sued McDonalds because they were overweight. If you don't like the fact that your mayor is of a certain religion, then elect someone else next time. If he puts a Christmas tree out on the lawn and you don't like it, TOO DAMN BAD. If having to drive to work each day past a Christmas tree rather than a giant menorah or a Kwanzaa decoration of some sort is the worst thing that happens to you in life, I say you've got it pretty good.
Comments
Well I'm, uh..... glad you're back, Chris.
Posted by: light at January 4, 2004 11:22 PM
Are these muncipalities spending enough on their schools and other necessary public services?
My guess is "no".
In which case I'd say forgo the shameless Christmas decorations and spend that money on the schools, where it would do more good.
I'm not personally offended by Christmas decorations but when I see them in public places I can't help being reminded of how a government spends its (our!) money.
Posted by: rkc at January 5, 2004 6:41 AM
Gotta disagree with you, Chris. The whole problem is that not everyone is Christian. In fact, non-Christians are obviously a small minority in this country. The idea that that weak minority could "elect someone else next time" is the whole point; they don't have that kind of power. That's why we need to protect their opinions and alternative religious beliefs (including, ahem, not having any).
Personally, I don't think it's that hard to keep religion out of government. In fact, it's unconstitutional not to. I agree with Dr. Cytron--the decorations may be pretty, but they say a lot about our government's priorities and prerogatives.
Glad you're back :)
Posted by: Rachel at January 5, 2004 8:25 AM
Yeah, what Rachel said. I'm not at all offended when religious people put up billboards that say "Don't Make Me Come Down There. -God." Religious freedom is essential. As a child I did feel uncomfortable saying the pledge because I was agnostic then (and still am), so I skipped that part.
But I have a huge problem with the "shut up and get over it" argument (ala Pat Boone). Our government and our public schools should not promote one religion over another. I don't take offense when our senators stand on the steps of the capitol and sing "God Bless America," but I do take offense when people are told to swear on the bible in court. The issue is not the personal beliefs of our representatives but whether and how they choose to promote such beliefs. And as for wasting the courts time, what about the McCarthy era congressmen who wasted everyone's time by writing legislation to include the phrase "Under God" in our pledge (to prove we were not godless communists). The fact that 86% of Americans believe in a god does not give our representatives the perogative to post the ten commandments in public schools. The majority rules, yes, but protecting minorities is what the bill of rights is all about. Forgive my rant, but you hit a nerve. :-)
Posted by: Eileen at January 5, 2004 1:44 PM
Oh, and glad to have you back! Happy anniversary. :-) (I think I spelled prerogative incorrectly also).
I would also like to add that I'm offended more by nativity scenes on courthouse property (like in my home town) than by pretty twinkling lights. So for me I guess it depends.
Posted by: Eileen at January 5, 2004 2:03 PM
I guess I just think that it costs the government (us) more money in legal fees in these silly lawsuits than it does on the decorations themselves.
We live in such a litigation-happy time that one of our neighbors here in Flore-da is suing the neighborhood association (which he himself pays the dues for, so he is in effect suing himself) for allowing someone to build their house too close to their property line, or something to that effect. Now, it would be one thing if this guy lived next door and the house was going to be on top of his, but he lives down the street. The next door neighbors were asked about it in advance and they approved the blueprints.
I just think that there are more important things to worry about than how close someone else's house is to someone else's yard, or whether or not there are Christmas lights on the Loop. Shouldn't the judges be busy locking away the guys that steal cars from the Esquire parking lot?
There is no way to keep religion out of the government. Every government official will practice their own religion, or lack thereof, and even if only subconsciously, their beliefs will affect their actions.
Instead of leaping into court at the first sign of a Christmas tree, which frankly mocks the justice system as much as the hot coffee suit and the "McDonalds made me fat" one since Christmas is by no means a purely religious celebration, why don't we wait until the mayor actually does something worthy of blasting, like put the friggin' 10 Commandments on the lawn?
Posted by: Chris Hill Festival at January 5, 2004 11:04 PM
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