I found this over at ChicagoLady's Blog. Am I the only one that finds this appalling? This sign is apparently up at the Illinois State Capital, right next to the Nativity Scene. Ummm, what???!!!
While it is true that religion can be oppressive, with all it's rituals & rules, if you are a Christian, then you have a faith & a walk with our Lord & that is not oppressive. Faith in God does not harden hearts, it softens & opens them to more love than was ever thought possible. It makes us tolerant of others. My God directs me to pray for my enemies as well as those who have lost their way. How is that oppressive or enslaving?
These Pagans want the freedom to practice their religion? Fine with me. This country allows the freedom of all people to practice & take as gospel whatever they want to without oppression.
Having said that, doesn't this sign smack of fascism & shoving their doctrines down our collective Christian/Jew/Muslim/Catholic/Protestant/Methodist throats? Seems to me that they want everyone else to think as they do, not as we choose to. Does this little protest not then make them the tyranists, the very thing they are railing against? Where is the tolerance & acceptance of others' faith systems?
I cannot presuppose why a state government would put this up anyway. Isn't Illinois filled to the brim with Liberal Democrats who preach freedom & tolerance for all people? Yeah, only if you believe as they do! I have the right, given to me by both the U.S. Constitution and The Declaration of Independence, as well as the Bible, to have faith in God without having some other religion iron hand me into following something I did not choose.
And by the way, this holiday is called CHRISTmas for a reason...it is the celebration of the birth of our Lord & Saviour, Jesus Christ. So, dear Pagans, go marinate on that one for a while, why don't you?!
ChicagoLady also directed me to this little poem...quite apropos, I think, considering the pandemic of Political Correctness that has gripped this country for far too long now.
Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
See the PC Police had taken away
The reason for Christmas -- no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About shepherds and wise men and angels and things.
It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say --
December 25th is just a "holiday."
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit,
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Jonas Bros., a Wii Fit, and I-Pod,
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanza
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word "Christmas" was nowhere to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penney's and Sears,
You won't hear the word "Christmas" -- it won't touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Obama, now ACORN, now Jackson, Wolf Blitzen,
On Feinstein, on Matthews, on Warren, on Clinton!
At the top of the Senate there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith,
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded,
The Reason for the Season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate "winter break" under your "dream tree,"
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say,
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ... not Happy Holidays!
-- Anonymous Author
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8 comments:
Wow, that is one crazy sign!
Similar ones are in the Washington State and Wisconsin Capitals.
I will be the first to admit there's a number of religious organizations that take it too far, who seem to only use God to push their own self centered agendas, but that's exactly what this atheist sign is doing. They are just as guilty of being blind to other beliefs/feelings.
I completely agree with you that my God doesn't teach me to oppress others. It is not my right to judge, I think the best way that I can be a witness to my savior is by showing the respect that I expect others to show me. So it hurts me when people can't see that, and it angers me because the things in that sign are not true.
Merry Christmas.
I agree that it is offensive! Someone always has to rain on our parade, know what I mean? I actually feel a little sorry for people like that, who don't have any type of faith to believe in.
I found you through Blog Stalkers Unite and I have to admit it was the title of your blog that made me curious!! I SOOOO love the little bit on your daughter needing therapy if you don't get this motherhood thing down soon. I can relate!!!!! When I've made a mothering faux pas, I joke to my husband, "well, let's just add this to the long list of things they'll discuss in therapy as adults".
I remember a few years ago when at work I had to be careful not to say 'merry Christmas' instead of 'happy holidays' but then I was like: screw it. If I want to say merry Christmas than so be it!
I knew that there had to be other Politically Incorrect people like me out there!
There was actually a South Park episode a couple of years back that talked about this same thing (yes, I watch South Park. Sorry, but it is funny!)
This PC stuff is a disease in this country. There are somethings, yes, that people in general need to be more sensitive & aware about, but Christmas will always be Christmas. The PC thing has just gone too far!
To quote an old saying...Jesus IS the reason for the season!
OY!!
i left something on my blog for you!
Good post! What a poem.
Hope you and your family have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!
-FringeGirl
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