Comments on: Christmas is Over, But Public Display Battles Rage On http://wildhunt.org/blog/2007/12/christmas-is-over-but-public-display.html Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:51:57 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Tracie the Red http://wildhunt.org/blog/2007/12/christmas-is-over-but-public-display.html/comment-page-1#comment-1331 Tracie the Red Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:45:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2007/12/christmas-is-over-but-public-display-battles-rage-on.html#comment-1331 Just a passing comment:<br/><br/>I had my own blog open in another window as I read this, and I have a playlist on my blog.<br/><br/>The song that came on as I opened this window to read this entry was "Revolution" by the Beatles.<br/><br/>Something about it seemed totally apropos. It worked so beautifully. Just a passing comment:

I had my own blog open in another window as I read this, and I have a playlist on my blog.

The song that came on as I opened this window to read this entry was “Revolution” by the Beatles.

Something about it seemed totally apropos. It worked so beautifully.

]]> By: The mother badger http://wildhunt.org/blog/2007/12/christmas-is-over-but-public-display.html/comment-page-1#comment-1327 The mother badger Thu, 27 Dec 2007 14:56:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2007/12/christmas-is-over-but-public-display-battles-rage-on.html#comment-1327 So much for seperation of church and state. No wonder I get so depressed this time of year. I am truly disgusted at how our government officials have chosen to throw out or spit in the face of the constitution in order to serve their own religious war. Gag me with a smurf. So much for seperation of church and state. No wonder I get so depressed this time of year. I am truly disgusted at how our government officials have chosen to throw out or spit in the face of the constitution in order to serve their own religious war. Gag me with a smurf.

]]> By: Barbara http://wildhunt.org/blog/2007/12/christmas-is-over-but-public-display.html/comment-page-1#comment-1326 Barbara Thu, 27 Dec 2007 02:34:00 +0000 http://wildhunt.org/blog/2007/12/christmas-is-over-but-public-display-battles-rage-on.html#comment-1326 When I was a kid during the '60s, "interfaith" usually meant the Protestants were shaking hands with the Catholics. The more common term was "interdenominational." It didn't, as I recall, often include any other flavor of belief but variations on Christianity. I guess in some people's minds that has never changed. <br/><br/>My family weren't even churchgoing Christians, but still I grew up assuming everyone celebrated our generic and commercially promoted version of Christmas, until at around the age of 14 I asked a girl in school if she was looking forward to Christmas, and she explained that she was Jewish and celebrated Channukah. I really should've known better by then, because I was already aware that some of the kids at school were Jewish. But I had no idea what Channukah was, and on confronting my limited assumption, I found the revelation fascinating that not everyone was like my family or my churchgoing Catholic cousins in how they celebrated. That started me on a quest to learn about the vast variety of beliefs, a quest that hasn't stopped since, and which I find rewarding every day. <br/><br/>It's sad to think that 37 years after that eye-opening conversation, even with the internet, there are still people with such a narrow view of the world around them, and not only a narrow view but a stubborn, resistant, and even hostile one, when confronted with their narrow thinking. Apparently the Christians in Green Bay haven't figured out that it's much easier to look on such comeuppances as an opportunity to learn, and to embrace what they learn as well as befriend others in their community, than as an excuse to reject and fight. I also personally think, from what I've read of him, that it would make Jesus sad, and I wonder why people who follow him as their deity would want to persist in this ugly behavior for one minute longer than that in which they realize they're being unfair and hateful, rather than loving as he taught. Green Bay Christians need a challenge to open up and include their neighbors. When I was a kid during the ’60s, “interfaith” usually meant the Protestants were shaking hands with the Catholics. The more common term was “interdenominational.” It didn’t, as I recall, often include any other flavor of belief but variations on Christianity. I guess in some people’s minds that has never changed.

My family weren’t even churchgoing Christians, but still I grew up assuming everyone celebrated our generic and commercially promoted version of Christmas, until at around the age of 14 I asked a girl in school if she was looking forward to Christmas, and she explained that she was Jewish and celebrated Channukah. I really should’ve known better by then, because I was already aware that some of the kids at school were Jewish. But I had no idea what Channukah was, and on confronting my limited assumption, I found the revelation fascinating that not everyone was like my family or my churchgoing Catholic cousins in how they celebrated. That started me on a quest to learn about the vast variety of beliefs, a quest that hasn’t stopped since, and which I find rewarding every day.

It’s sad to think that 37 years after that eye-opening conversation, even with the internet, there are still people with such a narrow view of the world around them, and not only a narrow view but a stubborn, resistant, and even hostile one, when confronted with their narrow thinking. Apparently the Christians in Green Bay haven’t figured out that it’s much easier to look on such comeuppances as an opportunity to learn, and to embrace what they learn as well as befriend others in their community, than as an excuse to reject and fight. I also personally think, from what I’ve read of him, that it would make Jesus sad, and I wonder why people who follow him as their deity would want to persist in this ugly behavior for one minute longer than that in which they realize they’re being unfair and hateful, rather than loving as he taught. Green Bay Christians need a challenge to open up and include their neighbors.

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