New york schools show religious descrimination.

Nov 13 18:04 UTC 2003

So, there is no assault on christianity in this country?

How about the largest school district in the nation banning nativity scenes
from schools for christmas, yet encouraging the display of Jewish, Islamic,
and Kwanzaa on their holidays?

Yes, we are talking about New York.  New York, that wonderful melting pot of
humanity where all things are encouraged, has banned any suggestion that
Christ might be an historical being and any religious display celebrating the
holiday of his birth.  Only non secular items denotign christmas will be
allowed.  Christmas trees and Santa Claus.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=29942

Happy Ramadan
Happy Hannakah
Happy Kwanzaa
Merry Chri....  Opps, no, sorry.  Don't go there  Happy Holidays!

response 2 of 74:

Nov 13 18:24 UTC 2003

I see no reasons to permit the display of Menorrahs or "Stars and
Crescent" in public schools. This, as well as not displaying Christian
symbolism, would not be "assault" on any religions.

I would consider appropriate a single consolidated display of all
religions and philosophies that wish to participate, if they are all given
equal space and prominance, as part of a social studies course project. 

response 4 of 74:

Nov 13 19:53 UTC 2003

r0: is kwaanza a *religious* celebration?

response 6 of 74:

Nov 14 01:58 UTC 2003

This is not a double standard and it is not discrimination.

The policy described in the article is borne out of ignorance (of 
non-Christian symbology and meanings) combined with an attempt to do 
what the law and the courts have stipulated.

The LAST thing it is is an attack on Christianity.

This is merely a case of ignorance masquerading as education, and 
self-righteous opportunism disguised as the pursuit of justice.

response 8 of 74:

Nov 14 04:28 UTC 2003

The policy, as quoted in the article puts Christmas trees and Menorahs on
the same level, as "secular holiday symbols."  This shows a real ignorance
of the significance of both symbols.  (Of course, most Christians don't
want to think about the traditional significance of the tree, either.)

response 10 of 74:

Nov 14 07:48 UTC 2003

  re #9:

  > A Christmas tree is by definition a religious symbol, because the
  > cultural association it suggests is with a religious holiday, 

  If I'm interpreting you correctly, both Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
  and Frosty the Snowman are religious symbols according to this reasoning.

response 12 of 74:

Nov 14 07:59 UTC 2003

Perhaps 'suggests' is the wrong word.  How about 'represents'?
It is a *CHRISTMAS* tree, not just a tree.  As for Rudolph and 
Frosty and candy canes, their associations with Christmas per se are 
less direct, minimal and not worth considering, respectively.

response 14 of 74:

Nov 14 12:20 UTC 2003

re: 9: maybe you've been inhaling too much incense? ;-P

re: 6: I'm not suggesting it's an attack on Christianity
(nor, since I'm not a Christian, would I care any more if
it were than if it were an attack on Hinduism). I'm
pointing out that to outlaw the religious symbols of
religion A on the grounds of "separation of church and
state" while allowing those of religions B, C, X, Y and Z
is evidence of double standards.

response 16 of 74:

Nov 14 15:31 UTC 2003

Try that again gull, it makes no sense as it appears.

Christmas trees are not christian in origin.
The Egyptians were part of a long line of cultures that treasured and
worshipped evergreens. When the winter solstice arrive, they brought green
date palm leaves into their homes to symbolize life's triumph over death.

The Romans celebrated the winter solstice with a fest called Saturnalia in
honor of Saturnus, the god of agriculture. They decorated their houses with
greens and lights and exchanged gifts. They gave coins for prosperity,
pastries for happiness, and lamps to light one's journey through life.

Centuries ago in Great Britain, woods priests called Druids used evergreens
during mysterious winter solstice rituals. The Druids used holly and mistletoe
as symbols of eternal life, and place evergreen branches over doors to keep
away evil spirits.

Late in the Middle Ages, Germans and Scandinavians placed evergreen trees
inside their homes or just outside their doors to show their hope in the
forthcoming spring. Our modern Christmas tree evolved from these early
traditions.

Legend has it that Martin Luther began the tradition of decorating trees to
celebrate Christmas. One crisp Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was
walking through snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of a group
of small evergreens. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the
moonlight. When he got home, he set up a little fir tree indoors so he could
share this story with his children. He decorated it with candles, which he
lighted in honor of Christ's birth.

Saying a christmas tree is religious is like saying a pumpkin pie is
religious.  Or a blueberry muffin.  It is a tradition, not a religious
artifact.

Symbols of faith are:

Menorah is a symbol of Judaism
Crescent Moon and five pointed star of Islam
The Khanda of the Sikh
The OM of the hindu
The Dharma Wheel of the Buddist
The cross of Christianity

If you ban ine of these, you have to ban them all.
If you accept one of these, you have to accept them all.

Can we agree on that?

response 18 of 74:

Nov 14 18:00 UTC 2003

if they're not christian in origin, perhaps we
should stop calling them CHRISTmas trees.


i'm going to call mine "Madge" this year, or
perhaps "Gay Bobby"

response 20 of 74:

Nov 14 18:30 UTC 2003

We always call our trees by name.  We usually go to a "Cut Your Own" tree farm
and wander around looking at the trees until one of them tells one of us its
name.  We do the same thing when we don't have time to go to the farm and go
to a tree lot.  If none of the trees on the lot tell us its name we go to a
different lot.  Staci is getting quite good a hearing trees, almost as good
as STeve and me.  Damon has always been a little deaf, I quess trees talk in
that middle range of hearing frequencies that he lost due to ear infections
in his youth.

response 22 of 74:

Nov 14 18:50 UTC 2003

glenda, do you replant your christmas trees?