Piss me off wil you?

[SeaCat]

Last year in my park there were constant battles between the Condo Commandoes about the holiday decorations. It started with someone showing a Menorah. The Christians didn't like this and insisted that they also put up a Manger Scene or some other Christian Display.

The Jewish Commandoes retaliated by saying that anyone showing Christian Displays needed to put up something Jewish.

Most of those complaining didn'[t even have displays up by the way.

It got nasty, there were words and even one case of physical violence.

It got bad enough where I took down my lights, I didn't care to be involved.

Thsi year I wasn't going to put up any lights or decorations but my wife convinced me that I should. I went through my boxes and decided on a very simple display for this year. No religious aspects at all.

I ran strings of lights down the front and back of my place. The ends of the place had flashing Snowflakes. (Not stars.) The tree in front of the Patio was decorated with several strings of lights. It looks nice.

This morning one of the boneheaded Condo Commandoes stopped at my place to complain about my display.

He started off by complaining that I hadn't put up lights or decorations on the vacant trailers on either side of me. He then went on to complain that there wasn't a Manger or other overtly Christian decoration in my display.

I looked him over and remembered him from last year. He was one of those who didnt put up lights or other kind of decorations. I grinned at him and asked if he had a Manger or anything like that in his yard. When he told me that he didn't decorate his yard I did what should have been done last year. I told him to shut his blow hole and get the hell off my yard before I threw his self important ass bodily off my yard. I went on to explain he was welcome to display what ever the hell he wanted to but there was no way in hell he was going to tell me what I could or couldn't put up for holiday decorations.

Now I'm waiting for the Jewish Delegation so I can do the same thing to them.

I'm rather enjoying the holiday season so far.

Cat

 

[Boxlicker101]

Nothing like Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men.

 

[SeaCat]

Nothing like Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men.

Indeed.

It's gotten so bad in my area that the local Mall hasn't put up decorations this year so they don't get sued.

Over Halloween some of the workers on the Toll Road put up decorations in their booths. Christian Groups complained about this because it is a Pagan Holiday. Because of this and the constant complaints the company in control of the Toll Takers has decreed that no Holiday decorations will be put up this year. (Of course the same groups that complained about the Halloween decorations are now complaining about this.)

Cat

 

[Remec]

Indeed.

It's gotten so bad in my area that the local Mall hasn't put up decorations this year so they don't get sued.

Over Halloween some of the workers on the Toll Road put up decorations in their booths. Christian Groups complained about this because it is a Pagan Holiday. Because of this and the constant complaints the company in control of the Toll Takers has decreed that no Holiday decorations will be put up this year. (Of course the same groups that complained about the Halloween decorations are now complaining about this.)

Cat

Heh...what's ironic to me is that Halloween--by that name, not Samhain, mind you--is a Christian holiday. I think more companies/businesses/ occupations dealing with consumer/customer service that are in the hands of the private sector should stand up for themselves and their religious observations and say--politely, through their PR depts, of course--something along the lines of "Hey, these are symbols of my religion. You want to see something else? Feel free to set up your own displays around your own property."

 

[JustaSCOUNDREL]

I was going to say something snarky but, I just cant. So let me echo boxlicker:

Peace on earth and good will to man.

A wonderful Holiday to you and yours Cat.

 

[cloudy]

Indeed.

It's gotten so bad in my area that the local Mall hasn't put up decorations this year so they don't get sued.

Over Halloween some of the workers on the Toll Road put up decorations in their booths. Christian Groups complained about this because it is a Pagan Holiday. Because of this and the constant complaints the company in control of the Toll Takers has decreed that no Holiday decorations will be put up this year. (Of course the same groups that complained about the Halloween decorations are now complaining about this.)

Cat

What's REALLY funny is that the day that Christians celebrate as the birthdate of Christ isn't even close to what most bible historians figure was his birthday (most dates I've heard are around April), and even worse, December 25 was celebrated centuries before Christ was even a twinkle in his daddy's eye - it's the birthdate of Mithras.



Just tell the assholes that the 25th is a PAGAN holiday, deal with it.

 

[TE999]

The only reason these assholes continue complaining is the fact that people give in to them like those who run cities and malls. If they were told to fuck off and quit bothering folks a lot of this nonsense would stop. There's so damn much cowardice when it comes to offending peoples sensibilities that it makes me barf.

 

[Boxlicker101]

The only reason these assholes continue complaining is the fact that people give in to them like those who run cities and malls. If they were told to fuck off and quit bothering folks a lot of this nonsense would stop. There's so damn much cowardice when it comes to offending peoples sensibilities that it makes me barf.

If it's a government building, the screwballs can and have gone to court to get the Christmas decorations removed. If it's private property, such as a mall or some other building, the owners can do what they want.

 

[TE999]

If it's a government building, the screwballs can and have gone to court to get the Christmas decorations removed. If it's private property, such as a mall or some other building, the owners can do what they want.

Precisely my point. These morons don't realize their tax dollars are paying for lawyers to defend against frivolous lawsuits they bring against a government. I fail to understand why any Christmas display would offend anyone except a few cranks who have noting better to do than run around being offended by everything.

If a mall or a store caves in then they're just gutless and stupid. Most people enjoy the displays and to hell with the cranks. There seems to be a shortage of backbones in this country.

 

[Stella_Omega]

If it's a government building, the screwballs can and have gone to court to get the Christmas decorations removed. If it's private property, such as a mall or some other building, the owners can do what they want.

And what mall owners want, more than anything else, is to maximize profits. That means you don't insult any appreciable demographic by appearing to prefer Xtianity over Judaism. A mall owner relies on the rents of the various stores-- not all of whom may be Christians-- and to do that he has to attract every possible wallet-- and thus he considers proseltyzing his religion a luxury, not a necessity.

That's not cowardice, as TE999's thinks; it's Capitalism.

 

[3113]

Precisely my point. These morons don't realize their tax dollars are paying for lawyers to defend against frivolous lawsuits they bring against a government. I fail to understand why any Christmas display would offend anyone except a few cranks who have noting better to do than run around being offended by everything.

Proselytizing doesn't offend you? Allow me to send a few Jehovah's witnesses your way.

Morons like you don't seem to realize that YOUR tax dollars go to public displays at Christmas time. So, it only makes sense to not try and put up displays that suggest to some tax payers that their religion is right and other tax payer's religion is wrong. Which is why it's wise for cities to keep to lights, presents and holiday trees, no favoring any one religion over another. It's my park (I pay for that), my streets (I pay for them) and I want to enjoy whatever pretty displays you put up, not feel like my city is using my tax dollars to try and convert me to a particular religion.

If the place is private--be it a mall, house, store, they can do what they like. It's their money that bought the decorations and their property that they are decorating. But if they are a mall or store, and they want my business, then they probably don't want to make me feel like only members of a certain religion are welcome. That would be stupid of them.

Why would you be mad at any place for being smart and money-savvy rather than stupid?

 

[oggbashan]

Our small town has Christmas lights.

Oh no it doesn't. It has seasonal lights.

Oh yes it does. One of the signs says Happy Christmas.

Oh no it doesn't. It says Season's Greetings (with the apostrophe).

Oh no it doesn't. It was destroyed in a gale last Christmas.

So it was - but so was Happy Christmas.

Never mind. We've got Christmas greetings AND nativity scenes in our shops because of the Chamber of Commerce Christmas window competition. The likely winners with great Nativity displays, just like last year, are shops owned and run by Muslims or Buddhists. They recognise the attention given to the winning shops.

And what do the shops owned by Christians base their displays on?

Oh shit! Santa Claus.

Og

 

[English Lady]

We have Christmas lights and nativity scenes around our local area, we also have diwali (Apologies if I've spelt that wring!) lights and 'Happy Eid' signs that go up at the appropriate time. It's good that we all celebrate in our own ways. Celebrations are good and we should all just let each other have some fun, what harm does it do, really?

There's a great article in the Christmas Radio Times by the Archbishop of Canterbury and he talks about just this issue and how he got to bless a giant Christmas cake (or maybe pudding) in India one time.

I wish we'd encourage diversity more, sometimes, instead of holding it back, you know?

 

[TE999]

Proselytizing doesn't offend you? Allow me to send a few Jehovah's witnesses your way.

Morons like you don't seem to realize that YOUR tax dollars go to public displays at Christmas time. So, it only makes sense to not try and put up displays that suggest to some tax payers that their religion is right and other tax payer's religion is wrong. Which is why it's wise for cities to keep to lights, presents and holiday trees, no favoring any one religion over another. It's my park (I pay for that), my streets (I pay for them) and I want to enjoy whatever pretty displays you put up, not feel like my city is using my tax dollars to try and convert me to a particular religion.

If the place is private--be it a mall, house, store, they can do what they like. It's their money that bought the decorations and their property that they are decorating. But if they are a mall or store, and they want my business, then they probably don't want to make me feel like only members of a certain religion are welcome. That would be stupid of them.

Why would you be mad at any place for being smart and money-savvy rather than stupid?

Morons like you are in the minority...most people don't give a damn about all this nonsense, they just want to enjoy the holidays, however they're celebrated...and when the JW's ring the doorbell don't answer it.

 

[JackLuis]

Morons like you are in the minority...most people don't give a damn about all this nonsense, they just want to enjoy the holidays, however they're celebrated...and when the JW's ring the doorbell don't answer it.

No invite them in and make some coffee and convince them, for their immortal soul is in danger.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

I believe SeaCat lives on private property (but perhaps I'm wrong). So I guess that what happens on public property doesn't really need be discussed concerning his discontented neighbors.

Not that I mean to distract anyone from calling anyone else a moron...

Q_C

 

[Stella_Omega]

Cat, you'll let us know when the "Jewish Delegation" shows up, won't you?

 

[TE999]

No invite them in and make some coffee and convince them, for their immortal soul is in danger.

Better still, invite them in and tell them you're one of Satan's minions and the coffee they just drank is a potion that will force them to curse the Almighty and offer their souls to be damned for eternity.

If they wet themselves on your sofa, demand they clean it up.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

We wont be happy till we're like the Balkans.

But religious animosity was worse in the 1800s. Everyone persecuted Mormons, and the Methodists-Baptists-Presbyterians made war on each other across the Upper South and Mid West. But Christmas wasnt generally celebrated until around 1900.

 

[sr71plt]

But Christmas wasnt generally celebrated until around 1900.

Where did you get that notion? Christmas has "generally" been celebrated in the current time slot by Christians since Pope Julious I moved it there in the fourth century A.D.

 

[baphemetis]

Way to totally dis Kwanzaa, hater.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Way to totally dis Kwanzaa, hater.

You are the first person to mention Kwanzaa on this thread, and this was the first specific mention I can remember of it this holiday season. If you had wanted, you could have written a story or essay about Kwanzaa and entered it in the Winter Hiliday Contest. There have been such entries in the past.

 

[SeaCat]

Well this evening I get home and the lights are sparkling as they are supposed to be.

I step out of my car and take a look at the lights for a bit before heading inside. The Jewish delegation were waiting for me. The head of this small group asks me where the Jewish Display is. My reply to him is as friendly as it was to the Christian. I quietly tell him he can display whatever he want's on his lot and I will defend that, but I will be damned if he will tell me what to display on my lot. He doesn't like this. (Especialy as he hasn't put up any display on his lot.)

I love the holidays. Peace on earth indeed, as long as you believe in what others believe in.

Cat

 

[SeaCat]

Way to totally dis Kwanzaa, hater.

As the starter of the thread I wold be interested in hearing who this comment is aimed at.

Cat

 

[baphemetis]

As the starter of the thread I wold be interested in hearing who this comment is aimed at.

Cat

It was jokingly aimed you. BTW, I'll be stopping by at Ramadan to inspect your lot. I'd better see something awesomely Islamic.