Sorry fans, had to put Stupid people part 3 on hold for a bit...

Ok, I was recently reading an article in the paper in which a guy donated a friggin huge tree to Boston and he got angry after he found out they were gonna call it a "Holiday Tree" instead of a "Christmas Tree". He wanted to take the tree back. He got all offended and was like "They don't call a menorah a candle holder, why can't they call a christmas tree what it is."

 

I got very irate when I read this article. I mean of all the bigoted, closed-minded, and right-wing religious things to say. So his tree was going to be enjoyed by more than just the Christians, way to go grinch. I seriously don't understand why a lot of people are getting all angry when other people try to be more inclusive in their holiday festivities. I mean some people tried to boycott Wal Mart because their employees were told to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." I mean WTF? Don't act like Muslims or Jews never shop there, or even work there for that matter. If I worked there I wouldn't say Merry Christmas, because I'm not comfortable saying it as I'm not Christian and I know that some of their shoppers aren't either. I would say Happy Holidays instead, even if I weren't asked to. They're trying to extend some peace and good will to all of their fellow man, regardless of their religion, and I can't believe they are getting yelled at for it. I actually like those virgin mobile commercials with the "Christmahunukwaanzakuh" or however you spell it. Not for it's commercialization but more for it's message that it's ok to be different, this is a season to wish everybody a happy time, no matter who you are or what you believe. That commercial gave me a warm fuzzy. I usually can't stand commercials, especially virgin ones as they are brainless. I loved the lyrics to the song "It's ok if you're a Muslim, a Christian, or a Jew. It's ok if you're agnositc and you don't know what to do. Happy Christmahanukwanzaakuh to you." I liked it. It said to me: no matter what your beliefs are, I am wishing good fortune to you in the coming winter and year end. What is wrong with that? I don't see a problem with this.

Is it really so wrong to want a big city holiday festival that everyone can enjoy, regardless of religion or personal belief, and then get to go home to do whatever other customs their religion involves in privacy with their family? Personally, I would enjoy that a lot. However, if there are a bunch of bigots out there who are going to try to ruin the inclusiveness of such attempts I'm going to end up doing what I have done every year and stay home. I think that Bart Simpson said it best on an episode of the Simpsons: "Christmas is the time of year when everybody all over the world gets together to worship Jesus Christ."  *shakes head sadly* Maybe some people feel that there are less and less people coming to church and more and more agnostic children of parents who aren't as devout as their grandparents. Maybe they're scared by the increasing numbers of immmigrants and people of other religions in their neighbourhood. Maybe they're scared by this and are trying to hold onto their Christain America. It's denial. The fact is that on a global scale Christianity was always outnumbered. There were always more Muslims and more Hindus on the planet than Christians; not combined, each. The current fastest growing religion on the planet is Islam. My personal religion is small in number, and I'm comfortable with that. Apparently there are those who are not comfortable with being outnumbered in their beliefs, and I'm not just talking about Christians. Everyone at some point in their life will cross paths with someone else who does not share their beliefs. This is not a bad thing, they are not wrong for doing it, there is no reason to hate them. Take a step back, take a deep breath, and look at the human being and see that they have are made of the same molecules, breathe the same air, have people that care about them, will still bleed if they are cut. Wish this person joy in the cold winter season (or warm summer in Australia :-) ) In fact, do this to everyone you cross paths with, whether or not they share the same beliefs as you. Be indiscriminate.

The guy who wanted to take his tree back really should take his tree back, and I'd like to be the one to give it to him, I'd take his "Christmas" tree and shove it right up his ass. Oh and on that subject, I agree with him that they call the tree by it's real name... a "Yule Tree". I wish I could inform the misguided and misinformed man that his beloved Christmas tree was originally called a "Yule Tree" long before Christianity was invented. So, by all means, lets call it by it's Real name. It's true that a menorah is not just a candle holder. It was not created to be merely a candle holder, it's specific shape is basically unique to menorahs. You can't just grab any candle holder and call it a menorah. A tree however is not something that is built. It is a tree. You CAN just grab any evergreen and call it a Christmas tree or a Holiday tree or a Yule tree or whatever you want. There is a difference. The Earth Mother didn't grow that tree with the specific purpose of becoming a Christmas tree.

People are getting all irate and shouting "Put the Christ back in Christmas!" but they aren't understanding that nobody is taking Christ out of Christmas. As long as you keep it in your heart, it isn't going anywhere. If you truly believe and love, nobody can take it away from you. However, trying to be angry at Jewish or African people, or anyone else, because their holiday happens at the same time as yours is stupid and bigoted. Being angry at other people who recognize this and try to be more culturally aware is what makes this world a horrible place. You are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem. You're what's wrong with the world today. An attitude like that is one of the reasons that the rest of the world does not particularly like North Americans. It's a shame that some spoiled brats are ruining the spirit of love and family of the season because everybody isn't celebrating the way they say everyone should. I never went to the local lighting of the Christmas tree because I never felt i could go, not being christian and all... When I hear they would like to call it a Holiday tree so that Christians AND people of other religions can attend and join in the singing and hope and happiness, I like the attempt at togetherness. Society has got a long way to go before people will stop being so intolerant of people who are in any way different, but it's a start. It made me feel better and I bet it made other people feel better too. I know it made some people feel worse, and that's so sad. You have your Christmas, and that is ok. Your neighbour has Chanukkah (sp?), and that's ok too. I have my Yule, and that's ok. We all have the month of December and we all have to learn to share it. I wish we could all share it together.  

It is not my intention to make people angry by my rants, merely to make people think. Hopefully I will help some people to think about taking steps to stop bigotry.

Happy holidays everyone.