Yeah, I think Christians might not be a majority here, depending on how you define Christians. But that’s a minor point, since I’m conceding that the problem that is the numbers of Christians are so large, whether they’re a majority or just a plurality, they feel perfectly justified in practicing their religion in any old secular setting. As far I’m concerned, they have the right to practice their religion and belief whatever they choose, but NOT to impose their religious beliefs in private and explicitly secular settings.
If I were to carry on, and file a complaint against my boss for having a Christian-themed party in a university that explicitly stresses its tolerance and support for people of a wide variety of backgrounds, I could probably get some admonishments handed out, I think I could cause a memo to be circulated in early December reminding people not to celebrate religious holidays on campus, and I could probably stir up a whole pot of resentment and ill-will in my college, at least, as a result.
But I don’t do that, because these people aren’t doing it out of an evil desire to oppress, or to prevent non-Christians from holding their belief systems, or to marginalize anyone not a vocal member of theRuling Majority of Christian Right-thinkers, or anything like that. They’re just harmless and thoughtless people looking to get an hour or so off work, and some free food and drink.
I agree–I’m almost certainly not going to change the way you celebrate Christmas (does your chest hurt when you thump it that hard?), mainly because this struggle is too tedious for me, and I’ve got better things to do with my limited energies… But I hope someone with more energy and determination does file a complaint somewhere, and follows it through, and office parties slowly lose their religious atmosphere eventually. You’ll still be free to have your glurgefests, of course, just out of my office, on your own time and on your own dime. I’m sure you have no problem with that. Or do you think I should have to pay for your religious celebrations, too?
I don’t mind Christmas music, or Christmas parties, but what the OP is talking about sounds like extremely pushy people. Pushiness is no more fun when it’s a party than when it’s a streetcorner. In fact, it’s worse at a work function where you can’t simply say, “Please leave me alone now” much of the time.
This board doesn’t seem able to see that pushiness in the cause of something inherently benign or neutral is still pushiness.
I’d probably enjoy the party, but that’s irrelevant since I’m not invited. That some of us could go and have a good or okay time is completely immaterial. We’re not all the same.
That’s part of what makes it sad. I think if I tried explaining what’s wrong about their throwing a Christmas party in a place that has several Jewish employees and at least one hard-core atheist, plus an odd Hindu or Moslem, to them, I think they (like many of the posters in this thread) wouldn’t comprehend my point. “But everybody’s welcome to join in, PRR,” they’d tell me. “You don’t know the words? I’ll teach you! You’ll have fun! Cheer up! Get with the program! Christianity is neat! You need to lighten up! It’s not all about you! Come on, we’ll help you” until I feel like banging my skull against the closest wall.
I stand corrected. I *did *know that Stephen Stills recorded it first (though I omitted that in my post), but I had completely forgotten that 4 Way Street was recorded live. How embarrassing seeing as how I practically lived on that CD (and Decades) in my 20s. The one we hear most on the radio is, of course, the studio recorded Stills solo release with David, Graham and possibly Cass Elliot and Rita Coolidge (who also sang backup vocals on that album) pulling down the chorus. Although, I have heard DJs repeatedly make the same mistake I have done, so I’ll blame them.
I did go back to my 4 Way Street album to listen to the track, just to confirm. So, for that, I thank you.
At least we’re left in no doubt that the war on Christmas does exist, and Butthurt (eh, he said not to call him “Dude”) for one will not be satisfied until the last mention of anything vaguely Christian-themed is eradicated from anything vaguely workplace-connected, and the ignorance-perpetuating Christmas rites are forced behind closed doors. He’d see to it personally if he could only be bothered, despite understanding perfectly well that there is no intention whatever to offend anyone.
Do you have a business partner who died seven years ago tonight, prr? :dubious:
Maybe?! You are just out of your fucking mind. Your problem is that you have no spine and are so desperate to not stand out that you will quietly participate in human mutilation to avoid making a scene. What next? Will you let yourself be raped in a bar’s restroom to avoid ruining your friend’s bachelorette?
