Our government is offending a religion in order to appear unoffensive to other religions. how does that work?

Question

In my office we have been forbidden from decorating our own desks at christmas this year, and would face disciplinary action for displaying anything like a nativity scene because we might offend other religons.
Pardon me, but isn't banning christian celebrations offensive too?
Can nobody else see this?

Answer 1

It seems a little cold, but at the same time I understand how companies are put in a difficult position and they have to protect themselves. I don't think it prevents someone from celebrating a holiday, they just have to do it on their own time. It is unfortunate we have so many overly sensative people in the world today who just can't respect other peoples beliefs. I try and respect theirs and not judge and hope for the same in return.

Answer 2

Um.

No, it isn't offensive to ask that no one display religious things in th workplace. As long as it's not just one group, it's fine, and I bet that no one else is supposed to do it either. Granted, other people displaying their own beliefs should not be considered offensive, but you have to understand: Christians have a bad reputation as pushy jerks. The amount of proselytizing that Christians (as a whole, not individually-- I know that most Christians are perfectly nice, but the bad ones get the attention) do, the amount of lies and hate spread by Christians, is so bad that some people have come to distrust any Christian thing that they see.

Answer 3

I had to deal with this at a place I worked. My desk was decorated with some quotes and I kept an image of Ganesh on my desk with a small plate (for offerings for a short puja in the morning before I started my shift). And while people were allowed to decorate their desks with "inspirational quotes" and images of Jesus...when it came time for Christmas people were told NOT to decorate their desks with anything religiously affiliated with the religion (or with Chanukkah or Kwanzaa). So I put up a sign that said "Happy Pancha Ganapati & Happy Yeshu Jayanti" (Yeshu Jayanti is what some Hindu sects call Jesus's birthday...the Hindu sects that celebrate it). I was expecting it to create a problem, but a las it appeared not to. They set up a large tree which most people there called "The Angel Tree" because all the ornaments on it were angels with needy kids names on it and what they wanted for Xmas (and thus employees could take an ornament and go buy an item, rap it, and then place it under the tree and when the needy kids came they'd open their respective presents). Anyways the management started saying that we couldn't call it a Christmas Tree or even "Angel Tree" (and just how many religions have flying people with halos and harps and trumpets!!!?!) and that we had to call it a "Holiday Tree". With my sign having gone unnoticed and the fact that it had gotten so far that we now had to call a tree a Holiday Tree (which I could see calling it a Yule tree as it does stem from Pagan traditions, but it is a Christmas tree not a Pancha Ganapati tree or a Kwanzaa tree, etc). So I got with some of my co-workers and they began to put up some religious decorations, too (some Pagan some Christian). Well those definately got noticed by management and they got a memo. Each of my co-workers gave me the memo and I wrote on it "As a Hindu I find it offensive that you try to equate the "holiday tree" and that you think that I will be offended because people choose to celebrate this holiday. To think that I am less offended by Santa Claus, Elves, Reindeer, Wreaths, and other decorations is to be greatly mistaken, but I am more offended by the fact that you would try to appease me by stopping my fellow co-workers from enjoying their holiday." A Muslim that worked there also signed the memos with me and then we gave them to our supervisor who gave them to management. Basically it was effectively overturned and people were allowed to decorate their own desks with whatever holiday decorations they wanted (to which some did take this in an odd way and decorated for Halloween or July 4th...well it said any holiday, and if you knew these folks and their personality you'd see why they did it).

As I always tell my Christian and Jewish friends during all their holidays that get mentioned by everyone I'm around: you are not offending me. What offends me is when you push your religion on me by trying to convert me and belittling my religion. How you decorate during whatever holiday is your own business. So long as I can keep Ganesh on my desk, then by all means feel free to put up a pic of Jesus or some quotes from the Koran or a menorah, or whatever you like. I have friends from so many different religions that it has become second nature for me to know when they are celebrating a holiday and thankfully they're good enough friends that they remember the holidays I celebrate. I mean you have to pay for the decorations with your own money and if you can buy a picture of your family and place it on your desk I don't see how this is a problem. And so long as the Christians are respectful to other people who are of other religions, then I see no problem (and all my Christian co-workers have always been very respectful...in fact they're always asking questions about my religion just to try to dispell myths and rumors and misinformation). Wish me a Merry Christmas and I'll wish you a Happy Yeshu Jayanti & Pancha Ganapati. So long as we understand that we're wishing each other the happiest and best holiday (whatever holiday it is) then that's all that matters. :) Although oddly I have noticed that a lot of people avoid saying "Merry Christmas & Happy New Year" and often shorten THAT to "Happy Holidays" and if you inquire what holidays they mean they'll say "Christmas and New Year". hehe :)

So just get together some of the folks in your office who aren't Christians and ask them how they feel about everyone decorating their desk however they want. I can't imagine they'd be bothered by it if they get to decorate their desk anyway they want, too. :)

Answer 4

You're just so used to being able to display your religious symbols that now that the government is trying not to play favorites you're upset that you're not getting your way anymore.

So let me pose this one for you - would you complain if one of your coworkers put a pentagram or a Goddess statue on their desk, or decorated for Yule? Because one of my coworkers has a big old picture of Jesus hanging in his office and I don't say anything because it's HIS office, but I can guarantee you that if I hung a tapestry of a pentagram or the Goddess in MY office he'd be down to HR in two seconds.

Answer 5

Well, no.

The only complaint you'd really have is if other religious celebrations were acknowledged at work.

Being even-handed isn't discrimination or oppression.

I know that it's difficult to adjust to this - for years and years Christians have had more leeway than people of other religions in terms of public religious expression. And it cannot be easy to give that up in order to have a more equitable society.

But it *is* the right thing to do.

You either let everyone have religious stuff on their desks or no one at all; and if your choice is to let everyone have religious stuff on their desks, then you also have an moral obligation to prevent abuse or mockery of the people in minority religions.

And, really....if Jesus is in your heart, doe He have to also be on your desk?

Answer 6

if i was in the cubicle beside you, or if i was your boss and you had to come to my office.

how would you feel to see effigies of my Pagan gods. symbols of my worship and writeings condemning you and your religion as murders and savages. even if the writings were in closed books but you knew what was in there.

how would you feel if the entire office began chanting ancient gaelic songs and you were the only one that did not know what was going on. how would you feel if an athiest beside you hung a sign that said " WHAT SEASON, GOD IS FAKE " or "GET OFF THE CROSS WE NEED THE FIREWOOD"

maybe the office is a place to work and not to push your religion.

Answer 7

Welcome to the United Secular States of Removed Religion (U.S.S.R.R.) where anything resembling religion is not allowed on govt property.

Where is that in the constitution? Not establishing religion? That means the govt cannot institute religion, force it, or legislate it. Not that a poor guy cant put a Jesus figure on his desk. The govt is becoming increasingly hostile toward religion in the name of PC.

Answer 8

I agree. This political correctness has gotten out of hand. Those same companies that sponsor that crap deserve to be boycotted. That is why I do not shop at Target or Walmart anymore. I will never buy a Ford as long as I live.

Answer 9

listen the ongoing attacks on Christianity will get more severe as time goes on, it is a sign of the times and anti-Christian forces will appear to prosper but the Good News is that we know the ending,and those who persevere will see Jesus.

Answer 10

Other than the name, Christmas has nothing to do with "christ". The workplace is no place for religious expression.