It would seem that firms are being instructed NOT to put up Xmas decorations for fear of OFFENDING muslims. Can we not live and let live. This is after all - a Christian country, well I thought it was, what is wrong with WHEN IN ROME DO AS THE ROMANS DO? I have enjoyed the FESTIVAL OF LIGHT - maybe we should ALL become more flexible and accept and celebrate the differences, of culture and religeons, what do you think?
2006-12-05 10:19:19 · 40 answers · asked by SUPER-GLITCH 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
BT/yahoo : Reports Boss are scared of TINSIL, and over a third or companies are not putting up Christmas decorations for fear of offending Muslim workers or customers. WHY??? Thieir beleif and customs do not offend me???
2006-12-05 10:46:06 · update #1
I think it's very easy to encourage people to become more flexible and accepting, when you're asking them to flex toward YOUR side and accept YOUR beliefs.
Offense is in the eye of the offendee. While I don't see anything wrong with acknowledging Christmas, or calling Christmas decorations what they really are, it's easy for me to say that because my background is Christian.
But this is not a "Christian country." All are welcome and all should be free to express themselves. If you were living in Baghdad, and all around you were reading the Qu'ran, celebrating a Muslim holiday, talking about Islam, etc., would you feel comfortable wearing a Santa hat, or putting up a nativity scene? I think that's what we need to consider...how would you feel if you were the minority?
We can all stand to be a little more flexible...but that goes for both sides, not just "THEM."
2006-12-05 10:29:14 · answer #1 · answered by LisaT 5 · 6⤊ 2⤋
This is coming from a Theravada Buddhist...
I love Christmas, I love everything about it. I love the lights, the trees, the music, the concepts of giving. It is a beautiful festival of charity and love, it is one of my most favorite times of the years. Anybody should be able to put up a nativity scene and decorations, as long as it is not paid for by public taxes, without being hassled. I agree with your quote, WHEN IN ROME DO AS THE ROMANS DO, I would not go to Japan and expect them to hold off the cherry blossom festival just because I did not agree with their views. I would rather try to find the beauty in the occasion. The only thing I do not agree with is the assumption that America is a Christian nation, because the founding fathers made a formal announcement at Tripoli that this was not the case...
2006-12-05 10:40:59 · answer #2 · answered by Shinkirou Hasukage 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have no idea why people make such a big deal out of this. I grew up in a very multicultural area and frankly no one cared. Everybody put up whatever decorations they wanted and the Catholics/Christians usually recieved many compliments on the Christmas decorations.
Now everyone protests and sues over every little thing. It's just a holiday and it hurts no one! Just live and let live. Decorations are beautiful no matter what the holiday is - it makes things special. Where's the harm in some lights?
Ironically, protesting the decorations does cause the resentment that these groups are claiming to want to avoid. Just let people have their holidays. It hurts no one.
2006-12-05 10:34:49 · answer #3 · answered by slipstreamer 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Honestly babe, that's an awful lot of screaming over a holiday. If a 'firm' is instructed to do or not do something it's management's call (maybe there's some shrill PC a-hole behind it, maybe it's a muslim, I just don't know or care - the 'actor' is management). Since it's management being the scrooge, maybe you can just be extra nice to the people behind the counter and wish 'em a 'Merry Christmas' anyway. Why sweat somebody else's actions if they don't materially affect you? You want flexibility? Amen, we all want that, so quit your complaining and go have a merry Christmas yourself.
2006-12-05 10:42:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm a devout Atheist, yet I find the demise of this country celebrating Christmas as a nation is disgusting.
We still celebrate in our homes, and social culture like going into town for the xmas p1ss-up etc. Yet anything council funded is slowly being nibbled away, as is any identifying mark of original British culture.
In Birmingham where I live, there are sparse decorations up, but they dont mention Christmas, they are generic "winter" icons such as a snowflake...it's pathetic - one set of lights for the whole of Lozells that dont even mention Christmas... and non for Great Barr/Perry Barr, and guess what, yep an Asian MP..? a link? maybe...maybe not..
I can barely contain my rage..
Christmas is not a uniquely Christian tradition, it's also part of British culture - and it has been diluted by white middle-class do-gooders who are obsessed with Political Correctness.
(I wish I could be arsed to become an MP, I would have Christmas decorations everywhere.)
2006-12-05 10:34:11 · answer #5 · answered by Im a killer 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Many Moslems are standing alongside the Christians in supporting Christmas. I know of some Moslems whose house is decorated more than a nearby Christian house.
2006-12-05 17:29:12 · answer #6 · answered by waycyber 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it says
Nearly three-quarters of British firms are banning Christmas decorations in the workplace for fear of being sued, research has shown. A new survey found most bosses are scared to put up festive tinsel and Christmas trees because they might offend non-Christian workers
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/05122006/140/xmas-ban-firms-scared-tinsel.html
lets stick to the facts, it doesn't mention muslims, does it ??
why is it that there always used as an excuse
2006-12-05 10:37:14 · answer #7 · answered by a m 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
That's stupid people NEED to grow up and realize your oppressing other people's rights to celebrate the holidays.Now pushing the whole Jesus birth thing maybe not a good idea.Because their's other religions that don't have that focus like Jews.If they put lights up and a tree and santa stuff should be just fine.
2006-12-05 13:12:51 · answer #8 · answered by butterfly_queen_19_2002 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
decorate your home or business as you choose to.
and leave the politics of big business to the heads of big business.
the problems with what to say at the holiday time of year started long before we had to worry about offending the Muslims.
this is not nor has it ever been a Christian country. the country was founded on Freedom. and that included the freedom to worship in your own way. and now it includes freedom to believe in any religion that you choose to believe in.
i agree when in rome do as the romans do. but we are not in rome. we are in America and the Americans do things differantly from house to house.
2006-12-05 10:30:44 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Well put by 'Nick L'
"I believe this. Luton Council has decided to call the Christmas lights as Luminos. This too has been done to 'not offend the Muslims'
Can you believe it?"
This is Political Correctness gone crazy.
2006-12-05 11:02:25 · answer #10 · answered by kayamat_ka_din 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋