A Muslim colleague - who I do not know at all - sent out a global email wishing everyone a Happy Eid. This colleague is supposed to be our "diversity advisor" but this didn't stop him imposing religious greetings on little old me - who doesn't believe in any religious claptrap, nor in ghosts, magic, or the tooth fairy.
I propose to POLITELY tell him to keep desist from sending me any religious salutations (of any kind).
Do you think this is reasonable? Should I desist? Am I likely to find a dead horse on my desk, or something?
2007-10-14 07:27:55 · 24 answers · asked by Frisky 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Wel I was going to mention Christmas cards but deleted it as it didn't seem relevant. No I don't send them - I think they are crap. In fact I don't even care to receive them from people who are just colleagues. I'd rather they saved their pennies and gave them to charity or spent them on their children.
Am I a misery guts? There-in lies the question. I don't send out emails wishing people happy religion free lives - so I object to people I DON'T EVEN KNOW sending me their blessings.
2007-10-14 07:37:57 · update #1
Incidentally there was a woman who sent out a long relious greeting years ago - on a universal email - and she got bollocked by the dept. I also thought that email was crap and did not wish to receive it.
2007-10-14 07:40:35 · update #2
So everyone here thinks it's OK for religion to be foisted on someone just because they work in the same dept - irrespective of the wishes of the individual on the receiving end? You can't use the office system to sell your car - so what can you use it to sell religion? It wasn't just a greeting - it was a prayer for my spirit. I don't have one.
2007-10-14 07:44:43 · update #3
Sorry about the spelllling mistakes!
2007-10-14 07:46:27 · update #4
But I am NOT a Christian or anything else - and I do not wish to have religion thrust into my face at work.
2007-10-14 07:53:42 · update #5
Yes Mr Scouse - but you are answering from a position of "I wish them happy Christmas, they wish me happy whatever..."
I don't wish anyone happy anything. I don't want religion put anywhere near me. So why is it acceptable for someone to do it? I'm not singling any religion out - I despise them all equally.
2007-10-15 09:03:46 · update #6
Thank you Cyrus. I shall send you a celebratory Yam Tart on friday week.
2007-10-15 10:16:39 · update #7
I felt the same as you for many years but have since matured and come to the conclusion that it is far more humane to tolerate others than to impose my own beliefs on others, notwithstandingthat they often impose their own beliefs on me, not least in the manner you state. Like you I find the Christmas debacle rediculous, the eid rush of emails just as silly and so on, but then again I understand peoples desire to affiliate themselves with some belief or group and to advertise their membership of that group and when the wishes that are being sent are wishes of wellbeing and good then I see no harm in receiving them as I personally wish others no ill. On that note Frisky, I wish you peace and wellbeing...
2007-10-15 02:23:15 · answer #1 · answered by Cyrus M 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Is it worth objecting? In the same way, if someone gives me a crappy Christmas card, or wishes me happy Christmas even though I LOATHE Christmas, it's not really worth the trouble of suggesting that they keep their Christmas to themselves........
I would just let it pass. It's a bit of an empty gesture, at a similar level of annoyingness to bored assistants saying "have a nice day", not worth rising to the bait. I don't see it as religion being foisted on anyone, it's not like being ordered to go to church or to pray (been there).
BTW, we got an Eid card through the door, thought it was nice until I saw it was from "your local New Labour team".
2007-10-14 09:04:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Is it possible that someone who is supposed to be a young intellectual can ask such an ignorant question. The fact is all religions are based on the theory of morality, respect and love. There are always individuals who exploit this but thats not the point now. Just because you are not religious it does not mean you should oppose his wishes. They come from his heart. For Xmas you should wish your Christian colleagues all the best.
2007-10-14 07:59:16 · answer #3 · answered by codex vita 1 · 5⤊ 1⤋
TOTALLY my opinion. I am a christian, and in the interest of just being a decent, amiable person I accept any and all greetings in the spirit in which they were delivered-to wish my happiness and joy. I don't care if it came from a Jew, Muslim, Hindu or a fellow Christian-if someone is offering me sincerely felt good wishes, then I will be a graceful fellow human and accept them with good spirit-same thing I would do if I were an atheist, being respectful and appreciate that someone cares enough that despite differences, they wish me happiness.
2007-10-14 07:51:07 · answer #4 · answered by Sunny And '74 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
OH please. Stop snuffing out the religious in everything. Keep your opinions to yourself. Who cares if you don't believe in or agree with Eid. It is a very important Muslim celebration, like Christmas for Christians. You like to celebrate holidays?
He's the DIVERSITY DIRECTOR for crying out loud. What, he's supposed to squash all ethnic, cultural and religious references so everybody can appear the same now? That is ludicrous.
If you don't want your department to have a diversity director, take it up with Human Resources. Maybe you can get a man fired for wishing you a happy Eid. Won't that give him a happy holiday memory. Or tell him to shut up. That's pleasant.
2007-10-14 07:38:02 · answer #5 · answered by Aubrey C 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
No he has not imposed anything on you, he has wished you well. What more can you ask for?
I wish Muslims a happy Christmas as I do to Hindu's all of them gracefully accept my wishes of goodwill. In the same way as a Christian I will thank them if they offer prayers for me Why can't you?
2007-10-15 08:39:25 · answer #6 · answered by Scouse 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm a white British person and come into contact with the Islamic Faith on a daily basis through my job..... some dress differently than us.... some are trendy.... try to get in touch with this person and discuss your differences. The biggest barrier is ignorance.... do you think threatened and that he is trying to 'convert' you?. If you aren't completely Christain (i.e Humanist etc) what is offending you?... if you are Christain.... send him a lovely Christmas card with pleasant greetings on it. If you are 'offended' .... see you management or union for advice
2007-10-14 07:47:13 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
He's wishing you happiness, not asking you to convert! Do you complain to everyone who sends you a Christmas card? Or do you think that this is different because you are a part of that culture? I suspect that you don't stop to think whether the senders of your cards know that for a fact...
2007-10-14 07:37:15 · answer #8 · answered by Chrissie F 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
You could say Adios Amigos, but the word bless doesn't always mean God bless you can say bless you today (night, evening etc...) without it being a religious connotation. Just as parents can give their blessing on a marriage and it is not a religious connotation, (at least in my opinion).
2016-05-22 11:52:54 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is free to do so, it's not like it's a death threat or anything like that. Send him a card saying "Happy Tuesday" or something, or maybe "Please accept my best wishes in a non-religious way, this should not be taken as affirmation of my belief in the existence of any deity/s but accepts your right to believe in any supernatural being you see fit". Either that or join the cult of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and fight fire with pasta.
2007-10-14 07:41:31 · answer #10 · answered by Darren R 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋