okay,
I go to a public school.
and we are not allowed to talk about Christmas in school, or play holiday music on the radio because it might 'offend' people who dont celebrate that specific holiday.
BUT,
in our choir, band, orchestra holiday concert we are allowed to play/sing music that has the word Christmas or Christ in it!!!!
doesnt that offend anyone now?
what is wrong???
2007-12-28 15:03:32 · 9 answers · asked by ShE_goes_krayzee1334 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
actually it does offend me... i tried to get in to the choir class but my parents told me no because i would have to sing in favor of another religion. I think its really hypocritical for the school system to make stupid rules like that. I didn't care about listening to Christmas songs about Santa and all that sparkly Christmas time stuff but it really does ruin it when you have to praise Christ in singing class even if you don't believe in him.
2007-12-28 15:12:22 · answer #1 · answered by owl queen 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
On the one hand people try very hard to be respectful of other people's religions....especially during this time of year (isn't it odd people don't have the same attitude regarding Halloween, St. Patrick's Day, St. Valentine's Day, or Easter....all technically Christian holidays?)....and yet in the process of being respectful most people seem to be oblivious to who does and does not celebrate during anytime of year...let alone what it is they celebrate!!!
In December 2007:
Christians: Christmas
Jews: Chanukkah
Hindus: Pancha Ganapati Utsava
Buddhists: Bodhi
Zoroastrians: Zarathrustra Diso
Muslims: Eid al-Adha
Pagans: Yule/Saturnalia
Other Secular: Festivus
African-American: Kwanzaa
Yet many of these people, especially in the USA, celebrate Christmas, too. Why? Because it's a cultural thing. They take Christmas and make it their own. I have Hindu friends that call Christmas "Yeshu Jayanti" (literally Yeshua's Birthday). Hindus celebrate the founder of Jainism's birthday, the Buddha's birthday, and so on. So it's really not a surprise. My Muslim friends have no problem celebrating "The birthday of the Prophet Isa (Jesus)". My Pagan friends see all their decorations and symbols throughout the Christmas season and so while they may call it Yule or some other name "officially", when in public they just say "Christmas". The fact is that "Christmas" has become incredibly secular. I have Christian friends who weren't even aware of how "religious" sounding the songs "Oh Holy Night" and "Joy To The World" are....until a nonChristian pointed it out. And for all the "religious" Christmas songs there are thousands of secular ones, too.
And yet it seems that while everyone out there is trying so hard to be so respectful of other religions this time of year, none of the people in the minority religions that the many Christians that claim there is a war on Christmas...well none of us "minority" religious folks are making a big fuss about the whole Christmas season thing. Sure we like to hear "Happy Holidays", but when someone wishes us a "Merry Christmas" we just reply "Merry Christmas to you, too". My Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Pagan, and Jewish friends....even my Atheists friends all have no fuss about being wished a Merry Christmas. But some of my Christian friends do. Hmmm.. So it seems to me that the "war on Christmas" is just some fuss between Christians. From my own understanding from some of the sweetest, nicest people I know who just happen to be Christians they go around wishing everyone a Happy Holiday. Not because they're waging some war on Christmas or even because their trying not to offend anyone....but instead because, as one of them put it "It's just a lot shorter to say than 'Merry Christmas and Happy New Year'".
2007-12-28 15:24:56 · answer #2 · answered by gabriel_zachary 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's odd. It seems to me that having the choir sing Christmas songs would be closer to endorsing religion than the school allowing students to talk about Christmas. Whoever decided that policy got it backwards (in my opinion).
2007-12-28 15:07:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Everyone needs to calm down.
What happened to freedom of speech?
You singing that song and playing that isn't stoping anyone else from playing any Hannukah songs.
Everybody needs to chill out and just accept the diversity.
2007-12-28 15:08:14 · answer #4 · answered by * 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have a right, by law, to talk about whatever you wish to talk about, even Christ and Christmas. The teachers can even talk about it, just not share what they personally believe about it.
2007-12-28 15:13:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The principal of your school is a dope. It is fine to talk about Christmas, have trees, and play carols at school. I did in my classroom.
EDIT
The woman above me said: "You have a right, by law, to talk about whatever you wish to talk about"
Um, no you do not have a right by law to talk about whatever you wish to talk about at school. Think I am wrong, try talking about guns, drugs, or race.
2007-12-28 15:20:07 · answer #6 · answered by atheist 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, in every school that i have ever gone to they make everyone sing christmas songs. my little sister is in the 1st grade and she was singing christmas, hanukah(sp) and eid songs. but when i was little i jsut wouldn't sing the christmas songs, but we onyl had christmas songs though. i usually didn't sing anyway
2007-12-28 15:10:34 · answer #7 · answered by Nadine 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You ARE allowed to talk about christmas at school. Stop acting like you're persecuted. jez
2007-12-28 15:11:09 · answer #8 · answered by Yinzer from Sixburgh 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That really seems strange. Personally I think it should be the other way around.
2007-12-28 15:08:37 · answer #9 · answered by punch 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋