Rant about the Rockefeller Tree 'holiday' thing please read!
Original post by AndreaES
I sincerely think that America is PC crazy!!!! I mean come on, some of these complaints are just friggen ridiculous. Over the last several decades we've morphed into a nation of over sensitive whinners.It's truly appalling, and to be honest if it wasn't so pathetic it would be laughable. But it is pathetic. We act like a bunch of spoiled children running to our parents when the bully at school says something mean. Except it not our parents it's our government we run crying to. We are one of the most privileged and spoon feed societies in the world. We don't have millions upon millions starving to death, dying of simple diseases that could be cured easily with antibiotics, we're not suffering through drought, genocide, ethnic cleansing,a cruel dictatorship no we are not!!! Actually we waste over 7 million pounds of food a year, and we don't die from TB we get inoculated, as of yet we have plenty of water, and we haven't seen genocide close up (at home) for hundreds of years. But do we appreciate any of that, sadly for the most part NO!!!! We fane empathy and act concerned but we still whine and complain like the spoiled children we have become at every little inconvenience or hurtful word. Do we truly comprehend the millions and millions suffering in ways we can't even imagine right at this very moment NO!!!! What are our HUGE concerns, that someone called you black, in stead of African American, or someone at work called you a girl instead of a woman, or that the city officals in NYC have the nerve to put up at tree at CHRISTMAS time and call it a CHRISTMAS TREE!!!!!!!!!! I mean come on people, that's just plain stupidity. We all need a good kick in the a$$ to wake us up. And we have to stop alerting the authorities everytime we have hurt feelings and deal with things ourselves. Our founding fathers would be turning over in their graves if they could see what we've become. A bunch of bumbling idiots. We are Americans dammit, we're strong, independent, intelligent, resourceful,and one of the most power people of the world, so let's start acting like it again. America is a free country, but our freedoms are slipping away, how can we have free speech when the government tells us what we can or can't say??? We are chipping away at our own freedoms,why?? Because someone said something or has something we didn't like?? We are digging our own graves. So what do you say we pull our heads out of our collective a$$es and let them put up the FUC$ING Christmas tree!!!
Thanks for letting me get that out. Feel free to flame me, and I promise I won't tell on you!!!!
Sincerely, Andrea
WeddingsRock
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Re: Rant about the Rockefeller Tree 'holiday' thing please read!
Andrea, What spurred this rant? Usually these things I say to myself on a daily basis! LOL....Did something happen to trigger this rant? I am curious if I missed something in the news or during the tree lighting. TIA!
AndreaES
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Re: Rant about the Rockefeller Tree 'holiday' thing please read!
There was another post that had mentioned that Fox news ran a story about a group of people suing to have the Rockefeller Christmas Tree renamed the 'holiday' tree because they find the word Christmas offensive. It just seems so absurd to me that people will complain about ANYTHING. We are all (for the most part) so blessed and lucky in this country but we take it for granted. It just seems when people don't have to suffer they still need to whine and complain. There are just so many adults and children suffering needlessly in this world and to hear some of the things we choose to make a fuss about just seems to me to be'fluff'. It just really makes me angry when people don't realize how good they have it. Complaining about these trivial things just makes a mockery of all the people who really know what suffering, cruelty, and injustice are. And it makes all of us look petty and small. It's just my opinion but it makes me angry, but above that it really makes me sad. Don't get me wrong I know injustice does exist here, I'm not stupid. But making a federal case about a Christmas tree?? They can't call it a 'holiday' tree because it's not!!! It's a Christmas tree. It's not a symbol of the 'holidays' , it is a Christmas symbol and should remain that way. Like I said as soon as people start to win these lawsuits the sooner we will lose our freedom to be individual's. It just really gets me going on so many different levels and I just needed to vent.
leighdvm
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Re: Rant about the Rockefeller Tree 'holiday' thing please read!
Agree 100% Andrea!!! Just call it a friggin CHRISTMAS tree!!! People truly need to get over themselves. I HATE PC BS!!
12-3Princess
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Re: Rant about the Rockefeller Tree 'holiday' thing please read!
Posted by AndreaES
There was another post that had mentioned that Fox news ran a story about a group of people suing to have the Rockefeller Christmas Tree renamed the 'holiday' tree because they find the word Christmas offensive. It just seems so absurd to me that people will complain about ANYTHING. We are all (for the most part) so blessed and lucky in this country but we take it for granted. It just seems when people don't have to suffer they still need to whine and complain. There are just so many adults and children suffering needlessly in this world and to hear some of the things we choose to make a fuss about just seems to me to be'fluff'. It just really makes me angry when people don't realize how good they have it. Complaining about these trivial things just makes a mockery of all the people who really know what suffering, cruelty, and injustice are. And it makes all of us look petty and small. It's just my opinion but it makes me angry, but above that it really makes me sad. Don't get me wrong I know injustice does exist here, I'm not stupid. But making a federal about a Christmas tree?? They can't call it a 'holiday' tree because it's not!!! It's a Christmas tree. It's not a symbol of the 'holidays' , it is a Christmas symbol and should remain that way. Like I said as soon as people start to win these lawsuits the sooner we will lose our freedom to be individual's. It just really gets me going on so many different levels and I just needed to vent.
i agree 100% with both your posts!!!!
m&m2005
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The way it seems to be going in this country I am waiting for someone to say that we can't have Christmas lights and such on our houses or lawns!!!! I feel sorry for the person to come to DH and I and say 'take those lights and nativity scene down, I am offended by it'!!!
2003OCT10
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BRAVO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AndreaES
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Thanks ladies I'm glad to see I'n not alone!!
LaurenluvsTJ
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Re: Rant about the Rockefeller Tree 'holiday' thing please read!
Well, first I must say, yes, I too am fed up with the PCness of the country. BUT as a person who does not celebrate christmas, I can tell you first hand, that especially as a little kid, you feel really left out at this time of year; everwhere you look, there are CHRISTMAS decorations and everyplace is playing CHRISTMAS music, and everyone wishes you a merry CHRISTMAS. Maybe calling the Rockefeller tree a hoilday tree isn't such a terrible idea. It would make a lot more people feel included and maybe spare the hurt feelings of some children (and adults). Many Jewish families get trees and call it a Chanukah bush so that their children do not feel left out. I have to say, when watching the Thanksgiving parade this year, I thought the same thing I do every year - why do they end the parade with Santa Claus? I do not celebrate Chrismas. Why is Christmas a national holiday, but not any holiday of any other religion? If I want to take a day off to observe a holiday in my religion, I have to take a personal or vacation day. I do think this counry needs to wake up a little and come to the realization that not every citizen is of a Christian faith. I don't know if I strayed away from the original topic here, but I too felt the urge to vent.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!
PrincessRose
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Re: Rant about the Rockefeller Tree 'holiday' thing please read!
Posted by LaurenluvsTJ
Well, first I must say, yes, I too am fed up with the PCness of the country. BUT as a person who does not celebrate christmas, I can tell you first hand, that especially as a little kid, you feel really left out at this time of year; everwhere you look, there are CHRISTMAS decorations and everyplace is playing CHRISTMAS music, and everyone wishes you a merry CHRISTMAS. Maybe calling the Rockefeller tree a hoilday tree isn't such a terrible idea. It would make a lot more people feel included and maybe spare the hurt feelings of some children (and adults). Many Jewish families get trees and call it a Chanukah bush so that their children do not feel left out. I have to say, when watching the Thanksgiving parade this year, I thought the same thing I do every year - why do they end the parade with Santa Claus? I do not celebrate Chrismas. Why is Christmas a national holiday, but not any holiday of any other religion? If I want to take a day off to observe a holiday in my religion, I have to take a personal or vacation day. I do think this counry needs to wake up a little and come to the realization that not every citizen is of a Christian faith. I don't know if I strayed away from the original topic here, but I too felt the urge to vent.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!
Lauren, you're not alone. When I was a little kid, I thought I was a bad child because my teacher told my class that 'Santa Claus comes to the houses of all good little boys and girls.' From there, I managed to infer that all Jewish people were bad, because Santa doesn't go to their houses. What were my parents gonna tell me? That there was no Santa and it was a story that Christian parents told their children? Right, so I could tell all the other 3 year olds that there is no Santa. Brilliant.
Listen, no one here disagrees that the tree in Rockafeller Center is a CHRISTMAS Tree, but it truly can be very difficult this time of year, especially in other parts of the country where you *are* the only non-christian in the class.
MrsP2Be
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Posted by PrincessRose
What were my parents gonna tell me? That there was no Santa and it was a story that Christian parents told their children?
Mine actually did! My mom told me there was no Santa Claus and it was a huge secret and to not ruin it for all my friends. I did not spoil it for anyone and considering I was the only kid in my class to not celebrate Christmas it wasn't easy.
futuremrsd
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100% agreed!!!!!!!!!!! some people in this country make me angry!!!!
SweetCin704
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Bravo Andrea, I agree 110%
PrincessRose
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Posted by MrsP2Be
Posted by PrincessRose
What were my parents gonna tell me? That there was no Santa and it was a story that Christian parents told their children?
Mine actually did! My mom told me there was no Santa Claus and it was a huge secret and to not ruin it for all my friends. I did not spoil it for anyone and considering I was the only kid in my class to not celebrate Christmas it wasn't easy.
Yeah, I was kind of a big mouth, that wasn't going to work with me.
Goldi1021
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Re: Rant about the Rockefeller Tree 'holiday' thing please read!
Posted by PrincessRose
Posted by LaurenluvsTJ
Well, first I must say, yes, I too am fed up with the PCness of the country. BUT as a person who does not celebrate christmas, I can tell you first hand, that especially as a little kid, you feel really left out at this time of year; everwhere you look, there are CHRISTMAS decorations and everyplace is playing CHRISTMAS music, and everyone wishes you a merry CHRISTMAS. Maybe calling the Rockefeller tree a hoilday tree isn't such a terrible idea. It would make a lot more people feel included and maybe spare the hurt feelings of some children (and adults). Many Jewish families get trees and call it a Chanukah bush so that their children do not feel left out. I have to say, when watching the Thanksgiving parade this year, I thought the same thing I do every year - why do they end the parade with Santa Claus? I do not celebrate Chrismas. Why is Christmas a national holiday, but not any holiday of any other religion? If I want to take a day off to observe a holiday in my religion, I have to take a personal or vacation day. I do think this counry needs to wake up a little and come to the realization that not every citizen is of a Christian faith. I don't know if I strayed away from the original topic here, but I too felt the urge to vent.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!
Lauren, you're not alone. When I was a little kid, I thought I was a bad child because my teacher told my class that 'Santa Claus comes to the houses of all good little boys and girls.' From there, I managed to infer that all Jewish people were bad, because Santa doesn't go to their houses. What were my parents gonna tell me? That there was no Santa and it was a story that Christian parents told their children? Right, so I could tell all the other 3 year olds that there is no Santa. Brilliant.
Listen, no one here disagrees that the tree in Rockafeller Center is a CHRISTMAS Tree, but it truly can be very difficult this time of year, especially in other parts of the country where you *are* the only non-christian in the class.
I am sorry but I never grew up feeling this way. My parents simply told me that people believed different things. I never felt left out. I never felt that I was bad for being Jewish and I certainly was not offended by the overwhelming presence of Christmas. I never brought a tree into my home as my family would not allow it. It simply does not represent ANYTHING my family believes in. My father sold Chrsitmas decorations in his store and we could have had a KILLER tree but it never passed the front door. I will NEVER bring a tree in my home or anything that resembles one. FH and I both feel that we have to be strong and supportive of the faith we choose to instill in our children. If they have questions, we will answer them. even if they decide at a later time in their lives that they would prefer another religion, then fine by us as long as their decisions are well thought and researched.
Do I celebrate and share non-Jewish holidays with member of my family or friends who arent Jewish? DEFINITELY. I LOVE learning about other cultures and religions for the sake of knowledge. But rather than make my future children feel bad or placating them for not having Santa Claus, I prefer to surround them with the knowledge of their own faith than bring something into our home that we don't believe in. It can be done. It worked for me.
As I said in another post on this board, the reason why Jewish holidays are not national holidays (or international holidays for that matter) is because despite the presence of Jews in this country, NY State and the city, we comprise less than 1% of all religions in the world. To shut down government offices and big business for that small percentage simply isnt practical. LI and NYC close their schools not for the students but moreso for their teachers.
And again, let this post not mask my opinion that a Christmas tree is a Christmas tree and a menorah is a menorah. Call it what it is and enough already.
diluvchu
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Posted by Goldi1021
I am sorry but I never grew up feeling this way. My parents simply told me that people believed different things. I never felt left out. I never felt that I was bad for being Jewish and I certainly was not offended by the overwhelming presence of Christmas. I never brought a tree into my home as my family would not allow it. It simply does not represent ANYTHING my family believes in. My father sold Chrsitmas decorations in his store and we could have had a KILLER tree but it never passed the front door. I will NEVER bring a tree in my home or anything that resembles one. FH and I both feel that we have to be strong and supportive of the faith we choose to instill in our children. If they have questions, we will answer them. even if they decide at a later time in their lives that they would prefer another religion, then fine by us as long as their decisions are well thought and researched.
Do I celebrate and share non-Jewish holidays with member of my family or friends who arent Jewish? DEFINITELY. I LOVE learning about other cultures and religions for the sake of knowledge. But rather than make my future children feel bad or placating them for not having Santa Claus, I prefer to surround them with the knowledge of their own faith than bring something into our home that we don't believe in. It can be done. It worked for me.
As I said in another post on this board, the reason why Jewish holidays are not national holidays (or international holidays for that matter) is because despite the presence of Jews in this country, NY State and the city, we comprise less than 1% of all religions in the world. To shut down government offices and big business for that small percentage simply isnt practical. LI and NYC close their schools not for the students but moreso for their teachers.
And again, let this post not mask my opinion that a Christmas tree is a Christmas tree and a menorah is a menorah. Call it what it is and enough already.
Can I just say Leslie, that you are one of the most well-spoken people that I have I have heard. You really know how to get your points across and you do it SO well. Every time I read posts about this whole 'Tree Issue' or anything else really, you always seem to have such great input and such a demeanor and I just wanted to share that with you. (Sorry for the rah-rah post, but I just felt I needed to say it.)
Goldi1021
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Thank you. I appreciate it and as much as I do, the post was simply meant to state my opinion. I realize it may pi$$ people off or even offend and for that I am sorry. Everyone does what they have to do. But something inside compelled me to state it. I was not a statement of judgement, rather a statement of how I choose to live (and have already lived) MY life.
diluvchu
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Re: Rant about the Rockefeller Tree 'holiday' thing please read!
I know from reading your posts we don't share the same beliefs (you were brought up in the Jewish faith, I was brought up Catholic). But I was and still am very aware of others beliefs and respect others and will NEVER say one is better than the other. My family consisted of other religions within itself and I learned a lot through that. Yes, we all have grown up differently and no one has the same story to tell, but I guess I was fortunate. I never judge based on religion, sex, gender, race, and sexuality. It's a sad world in which we live where there are more important things to fight over than whether to call a tree a 'Holiday Tree' or a 'Christmas Tree' and all of a sudden that has become the main focus of people's lives. What about the cop killer in NYC or the troops that Bush finally said his is bringing home or Katrina and the aftermath or Long Island Fire Department's which no one raised an eyebrow about. Yet we care about what we call a tree?
kms71705
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Wow - well said!!!
marymoon
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Posted by Anniegrl
I'm just waiting for the day when some idiot protests Halloween, because of it's connection to All Saint's Day, something that us horrible Catholics made up
Actually, Halloween is a pagan holiday.
marymoon
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Re: Rant about the Rockefeller Tree 'holiday' thing please read!
Posted by Goldi1021
Thank you. I appreciate it and as much as I do, the post was simply meant to state my opinion. I realize it may pi$$ people off or even offend and for that I am sorry. Everyone does what they have to do. But something inside compelled me to state it. I was not a statement of judgement, rather a statement of how I choose to live (and have already lived) MY life.
