I can't understand what people are afraid of. I am agnostic but I have no problem at all saying MERRY CHRISTMAS to my Christian friends nor would I ever be offended when it is said to me.
As an unreligious person, I look at Christmas as a time to celebrate your family and loved ones through the ritual of gift giving and the other trappings of Christmas like trees, Santa and yes, even Jesus. (After all, it is he that the Holiday is based on, so yes, there are angels, and representations of him on our tree.) Many may see that as a contradiction, a cop out but to me it's simply an acknowledgement of the historical origins of the day. Because I have no problem with Christian based morals, it's just the supernatural side that I have trouble with.
Those who see Christmas as a religious event are more than welcome to do so.
I suspect that the athiests who raise a cry at the sight of a Nativity scene are not the athiests they think they are or why would this have any effect on them... Guilt, perhaps?
I look at such things simply as people celebrating their religion as is their absolute right in this country. Since this country is (still) primarily Christian, it is only right that such celebrations are on public display. This does not prevent those of alternate religions from displaying celebration of their own nor does it interfere with non-believers celebrating or not. I don't get it. Again, what, exactly are they afraid of?
Merry Christmas from your friendly neighborhood agnostic!
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Thursday, December 18, 2003
I am completely fascinated with something I have recently discovered - the Iraqi Bloggers.
Here is a link to some to get started, it has links to most of the other good ones: http://iraqataglance.blogspot.com/ (beware of trolls when reading the comments)
These people are just incredible. Every American owes it to themselves to read them. This is something unprecedented in history. Can you imagine, for example, if ordinary people in Nazi Germany had been able to communicate their true thoughts to the entire world? How would that have effected WWII?
The bravery and wisdom of these Iraqis is nearly beyond comprehension to someone like me, who has led a sheltered life in the US. I hope that one day, all of their dreams for a better life become reality.
Yes, I realize that we have no way of knowing if these bloggers are real Iraqis or that they are really writing from Iraq. But I think that any reasonably intelligent person can read their words and see the ring of truth.
I strongly urge you to go check it out, no matter how you feel about the war or what your politics are.
***On a personal note, I have been feeling exceptionally wordy lately so perhaps this blog will start getting more attention from me. I want to figure out how to allow comments on my entries just in case anyone is actually reading this can leave comments or insults or whatever.
The late Dr. Atkins is my new hero. I started his diet just 6 weeks ago and have lost nearly 30 lbs so far. I am so tired of being a fat ass. I still have a long way to go (needed to lose at least 70 lbs or more) but I feel so good and so positive, for once in my life that I think I will actually succeed. I feel like a new person. Really.
Here is a link to some to get started, it has links to most of the other good ones: http://iraqataglance.blogspot.com/ (beware of trolls when reading the comments)
These people are just incredible. Every American owes it to themselves to read them. This is something unprecedented in history. Can you imagine, for example, if ordinary people in Nazi Germany had been able to communicate their true thoughts to the entire world? How would that have effected WWII?
The bravery and wisdom of these Iraqis is nearly beyond comprehension to someone like me, who has led a sheltered life in the US. I hope that one day, all of their dreams for a better life become reality.
Yes, I realize that we have no way of knowing if these bloggers are real Iraqis or that they are really writing from Iraq. But I think that any reasonably intelligent person can read their words and see the ring of truth.
I strongly urge you to go check it out, no matter how you feel about the war or what your politics are.
***On a personal note, I have been feeling exceptionally wordy lately so perhaps this blog will start getting more attention from me. I want to figure out how to allow comments on my entries just in case anyone is actually reading this can leave comments or insults or whatever.
The late Dr. Atkins is my new hero. I started his diet just 6 weeks ago and have lost nearly 30 lbs so far. I am so tired of being a fat ass. I still have a long way to go (needed to lose at least 70 lbs or more) but I feel so good and so positive, for once in my life that I think I will actually succeed. I feel like a new person. Really.
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Frodo Baggins: I can't do this Sam.
Sam Gamgee: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.
Frodo: What are we holding on to Sam?
Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.
****
Sam Gamgee: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.
Frodo: What are we holding on to Sam?
Sam: That there's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for.
****
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
