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I did not blame Bill O'Reilly for the actions that others took. He does repeat ad nauseam about the "war on Christmas" as an attempt to incite the religious right or those who are not intelligent enough to understand that christians do not own the holidays. Actions taken by any person are theirs to own.
I am very fearful when religions are absolutely exclusive and act on fear and hatred of that which then don't understand.
I think that the greater message is that two "enemies" helped each other out against the violence of these particular christians.
Umm O'reilly's campaign has been against "secularists" or the anti-religious. He has actually defended the rights of jews and Muslims to have holiday symbols put up alongside celebrations of Christmas (In one incident this was denied to a muslim community in a town by the majority Christian population).
Yea except thats what I'm saying. Why is this a big deal. Things like this happen in new york all the time. Where is the proof this fight was racially instigated.
Oh please... don't even try to pretend this isn't racially (religiously/culturally) motivated. Jewish people are told "Merry Christmas" on a regular basis - it's happened at least 20 times for me in the last month - and we don't beat anyone up over it. I wasn't there, so I can't say the Jewish people in question weren't rude, but enough to deserve a beating? Whether or not they did it to make a point, to be friendly, or simply to be a smarta--, I guarantee the reaction would have been different if the roles were reversed.
Forgive me but.... I'm not trying to get into semantics.. but the fact that 10 or so people acted that way is in no way an indication of what the answer is to "How will people respond when you say Happy Chanukah"...
Its not even close..
You are drawing a rather wide conclusion as to the actions of all Christians because of what a few did.
Personally I think what they did (the "Christians") was stupid and I would have no problem if they spent the next few years in jail under the charge of "Being an idiot".
Bet that would teach them to be more merry next time!
Of course I don't think all Christians are like that... I'm just trying to make a point, that we (Jews & other religious minorities) have to worry about backlash and hate, even over a simple holiday greeting. Christians might think they can't say "Merry Christmas" anymore, but I hear it a million times a day, and nobody gets their faces punched in response.
Oh please... don't even try to pretend this isn't racially (religiously/culturally) motivated. Jewish people are told "Merry Christmas" on a regular basis - it's happened at least 20 times for me in the last month - and we don't beat anyone up over it. I wasn't there, so I can't say the Jewish people in question weren't rude, but enough to deserve a beating? Whether or not they did it to make a point, to be friendly, or simply to be a smarta--, I guarantee the reaction would have been different if the roles were reversed.
The reaction would have been different if the roles were reversed?
No, because in order to really reverse the roles you would have to insert atypical psychotic Jews to correspond to the atypical psychotic Christians that were on that train.
Back to the question, though: Why do some religious practitioners (most usually christians) feel that it is ok to beat on people of different beliefs? Why is it ok to attack a minority religion's place of worship? Why, if beliefs are so true, is there so much fear in accepting other belief systems?
Gizmo..what is it bout christians that you hate so much? I am not one btw, but you seem to have alot of anger here...why?
Its not just christians who beat you over the head..its alot of people, even atheists can be just as irriating, all groups of all extremes are this way, so why single out christians?
Of course I don't think all Christians are like that... I'm just trying to make a point, that we (Jews & other religious minorities) have to worry about backlash and hate, even over a simple holiday greeting. Christians might think they can't say "Merry Christmas" anymore, but I hear it a million times a day, and nobody gets their faces punched in response.
and my point is simply that 1 incident.. 1 backlash does not represent the overwhelming majority of Christians or for that matter a miniority of Chrisitans...
Now if there are other incidents I don't know about I'm all ears.. then there is a trend. Until then its an isolated incident..
Current U.S. population is around 300,000,000.. of which Christians make up (conservatively) around 75% of that or around 225,000,000 people.
So.. we had I believe to be 10 "rowdy" people.. who were hateful.
10 / 225,000,000 = a very small number in the grand scheme of things..
Granted, what happened on that subway was clearly wrong. However, Jews and Muslims are treated FAR better here in America than Christians in nations such as: Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, China, or Saudi Arabia.
Yes..Christians do seem to get the short end of it over all the other world religions, they are called intolerable, fantical and etc and most will not speak up for even their own sheep, they herd together like scared kids on a playground, not feeling they have a right to their own belief system, its rather disgusting to watch...
I seem to have a different experience. I have not experienced, seen or heard of any Christians getting any short end of any stick, but rather they are held in high regard in their community and in this country.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Seaharbour
Yes..Christians do seem to get the short end of it over all the other world religions, they are called intolerable, fantical and etc and most will not speak up for even their own sheep, they herd together like scared kids on a playground, not feeling they have a right to their own belief system, its rather disgusting to watch...
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Jewish people are told "Merry Christmas" on a regular basis - it's happened at least 20 times for me in the last month - and we don't beat anyone up over it. I wasn't there, so I can't say the Jewish people in question weren't rude, but enough to deserve a beating? Whether or not they did it to make a point, to be friendly, or simply to be a smarta--, I guarantee the reaction would have been different if the roles were reversed.
