Merry Christmas! vs. Happy Holidays! (elect, security, slavery, women)

[Langlen]

Originally Posted by CamaroGuy

Well than lets just go all the way then. Lets change of the names of cities such as: St Louis, San Francisco, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Sacramento, San Diego, San Luis Obisbo, Santa Barbara, St George, St Augustine, St Petersburg, and Santa Fe.

Naming a city after a religious figure or idea isn't unconstitutional. It's not respecting or enforcing any religion.

Lets have seven work days a week. Lets also have a new calendar with the year 233 starting next year.

I'd have no problems with this.

Lets definately do away with 12 person juries(12 diciples in case you did not know).

Again, does not respect or enforce any religion.

Lets also stop making people swear on bibles in courtrooms too for that matter and for public officials as well.

Again, no problems with this.

No more holidays for anyone too.

As long as the holiday doesn't respect a religion, I have no problem with the government recognizing it.

Lets also make words such as God, Jesus, Moses, Muhammed, Buddah, and Allah, criminal offences.

That would be unconstitutional.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by CamaroGuy

Well some 2 billion people on the planet will feel the joy so be satisfied with that.

Apparently that's not enough for some people... why do you need others to share your joy anyway? One thing I love about the Jewish holidays is their peace, solitude, and yes, even the mourning/fasting aspects. Somehow that seems more holy-day than holiday, which should be the point of a religious celebration. Unfortunately it has become something else in this country, and Christmas is now all about shopping, 50% off at Wal-Mart, wearing silly hats & sweaters, and bullying anyone who doesn't celebrate with you. Real Christmas spirit, huh? If Christmas still looked something like this, I would GLADLY join in the cheer!

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by Langlen

So, no. I will not "get over it", as it is constitutionally WRONG to have ANY religious holiday as a "national holiday".

OK, here is the deal: Your statement above; is constitutionally WRONG - This is your opinion. For the ONLY way to legally make such a statement correct to have a court decision that adjudicated that it was / is Constitutionally wrong.

Has there been such a decision by any court, at any level, in any jurisdiction in the United States of America?

[Langlen]

Originally Posted by Greatday

OK, here is the deal: Your statement above; is constitutionally WRONG - This is your opinion. For the ONLY way to legally make such a statement correct to have a court decision that adjudicated that it was / is Constitutionally wrong.

Has there been such a decision by any court, at any level, in any jurisdiction in the United States of America?

There is no court decision concerning this, and yes, it is my personal opinion and what I say is not in the law. I'm just saying it should be according to the constitution.

[CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

Sounds good to me - the more secular, the better! But seriously, words and names are hardly a valid comparison to making something a federal holiday... oh well, I'll be enjoying my day off, and plan to sleep most of the 25th away.

Again I think you don't realize that its all about numbers. Most people in the US are not going to want to work on that day that's why its a federal holiday. That's not going to change anytime soon either. If Obama does get amnesty though this here country is will be majority catholic by 2050.lol

[Langlen]

Originally Posted by CamaroGuy

Again I think you don't realize that its all about numbers. Most people in the US are not going to want to work on that day that's why its a federal holiday. That's not going to change anytime soon either. If Obama does get amnesty though this here country is will be majority catholic by 2050.lol

Then I think that the individual employers (Including the government) should decide whether or not to let workers off on that day. We shouldn't need a government mandate to decide FOR us whether or not we want that day off.

All in all, if the government wants to declare that holiday nationally recognize, then I'll gladly take holiday pay to work ON said holiday.

[lammius]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

Apparently that's not enough for some people... why do you need others to share your joy anyway? One thing I love about the Jewish holidays is their peace, solitude, and yes, even the mourning/fasting aspects. Somehow that seems more holy-day than holiday, which should be the point of a religious celebration. Unfortunately it has become something else in this country, and Christmas is now all about shopping, 50% off at Wal-Mart, wearing silly hats & sweaters, and bullying anyone who doesn't celebrate with you. Real Christmas spirit, huh? If Christmas still looked something like this, I would GLADLY join in the cheer!

Wow, if Christmas looked like that, I'd be excited about it too! Unfortunately when I think of Christmas, these are the scenes that are conjured:

[jps-teacher]

Originally Posted by CamaroGuy

Well than lets just go all the way then. Lets change of the names of cities such as: St Louis, San Francisco, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Sacramento, San Diego, San Luis Obisbo, Santa Barbara, St George, St Augustine, St Petersburg, and Santa Fe. Lets have seven work days a week. Lets also have a new calendar with the year 233 starting next year.

Lets definately do away with 12 person juries(12 diciples in case you did not know). Lets also stop making people swear on bibles in courtrooms too for that matter and for public officials as well. No more holidays for anyone too. Lets also make words such as God, Jesus, Moses, Muhammed, Buddah, and Allah, criminal offences.

IS EVEYRONE SATISFIED!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, no. You misspelled "everyone," definitely," and "disciples," not to mention Buddha. (We'll skip the debatable spelling of Mohammad.)

And in my state, at least, there is an explicit exemption for Quakers to not have to swear to God at all, let alone on a Bible. (And in many courts, the use of the Bible is no longer in practice - they do swear "so help me God," but no bible is present. I swear I saw one court use a phone book!)

It's a good point on the Juries.

Online Library of Liberty - 22: Trial by Jury: Six or Twelve Jurors? - Government by Judiciary: The Transformation of the Fourteenth Amendment

It seems that while not everybody is pleased with the decision, a jury of 6 has been deemed adequate.

The work week used to be 6 days, with only Sunday off and, as I commented elsewhere, no shopping permitted on Sunday. The latter was a far better example of state-enforced religion - and there is a reason it was overturned in many courts. But with a 5 day work week and many fewer "blue laws" and jobs, it is less a question of 7 day work week and more one of "is there any work for me this week?"

Changing the city names seems like a good idea. We should also change the names of those places that are for the Kings and Queens of England, because those were also major religious figures in the Anglican Church.

While we're at it, Wednesday (Odin's Day) and Thursday (Thor's Day), and others should go, not to mention January (Janus) and March (Mars). February, too, seems in trouble - a purification ritual is at the heart of it. But we can fall back on one of the old names for it - Solmonath (Mud month) or Kale-monath (cabbage). I like Solmonath - it will irritate the folks who think it's for Solomon, when it isn't.

Criminal offense for saying the names?

Nah! That's just silly.

[Greatday]

Originally Posted by Langlen

Then I think that the individual employers (Including the government) should decide whether or not to let workers off on that day. We shouldn't need a government mandate to decide FOR us whether or not we want that day off.

All in all, if the government wants to declare that holiday nationally recognize, then I'll gladly take holiday pay to work ON said holiday.

There are no government MANDATED holidays impacting private employers. It is totally up to each employer if they want to allow for a work holiday.

Likewise, there is no mandate that any employee be paid for the holiday - again - totally optional on the part of the employer

[Langlen]

Originally Posted by Greatday

There are no government MANDATED holidays impacting private employers. It is totally up to each employer if they want to allow for a work holiday.

Likewise, there is no mandate that any employee be paid for the holiday - again - totally optional on the part of the employer

Which was my point. There was no reason TO make it a national holiday when it comes to people not wanting to work on that day, the employers INCLUDING Government employers, should decide that on their own. There is absolutely no real reason to make Christmas a nationally recognized holiday.