tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183381623141443317.post1436811289228865900..comments2024-01-16T13:24:00.070-05:00Comments on Motivation by Chocolate: Tradition!!Denise Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09706395088854291544noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183381623141443317.post-49480478939477833392008-12-10T22:56:00.000-05:002008-12-10T22:56:00.000-05:00Hi Carl,I stand by my comments, and yes, I do beli...Hi Carl,<BR/>I stand by my comments, and yes, I do believe the decision was cowardly. My perspective is that it was made to avoid criticisms such as yours, that Christianity takes over the American landscape each December, and therefore, to avoid any criticism at all, these library ladies took it all down.<BR/>It may surprise you to know that I worked in an environment largely atheist for 12 years and as a born-again Christian was most definitely the outsider. I was ridiculed for my beliefs on numerous occasions. However, I never chose to hide them. Hiding my beliefs to avoid criticsm would have been cowardice. I have lived in Jewish neighborhoods. My matron of honor in my wedding was Jewish. One of my best friends is Muslim. I have numerous other friends who are agnostic and atheist.<BR/>I love them, but I would never for one moment hide my belief that Jesus is the Son of God, that He loves you, that He died for you, and that Christmas is all about that tremendous story. If anyone is uncomfortable with that, maybe they should examine the reasons for their discomfort.<BR/>One other thing on this and then I'll drop it ...<BR/>I can bet you that at least one of those women who made the decision go to church. <BR/>Wanna bet?<BR/>I can bet you, actually, that more than one of them goes to church.<BR/>Now who is really the coward? Let's just look at this with a clear eye.<BR/>I have no qualms calling a spade a spade, especially because I am willing to be ridiculed for my faith. <BR/>And the tree, although pagan in origin, is still symbolic of the celebration of a baby who came to the world to save it. To take it down to avoid conflict ... well ... it's ... hmm, can I say it?<BR/>Cowardice.About Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11750216202890211361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183381623141443317.post-11513940496081576062008-12-10T17:30:00.000-05:002008-12-10T17:30:00.000-05:00Carl - well said as always, my friend!!!Carl - well said as always, my friend!!!Denise Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09706395088854291544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183381623141443317.post-73362140701655780062008-12-10T17:09:00.000-05:002008-12-10T17:09:00.000-05:00Yeah - it's all about respect and comfort. Just li...Yeah - it's all about respect and comfort. Just like many Christians would not want to live in a Jewish neighborhood - not out of hatred, but out of comfort - it's hard for the rest of us to live with constant signs reminding us that we are "other."<BR/><BR/>It is sad to me as well, Denise. I love the spirit of Christmas and think it's great that folks get into decorating but somehow politics always gets mixed in. I don't think the Turks had the right idea when they prohibited public expressions of religion but I think there's somewhere in between that we can all sit together. I am not claiming to know where it is but I believe it is there.Carl Weaverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13709697747981886634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183381623141443317.post-23427534747647987352008-12-10T14:34:00.000-05:002008-12-10T14:34:00.000-05:00Hey Carl, Thanks for the comments! I guess it ju...Hey Carl, Thanks for the comments! I guess it just makes me sad that because someone might be offended the solution is to take down a lovely thing (with pagan origins, after all). In this case, according to the news reports, the librarians did make the decision. It will be interesting to see if they also choose to work that day. Somehow I doubt it.<BR/><BR/>But you make good points and help us all see another side - thanks!!!Denise Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09706395088854291544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183381623141443317.post-32089948529473485262008-12-10T11:10:00.000-05:002008-12-10T11:10:00.000-05:00I agree with Heidi. That deserves to be spit out....I agree with Heidi. That deserves to be spit out. Who put the "library ladies" in charge of decorations anyway? I think the students should decorate their own tree right outside the library in the public space ;) As for me & mine, we will decorate and each chocolate!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183381623141443317.post-5120579264518024982008-12-10T09:54:00.000-05:002008-12-10T09:54:00.000-05:00Okay, here's the thing. Those of us who are not Ch...Okay, here's the thing. Those of us who are not Christian have to put up with Christianity forced on us all year long. From Thanksgiving to Christmas, it's rather intense. We don't hate Christians or want to deny anyone their traditions. Yes, the lights are spectacular and Christmas trees are pretty.<BR/><BR/>But this stuff is everywhere. Stores, malls, offices, libraries, town squares, city hall, homes, neighbors' yards, etc. It's like a guy can't get a break from the insanity of Christmas.<BR/><BR/>And your argument about seeing other cultures when you go abroad doesn't hold water. This is not a Christian country. This is a multi-faceted, multi-ethnic country.<BR/><BR/>Religion has been used as a form of oppression for thousands of years - probably since the first two religions met up. Christian symbols are still used this way, although not as frequently as in older times, at least here. Some of us just don't like having to see them everywhere.<BR/><BR/>The worst part, and I can see it coming, is that expressing these views in itself is considered by many small-headed people to be anti-Christian, anti-Christmas or something equally crazy. It's not that at all.<BR/><BR/>My father-in-law got the University of Toronto library to open on Christmas because he needed to work on his research and found he had no resources on that day.<BR/><BR/>Heidi - if you don't like the culture here as it is, it is your duty to change it rather than complain about hos it is. Culture and tradition are best upheld by individuals. Complaining about it does not change anything. The same goes for products. Don't like a "watered-down" product? Let the manufacturer know that you did not like it and will not buy it again if it is not changed.<BR/><BR/>To call the librarians, who do not even make policy decisions, cowardly, is not right. Even if it were these people who were in charge, is it cowardly to do the unpopular thing you think to be right? No, it's just cowardly to pick on people who do it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4183381623141443317.post-34056954793225784172008-12-07T00:00:00.000-05:002008-12-07T00:00:00.000-05:00I now have a new phrase to describe both mediocrit...I now have a new phrase to describe both mediocrity and cowardice, thanks to you: "Library Lady Material."<BR/><BR/>The new culture in this country is to water down culture so that no one is offended. <BR/><BR/>On the flip side, people aren't concerned about offending consumers with their "watered-down," mediocre products.<BR/><BR/>When will people see that anything watered down deserves to be spit out, period?About Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11750216202890211361noreply@blogger.com