Letters To Editor
Christmas
POSTED: December 15, 2009
Dear Editor:
Season's Greetings, Happy Holidays, Holiday Break, the Holiday Tree, Manger Scenes banned, no Christmas music in the stores, all in the name of being politically correct. What is going on here is a dumbing down of Christmas and what it is supposed to be about.
When asked about this political correctness the response given is that "we do not want to offend anybody" Anybody, in this scenario, being Muslims, Jews, Atheists, witches and warlocks. What "sleighs" me is that in the name of political correctness, it is perfectly OK to offend believing Christians who see Christmas and the twelve days beyond as a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
We find ourselves in the midst of the Advent season. Advent involves more than just replying "Merry Christmas" to every "Happy Holidays" we hear. Advent offers us a new attitude, one of gratitude. For believing Christians Jesus is the greatest gift we can ever receive. Beyond the Manger, Advent spurs us to be grateful for all the ways God has touched us since last Christmas. Awareness of God's presence comes to us as a gift, as does gratitude for all of creation, for family and friends.
Let us keep Christ is Christmas and keep the spirit of Christmas alive all year long.
Sincerely,
Father John Neff, Pastor
St. Luke Catholic Church
Youngsville, PA
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Morrison
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12-18-09 7:41 AM
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EAGLE---You just did. What? I don't have to read this? Well, you don't have to pay attention to the Christmas decorations. Let's just cut all the traditions that have a "feel good" aura. Start with thinking like you're a high school jock.
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YHSEAGLE
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12-17-09 5:11 PM
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NEFF, I heard this story about a priest who while giving communion to some elderly people was distraught and used profanity in front of them all. The people were visibly upset and later when this priest returned another time to give communion again and an employee who worked everyday with these elderly people was fired for objecting to this particular priest giving communion again. Now do you suppose his god forgave him for his transgression? I know a lot of good people who do not believe in relegion of any kind, does that make them bad? Forcing your religious beliefs on the multitudes with manger scenes and other religious hype is wrong. I see many stores and businesses decorated for Christmas, so what are you talking about? While I am offeneded that religious groups force their beliefs on the whole world in many ways, I don't force my beliefs on anyone. Political correctness is a phrase over used by persons like yourself. Please keep your relgion in your church and in your house
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Morrison
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12-16-09 1:14 PM
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five-I guess the people I spent time with during those days were a bit different. We were soldiers who recognized common ground and were honest about our differences. sami--understood.
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samibigelow
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12-16-09 11:20 AM
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Thanks, I thought you knew me, but was just totally wrong. I empathize about the office atmospere, I have had to work with women like that before. They made me angry,too. Those of us women and men who work hard and do our jobs the best we can and yet don't get the respect or pay, remind me that it is not equal yet. I have also known men who thought that some things were "women's work" and they would not do it, even though they were supposed to do the job. So, it is everywhere. Okay, truce.
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fivealive
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12-16-09 11:10 AM
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Or maybe it's because I grew up after affirmative action and the like had started to change mentalities. Maybe the govt plan worked and I was successfully brainwashed. :)
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fivealive
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12-16-09 11:09 AM
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Morrison, I don't think it is superior intellect at all. Maybe just different experiences in different places from different generations. (And I'm not implying you are old or have no experience... :) )
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Morrison
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12-16-09 11:06 AM
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lol...sami-I wasn't thinking of you at all. An office I worked where the "girls" made more than the guys, had fancy titles for clerks, and didn't have to lift a finger..let alone a toilet seat. That's the 2nd time my machine appeared to freeze, and did a double.
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samibigelow
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12-16-09 10:48 AM
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Well, Morrison, you seem to think I am someone you know. Sadly, you do not. Maybe you need to check on that. A little stutter on the enter button? If my job was moving furniture, file cabinets and toilet seats, then it would be done. My job is not moving furniture or file cabinets. I have never complained about toilet seats, you must think of someone else. I don't have that problem and never have. Yet, I find it funny to bring that into this forum.
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Morrison
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12-16-09 10:45 AM
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Amen to that Anti! But add to it the apathetic and pathetic who won't speak out.
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Morrison
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12-16-09 10:43 AM
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five-I defer to your superior intellect and personal observation in recent times. (that means I can't agree, but can't back it up. :)
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AntiLiberalism
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12-16-09 10:40 AM
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Father Neff, it's people along the same political lines as Ted Kennedy who allowed this type of political correctness happen. I remember not long ago you writing a letter of glowing support for the deceased senator. What do you expect when you support politicians who belong to a party that support using taxpayer money to kill the unborn? Liberals are the reason for the decay in our society, not Christmas and certainly not Jesus.
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fivealive
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12-16-09 10:09 AM
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Morrison, I really agree with you that the ACLU has *sometimes* gone overboard. The ACLU can take things to extremes, where it ends up more detrimental than helpful. Those who believe affirmative action is totally unnecessary are equally as harmful in denying the reality of racsism, sexism, etc in denying many opportunities to succeed. In an ideal world, none of this would be necessary. But many still need a "nudge" from the govt to recognize their bias. I am all for rewarding for merit/ability. I don't want special treatment AT ALL. I just want to be seen for my ability and work, not for my gender, race, etc.
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Morrison
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12-16-09 9:30 AM
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malfunction...sorry.
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Morrison
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12-16-09 9:30 AM
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Lawsuits have been successful. I never could figure out why women wouldn't get equal pay for equal work. What clue sami? I'm saying if you can't or won't do the job 100% of what a man would do, you shouldn't get the job. I'm remembering lifting file boxes, moving desks, or them crying about the toilet seat being up.
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Morrison
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12-16-09 9:28 AM
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Lawsuits have been successful. I never could figure out why women wouldn't get equal pay for equal work. What clue sami? I'm saying if you can't or won't do the job 100% of what a man would do, you shouldn't get the job. I'm remembering lifting file boxes, moving desks, or crying about the toilet seat being up.
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samibigelow
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12-16-09 8:30 AM
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sorry, I meant female, not femals......geez, more coffee, please.
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samibigelow
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12-16-09 8:30 AM
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I have never asked for or accepted any favors, different treatment. If I had "femals problems", I either kept it guiet or took a sick day if I had to be home. I always carried my own weight, but, I still was treated as a lesser worker. I work for a company now that pays the equal pay, but, too many years I did not. And I know it still goes on. Only now they do it behind closed doors and sneaking around the system. Morrison, as usual, you need a clue. But, then you probably don't have female friends or sisters. I find it so unbelieveable that this still goes on and the companies still get away with it. Walmart is a prime example of this still in action. A lot of manufacturing companies still do this to women too.
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Morrison
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12-16-09 8:04 AM
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Equal pay is a no brainer. But the special privilege treatment of women has to go if you want it.
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watcher
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12-16-09 7:20 AM
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Sami. I would have no problem with a woman working for me. she would be paid the same and she would work the same. I have worked in factories with women right beside me and never tolerated the prima donnas that used being a girl to get out of work. These girls never lasted long anyhow. I respect the women that keep up and get the job done. Then I would help with heavy lifting and such. Just because that is how I was brought up. But those that demanded it never got it. I am all for the equal work = equal pay. I hope that you work for a better company now.
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watcher
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12-16-09 7:13 AM
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Fivealive. I have heard of the women not paid equally and I know it exists. I have fortunatly never worked for any business that has done that. We have all been paid the same. There have always been standard pay scales. It is unfortunate that it still happens. Now, if we did away with money and could go on merit. Imagine how tables would turn.
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samibigelow
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12-16-09 7:03 AM
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in the marriage because she had to obey her husband and his wishes. She would not receive any help from the priest, so she left, with the children and eventually divorced him. He wound up in jail for abusing his next wife and the police were called. Off my soapbox, it is too early for this.
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samibigelow
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12-16-09 7:01 AM
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I agree with fivealive, I , too, have been paid a lot less than a man holding the same job with the same education. Back in the 80's and 90's I was told that, because I was a woman, I could not have certain jobs or make what the men did, since I could marry and have the other income to help me raise my children. Of course, that was behind closed doors, no witnesses. I also did not get a job that I was more than qualified for, because of gender. I get really tired of men who think that we are trying to usurp them, we just want equal pay for equal work and education. I paid my dues but still get pushed back. The good old boy network is still thriving, here and many more places in the US. I work very hard for my pay but most men just see me as an aggressive woman, not someone who is smart and hard working and an asset to the job. The church (Catholic) still treats women as secondary or not equal, one reason I left it. A friend had an abusive husband and the church told her she had to sta
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Morrison
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12-15-09 9:41 PM
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Looks like we'll have to pick this up again on another thread. Complicated. Sure it was needed. But it went wrong in the hands of the ACLU and vote getters. Not to mention the others looking for a crutch and a free ride. I don't get away anymore, so I don't see this I guess. Can't imagine whats not equal.
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fivealive
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12-15-09 9:12 PM
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Those people in the 60s may have been looking for a cause (your words, not mine) but don't you think it was a good one? And, whether people realize it or not, that cause has greatly changed how people view each other. It did take that force of govt to bring about the change we have today. I do agree with you that Sharpton, et al are just as extreme as the white supremecists on the other side. Neither is helping the situation. I don't agree that Jim Crow is dead. Off the books, maybe, but very much alive in many parts of the country. Two generations have made tremendous progress. We still aren't there. I think putting the focus back on quality of candidates, etc is needed. BUT, opportunities still aren't equal. There has to be a balance between help and help yourself, don't you think?
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Morrison
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12-15-09 4:51 PM
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Jim Crow is dead. If only the media would quit insisting Al Sharpton and his kind are leaders of the black community, we could do a lot better. Anyway, no amount of interference by the government or any group is going to change me. I think for myself.
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