I feel that there is a double standard when it comes to those who do not believe in a supreme being. 95% of the world's population believe that there is some kind of higher power, and that small 5% are discriminated against constantly. The constant preaching of our gods who watch over us and take care of us is tiring. With the Christmas season coming along, I feel more and more alienated by those who affiliate themselves with a religion. The greeting deemed politically correct for the season is 'happy holidays', but I argue that even that is offensive to the non religious. Happy Holidays was adopted because everyone was wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, but not everyone belonged to the Christian faith. Changing it to Happy Holidays seemed to satisfy every religion and make them all feel equal -- but again, the non religious were left out in the bitter cold of the winter. I maintain that the 'holiday season' is based on religious holidays. Holidays.
To me, December, or this time of year, is just like any other month. Do I enjoy the break I get from school for two weeks? Of course I do, but just as much as I do Spring Break. Do I exchange gifts and reap the benefits of the 'holiday season'? I do not. I tell my Christmas celebrating family not to give me gifts because I will not be giving any myself. For years now, my Grandmother and I didn't put up a tree, or cook a fancy meal on December 25th. I don't celebrate the holidays. I don't celebrate Easter either. Thanksgiving I do. It's not based on a religion -- even though it has been swallowed up by the churches as one of its own. Remembrance Day is my favorite holiday -- odd statement, I know -- because it is celebrating history, and lives that lived and fought for you and I, and our rights. It would be hard to twist World War I or II into some kind of fantasy novel.
Anyway, as long as stores, and businesses represent all religions equally, they're safe from ridicule, but it still offends me. If I were to display signs or memorabilia that suggests there is no God, or Jesus Christ, or that nature is what determines our fate, not a supreme being, I would be offending. I believe in science and nature. Actually, no I don't. I don't BELIEVE in science and nature. Science and nature are testable, concrete things. I know. Science and nature is not a belief but a knowledge that I posses. Religion, supreme beings, anything based on an influence outside of our natural world is belief. It takes strong emotions to convince a person of their "truth", where science and nature is hard to deny. So this 'holiday season' -- which, I would like to point out that HOLIDAY is not a season, WINTER is a season -- when you're decorating your trees, and displaying your menorah I'd like you to also set up a display of a telescope, or a microscope; a calculator, a magnet, some kind of scientific tool to make sure you're also representing the minority.
To me, December, or this time of year, is just like any other month. Do I enjoy the break I get from school for two weeks? Of course I do, but just as much as I do Spring Break. Do I exchange gifts and reap the benefits of the 'holiday season'? I do not. I tell my Christmas celebrating family not to give me gifts because I will not be giving any myself. For years now, my Grandmother and I didn't put up a tree, or cook a fancy meal on December 25th. I don't celebrate the holidays. I don't celebrate Easter either. Thanksgiving I do. It's not based on a religion -- even though it has been swallowed up by the churches as one of its own. Remembrance Day is my favorite holiday -- odd statement, I know -- because it is celebrating history, and lives that lived and fought for you and I, and our rights. It would be hard to twist World War I or II into some kind of fantasy novel.
Anyway, as long as stores, and businesses represent all religions equally, they're safe from ridicule, but it still offends me. If I were to display signs or memorabilia that suggests there is no God, or Jesus Christ, or that nature is what determines our fate, not a supreme being, I would be offending. I believe in science and nature. Actually, no I don't. I don't BELIEVE in science and nature. Science and nature are testable, concrete things. I know. Science and nature is not a belief but a knowledge that I posses. Religion, supreme beings, anything based on an influence outside of our natural world is belief. It takes strong emotions to convince a person of their "truth", where science and nature is hard to deny. So this 'holiday season' -- which, I would like to point out that HOLIDAY is not a season, WINTER is a season -- when you're decorating your trees, and displaying your menorah I'd like you to also set up a display of a telescope, or a microscope; a calculator, a magnet, some kind of scientific tool to make sure you're also representing the minority.
If I have offended anyone... too bad. You've been offending me for years.
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