Circulating E-mail. Wanna help rip this apart?

The lastest in a long line of e-mail I receive. I do not have the ability to walk away and let it go. I have to send a REPLY ALL


THE LAW IS THE LAW

So if the US government determines that it is against the law for the words "under God" to be on our money, then, so be it.

And if that same government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not to be used in or on a government installation, then, so be it.

And since they already have prohibited any prayer in the schools,

on which they deem their authority, then so be it.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to be a law abiding US citizen.

I say, "so be it," because I would like to think that smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions.

I would like to think that those people have the American Publics' best interests at heart.

BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?

Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot Post His Commandments in Government buildings,

I don't believe the Government and it's employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor the God that our government is eliminating from many facets of American life.

I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter.

After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as well as Sundays. After all, it's just another day.

I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to worry about getting home for the "Christmas Break." After all it's just another day.

I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all government offices & services would work on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter.

It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be "politically correct."


In fact....

I think that our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshipping God...) because, after all, our government says that it should be just another day....

What do you all think????

If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected officials will stop giving in to the minority opinions and begin, once again, to represent the 'majority' of ALL of the American people.


SO BE IT............

our money, or the pledge of allegiance, and of course our decision maker are not smarter, nor do they have our best interests at heart, I have no problem with this. So it is said, so shall it be done.
cheers :beer:

because those are more days that workers would have to be paid.

Typical dumbass email.

They get paid holidays, this would allow work for the money.

To be honest, the whole holiday thing is pissing me off. They used to stand for something, now they are nothing but extra shopping days. I don't even WANT to think about the rants I went into when they decided not to use the word CHRISTMAS last ... well... CHRISTMAS.

I say if it's simply a "holiday" then go shopping after work.

Taxpayers would see greater costs for the fuel and overhead needed to keep facilities open that would normally have been closed.

Happy? :eyes:

In fact, last December I even blogged a rant about it.


And don't even get me started on the way they've abandoned the words Hanukkah and Kwaanza!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

Today isn't. So why should Christmas be.

(Of course, I think all religion is a crock - but that's another topic altogether.)

But, there is no logical argument behind Christmas Day being a Federal holiday. Unless it gets declared a secular holiday (which, for most Americans it essentially is). But that would piss off the fundies.

I usually tell fundies that some things about church and state in this country are wrong but not worth making a big fuss over. "Under God" and "In God we trust" and the opening prayer in Congress are all wrong but not worth fussing about.

I guess it is worth fussing about, to a certain extent, that Christianity gets its big holy days off work when other religions don't. I don't know what to do about that, frankly, and would love to hear solutions.

As to not working on Sunday...via the labor movement, which they all hate, we got Saturdays off, too. We're working a 40 hour week now, so the days off at the end aren't religious anymore.

We'll tear this apart piece by piece then.

"Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God"

No one said that you couldn't pray or "Trust in God". They might however knock you on your poor capitalization.

"I don't believe the Government and it's employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas celebrations..."

Well the reality of Christmas is that it has its roots in winter-to-spring celebrations long before the advent of Christianity. While you're at it, stop celebrating Easter with the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny isn't a Christian symbol.


"I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter. After all, it's just another day."

By your logic, it would be better to have your mail delivered on Sundays.

"I'd like the US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as well as Sundays. After all, it's just another day."

The same goes for trash removal on Sundays while you're at it. you heathen!

:evilgrin:


"I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to worry about getting home for the "Christmas Break." After all it's just another day."

What about all the non-christian religions that have holidays that don't coincide with the holidays that our federal government has?

"I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all government offices & services would work on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter."

You would be better off just trying to get congress to work with a 40 hour work week with two weeks of vacation instead.

"It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be 'politically correct.' "

Tell that to anyone who observes Hannukah or Kwanzah.


"In fact....

I think that our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshipping God...)"

Ah, now I see this part.

"because, after all, our government says that it should be just another day...."

Now where did anyone in any elected office on the federal level say such a thing? That's right, they didn't. In fact, I didn't hear of such a thing uttered by anyone in any state or local office either.

"What do you all think????"

I think you're ignoring the rule of the day of rest. You are not to devote your time to work or to make anyone else work on the Sabbath Day. Not one jot, not one tittle, as it says in the bible.

"If this idea gets to enough people,"

Then what? They all laugh at you?

"maybe our elected officials will stop giving in to the minority opinions"

Yeah sure, the minority of people completely disagree with paid holidays for government employees on all levels-including those who actually need the time off on Sunday to worship.

"and begin, once again, to represent the 'majority' of ALL of the American people."

Yeah, "majority" you say. Yeah. The majority of the American people go to Christian churches every Sunday. Do you know what Exodus 20 says about bearing false witness?




SO BE IT............

you think those are great suggestions.

Why SHOULD people just get "Christian" holidays off?

Is to protect us from majority rule.

majority rule=mob rule.

After all, some day this may no longer be a christian nation. Maybe hindu, islam or buddhism will take over. Would any of THEM (christians) want to live under majority rule then?

I delete it -- it's not worth my time to respond because she's a hardcore Kool-Aid drinker.

I used to refute it and reply all so that everyone got my reply, but miraculously, she got smart and started suppressing the recipient list.

At least I was able to teach my nephew, her son, about Snopes. He checks everything out now.

actually be working on Christmas--or Thanksgiving? Would it be worth it for agencies to keep their doors open? Probably not.

Matthew 6

Giving to the Needy
1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Prayer
5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

9"This, then, is how you should pray:
" 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.' 14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Fasting
16"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Treasures in Heaven
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Do Not Worry
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

country I can run around nekkid and never work and never worry about anything.

:party:

It's my favorite Bible passage. Lots of good stuff, even for those who aren't Christian.

They wont do away with that, not because of God or anything, because they profit from it.

Smoke & mirrors. God bless America.

I suppose there are some religious overtones, but it's not a holiday started by any particular belief or denomination. I don't know anyone who goes to church on Thanksgiving (though I assume some people might.)

And, I don't know where the author of the email lives, but I know I don't get mail delivery on any Sunday, not just Easter. And, I can't remember, are government offices closed on Good Friday? Is anything closed on Good Friday anymore?

Many a school child has, and is allowed to continue to prat in the minutes before the geometry test. Private prayer is allowed, group prayer organized by a group of students is allowed. What is not allowed is the publically paid employees leading or endorsing the prayer.

>"So if the US government determines that it is against the law for the words "under God" to be on our money, then, so be it."

They determined no such thing. When people speak of removing 'under God' they generally are refering to the case of Newdow vs. Elk Grove Unified School District. The case is not about removing the words 'under God' from our money, but from the Pledge of Allegiance. While the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found for Newdow, the Supreme Court later struck down this ruling.

Interestingly the original pledge had no reference to God, even though it was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister. It read 'I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.' He considered adding 'equality' to it, but decided against it because most schools were actually against equality of women and african americans.

The words 'under God' were added in 1954 after a campaign by the Knights of Columbus. This was done partly to point out the differences between the United States and the 'Godless' Soviet Union, and in such was a highly political move. Bellamy's grandaughter said he would have resented this addition. He had been forced to leave his ministry in 1891 because of his socialist views, and stopped attending entirely because of the racial bigotry he found there.

Our money in fact has 'In God We Trust', not 'Under God' written on it. As yet there is no lawsuit, or legislation, aiming to remove this from our currency.

>"And if that same government decides that the "Ten Commandments" are not to be used in or on a government installation, then, so be it."

This in fact was not the decision. The split decision by the Supreme Court was actually a bit more complex. It ruled against a display of the commandments put up in Kentucky because they felt that it's purpose was there to favor monotheistic religion. Meanwhile other displayes like a granite monument in Texas were allowed, as they were less blatantly religious, and tinged with historical and educational meaning. According to the very decision the Ten Commandmants MAY be used in or on a government installation, as long as they are used in a historical or educational context, and not one favoring the Judeo-Christian relgions over others.

>"And since they already have prohibited any prayer in the schools, on which they deem their authority, then so be it."

Again this isn't so. They've prohibited public prayer, which is different. Whether led by school officials, or students, prayer which is forced upon others in public schools is considered against the establishment clause. The schools are allowed to have moments of silence where students are allowed to privately pray. They are even allowed to congregate together and participate in led prayer. What they are not allowed to do is to broadcast these prayers to people who do not want to participate. Prayer isn't prohibited.

>"I say, "so be it," because I would like to be a law abiding US citizen."

Well good for you. It just doesn't sound like you enjoy being one.

>"I say, "so be it," because I would like to think that smarter people than I are in positions to make good decisions."

I dare say there are. Hopefully the people in positions realize that nobody is trying to remove words from our money that aren't there in the first place, or that prohibition of forced prayer is different from a prohibition of prayer entirely.

>"I would like to think that those people have the American Publics' best interests at heart. BUT, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE I'D LIKE?"

I'm quivering with anticipation.

>"Since we can't pray to God, can't Trust in God and cannot Post His Commandments in Government buildings, I don't believe the Government and it's employees should participate in the Easter and Christmas celebrations which honor the God that our government is eliminating from many facets of American life."

You can pray to God. You can trust in God. You can post His commandments on government buildings. Prohibiting people from participating in religious holiday's goes explicity against the establishment clause. Perhaps you need to review your understanding of our great Constitution. Making a law prohibiting a celebration is as unconstitutional as making a law enforcing it.

>"I'd like my mail delivered on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter."

I can't recall the last time mail was delivered on any Sunday, so Easter isn't affected. Mail is in fact delivered on Good Friday as well. Thanksgiving isn't even a religious holiday, but a national one. Are you against all national holiday's? Christmas is a national holiday because the government recognizes that the majority of people in the country celebrate it. Similarly there are school districts with majority jewish populations which have school holidays for everyone on certain jewish holy days. It's simply done because if they weren't holiday's most people would take that day off anyway.

The fact of the matter is that of all the Federal Holidays (New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Inauguration Day, Washington's Birthday, Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day) only one of them has a religious foundation, and even that one is celebrated by many non-christians as a secular mid-winter family celebration.

>"After all, it's just another day."

That it is.

>"I'd like the US Supreme Court to be in session on Christmas, Good Friday, Thanksgiving & Easter as well as Sundays. After all, it's just another day."

Federal labor laws are another issue entirely. The US Supreme Court doesn't operate on a 40 hour week, and are not paid hourly. If they wish too, there is nothing preventing them from working on those days. There are many instances of them working on Sunday's, and on Good Friday.

>"I'd like the Senate and the House of Representatives to not have to worry about getting home for the "Christmas Break." After all it's just another day."

Snottyness aside, are you arguing for no vacations ever? It's an established day of celebration, as is Thanksgiving or Memorial Day. Would you be ok with them taking a break a week later for New Years Day?

>"I'm thinking that a lot of my taxpayer dollars could be saved, if all government offices & services would work on Christmas, Good Friday & Easter."

Actually the savings in electricty alone on those days by not having lights and computers on saves the American people millions of dollars.

>"It shouldn't cost any overtime since those would be just like any other day of the week to a government that is trying to be "politically correct.""

Federal Law still requires a certain number of vacation days a year. It would all balance out in the wash.

>"I think that our government should work on Sundays (initially set aside for worshipping God...) because, after all, our government says that it should be just another day.... "

How bout Saturday? Don't confuse labor laws with religious ones. Days of rest are established in many cultures because it's widely acknowledged that resting creates better productivity. Are you advocating no day of rest?

>"What do you all think???? If this idea gets to enough people, maybe our elected officials will stop giving in to the minority opinions and begin, once again, to represent the 'majority' of ALL of the American people. "

Again you show you don't understand the U.S. Constitution. If you don't like our country and our ways maybe you should leave. The constitution isn't about protecting the majority opinion. It's about protecting the all opinions, not just yours. If the majority opinion would have ruled the day in this country women wouldn't have the vote, African Americans would still be enslaved, and creationism would be in every biology textbook in the country. Our nation wasn't founded by perfect people, they were deeply flawed, like all of us. Yet their genius was in allowing the constitution to expand, to grow, and at it's heart to protect the rights of all, even when some of the founders were able to insert discriminiatory language into the document.

Today our society exists because of this document, and your disrespect and misunderstanding of what it stands for, shows your ignorance in what it truly means to be an american. It means to be free to do what you will, as long as it doesn't hurt someone else. Stop being selfish and try and think about someone else. Think about the little guy. Being an American means protecting everyone's freedom. Not just yours.


>"SO BE IT............"

So be it.