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Today's Poll: How should schools handle Christmas?

By Howard B. Owens
Sam Tambe Jr.

Howard, Thanks for putting this poll up. It will be interesting to see the results.
I honestly think that a nationwide "popular" vote should be taken...and the results of the majority should be the rule of thumb when dealing with this issue.

Nov 22, 2011, 8:50am Permalink
Kim Grant

For everyone out there that will be celebrating a religious holiday next month I just want to say... Merry Christmas!, Happy Chanukah!, Merry Kwanzaa!, Happy Bodhi!, and Happy Las Posadas!.

Nov 22, 2011, 8:59am Permalink
Ed Gentner

I prefer to celebrate without religion and wish one and all,
"Slainte mhor agus a h-uile beannachd duibh
Good health and every good blessing to you! ~ A Gaelic Prayer"

Nov 22, 2011, 9:22am Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Sam I can appreciate this sentiment, but would you be willing to accept the outcome if people decided it wasnt appropriate for public and voted to squash any and all religious references to Christmas? I already hear people say merry -X- mas (pronounced exmas) nowadays. I am not so I dont want to see any national vote or rule of thumb made....

Nov 22, 2011, 9:34am Permalink
bud prevost

As a citizen of the USA, I enjoy free and protected speech. As long as I'm not inciting treason, or saying hateful things to individuals, I should be allowed to say whatever I please.
Why can a Westboro thug say "God hates fags", but a teacher can't say "merry Christmas" to her class?
Why can little Suzie's "mommies" hold hands and kiss at a school open house, but a nativity scene is forbidden?

BTW, I also have the right not to say anything. I feel Christmas has been turned from a joyous, spiritual celebration into a display of blatant greed and overkill. When retailers start putting up Christmas displays in October, it edges towards ridiculous!

Nov 22, 2011, 9:35am Permalink
C. M. Barons

Howard, why not switch-up your poll and test attitudes on religious freedom?

How should schools handle Ramadan?

There should be no restrictions on saying "Allahu Akbar" or "Eid Mubarak!" in public or private, nor putting up Ramadan lanterns, crescent moons, and dawn-to-dusk fasting should be encouraged by eliminating the school breakfast and lunch programs until Eid.

Private expressions of faith should be allowed, but the school can't be seen as endorsing a particular religion, all faiths should be respected.

Ramadan, whether public or private expressions, should be kept out of schools completely.

Nov 22, 2011, 1:22pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

"All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression." - Thomas Jefferson

Nov 22, 2011, 1:43pm Permalink
Cj Gorski

If you're going to allow Christmas in schools you must allow the other holidays as well. You shouldn't blast kids with the religious aspects of the holiday at the same time though.

Happy Winter Solstice!

Nov 22, 2011, 1:46pm Permalink
Matt Holman

I always feel that the freedom of speech is thrown around way to often in the wrong context.

While every American has the freedom of speech, press, religion (provided by the first amendment) in the most general terms. Meaning the government or police cannot put me in jail for what I choose to comment on this message board.

However as a private citizen but there is no such thing as freedom of speech without consequence. I will not get arrested for calling my boss names or in this case wish a class full of kids 'Merry Christmas', but I could get fired. The first amendment does not protect me from being terminated or from employers creating codes of conduct.

The way I see it, this is nothing more than a dress code or a cell phone at work policy blown way out of proportion because Christmas is something that the majority of us celebrate and love.

Celebrate what you want to celebrate but I have a hard time believing any other superintendent or school board would have handled this any different.

So in the spirit of the 'holidays' and 'peace on earth' or 'good will to men' let's complain about the Bills instead...

Nov 22, 2011, 2:47pm Permalink
George Richardson

Do you know who invented Christmas and all other religions and religious celebrations? That's right, the male half of the 1%. Now just do as you are told and eat your plum pudding. There is a collection plate that needs to be passed so don't dilly dally, riff raff, just do it.

Nov 22, 2011, 3:21pm Permalink
william tapp

no where do i see a day that said holiday , its thanksgiving or Christmas or new year.call it what it is our men and women went to war for this freedom.
so happy thanksgiving and marry Christmas never mind the crap

Nov 22, 2011, 3:54pm Permalink
George Richardson

Our men and women went to war so they could call the fourth Thursday (not Friday) in November Thanksgiving and the Winter Solstice Celebration, Christmas? Did they know that? If they knew that's what it was all about I believe a lot of them probably would have reconsidered enlisting. Going to war is about one thing only, enriching the 1%.

Nov 22, 2011, 10:18pm Permalink
Ken Rumble

Bud, you said it best. Corporate greed and sales are what drive the holiday. Black Friday should be outlawed. How much can we sell before the 26th? That is all it is about. I really can't stand to see Halloween candy in August! Christmas stuff in September just reduces my Christmas spirit rather quickly. The church and religious part have fallen to sales and profit.

Nov 22, 2011, 8:54pm Permalink
Sam Tambe Jr.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...AND GOD BLESS :o)
That's all I'm saying..I didn't say you had to accept
my holiday good wishes for you...if you don't like me
saying it then ignore it!

Nov 23, 2011, 2:05pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

The problem I see is simple, if you don't like a certain food, don't eat it, if you don't like the music on the radio, shut it off, if you don't like what you read, don't read it, if you don't like whats on tv, change the channel, if you don't like what someone is saying, walk away.
Our gov't can't run the country, so they try to run our lives, huge fail.

Nov 24, 2011, 11:39am Permalink

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