Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Blinn · 07-08-2002, 04:46 AM

Check out this little <a href="http://www.dispatch.com/editorials-story.php?story=dispatch/news/editorials02/jul02/1353576.html" target="_blank">gem</a>. Sadly, I have a feeling that this sums up many people's grasp of the subject.

<img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[Bang Head]" />

I just realized you have to register to read the letter - here it is:

Quote:

I write in regard to the federal appeals court declaring the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional.

What are public officials going to do next -- declare all U.S. currency unconstitutional because it says "In God We Trust''? And what about Christmas (Jesus' birthday) and Easter (Jesus' resurrection) -- are these holidays going to be declared unconstitutional? I'll bet these same officials celebrate these holidays! If they don't have more important work to do than to think up ridiculous rulings, they don't need to be on the bench.

[ July 08, 2002: Message edited by: Zetek ]

RufusAtticus · 07-08-2002, 04:03 PM

Except that courts ruled long ago that the government can recognize holidays (i.e. shut down) if there is a non-sectarian reason for doing so or if government employees got the holiday as part of collective barganing. In other words, we get labor day off because the government wants it that way, and we get Christmas off because the people what it that way.

That letter writter seems obviously confused as to the power of courts. Hint: courts cannot make someting illegal for the people, only for the government. That's what fundies don't realize. The people does not equal the government. Whenever it does, you get oppression and totalitarian regimes.

~~RvFvS~~

GaryP · 07-08-2002, 04:18 PM

Here's a guy who tried to challenge the legality of Xmas. This was before the judge threw the case out a year or so later. <a href="http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/ganul2.htm" target="_blank">American Atheists</a>

I have heard of some school districts which call it Spring Break now instead of Easter. Of course, Easter is not an official holiday, although I think in some states, Good Friday is an official holiday.

Krieger · 07-08-2002, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by GaryP:
Here's a guy who tried to challenge the legality of Xmas. This was before the judge threw the case out a year or so later. <a href="http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/ganul2.htm" target="_blank">American Atheists</a>

I have heard of some school districts which call it Spring Break now instead of Easter. Of course, Easter is not an official holiday, although I think in some states, Good Friday is an official holiday.

Do many public schools have a short vacation around Easter Sunday time? Like the Monday after it or something?

Not even the private Xian school I went to did that!

One of the last sane · 07-08-2002, 04:24 PM

Both a spring fertility festival and a midwinter festival were around long before Christianity, and should stay.

Viti · 07-08-2002, 04:31 PM

I can't tell you how many Xians have been shocked or called me a liar when I told them of the Pagan origins of most Easter and Christmas traditions...unbelievable how huge and opaque their God colored glasses are

eowynn · 07-08-2002, 04:41 PM

I graduated from a public high school last year, and we always had spring break at Easter time. We would usually have Good Friday off, and then the following week. It never really bothered me. It was nice to have a break, even if it was xian inspired

One of the last sane · 07-08-2002, 04:49 PM

Quote:

even if it was xian inspired

But it wasn't. Like I said, a spring fertility festival timed to coincide with the first full moon of spring is much older than Xianity, they just hijacked it same as they did the midwinter festival. What is the Xian basis of setting Easter with the full moon? There is none, that's from moon worship. Spicy buns with the moon's quarters marked on them, eggs, rabbits ... none of them anything to do with Jebus.

GaryP · 07-08-2002, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Krieger:
Do many public schools have a short vacation around Easter Sunday time? Like the Monday after it or something?

Not even the private Xian school I went to did that!

All the schools around here do. I think that in some districts where there is a college the district's break coincides more with the college's break. But I have never heard of a district in Ohio that did not take at least Good Friday off.

GaryP · 07-08-2002, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by One of last of the sane:


But it wasn't. Like I said, a spring fertility festival timed to coincide with the first full moon of spring is much older than Xianity, they just hijacked it same as they did the midwinter festival. What is the Xian basis of setting Easter with the full moon? There is none, that's from moon worship. Spicy buns with the moon's quarters marked on them, eggs, rabbits ... none of them anything to do with Jebus.

If you are interested in the origins of holidays, I would suggest this book

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0877288828/internetinfidelsA" target="_blank">The Magickal Year at Amazon.com</a>

URL edited by Toto to give credit to internetinfidels

[ July 08, 2002: Message edited by: Toto ]

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07-08-2002, 04:03 PM	#2
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	Except that courts ruled long ago that the government can recognize holidays (i.e. shut down) if there is a non-sectarian reason for doing so or if government employees got the holiday as part of collective barganing. In other words, we get labor day off because the government wants it that way, and we get Christmas off because the people what it that way. That letter writter seems obviously confused as to the power of courts. Hint: courts cannot make someting illegal for the people, only for the government. That's what fundies don't realize. The people does not equal the government. Whenever it does, you get oppression and totalitarian regimes. ~~RvFvS~~

07-08-2002, 04:18 PM	#3
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	Here's a guy who tried to challenge the legality of Xmas. This was before the judge threw the case out a year or so later. <a href="http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/ganul2.htm" target="_blank">American Atheists</a> I have heard of some school districts which call it Spring Break now instead of Easter. Of course, Easter is not an official holiday, although I think in some states, Good Friday is an official holiday.

07-08-2002, 04:24 PM	#5
One of the last sane Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: hereabouts Posts: 734	Both a spring fertility festival and a midwinter festival were around long before Christianity, and should stay.

07-08-2002, 04:31 PM	#6
Viti Contributor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Down South Posts: 12,879	I can't tell you how many Xians have been shocked or called me a liar when I told them of the Pagan origins of most Easter and Christmas traditions...unbelievable how huge and opaque their God colored glasses are

07-08-2002, 04:41 PM	#7
eowynn Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Sweden Posts: 58	I graduated from a public high school last year, and we always had spring break at Easter time. We would usually have Good Friday off, and then the following week. It never really bothered me. It was nice to have a break, even if it was xian inspired

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