Bats in our belfrey

[ArmandV]

We are now in December. However, the JREF masthead still has bats and a jack-o-lantern. Folks, don't you think it's time for a change?

 

[jeisan]

lol i hadnt noticed that, those are usually changed regularly.

*points at maciamo*

 

[miki78]

yea could we have a Christmas theme now please i'm Gothy and even i'm sick of the Bats XD

 

[ArmandV]

Five days later (after starting this thread), nothing's changed. ;-)

 

[miki78]

Yea come on nobody wants to look at Halloween Bats at Christmas get into the spirit of things please

 

[Grandpa Frank]

You must just have a small screen???

On my big screen monitor I see Santa's decaying yellowed head being swarmed by vultures who have already eaten his body and all the reindeer bodies.

Uncle Frank

 

[Qutiepie]

We should have Season's Greetings for Christmas.

 

[ArmandV]

We should have Season's Greetings for Christmas.

Why not Merry Christmas? You must work for Wal-Mart. ;-)

 

[Qutiepie]

I am a stock speculator by trade,occasionally shop at Wal Mart.

 

[miki78]

we want christmas we want christmas sits on floor and pouts CHRISTMAS lol

 

[Nicky]

I like the bats. Although, that may be because I didn't notice them until reading this thread. =/

 

[miki78]

Pouts sits on floor with placard WE WANT CHRISTMAS WE WANT CHRISTMAS WE WANT CHRISTMAS WE WANT CHRISTMAS

 

[miki78]

OK for the first time EVER i'am about to complain i know those in charge are very busy i completly understand that

BUT i do not think it would hurt to at least acknowledge this thread

On a serious note it is geting very close to Christmas which to those of us with faith is a serious religious holiday and the fact that the banner is showing a Halloween motive is well a tiddy bit offensive

I don't wanna sound like a fuddy duddy but all joking aside it can't be that difficult to change

Again i feel bad complaining i know people have more important things to do but its a moral thing you know

 

[Nicky]

On a serious note it is geting very close to Christmas which to those of us with faith is a serious religious holiday

:?

What about those who aren't of your "faith"? Chirstmas isn't the only holiday in December. Where's the Hannukah banner, the Kwanza banner, or the Winter Solstice banner?

 

[ArmandV]

:?

What about those who aren't of your "faith"? Chirstmas isn't the only holiday in December. Where's the Hannukah banner, the Kwanza banner, or the Winter Solstice banner?

Something generic like a Santa Claus would be fine and even adding a menorah(sp?) would also be fine.

 

[miki78]

Yea i realise that but i was thinking of all Faiths in genral i mean i'm not looking for a naitivty or anything religious sorry i didn't make that clear ^^

A bit of snow and a Robin would do me lol

 

[Elizabeth]

:?
What about those who aren't of your "faith"? Chirstmas isn't the only holiday in December. Where's the Hannukah banner, the Kwanza banner, or the Winter Solstice banner?

A Christmas tree surrounded by a few wreaths decked with holly is vague and nondemoninational enough to be hugely popular as decoration in Japan without the faith that accompanies it elsewhere.

I disagree with the Halloween motif as an American-only holiday and am surprised anyone had the time for that much. But definately whatever is decided on should have a plan to eventually undo it or it may start to give everyone even more of a headache than the constant argumentation.

 

[Nicky]

Ok ok,. Buuut with the way it's going right now, I think we should just give up on December and start early on next year's holidays.

 

[miki78]

*frowns* all i want is a Christmas tree and i'm sulking if i don't get one =( lol

Meh i like Christmas good or bad it has deep meaning to me

On top that i think the pumpkin is beging to smell

 

[JimmySeal]

EATAC, Washington (AP) -- All nine Christmas trees have been removed from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport instead of adding a giant Jewish menorah to the holiday display as a rabbi had requested.

Maintenance workers boxed up the trees during the graveyard shift early Saturday, when airport bosses believed few people would notice.

"We decided to take the trees down because we didn't want to be exclusive," said airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt. "We're trying to be thoughtful and respectful, and will review policies after the first of the year."

Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky, who made his request weeks ago, said he was appalled by the decision. He had hired a lawyer and threatened to sue if the Port of Seattle didn't add the menorah next to the trees, which had been festooned with red ribbons and bows.

"Everyone should have their spirit of the holiday. For many people the trees are the spirit of the holidays, and adding a menorah adds light to the season," said Bogomilsky, who works in Seattle at the regional headquarters for Chabad Lubavitch, a Jewish education foundation.

After consulting with lawyers, port staff believed that adding the menorah would have required adding symbols for other religions and cultures in the Northwest. The holidays are the busiest season at the airport, Betancourt said, and staff didn't have time to play cultural anthropologists.

Hanukkah begins this Friday at sundown.

"They've darkened the hall instead of turning the lights up," said Bogomilsky's lawyer, Harvey Grad. "There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch."

British Leader of the Commons Jack Straw:

Straw trumpets workplace tinsel

MP Jack Straw has urged people to "put tinsel in the office" after reports that Christmas decorations were not welcome for fear of causing offence.
He told MPs he thought it was "total nonsense" to ban the festive frills as even non-Christians appreciated the significance of the birth of Jesus.

In a newspaper column, Mr Straw said he was speaking "on behalf" of the angel Gabriel in expressing his view.

A recent survey of 2,300 employers found 75% had banned decorations.

Mr Straw, when asked for his opinion in the Commons on Thursday, said: "The simple truth is that my Muslim constituents and Muslim friends also wish to see Christmas celebrated.

"What is forgotten by these people who come out with this nonsense is that those of the Mulsim faith honour our prophet, and those of the Jewish religion, as much as they honour their own prophets."

'Prophet for all'

In a column for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph he expanded on his views, saying: "If I may speak on [the angel] Gabriel's behalf, I'm very clear on his view for 2006. Put the tinsel in the office.

"Celebrate Christmas publicly and Muslim and Jewish festivals too, and those of other faiths as well. He [Jesus] was a prophet for all of us."

He said: "I've never met a Christian who isn't delighted to recognise Yom Kippur [the Jewish Day of Atonement], nor Eid, nor Diwali (the Hindu festival).

"Nor have I met a Muslim who denies my right to celebrate the birth of Christ.

"It would be doubly bizarre if that were so, since Christ is one of 'their' prophets as well of one of 'ours'."

He also said he had never met "an atheist, agnostic or anyone who says that people should not be allowed to celebrate mainstream religions".

Mr Straw questioned who was responsible for deeming that Christmas tinsel would offend.

Second guessing

"I would like a big conversation with this person, if they exist.

"But they may not. My suspicion is 'this person' who is the origin of this politically correct nonsense that believes we live in a society of many faiths but that we shouldn't celebrate any of them, only exists in the imagination of those who are ignorant of the nature of our religions, and how they link together.

"So what they do is to second-guess how they think others will or may react, without even asking them."

The survey, by law firm Peninsula, found that 74% of managers were not allowing any festive decorations in their workplaces this year, an increase on 71% in 2005.

As well as potentially causing offence, bosses also felt that Christmas trees and tinsel made offices unprofessional.

Its survey spoke to 2,300 employers across the UK.

 

[Grandpa Frank]

British Leader of the Commons Jack Straw:

Trying to be perfectly "politically correct" will destroy us, bring back common sence.

Uncle Frank

 

[miki78]

Stoping people putting Christmas decs up only coarses race hate becouse the idiots who have no brain blame the inocent people of diffrent faiths for the threat on theres

I'v seen it happen and its sad becouse it's not there fault its the idiot in parliment that make these decisions

The fact is by removing Christmas decs your being racist against Christions i wouldn't expect to go to India duing a big Hindu celebration and have the decorations come down becouse i'm a diffrent faith

Contrery i would like to see them

People of diffrent faiths in this country don't care

a lot of them find Christmas fun becouse they take part in the comorcal side of it

I mean they wanted to rename Christmas lights Fairy lights

Its rediculas

 

[Grandpa Frank]

He He

I think we are taking this thread on a wild tangent, LOL.
Poor ol Thomas, everyone pesters him for something. We all need to donate more to JREF so he can hire a secretary to help him. I'm still over joyed that chat is working , just wish more people used it.

Uncle Frank

PS - Happy holidays Thomas!

 

[miki78]

Hmmm i feel like i said something wrong when i was trying to be helpful

Did i word it badly agian becouse sometimes people take my posts as offensive becouse i have problems wording them and i don't want that to happen

I'm having probs with chat at the mo but my comp has been wiggy

 

[Nicky]

Naw, you worded it fine. I think. Just to clarify I don't have any problems with Christmas, I actually celebrate it.(even though I'm non-religious it's treated like family tradition)