Friday is New Year's Eve. Some Americans make New Year's resolutions for the coming year. These resolutions range from bettering a person's finances to bettering a person's health. Most of those who make these resolutions admit they do not keep their resolutions.
As I was contemplating my own possible resolutions, an idea crept into my thoughts: what if instead of choosing to improve my own self, how about working to improve my relationship with others? And then that thought expanded to wondering if we all could work to improve our relationships with others. As I was thinking about how to express the ways to improve relationships, the Ten Commandments came to mind. So I've adapted the Ten Commandments for some simple rules to improve human relations. A new style of resolution. One I hope to keep.
1. Respect other people's views of religion.
You believe what you believe; this does not mean I have to believe the same. Throughout history, many wars and battles have been fought in the name of some "God." Blood has been spilled because someone did not respect another's religious view. Even those who do not believe in God refuse to respect a religious person's view.
I've heard (and seen) many atheists who have called faith in God "stupid." Listen up atheists: if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it; no one asked you for your opinion. And listen up religion advocates: no one is going to go to hell because they don't follow your religion. If that statement is true, then everyone is destined for hell.
Think about it. If Catholics say only Catholics will make it to heaven and if Protestants say only Protestants will make it heaven and if Islamists say only Islamists will get rewarded after death, then who will actually make it to heaven?? Can we please stop with the war of words?
Respect another person's view, even if different, and move on. I'm sure each of us will be judged by our interactions with fellow human beings and not by the religion we chose or was chosen for us.
2. Do not speak to others in vain.
How often do people wish they could take back something they said? In those cases, they spoke in vain to another. Try not to speak to others while mad. And when the situation is so impossible you must speak while mad, take a deep breath before actually speaking. We should chose our words carefully. Again, the respect element comes into play. Respect an other's point of view. If you do, then the task of not speaking in vain will come easily.
Also, do not speak bad about others behind their back. You might as well be speaking in vain to them. Feel free to speak to them about to their face. (This is one I MUST follow!).
3. Take a day of rest each week and share the day with your family.
How often do we allow the daily grind to get in the way of our most important support structure: our family. All work and no play, makes Jack a dull boy. Such a true statement. If we don't stop and enjoy the company of the people around us, our company will not be desired.
Even if you don't have any family, share the day with friends. Relax. Unwind. Allow the stress of the week to ebb before wading back into the stream.
Your mind, your health, your sanity will all improve by taking a day off each week.
4. Honor your mother and your father.
These people brought you into the world. At the moment of your birth, at least one of them welcomed you into the world with love and affection. Return the same, no matter the cost. I am saddened whenever I hear stories of dead beat dads. The joy both the father and the child could've enjoyed has been wasted by the choice of the father. (I'm sure there are dead beat moms with the same results.) Even the dead beats deserve a tiny iota of respect. To give love where no love is deserved will make the giver a better person. How could you not respect someone who loves another when that love is not deserved? The giver of love must be a special person to do what they are doing. I would gladly surround myself with these people.
Most happy people exude love and friendship to those around them.
5. Do not commit murder.
Human live is sacred (even if you're not religious). Respect an other's right to live so that other's will respect your right to live.
6. Do not commit adultery.
This includes those not married. The respect element comes into play again. Respect your partner. Even during troubled times. An open relationship is better for the both of you. If you can't be honest with your partner, who will you be honest with?
7. Do not steal.
What is not yours is not yours. Leave it that way. How much respect do thieves show to others by taking what is not theirs? Should we show the thieves the same respect?
8. Do not accuse anyone falsely.
Lies hurt. How much respect does someone who lies deserve?
9. Do not covet other's belongings.
This leads to jealously and broken relationships. Enjoy what you have. Fate is not kind to everyone; but, if we can thumb our nose at fate by enjoying our lot in life, society will be for the better. Coveting leads to stealing...
10. Do not worship wordly goods.
Those who work hard to keep up with the Joneses most likely are violating some of the other commandments. Work to stay alive. You'll live longer than those who are working to amass "things." People and relationships are more important than the new-fangled 3D television. Refer to commandment #3.
These are my New Year's resolutions. The element of respect is the cornerstone of each of the commandments. I will strive to respect the people around me more this upcoming year. I hope you do the same.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Christmas is the Reason
Two weeks ago, I saw a news story on television relating how the ACLU sent out warnings to local school districts to say "Holidays" vice "Christmas." One of those school districts is in Tennessee. The ACLU and all of the other "holiday" people are in the wrong. It is time to set the record straight.
First, what is a holiday? Consulting the dictionary, holiday can be used as a noun or an adjective. Since the phrase advocated is "happy holidays," the use of 'holiday' is as a noun and not an adjective. Therefore, we will only parse the noun definition of 'holiday'.
From dictionary.com:
1. a day fixed by law or custom on which ordinary business is suspended in commemoration of some event or in honor of some person.
2. any day of exemption from work ( distinguished from working day).
3. a time or period of exemption from any requirement, duty, assessment, etc.: New businesses may be granted a one-year tax holiday.
4. a religious feast day; holy day, esp. any of several usually commemorative holy days observed in Judaism.
5. Sometimes, holidays. Chiefly British . a period of cessation from work or one of recreation; vacation.
The variations of the individual meanings have one thing in common: a day or days off. This means a holiday is a day from which one refrains from work or other requirements. One of the key elements exists in the first definition: "a day fixed by law or custom." So boiling down the definition of holiday to its essence, three elements rise to the top: (1) a day recognized by the law or by custom (2) which is a day off (3) from regular duties or work.
Thus if a so-called 'holiday' does not meet all three elements, the day cannot be classified as a holiday.
Let's evaluate some of the "holidays."
Christmas: December 25th is a day set aside by law (federal and all 50 states) as a holiday. While the United States does not have an official national holiday, several dates are set aside as federal days off. Most states recognize those same dates and may add or subtract from the dates according to customs in the state. But, Christmas is a day set aside by law and custom as a day off from regular duties or work. Thus Christmas is a holiday.
New Year's: Just like Christmas, January 1 is a federal and state day off from work. Thus, New Year's is a holiday.
Hanukkah: Is not set aside by law, but is set aside by custom. Jews celebrate Hanukkah around the world as a celebration of the eight days one day's worth of oil lasted. Unfortunately, the days are not the same every year since the day is set by the lunar calendar and not the Gregorian calendar. Also, Hanukkah is an eight day celebration which does not include a day off from regular duties or work (except for the day one of the eight falls on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath). Thus, Hanukkah only meets the first element and not the other two. Therefore, Hanukkah is not a holiday.
Kwanzaa: Is another week long celebration. Again, this celebration is not recognized by law. It is hard to say if it is even recognized by custom. The celebration was founded in 1966. Although the official website touts the celebrations as being celebrated around the world, the number of people celebrating do not raise the celebration to one of custom. First, the celebration is totally made up. While a celebration of "African" heritage, until Kwanzaa was dreamed up, not a single country or tribe or people of Africa celebrated anything similar to Kwanzaa. Much like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa does not include any official days off from work or other requirements. Kwanzaa does not satisfy any element of a holiday; thus Kwanzaa is not a holiday.
The Winter Solstice: Do I really need to go through this one? Not recognized by law, not recognized by custom (although aspects have been included in Christmas), does not have a day off. Thus, the winter solstice is not a holiday.
This means only Christmas and New Year's can be classified as holidays. Thus to say "Happy Holidays" means "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year." Any attempt to say otherwise signifies a lack of understanding of what a holiday is.
The big reason the ACLU hates Christmas is the religious flavor of Christmas. What a farce on the short-sided and small-minded part of the ACLU! When I was growing up there were two aspects of Christmas: the religious portion and the commercial portion. Merry Christmas was more than wishing someone a good day on the day of Christ's birth. Christmas included Santa Claus and gift giving and Christmas trees and wreaths. Christmas encompasses more than just the birth of Christ.
You must realize that as Christianity spread across Europe, the religious leaders of the time made concessions to "include" the pagans. This made conversion to Christianity easier for the pagans. For example, no one can actually pinpoint the exact date of Christ's birth. (How many shepherds actually tend sheep at night in the winter?) December 25 was chosen in the 800's as the date of Christ's birth. This date occurs around the winter solstice (pagan) and during the celebration of an Egyptian (pagan) celebration. Thus Christmas was an inclusion of other belief systems in an effort to convert to Christianity.
Does that mean the same today? Of course not! With the commercialism of the Christmas season, Christmas encompasses more than just the celebration of Christ's birth. Christmas, while a religious day, is also an American and English tradition. This means saying "Merry Christmas" is not a promotion of a religious day but an acknowledging of good tidings and cheer (attributes the ACLU lacks).
Also, through the years of establishing the tradition of Christmas, Christmas has taken on a different flair than only the religious portion. Christmas has become "generic" to the country (and half the world). By becoming generic, Christmas has lost the religious overtones and become a word for the masses. I bring this up for a reason.
The ACLU is composed of lawyers. To become a lawyer, one has to attend law school. One of the courses in law school is property. One of the subjects of property is the creation of intelligent property, such as trademarks. Companies trademark their slogans (ie California Western School of Law's slogan "The Way Law School Aught to Be" is trademarked) and the symbols which set them apart from their competition. But the law recognizes that after sometime the trademark becomes generic and thus no longer a trademark. For example, Xerox is not a trademark anymore. People can say they xeroxed a document, even on a non-Xerox copier. Other terms fall into this category: aspirin, elevator, and a host of others. The point here, is once something becomes generic, it no longer is owned by one group; it is owned by the society. Lawyers, at least competent ones, should know this. Christmas has become generic. The term no longer belongs to Christians. The term belongs to all of us. Thus the ACLU lawyers are arguing with a weak basis. Obviously, the ACLU has forgotten law school.
Saying Merry Christmas does not promote Christianity. It promotes a season of putting up a pagan Christmas tree and exchanging gifts while spreading good tidings and cheer. It is a season of celebration with the culmination in a legal day off from work. Christmas is the true holiday.
Next time someone says "Happy Holidays" respond with "Merry Christmas to you too." When they try to explain what they mean, instruct them on what a true holiday is. And if you're unlucky enough to encounter an ACLU lawyer, remind them that competent lawyers know property rules and how they seem to have forgotten the essence of property law with respect to generic terms.
Christ may have been the genesis of the season. But, in reality, Christmas is the reason for the season today.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Mike
Some references not listed in the text:
Annual secular and religous celebrations near Christmas time: http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmas_other.htm
The True Origin of Christmas: http://www.thercg.org/books/ttooc.html
The Origin of Christmas: http://www.origin-of-christmas.com/
The Real Story of Christmas: http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Christmas_TheRealStory.htm
Kwanzaa from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa
Christmas from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas
First, what is a holiday? Consulting the dictionary, holiday can be used as a noun or an adjective. Since the phrase advocated is "happy holidays," the use of 'holiday' is as a noun and not an adjective. Therefore, we will only parse the noun definition of 'holiday'.
From dictionary.com:
1. a day fixed by law or custom on which ordinary business is suspended in commemoration of some event or in honor of some person.
2. any day of exemption from work ( distinguished from working day).
3. a time or period of exemption from any requirement, duty, assessment, etc.: New businesses may be granted a one-year tax holiday.
4. a religious feast day; holy day, esp. any of several usually commemorative holy days observed in Judaism.
5. Sometimes, holidays. Chiefly British . a period of cessation from work or one of recreation; vacation.
The variations of the individual meanings have one thing in common: a day or days off. This means a holiday is a day from which one refrains from work or other requirements. One of the key elements exists in the first definition: "a day fixed by law or custom." So boiling down the definition of holiday to its essence, three elements rise to the top: (1) a day recognized by the law or by custom (2) which is a day off (3) from regular duties or work.
Thus if a so-called 'holiday' does not meet all three elements, the day cannot be classified as a holiday.
Let's evaluate some of the "holidays."
Christmas: December 25th is a day set aside by law (federal and all 50 states) as a holiday. While the United States does not have an official national holiday, several dates are set aside as federal days off. Most states recognize those same dates and may add or subtract from the dates according to customs in the state. But, Christmas is a day set aside by law and custom as a day off from regular duties or work. Thus Christmas is a holiday.
New Year's: Just like Christmas, January 1 is a federal and state day off from work. Thus, New Year's is a holiday.
Hanukkah: Is not set aside by law, but is set aside by custom. Jews celebrate Hanukkah around the world as a celebration of the eight days one day's worth of oil lasted. Unfortunately, the days are not the same every year since the day is set by the lunar calendar and not the Gregorian calendar. Also, Hanukkah is an eight day celebration which does not include a day off from regular duties or work (except for the day one of the eight falls on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath). Thus, Hanukkah only meets the first element and not the other two. Therefore, Hanukkah is not a holiday.
Kwanzaa: Is another week long celebration. Again, this celebration is not recognized by law. It is hard to say if it is even recognized by custom. The celebration was founded in 1966. Although the official website touts the celebrations as being celebrated around the world, the number of people celebrating do not raise the celebration to one of custom. First, the celebration is totally made up. While a celebration of "African" heritage, until Kwanzaa was dreamed up, not a single country or tribe or people of Africa celebrated anything similar to Kwanzaa. Much like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa does not include any official days off from work or other requirements. Kwanzaa does not satisfy any element of a holiday; thus Kwanzaa is not a holiday.
The Winter Solstice: Do I really need to go through this one? Not recognized by law, not recognized by custom (although aspects have been included in Christmas), does not have a day off. Thus, the winter solstice is not a holiday.
This means only Christmas and New Year's can be classified as holidays. Thus to say "Happy Holidays" means "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year." Any attempt to say otherwise signifies a lack of understanding of what a holiday is.
The big reason the ACLU hates Christmas is the religious flavor of Christmas. What a farce on the short-sided and small-minded part of the ACLU! When I was growing up there were two aspects of Christmas: the religious portion and the commercial portion. Merry Christmas was more than wishing someone a good day on the day of Christ's birth. Christmas included Santa Claus and gift giving and Christmas trees and wreaths. Christmas encompasses more than just the birth of Christ.
You must realize that as Christianity spread across Europe, the religious leaders of the time made concessions to "include" the pagans. This made conversion to Christianity easier for the pagans. For example, no one can actually pinpoint the exact date of Christ's birth. (How many shepherds actually tend sheep at night in the winter?) December 25 was chosen in the 800's as the date of Christ's birth. This date occurs around the winter solstice (pagan) and during the celebration of an Egyptian (pagan) celebration. Thus Christmas was an inclusion of other belief systems in an effort to convert to Christianity.
Does that mean the same today? Of course not! With the commercialism of the Christmas season, Christmas encompasses more than just the celebration of Christ's birth. Christmas, while a religious day, is also an American and English tradition. This means saying "Merry Christmas" is not a promotion of a religious day but an acknowledging of good tidings and cheer (attributes the ACLU lacks).
Also, through the years of establishing the tradition of Christmas, Christmas has taken on a different flair than only the religious portion. Christmas has become "generic" to the country (and half the world). By becoming generic, Christmas has lost the religious overtones and become a word for the masses. I bring this up for a reason.
The ACLU is composed of lawyers. To become a lawyer, one has to attend law school. One of the courses in law school is property. One of the subjects of property is the creation of intelligent property, such as trademarks. Companies trademark their slogans (ie California Western School of Law's slogan "The Way Law School Aught to Be" is trademarked) and the symbols which set them apart from their competition. But the law recognizes that after sometime the trademark becomes generic and thus no longer a trademark. For example, Xerox is not a trademark anymore. People can say they xeroxed a document, even on a non-Xerox copier. Other terms fall into this category: aspirin, elevator, and a host of others. The point here, is once something becomes generic, it no longer is owned by one group; it is owned by the society. Lawyers, at least competent ones, should know this. Christmas has become generic. The term no longer belongs to Christians. The term belongs to all of us. Thus the ACLU lawyers are arguing with a weak basis. Obviously, the ACLU has forgotten law school.
Saying Merry Christmas does not promote Christianity. It promotes a season of putting up a pagan Christmas tree and exchanging gifts while spreading good tidings and cheer. It is a season of celebration with the culmination in a legal day off from work. Christmas is the true holiday.
Next time someone says "Happy Holidays" respond with "Merry Christmas to you too." When they try to explain what they mean, instruct them on what a true holiday is. And if you're unlucky enough to encounter an ACLU lawyer, remind them that competent lawyers know property rules and how they seem to have forgotten the essence of property law with respect to generic terms.
Christ may have been the genesis of the season. But, in reality, Christmas is the reason for the season today.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Mike
Some references not listed in the text:
Annual secular and religous celebrations near Christmas time: http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmas_other.htm
The True Origin of Christmas: http://www.thercg.org/books/ttooc.html
The Origin of Christmas: http://www.origin-of-christmas.com/
The Real Story of Christmas: http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Christmas_TheRealStory.htm
Kwanzaa from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa
Christmas from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas
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