On Apr 10, 2013, at 3:55 PM, Larry Colen <[email protected]> wrote: > On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 03:43:48PM -0400, Daniel J. Matyola wrote: >> "Do you mean like the right to not have the government telling you >> when, where, why & how to pray, along with who to pray to?" >> >> I have many complaints about our government, but they have never told >> me when, where, why and how to pray, or to whom to pray." > > I grew up as one of very few jews in the schools that I went to. > > I always felt uncomfortable around Christmas because one of the class > activities > was singing Christmas carols. Christmas carols are, in effect, prayers, > at the very least statements of belief in Christ as the son of God. > > At 52, I am perhaps a little more flexible in my beliefs, but back in > grade school, it sure felt like I was being coerced into praying to > gods that I didn't believe in. > > Granted, if you're a Christian, Christmas singing carols might not seem like > praying to you. But how would you have felt if everyone else in your class was > participating in Muslim or Hindu rituals? >
I agree that as a nation we have been insensitive to the beliefs of others, and in some places we still are. At Grace's school they sing Christmas carols and Hannukah songs. And they observe Muslim holidays as well. They have a Christmas tree and a Menorah during the winter season. Or should I say a holiday tree and holiday candle holder:-). Seriously, kids like holidays, and most of them seem to enjoy every bit of it. Discussions of minority beliefs accompany the festivities. Grace's mother hasn't given her any religious instruction or experience. That's fine with me, and she seems quite content. But she did once make a crèche at Christmas. I think she just liked playing with the figures. And she made a menorah at school. Why not. > -- > PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List > [email protected] > http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net > to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow > the directions. -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
