| 
|
Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
| Total Views: 4,939,429
|
Article: 18599
[Legal]
Date Posted:
9/29/2007
7:25:47 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 7,200
RSS: 13,320
Comments: 15
|
Conservative Christian’s ‘War On Halloween’ Fails In Court
Author: Morbo Source: The Carpetbagger Report (blog)
Title: CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN’S ‘WAR ON HALLOWEEN’ FAILS IN COURT
A psychoanalyst could plumb the depths of the human psyche and explain why we need a holiday like Halloween. I suppose, deep down inside, we all know we’re going to die some day. Adults deal with that in part by playing footsie with the dark side for one night a year.
For kids I think the explanation is a lot simpler: You get to wear a cool costume and are showered with free candy. What’s not to like?
I know that some people are bothered by Halloween — but that doesn’t mean they get to spoil everyone else’s fun. I also know the holiday has ancient, pre-Christian roots — but that doesn’t mean it’s a religious holiday today. One needs to look at how the culture celebrates the holiday, and in America, Halloween long ago became secular.
That’s why I think a federal court made the right call recently in a case challenging Halloween decorations at a government building in Puerto Rico. The judge rejected the claims of a Pentecostal Christian employee who argued that the decorations establish paganism.
| Options: [Read Full Story] [Comments Locked]
[Email to a Friend]
|
|
Community Thoughts: There are 15 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| I Never Hear About Halloween | Oct 1st. at 10:14:59 pm EDT
|
Rubyglare (Sacramento, California) - Email Me
depression, like the known Xmas blues. I'm glad the judge ruled partially against her, she's not being genuine about why she dislikes Halloween (her religion tells her) ; Halloween is getting bigger every year, even France started celebrating it last year. It's a fun day where looking bad is a good thing, plus there's that candy..
|
| What A Strange Person! | Oct 1st. at 8:21:08 pm EDT
|
Maplecrow (Tucson, Arizona) - Email Me
I think she made a poor attempt at enforcing everyone to see her sole viewpoint. The judge used common sense.
It just goes to show how insecure people can be in their faith. So much so, she had to use a screaming carpet mat as an example??? The only thing making a "horrific scream" is the religious right not being favored in the final decision.
|
| Gee Lighten Up! | Oct 1st. at 8:55:56 am EDT
|
foreverknightfan (Dardanelle, Arkansas) - Email Me
Okay, bear in mind that the fundy Xians have been preaching against Halloween since the late eighties. Usual stuff, with inaccuracies, as Kerr Cuhulain has shown. They even for awhile had their own " Hell House" prepackaged tour kit where people see "sinners" get it and at the end there's the encouragment to get "saved". They even have their "fall festival" which tries to get all the "scary stuff" away while in essence doing the same blasted thing everyone else does on Halloween.
Plain and simple, its an excuse for them to cause a fuss. They can't get their religion ONLY as the only one allowed, so they get into hissy fits about what they CLAIM are other faiths being accepted. This is the time of the year, folks , when Wiccan speakers get the most attention from the media. Pumpkins, goblins, trick or treat, Wiccans, Xian scrooges....heck without them what's the fun?
After Samhain/Halloween is over, guess what they are going to say about Christmas time. No " Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" are good enough for these folks. You know the slogans.
I dunno, the screaming doormat sounds kinda cool. In a political year you could claim politicians or pundits are under there. Well they tend to live under rocks..... :-)
|
| Some People | Sep 30th. at 10:26:47 am EDT
|
Fraoch (Shelby, North Carolina) - Email Me
I am appalled by the over inflated idealism of some people. Why do people, who claim to be awakened and to have cast off the shackles of darkness remain so blithely ignorant.
(I proof read this, just to note, but apparently given my last several posts, proofing hasn't helped much. Therefore, forgive any ridiculously stupid errors) .
|
| Oh Come On, Fess Up | Sep 30th. at 2:24:25 am EDT
|
Shadowbear (Hillsboro, Oregon) - Email Me
You all worship ghosts, goblins, vampires and spacemen right? Isn't that what pagan religiions are all about? We worship the sugar daddy as well, right? Don't you dress up your kids as gods and send them out to collect the sugar sacrifice?
Well, until you do, halloween isn't a religious holiday.
Samhain is. It is not celebrated in that fashion - but the costumes and candy are sure fun - the fact that they come at the same time of year does not make the halloween celebration a religious one.
|
| Hallowe'en, Religious????? | Sep 30th. at 1:56:00 am EDT
|
nasionnaich (Stanchfield, Minnesota) - Email Me
I had absolutely no idea that hallowe'en was a "religious holiday"! I mean, I know that it may have started as one, but I didn't know that it still was one. Hoodathunkit?
I agree that a screaming doormat would jangle anybody's nerves, and they probably should not be allowed at work, but simply hanging a cut-out piece of paper masquerading as a skeleton does not a Pagan make. For those who are not poetically inclined: The act of hanging a paper cut-out skeleton does not make you a Pagan. Heck, if it did, I would now be a Jew just because I hung a paper cut-out Star-of-David in my car last year... For the record, I am not a Jew.
I have come across this type of discrimination, personally, even though it was not religiously based. I hung a calendar in my work-space, one devoted to cute, furry animals accompanied by scantily-clad females of the Human persuasion. Hey, don't look at me like that, they were all decently dressed in 1950's-style bikinis. (Not the animals, the women. The animals were all nude, but that was somehow overlooked...) I was accused of being a sexist pig, yet my accuser had a picture of a scantily-clad man in her military-issue dorm room..... Ok, I made that up because it sounds good and is a bit funny as well, but my room-mate in Alaska (US Air Force, c. 1984) did put up a picture advertisement dealing with First Amendment Rights and was told to take it down -- because it included a swastika; I think the ad was from Time Magazine. THAT is the truth.
Did Coraly Rosa-Ruiz have the right to complain about the Hallowe'en decorations? Yes. Was she right in taking her case to court? Perhaps, although it is my opinion that she did take it a bit too far. Was she trying to push her personal religious views on her co-workers? Definitely. Was anyone trying to push their religious views on her? No, because Hallowe'en is not a religious holiday. As far as religious discrimination is concerned -- I am surprised that she didn't take anyone to court for religious harrassment.
She is, after all, a Pentecostal minority in a Catholic majority territory.
----nasionnaich
|
| NOT THE SCREAMING DOORMAT!!! | Sep 29th. at 11:58:20 pm EDT
|
Shortcake (Sullivan, Missouri) - Email Me - Web
seriously, bats and goblins? I don't recall putting a goblin on my alter.
When it comes to public establishments, Halloween isn't about Paganism. Its about dressing in a costume and getting candy. Its about having fun, and laughing and the spooky things. When we celebrate Samhain, we do it at home-not in the middle of some buisness.
We had a similar problem last year with a girl who would come in and rip down any Halloween decorations, due to her Pentecostal beliefs. Unfortunately for her, the boss decided by her doing that, SHE was the one forcing beliefs.
Find More info -- HERE
|
| The Evil Decorations Are Out To Get Me. | Sep 29th. at 10:42:06 pm EDT
|
bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
The last line says it all. Secular decorations for any holiday do not constitute any endorsement of religious belief. A child dressing up as Dracula for Halloween does not constitute a worship of vampires any more than a christmas tree constitutes a worship of xtianity.
But you know -some folk are not happy until they can ruin a holiday for everyone else simply because they don't believe in it, citing all kinds of garbage as reasons to justify their hatred of other people's joy in life.
While I can understand a problem with being harassed for not liking the decorations- there is often more to the story. She probably tore them down or made harassing and disparaging remarks about them and those who hung them up. in which case I can't feel sorry for her.
When it's a Fundie, they usually create their own problems to complain about- then wonder why people don't automatically fall in line with their thinking- because they believe that everyone else is at fault and the they themselves are forever innocent of any wrongdoing.
Here we go again.
|
| Screaming Rug Is A Bit Much | Sep 29th. at 10:13:11 pm EDT
|
Lune Argentee (Hayward, California) - Email Me
I think that would drive me crazy. Someone hung one of those evil, laughing, crypt creatures at work and it drove me nuts after about an hour. They finally turned off the sound.
Otherwise, she really needs to get a life, a life that involves something more than praying and crying and begging for the super happy, shiny one with wings she thinks she's going to get when she dies.
|
| Sad | Sep 29th. at 8:17:49 pm EDT
|
Kate (Athens, Georgia) - Email Me
You can make all the nasty comments you want (I'd agree with most) but the bottom line is that these people really believe all the nonsense they spew. They have been so brain washed they can no longer think for themselves. That's not what their jesus taught. They have been lead down their strange path by a bunch of power grabbers who saw the dispair in these people's lives and capitalized on it. They have been used and are too stupid to realize it.
How different their lives would be if just one leader emerged who would give them hope in THIS life. But would they be smart enough to follow this new leader? Probably not.
I once worked for a man who loved being miserable. He spent his entire day looking for someone or something to 'do him wrong'. AND he wanted to share the misery with everyone else. He was a real joy!
|
| ... | Sep 29th. at 8:04:06 pm EDT
|
Draken (Bronx, New York) - Email Me - Web
They can do away with Halloween all they want to, but they can't touch Samhain and they know it.
|
Disclaimer: The Witches' Voice inc does not verify the accuracy of the details stated in this listing, nor do we vouch for the value of the goods or services presented here... As with all contacts and financial dealings in cyberspace, we encourage you to use caution and wisdom in your dealings with strangers.
Political Statements: Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren's Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches' Voice, Inc. TWV is a non-profit, non-partisan educational organization.
|
State/Country flags created by 3dflags.com and are used with permission
Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2009 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.
Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh G5.
Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren’s Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches’ Voice, Inc. TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.
Sponsorship: Visit the Witches' Voice Sponsor Page for info on how you
can help support this Community Resource. Donations ARE Tax Deductible.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.
Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.
| |
