am I the pot? and a poll.

[derien]

Okay, I've done it to a few people on occasion - I have forwarded things that assumed that all my friends and relations had the same moral standpoint that I did, and been gently reminded that such was not the case. 

I realize that I tend to get tetchy around this time of the year, but I contend it's because I get subjected to that attitude over and over every year - people assuming that I must be a Christian, and regardless of whether I am or not they're going to insist that this evergreen be called a "Christmas Tree," and that everyone should say "Merry Christmas."  As if the only reason anyone should ever use a tree to decorate their house, or have a midwinter holiday were if they were celebrating the birth of Christ.  I've always said "Merry Christmas" because I've always thought of it as a general holiday, not really related to any particular religion, but I'm seriously considering making a conscious effort this year to say only "Happy Holidays," because I'm getting so damned SICK of this. 

I find the Bible-quoting cards vaguely nigglingly annoying, but I try to accept them in the spirit they were intended - I'm pretty sure they don't mean to offend me and that from their standpoint they're sending me wishes such as they would like to receive, which is treating me by the Golden Rule.  Honestly, what's so difficult about finding nondenominational cards?  I seem to manage it every year.  In fact I always overbuy Christmas holiday (damn it's going to be hard to break a habit of a lifetime) cards because there's so much pretty.  I much more appreciate the people who say "What sort of card would you like to receive?"  (I love you, my f-list!!), because that's following more the spirit rather than the letter of the Golden Rule.  And to all of you I want to say, send me whatever YOU like, because I like you and I'll be happy with whatever you send me.

And what sent me off on this rant, you may ask?  The following two emails - which were from people I like, so I don't want to jump down their throats. 

The other day I got this...


This is a Christmas tree.
It is not a Hanukkah bush,
it is not an Allah plant,
it is not a Holiday hedge.
It is a Christmas tree.

Say it... CHRISTmas , CHRISTmas , CHRISTmas
Yes. CHRISTmas - celebrating the Birth of Jesus Christ!!! Take a stand and
pass this on !!

To which I responded:

Er, well.  I'm not going to be taking any such stand, because I'm not a Christian.

And last night I got (from a different person)...
ETA: ACLU = the American Civil Liberties Union - the people who Americans can apply to if they feel their own special group is being discriminated against.

Fun with the ACLU - Send them a CHRISTMAS CARD  this year.

As they are working so very hard to get rid of the CHRISTMAS part of
this holiday, we should all send them a nice, CHRISTIAN card to
brighten up their dark, sad world.
Make sure it says "Merry Christmas" on it.  Here's the address, just
don't be rude or crude. (It's not the Christian way, you know!)

A.C.L.U.
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004

Two tons of Christmas cards would freeze their operations because
they wouldn't know if any were regular mail containing
contributions.  So spend 39 cents and tell the ACLU to leave
Christmas alone.  Also tell them that there is no such thing as a
"Holiday Tree"...It's a Christmas Tree even in the fields!  And pass
this on to your email lists.  We really want to communicate with the
ACLU!  They really DESERVE us!!!

To which I responded:

I'm not up to it.  I think I'll just wire money.

*sigh*  Do I feel better for ranting and being a bit snarky to people?  Yeah, a little.  It doesn't change the problem - that we have way too much polarization around religion in this country. 

And the best part is, I can almost bet that after all this someone is going to want to ask me "Well, what religion ARE you?"  I am not.  I think it's absolute hubris to assume that if there is any supreme being we mere puny mortals can know anything at all about what They want.  I guess I'm an agnostic, because I only seek to accept the fact that I don't know anything.  I just want to be left to practice my absence of religion in peace. 

/end rant.

And now, because I did it already and I might as well post something that's not a rant,

1. What time did you get up this morning?   

0545

2. Diamonds or Pearls? 

Ha!  Pearls, if I could have them, but I don't get that kind of action. :)  [I'm sure the person who sent me this poll was not thinking about Jill Sobule's "I Kissed a Girl," but that was what was going through my head - "They can have our diamonds, we'll have our pearls."]

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?   

Pirates of the Caribbean 2?  Wait, I think I lie.  Perhaps it was A Prairie Home Companion.

4. What is your favorite TV show?   

I don't really have one at the moment because I don't watch TV.  I do have the DVD set of the first season of Malcome In The Middle, and I'd buy more if they'd become available.

5. What did you have for breakfast? 

It depends.  Right now I'm having rice cooked in canned milk until it's smushy, with butter and honey, Lady Grey tea (like Earl Grey only less oil of bergamot), but later I'll have rice cooked with eggs, for my protein before work.  Some days it's scrambled eggs and tapioca toast.  Some days it's leftovers.  It depends on what's laying around. 

6. What is your middle name? 

Some of you know.  I was named after a character in a book.

7. What is your favorite cuisine?   

Indian or Chinese.

8. What foods do you dislike? 

Peas.  Actually, there's a lot of things I'd rather not eat, given a choice, but I never think of them until I'm faced with them. 

9. Your favorite Potato chip?   

Cape Cod

10. What is your favorite CD at the moment? 

Beat Soup, "Start From Scratch" - it's been my favorite for probably seven years.

11. What kind of car do you drive?   

Chevy Aveo.

12. Favorite sandwich? 

Oh to be able to eat sandwiches.  I used to love the roasted chicken breast at Subway, on honey wheat, with only the tiniest whisper of mustard and smothered in green peppers.  I don't even know if they have the same honey wheat anymore.

13. What characteristics do you despise? 

Rudeness.   

14?

Yes.  No?

15. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where WOULDN'T you go? 

I was going to say "Anywhere they kidnap Americans on a regular basis," but then I recalled that I've seriously talked about visiting my uncle in Columbia.  I'd prefer to stay away from places where there's fighting going on, because dead bodies are not on the top of my list for sights I must see.

16. Favorite brand of clothing? 

I wear a lot of L.L. Bean, but if I had a family member who worked for Old Navy I'd probably be happier. ;) 

17. Where would you want to retire? 

De islands, mon!

18. Favorite time of day? 

Chillin' in the evening with my sweetie.

19. Where were you born?   

Maine

20. What is your favorite sport to watch? 

People going through the exit doors.

21. Who do you think will not send this back? 

Since I'm not sending it to anyone besides the person who sent it to me, I think everyone won't send it back.

22. Person you expect to send it back first? 

see above

23. Pepsi or Coke? 

Coke, never never Pepsi, please!  I'd rather have gingerale.

24. Beavers or Ducks?   

Beavers.

25. Are you a morning person or night owl? 

Night owl, definitely.

26. Pedicure or Manicure?

Neither, please - keep away from my fingers and toes with the instruments of torture.

27. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? 

I managed to finish a short story in November and post it.  That made me happy. 

28. What did you want to be when you were little? 

A writer and/or illustrator.

29. What is your best childhood memory? 

The day I got a puppy.

30. Piercings? 

I did have holes in my ears, but they might have healed over.

31. Ever been to Africa ? 

No.

32. Ever been toilet papering? 

Once.  got caught. 

33. Been in a car accident? 

Lots.  Mostly with Mom driving.

34. Favorite season? 

Spring, closely followed by Fall. 

35. Favorite restaurant?   

Norm's on Congress St. 

36. Favorite flower?   

Lilacs.

37. Favorite ice cream? 

The kind that I'm eating. 

38. Favorite Fast Food?   

Wendy's.

39. How many times did you fail your drivers test? 

Once.

40. From whom did you get your last e-mail? 

Steffie, a sweet woman I used to work with.

41. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? 

Whyever would I want to max out my credit card?  I hate spending money.

42. Bedtime? 

2200 (10PM).

43. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? 

I can't decide. 

44. Last person you went to dinner with? 

Eor

45. What are you listening to right now?   

The hum of the computer and the fridge.  Cars and planes in the distance.  The tick of the kitchen clock.

46. What is your favorite color? 

I'm hopelessly devoted to green.

47. How many tattoos do you have? 

None.

48. How many people are you sending this to? 

Only the person who sent it to me.  I may post it somewhere that other people can respond to it if they want to.  Though I think I'll take out the questions that give out too much information - my middle name and place of birth. 

49. Favorite magazine?

Asimov's Science Fiction.

50. What time did you finish this e-mail? 

0720.


The Grim Squeaker wishes you a Happy Hogswatch! :)

Comments

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

What's ACLU?

I always used to say Happy Christmas as well. I was brought up in a family aetheists, but made to partake in the religious stuff at school just so I would'nt stick out (some day I'll show you a pic of me in my First Holy Communion outfit). Southern Ireland when I was growing up was full of "post-Catholics" and pretend Catholics and the odd aetheist and of course the genuine Catholics and if you were of another religion you were treated like an alien. I remember the one Mormon girl in school, what aan awful time she got! Anyway, despite this everyone celebrated Christmas insofar as turkey, presents, lights and all that goes. I never copped that the c-r-i-s-t at the start of the word meant Christ back in those days.

When I was older I started writing it as xmas. For some reason this year I've been feeling that "Xmas" is a bit crude. I'm not worried that it's insulting the other spelling or anything! It's my (and yours) holiday as much as anyones elses after all!

Nowadays, I long for something similar to "Happy Holidays" as well. We have no such phrase though, and anyone other than an American saying that phrase would sound preposterous (plus it would be really obvious that you were making an anti-religious point, I want a subtle non-denominational happy holidays phrase to creep in!)

[derien.livejournal.com]

Oh, ACLU - sorry! - is the American Civil Liberties Union. Anyone who feels that their particular group is being systematically discriminated against can apply to them for legal help, which is funded by donations. Which is why I said I would send them money rather than a card. :) At some point everyone feels that the ACLU is doing 'the wrong' thing, because you can't please all of the people all of the time. If you take any stand (which they will - any stand that needs taking) you'll piss someone off.

[kryptyd.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I could have googled that. You explanation was more concise than goole would have been And if I had I might have got people urging me to send them (the ACLU) a falsely nice card!

[mizzmarvel.livejournal.com]

I LOVE how Christians assume they're being threatened just because some people are trying to suggest that we not shove Christmas down everyone's throat, religion be damned. Okay guys, look. Your morals run this country; I don't think you're going to be toppled over as Religion With Power anytime soon.

I do celebrate Christmas, even though I don't consider myself a Christian anymore. But man, sometimes the culture's fixation on it can even get to me.

[derien.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I've struggled with this every year of my life. When I was a kid I varied between confusion and seething, quiet hatred (I remember sitting in church staring at my feet and changing all the references to Our Father to Our Mother in my head - I have no idea how old I was. Older than 6, younger than 13.), but as I get older I just get more and more annoyed, and less willing to put up with it.

BTW, I only just figured out that your icon is Santa Clause's boot in someone's face. *is slow* Who's face and what's all the red behind?

[mizzmarvel.livejournal.com]

The face is of Ralphie, the narrator of A Christmas Story, and the red is the slide he's about to be pushed down.

[derien.livejournal.com]

Wait, wait! The movie about the kid who wants the Red Rider BB Gun?? I don't remember that bit! But then again it's been years and years since I saw it, and I can't convince Eor to watch it. He's ... just not convinced by my descriptions.

[mizzmarvel.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's the one! You should totally watch it again; it's my favorite Christmas movie ever.

[fozzie33.livejournal.com]

I'm the same way when it comes to cards/wishes. I try to take them in the spirit they're given and give mine without any religious affiliation. Like last year, I found some lovely hand-printed cards that simply said "Peace".

And I try to remind the Xtians of the true "true meaning" of Xmas: Pagan solstice celebration. This whole "baby Jesus' birthday" didn't come around until the 330's.

But that's not to say that I go out of my way to be a jerk. With religion in general, as long as you're not in my face with yours, I won't be with the lack of mine. My girl's family is very religious, like we pray before family meals--even in restaurants. I bow my head and go along out of respect because they're just genuinely good people. I even go to church with them when I'm there, again out of respect. I just got a sympathy card for my grandma from them, and they mentioned my dad, too, and how they're praying for both of us; I'll thank them and be glad they are.

If someone says "Merry/Happy Christmas" to me, that's fine. I say it sometimes, too. Sometimes it just helps things go by more smoothly, like in checkout lines. I'm not going to get into a theological debate while I'm trying to buy a pair of socks in a overcrowded department store. But if someone starts telling me about Jesus and how it's his birthday and I'm bad for not using that as the reason to be out conspicuously consuming... then it's on. I'm doing my American duty and shopping, thank you very much. And isn't that what really brings us all toghether this season?

[derien.livejournal.com]

I'm doing my American duty and shopping, thank you very much. And isn't that what really brings us all toghether this season?


Heh, I'm also a total infidel as far as that's concerned. I haven't shopped a drop. ;)

[fozzie33.livejournal.com]

You've obviously forgotten the TRUE true "true meaning" of Xmas.

:p

[soda-and-capes.livejournal.com]

Agnostics represent! :)

Oh, and I'm curious: Why can't you eat sandwiches?

[derien.livejournal.com]

I haven't managed to get any diagnosis as celiac, but wheat seems to bother me. As in, tremenjous gassy pains whenever I eat something made with wheat (doughnuts, cookies, pizza crust, to name a few things that came my way yesterday when I was hungry and low of resistance). But bread seems to be the absolute worst thing. I will end up not sleeping well for several days, which is debilitating, and walking around feeling like I'm following my bloated stomach, and just generally IN PAIN. It's no fun at all.

[soda-and-capes.livejournal.com]

Ah, ok, that's what I was wondering, because my mom has celiac.

[cerisier.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, I consider myself a Christian, but I'm sure not starting an email campaign about it. o_o

Although of course the holiday has religious significance for me, I'm perfectly aware that's not the case for everyone. It's much more than a Christian celebration, anyway; more of a convenient occasion for everyone to get presents and be nice. So I'm sure I've used some Christian references when talking during/about the holidays, without meaning to offend (no bible verses or anything, though XD) - now I'll be extra careful what I say to whom. :)

[derien.livejournal.com]

I think most people take a "Merry Christmas! :)" in the spirit it's offered, but I guess you never can know when someone's been bombarded, as I have, and is about to snap with it.

[licking-suntan.livejournal.com]

I'm definitely a "happy holidays" person and I choose cards with snowmen or some other nice wintery picture, especially since as an adult my circle of friends and family has grown to include people who celebrate Hannukah and/or Winter Solstice instead of/along with Christmas. Like Fozz said, I'm not going to cause a scene if someone wishes me "Merry Christmas" at Target but if pressed or badgered I could muster up a good fight about it. I celebrate Christmas, but try not to assume everyone else does too. As a person raised Catholic, though, it's a hard habit to break and it's mostly the last couple of years that I've become aware of trying to break it.

RE: Sandwiches. If you have a Whole Foods nearby, it's worth a trip to get some of their GF Bakery bread. It makes the most delicious grilled-cheese sandwiches.

[derien.livejournal.com]

I've seen no reason to try to break the habit until this year, and I will still argue that it's not right for stores to force employees to say "Happy Holidays" and NOT "Merry Christmas" because people just don't get why they're being asked that. It's not this innocuous phrase that's the problem, it's that in a person's own life they may be getting pressures like this.

subject required, apparently.

[derien.livejournal.com]

Oh, whups - I meant to say, also:

We don't have a Whole Foods, yet, but we soon will. :) I have found that I can make a pretty decent sandwitch with tapioca bread, but it's inconvenient to know that if I try to just stop and pick up a random sandwich because I'm hungry, I'll pay for it, later. I have to really think ahead more, and I'm failing at it, big time. My stomach has been messed up badly all week. :P

and now LJ says it didn't post this because I didn't put a subject in. You'll probably get it twice.

[holyschist.livejournal.com]

they're going to insist that this evergreen be called a "Christmas Tree," and that everyone should say "Merry Christmas." As if the only reason anyone should ever use a tree to decorate their house, or have a midwinter holiday were if they were celebrating the birth of Christ.

VERY well put. This is all driving me extra-nuts this year (my first Christmas in Fundieville)--yeah, I call it a Christmas tree, but these days I celebrate Secular Agnostic Christmas, which doesn't have a whole lot to do with the birth of Christ (which is, after all, sort of a Muslim holiday, too--the birth of the prophet Issa). Holidays, plural, recognizes that this time of year also has Chanukkah and the Winter Solstice, among other holidays. But respecting other religions is not really a tenant of Christianity, at least not a specific one, and many Christians seem to feel they're failing if they don't make obnoxious, snide conversion attempts at everyone who says "Happy Holidays."

I don't buy holiday-themed cards much, so any cards that get sent out this year will mostly likely have butterflies and dragonflies and Japanese paintings and Renaissance women and pretty geometric things on them. Unless I get around to making cute cards of my cats trying to eat the ribbon off the presents.

I think every time someone says "Merry Christmas" to me this year I'm going to say "Happy Solstice" back.

[holyschist.livejournal.com]

P.S. Jesus would have sent a check to the ACLU. How is it "Christian" to try to willfully obstruct the work of an organization that protects the rights of minorities?

[derien.livejournal.com]

Yay! Good answer! :) I think I might try that one on him. He wrote back saying something like "glad you can afford it," so I could respond "well, money is tight, but it's what Jesus would do."

[(Anonymous)]

20. What is your favorite sport to watch?

People going through the exit door
----
My fav answer:-)
LTA

[derien.livejournal.com]

Hee!! Endless hours of enjoyment. ;)