It's time...
|
| Author | Content |
|---|---|
| nicsmr Dec 22, 2009 11:23 AM EDT |
The time of the year is fast approaching where we should all set aside our differences, set aside our weapons even if it’s for just a few hours, think of our families, friends and of those who can’t be with their’s and wish each other Merry Christmas and a great New Year. And to those who do not believe, Season’s Greetings and all the best. Linux will still be there after the holidays... Nick. |
| caitlyn Dec 22, 2009 11:28 AM EDT |
Well... some of us believe, just not in Christianity. I don't think you meant to exclude us :) Have a very happy, healthy, and meaningful holiday season. |
| nicsmr Dec 22, 2009 11:56 AM EDT |
I meant to include everybody. Sorry you took it the other way. |
| caitlyn Dec 22, 2009 12:03 PM EDT |
@nicsmr: I didn't take it the other way. I know what you meant and I actually do appreciate it. As I said I don't think you meant to exclude anyone. Your choice of language wasn't the best but that didn't cover up your good intentions. |
| tuxchick Dec 22, 2009 12:07 PM EDT |
Well whatever the heck anyone calls it, I intend to have a good one! :D |
| dinotrac Dec 22, 2009 12:32 PM EDT |
If we weren't so darned prickly, it would be a whole lot easier. I remember saying "bless you" when a friend and fellow Linux enthusiast sneezed at Linux world New York lo these many years ago. He told me he didn't believe in God, felt no need for a god, etc, and that "bless you" was offensive to him. I told him that, from my belief system, "bless you" was expressing recognition that he had sneezed and hope that he would suffer no ill effects from whatever may have caused it. He was free to translate God's blessing to white cells fighting furiously, but I wasn't about to become insincere or defensive about my beliefs. Nor would I take offense if he offered up a , "Hope that immune system's working for you" when I sneezed. He smiled and never brought it up again. |
| caitlyn Dec 22, 2009 2:30 PM EDT |
I plead guilty to being prickly about Christmas. It wasn't always so. A few years back some in the religious right in this country (read some, probably a small minority, of outspoken fundamentalist Christians) started making a big push against diversity and stressing how Christian the United States was at its founding and should still be. They went so far as to decry the fact that the post office issues Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Eid stamps. Some even made the (false) claim that the post office would stop issuing Christmas stamps. Some talk show hosts of that background come out against saying "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" every year, insisting again that we are a "Christian nation" instead of a diverse nation with a Christian majority. So... as a member of a religious minority I felt and still feel that I'm under assault at this time of year. I'm being portrayed as somehow not American enough or not a real American because I don't celebrate Christmas. I find such views to be bigotry disguised as patriotism and religious observance. So, yes, I'm prickly... I also know that those views which do upset me are not held by the majority of Americans regardless of their political views or religious beliefs. Rather it is an effort by a few to drive wedges between us. I don't begrudge Christmas for those who celebrate it. I hope all of you who do have a Merry Christmas. |
| bigg Dec 22, 2009 2:44 PM EDT |
Christmas is a day. You can indeed have a merry Christmas, even if you don't celebrate it. |
| caitlyn Dec 22, 2009 3:11 PM EDT |
I was brought up being told "Christmas is not for us". Of course, bigg, you're right. I know that for many Israelis Christmas is an excuse to throw a party, not a religious thing at all. |
| jdixon Dec 22, 2009 3:39 PM EDT |
> I don't begrudge Christmas for those who celebrate it. Unfortunately, many seem to. Why nativity scenes have to bother so many people is beyond me, but having one where there's any publc activity or access seems verboten now. |
| gus3 Dec 22, 2009 4:30 PM EDT |
Quoting:having one where there's any publc activity or access seems verboten now.Except in San José, CA, where city council tried to ban a crèche on the square, but then put up a statue of Tepoztecatl (sp?) for a Mexican fiesta of some sort. Lawsuits ensued, and the next winter there was a crèche on the square. |
| dinotrac Dec 22, 2009 4:32 PM EDT |
Who complained about Hannukah stamps? I don't remember anything like that. I do remember (and share) and share complaints about taking Christmas out of the holidays. The holiday is, in fact, and has been from the start, Christmas. The fact that other celebrate other holidays in the same time period bothers me not a whit. |
| caitlyn Dec 22, 2009 5:42 PM EDT |
@dino: It was a few years back but I did blog about it and link to sources in my old blog. If it's important to you I can find it. |
| montezuma Dec 22, 2009 6:56 PM EDT |
Happy Christmas everyone! I am an atheist with Jewish ancestry (I think) but I love Christmas. I am also an Australian and everyone knows Australians don't get their undies in a wedgie over such matters. |
| gus3 Dec 22, 2009 7:25 PM EDT |
Heh. Greek Orthodox here, except that I'm Scots on both sides. (And a good Scotch on the inside...) |
| Scott_Ruecker Dec 22, 2009 9:19 PM EDT |
I believe in myself, but I do not worship myself..that would be a little pompous methinks. But any of you are welcome to worship me, I am not uncomfortable with that at all.. ;-) |
| cybergal Dec 22, 2009 9:38 PM EDT |
If you update the calendar reference of 2007, this greeting should cover all bases. If not, add yours. Have a good one, everyone! http://www.dezert-rose.com/humor/christmas/bestwishes.html |
| tuxchick Dec 22, 2009 9:54 PM EDT |
Oh Scott, I've been worshiping you from afar for lo these many years. cybergal, the classics are always the best! |
| tracyanne Dec 22, 2009 10:00 PM EDT |
Quoting:I believe in myself, but I do not worship myself..that would be a little pompous methinks. Ph but Scott your special. |
| gus3 Dec 22, 2009 10:36 PM EDT |
I'll agree, Scott is special, but... Did he ride the special bus to school? |
| hkwint Dec 23, 2009 8:14 AM EDT |
Happy Christmas to everybody! (And to those who don't care about Christmas, happy Friday 25th!) And may the 25th bring some peace to this world, even though only for a short period of time. |
| gus3 Dec 23, 2009 9:31 AM EDT |
And Happy Birthday to everyone whose special day is any time between Dec. 15th and Jan. 2nd. |
| DrGeoffrey Dec 23, 2009 11:10 AM EDT |
(If I may de-cloak for just this one post.) Happy holidays to all! (Cloaking device re-enabled.) |
| Scott_Ruecker Dec 23, 2009 1:29 PM EDT |
While I agree that i am special, I most certainly did not ride the special bus..unless we we're all riding it and I just didn't notice..;-) |
| gus3 Dec 23, 2009 1:35 PM EDT |
Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider won't be observing the holidays this year. Because observing something alters its quantum state... |
| jezuch Dec 23, 2009 4:50 PM EDT |
Quoting:Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider won't be observing the holidays this year. http://xkcd.com/679/ |
| montezuma Dec 23, 2009 4:57 PM EDT |
jezuch,
Also due to the Penrose "cosmic censorship" hypothesis, the imminent creation of a blackhole by the LHC means that shortly there will be no further observing to do in anycase. Black enough for you? |
| jdixon Dec 24, 2009 5:39 PM EDT |
And since that time is now upon some of us, and soon to be upon the rest, allow me to wish all LXer readers everywhere a most joyous Christmas, New Year, and general holiday season. |
| vect Dec 25, 2009 1:23 AM EDT |
Merry Christmas to my favorite lxers: Caitlyn, Bob, Gus3 and TuxChick. This bud's for you! |
| Bob_Robertson Dec 25, 2009 10:46 AM EDT |
Happy Zagmuk, Vect. Thanks for the kind word. That pretty much includes everyone, while offending no one. Quite out of character, I know, but hey, it's Zagmuk. |
| gus3 Dec 25, 2009 10:57 AM EDT |
Thanks, vect. Back at ya. I've suspected for a while that Our Buddy Txt and Bob_Robertson were either the same person, or twins. Finally, there's the proof. |
| Bob_Robertson Dec 25, 2009 11:02 AM EDT |
> Finally, there's the proof. ? |
| gus3 Dec 25, 2009 12:22 PM EDT |
@B_R: About 80 proof, actually. I can't imagine anyone but TxtEdMacs wishing people a Happy Zagmuk and a Jolly New Hat-hinge. |
| TxtEdMacs Dec 25, 2009 2:03 PM EDT |
gus, You are so wrong. Until moments ago I had no idea what Zagmuk was. {encased in serious tabs} Indeed, Bob treats me very gingerly since he senses that I fundamentally disagree with nearly all he holds most dear. Moreover, I attempt to write concisely, though I might not always succeed. Furthermore, my rants tend not to be repetitive. Indeed being here mostly to highlight the humor of the situation I tend not to rant at all. Ok, the secret is out Bob. You can no longer hide your alternate identity. So here it is for all to see: Bob_R... ===* YBT The truth will triumph except where religion is involved**. YBT * Third equals sign not necessary in all scripting languages, where used it means an exact equality. That is, for example, the same case for each of the characters. ** I am not a classical athesist, since my view of cosmology has led me to believe what might be construed as gods that are either ignorant of even our existence or perhaps even more likely, blithely indifferent. |
| Bob_Robertson Dec 26, 2009 5:20 PM EDT |
> Until moments ago I had no idea what Zagmuk was. I read about it from a SciFi author of my acquaintance, L. Neil Smith, whom I doubt anyone else here has read. > Bob treats me very gingerly since he senses that I fundamentally disagree with nearly all he holds most dear. Not on a personal level, which is a very good thing indeed. Something I'm reasonably certain I could say about anyone who has ever read these fora. On to the new year, ne? |
| jacog Dec 29, 2009 5:56 AM EDT |
Um, yus... happy Life Day. :) |
| techiem2 Dec 29, 2009 10:51 AM EDT |
Quoting:Um, yus... happy Life Day. :) This is not the wookie you are looking for. |
| azerthoth Dec 29, 2009 6:24 PM EDT |
@bob, surprise, I was unaware of his libertarian fiction, but I have read his star wars stuff. |
| Bob_Robertson Dec 31, 2009 3:22 PM EDT |
Az, those wonderful Lando Calrizian novels! Thanks for reminding me. Lando is a free-spirited pirate, what other world view would anyone expect but that of someone who enjoys their liberty, and defends it? I whole heartedly recommend his other works of fiction if you liked _Lando_, he's serializing _Ceres_ online, another four (or three) chapters to go. http://www.bigheadpress.com/lneilsmith/?page_id=53 There are three "graphic novels" of his on Big Head Press also, the present one is another with pirates so I expect you'd like it too. :^) But yes, avoid his non-fiction if you're not ready to wade into it hip-deep. Heck, I'd say that about most authors! |
You cannot post until you login.