They are Christmas trees,not Holiday trees

[F L E S H]

Breukelen, do you read Nietzsche? Lately I've read Beyond Good and Evil, the Genealogy of Morals, and snippets of The Antichrist and Thus Spoke Zarathustra. This man is a bloody genius.

[XTC]

The man that you quote, Socrates ("The unexamined life is not worth living"), would not have agreed with you about this, lol! He was a critic of religion and it's trappings.

Don't worry, I am an agnostic, but I still feel it's a crock by people who run out of things to complain about.

[Fengzi]

Please do Atheists a favor an don't claim to be one of us. You dont' even know how to spell the word. You obviously have no understanding of what it is really about or what it means to be one. When you lump "athiests" together with Islam and Judaism, and identify with Christianity, you are just as bad as the theists. The fact that you use caps for the first letter of religions' terms, and small case for "athiesm" (sp), shows your true colors. You are a "house athiest", lol. You might as well assume the position, on your knees, and go the whole hog with them.

Sorry for the spelling error Breukelen, but as for the rest...KISS MY ASS.

From Merriam Webster
Main Entry: athe·ist
Pronunciation: 'A-thE-ist
Function: noun
: one who believes that there is no deity

Hmmm, that describes me perfectly. I'm sorry if I don't meet your definition of Atheist(out of respect for you I will capitalize the first letter from now on. When I "lump together" Atheists with Christians, Muslims, etc. it was in the context of describing those who would object to various images of Christmas. It really had nothing to do with various religions or schools of thought. If Guatamalan tamale makers objected I would have added them too.

So maybe I don't know the true meaning of being an Atheist. I always thought it meant someone who doesn't believe in God. I guess I was wrong. I do know the meaning of Asshole, however, and those folks who go around bitching and whining because a traditional holiday symbol is called a "Christmas Tree" fit that description perfectly. Just because I do not believe in God does not mean that should disrespect other people who believe in something I don't or demand that traditional holiday symbols be taken away. If that's what it means to be an Atheist than I'll leave it to the assholes of the world. I'll just stick to being some dude who doesn't belive in God.

[Psycho4Bud]

So maybe I don't know the true meaning of being an Atheist. I always thought it meant someone who doesn't believe in God. I guess I was wrong. I do know the meaning of Asshole, however, and those folks who go around bitching and whining because a traditional holiday symbol is called a "Christmas Tree" fit that description perfectly. Just because I do not believe in God does not mean that should disrespect other people who believe in something I don't or demand that traditional holiday symbols be taken away. If that's what it means to be an Atheist than I'll leave it to the assholes of the world. I'll just stick to being some dude who doesn't belive in God.

The basis for the Christian-era Santa Claus is Bishop Nicholas of Smyrna (Izmir), in what is now Turkey. Nicholas lived in the 4th century A.D. He was very rich, generous, and loving toward children. Often he gave joy to poor children by throwing gifts in through their windows.
http://www.the-north-pole.com/history/

I never looked at Santa Clause, the tree, etc.....as having ANYTHING to do with the "birth of Christ". Santa is something for the kids...once a year they get extra presents and hopefully a little cheer. To try to destroy this based on religion is rediculous! Does your x-mas tree drip holy water on ya? Does your family set out communion for Santa? I find it amazing that people would relate these two together. When did Jesus say that on his birthday great wealth shall be spent at your local department store for shit you don't really need? Wouldn't he have promoted spending all that dough to feed the poor?

Some people just need to get a grip! :thumbsup:

[BlueCat00]

I think it is all BULLSHIT ..if you are Christian then say Merry Christmas if you are Jewish say Happy Hanukah if you are atheist say Happy holidays...

and then STFU. I think this is all just bullshit blown out of proportion to give everyone something to bitch about and forget the REAL issues like fighting an illegal war and the destruction of our social infrastructure....
Who really cares if the corporations say Merry Christmas? They just want your money...they could say All Satanist shop here and get a 50% discount.....the store would be full. They would be punching each other in the face to get in.

[Breukelen advocaat]

Breukelen, do you read Nietzsche? Lately Iâ??ve read Beyond Good and Evil, the Genealogy of Morals, and snippets of The Antichrist and Thus Spoke Zarathustra. This man is a bloody genius.

I have not read that much of him lately, but I own and have read all of those books. Some of them are online, including the H.L. Mencken translation of The Antichrist.
â?? Here it becomes necessary to call up a memory that must be a hundred times more painful to Germans. The Germans have destroyed for Europe the last great harvest of civilization that Europe was ever to reapâ??the Renaissance. Is it understood at last, will it ever be understood, what the Renaissance was? The transvaluation of Christian values,--an attempt with all available means, all instincts and all the resources of genius to bring about a triumph of the opposite values, the more noble values. . . . This has been the one great war of the past; there has never been a more critical question than that of the Renaissanceâ??it is my question too--; there has never been a form of attack more fundamental, more direct, or more violently delivered by a whole front upon the center of the enemy!â?�

THE ANTICHRIST by Friedrich Nietzsche, Published 1895, translation by H.L. Mencken Published 1920
http://www.fns.org.uk/ac.htm

This man was probably the greatest Atheist that ever lived. He would have rather devoted more of his time to the arts, but he KNEW what had to be done about religion and, through his writings, totally destroys any vestige of rationale for Christianity, and other belief systems. An Atheist Hero!

[andruejaysin]

I think it is all BULLSHIT ..if you are Christian then say Merry Christmas if you are Jewish say Happy Hanukah if you are atheist say Happy holidays...

and then STFU. I think this is all just bullshit blown out of proportion to give everyone something to bitch about and forget the REAL issues like fighting an illegal war and the destruction of our social infrastructure....
Who really cares if the corporations say Merry Christmas? They just want your money...they could say All Satanist shop here and get a 50% discount.....the store would be full. They would be punching each other in the face to get in.

Yeah, say whatever you want. The advent of christianity plunged the western world into a thousand years of chaos, I see no cause for celebration. But then I see no reason to celebrate hannuka or quanza (yes ,I know I probably mispelled one or both of those) or the winter solstice for that fucking matter. You see that computer screen in front of your face? What more proof do you need that science is fact, religion is superstition?

[Torog]

I think it is all BULLSHIT ..if you are Christian then say Merry Christmas if you are Jewish say Happy Hanukah if you are atheist say Happy holidays...

and then STFU. I think this is all just bullshit blown out of proportion to give everyone something to bitch about and forget the REAL issues like fighting an illegal war and the destruction of our social infrastructure....
Who really cares if the corporations say Merry Christmas? They just want your money...they could say All Satanist shop here and get a 50% discount.....the store would be full. They would be punching each other in the face to get in.

Howdy Blue Cat,

You're right in saying that our social infrastructure is in danger,it is a real issue and it's also known as the Culture war..your side seeks to erase all traces of tradition and Christianity..in the name of secular progressionism..and millions of us Christians-aim to preserve our traditions and keep this country,a Christian nation,as it has been since it's inception..85 % of all Americans,identify themselves as being Christians.

We don't want our hard-earned dollars to go to anti-Christian,anti-God and anti-Americans..I refuse to shut up and I will speak out against the harm that pc'ism is causing this country.

While you may be okay with selling yer soul for a 50% discount,millions of us-are not content to do so.

Have a good one....

[Midnight Baker]

I live in canada. And we're very open and accepting. alright thats cool. But at what point does change become an issue. This country is based on freedom and openess to ALL!

For starters, 'Santa'. The image we know now with the fat guy in a red suit was made my coca cola.

I went to christian schools my entire life. i dont consider myself christian, i have gone and attened various other religious functions, and i've concluded this: Religion is whatever you make it to be. I believe in freedom of speech AND to be able to persue any religion you choose. At what point do we become too sensitive to others? I believe christmas is whatever you want it to be! example: a time of the year that allows you to get together with friends and family have a good time. If thats not you then thats ok. do whatever you want to make your; "season experience" YOURS. I do have a christmas tree up (real one..smells nice) I do say merry christmas, but i will not apologize for any of this. why? because im just being myself and if you dont want to participate thats fine. but dont try to bring down others because im sure we can find something you like and bring it down as well. and thats all i got to say...this is a rant...may not make sense...but it did in my mind. and thats that. EH!

[hipEstoner]

this is nonsense