I could do without the return of McCarthyism

[cornerofmadness]

Well instead of the threat of Communism it seems to be the threat of religious freedom. Maybe it's the area I live in (well I know that's a contributor) but given some of the other things I've seen around the Flist, I can't blame it all on the hillbillies.

I figured it would be nice to send out some Hannukka cards but when I went looking for them last week. Krogers carried...none. I mean absolutely none. I asked and got a look as if to say I should be burned for even wanting such a thing and was told if I didn't see them over there then there wasn't any.

Sigh. I go to Wal-Mart. They have three, one enormous Hallmark one that looks like something you'd send a highly religious granny and really, not paying 5$ a card, thanks. The other two were Santa/Hannukka cards. I'd like to assume that this was meant as a nice way for us to share beliefs and respect them both. But really they weren't tremendously nice, nothing I'd want to spend cash on (and my holiday cards tend to be more seasons greetings than anything)

Then today I go to get stamps at the post office closest to me at work (who begged me to bring my holiday gift boxes). I had two out of the country cards and I wanted a set of holiday stamps. Doesn't ask me which ones and proceeds to ring me out without even LOOKING at my out of the country cards. I'm not a slackjaw yokel so I kindly point out that one is to Canada not Europe so it's cheaper. Glares and rerings then hands me a set of madonna and child (without asking how MANY sets I might want so I'm already irritated enough not to buy more than one here). I ask 'do you have the other ones?'

Horrified look. "What other ones?"

"I want the other set of Christmas stamps" (refraining from saying, you know the NOT so religious ones." Since again I have friends of all faiths so I tend to more neutral things)

The look went for horrified to hateful. She looked at the guy behind me as if expecting him to shove me aside so she could ignore my heathen self. I ask again. "Do you have the other set?'

She snatches out the other set (which is frankly kinda ugly) and slams them on the counter. "You mean this?"

"Yes." Man I should have just asked for the hanukka stamps or kawanza just to see what she would say. I can imagine. A lot like the moronic forwarding I got a while back from a former co-worker who can't get it thru her head I'm NOT interested in her hateful anti-everyone emails. This one was a call to boycott the post office for having a muslim CHRISTMAS stamp. I'm like um people, that's not a Christmas stamp. Shudders in fear

Comments

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the wacky religious right has a very loud say in this country.

I don't really use Christmas cards anymore. I have a lot of nice blank ones that I like better than any of the holiday themed ones anyway.

I should photoshop Star Trek cards with the crewmembers all wearing Santa hats. I think my geek friends would appreciate that.

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

I know I would. *nodnodnod*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

actually they probably will. Oh I can find a lot of lovely non-religious holiday cards that I like. It was just a shock to NOT see two stores (about the only two stores that WOULD have cards) not have hanukka ones at all

[jennawaterford.livejournal.com]

Well, you clearly live in DumbFuckBerg. I am currently living in Hannukah Central where one is as likely to see blue and white lights with Stars of David decorating a house as Christmasy stuff, and there is always lots of varying belief stuff to choose from for any occasion.

Have you tried Hallmarks? They tend to have a lot more variety even in their smaller-town stores. Also, since their business is selling cards, they tend to cover all the bases.

[mjules.livejournal.com]

Depending on the area they're in, they don't cover too many bases. I went looking there for religious neutral holiday cards this year and struck out bigtime. They had maybe two sets that WEREN'T Santa or religious, and both ugly.

*sigh*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i didn't have trouble finding neutral cards in Columbus. Borders had plenty and at the Black Friday buy one get one free they were the same price as Wal-mart's cheap ass ugly ones

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Hallmarks is 50 miles away so, no. But the local wal-mart is very busy snubbing hanukka apparently (not so in Columbus, which is no surprise but here, there are REASONS I let them go on thinking I'm still Catholic at work and that STILL gets the 'you pagan' look from the baptists

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

i find it bizarre that the people you work with care about what religion you follow.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i could see it if I taught at a religous school. I find it offensive and intrusive since i do not

[chaos-by-design.livejournal.com]

i don't blame you. it's none of their business, frankly.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yeah but especially with the internet, employeers are getting MUCH more invasive. I just googled myself under both my name and my intials and not much came up that I'm ashamed of just ffn and now that that's R rated max I don't have to worry about someone reading my more outre smut

[dknightshade.livejournal.com]

This is turning into a weird holiday season. I always buy two boxes of cards - one that says Happy Holidays for the people who don't celebrate Christmas and one set of non-overtly-religious ones that say Merry Christmas for those who do. In the past I've had a hard time finding nice Happy Holiday ones. This year that was no problem (yay!) but I had a hard time finding non-overtly-religious Christmas ones. Apparently those are bad this year. But Christmas is not just for the deeply religious, yo.

But lady at the post office, rude much? And *head desks* at the Muslim Christmas stamps.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yeah I mean yes it's a Christian holiday (stolen from us pagans mind you, but still) but it is also the time of year for important Jewish holidays as well and it was never this much trouble finding appropriate cards.

That lady...that'll be the last time I go in unless it's an emergency

[masqthephlsphr.livejournal.com]

So it turns out my religious-but-liberal "I can't imagine how a Christian could be a conservative" mom is a Christmas Nazi. She gets all huffy when people wish her "Happy holidays" and gives them a snide, "Merry Christmas" in reply. I told her that she and Bill O'Reilly finally agree on something. That got her very bent out of shape.

I, on the other hand, am Squeeing! at my Hannukah card from a2zmom!

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Oh her and my mom too.

cool!

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

I had a client yesterday ooohing and aaahhing about Atty's (very very very) Christian stuff in and said, "So, you're Christians?"

I pointed across the way and said, "She is."

*narrowed eyes* "You mean you aren't?"

"Nope. I don't follow that religion." *weg*

*bigger eyes* "Oh. Well." *hurry on to next subject*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

aas long as she didn't start ranting...

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

No, she didn't. Thank goodness.

[ladystarlightsj.livejournal.com]

I know. I found some fairly generic cards that didn't have Santa or Trees or MERRY CHRISTMAS OMG! splashed all over them and grabbed them up fast.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I don't mind Santa or a tree but the nativity and/or Madonna and child is something I could send to about three friends and the family so yeah, not really into those

[mjules.livejournal.com]

It's crazycakes, and that's a fact.

*intentionally uses pagan icon*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i know and combine it with the religious groups going apeshit over GOlden Compass. Mom was asking me about it today (she figured correctly that I had read it)

[anguisel.livejournal.com]

I find it funny that the Jewish people tend to let stupid stuff slide (no cards, menorah, etc.) and that those of other faiths tend to do the same in this country. Christians, on the other hand, want to turn everything into a riot. Jesus on a toilet seat? Oh hell no, burn the blasphemer! Who cares that they're raising money to help people. I always thought that it was the Christians job to forgive everyone for their sins because we all know jews are the chosen ones and have front row seats to heaven. The rest of us have to work on it. Of course, I'm not saying everyone is like that....just the majority.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i've found in my own experience those screaming about Christian ideals the loudest are the ones who ignore them the most

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

Boy, that's for sure.

The big city here is pretty surprisingly liberal (for as red-state as Arizona is); every store has both Christmas and Hanukkah, as well as lots and lots of non-denominational "seasons greetings" types of cards and the Kwaanza and what-have-yous (I've even seen the odd solemn Eid cards). Barb and I got several boxes of "pretty birdies on snowy trees" with "seasons greetings" inside for our friends-of-many-faiths.

I've never figured out why anyone has to have everyone else believe the same things they do. Whenever I see someone spewing their "Christian Faith" out loud and on public street corners, I just want to walk up to them and say "Matthew 6:5-6." That verse says it all.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Good one. I shall remember to add Matthew to the arsenal.

I have a bunch of Japanese art ones thisyear among others. Speaking of which one went out for you and Barb today

[mulzrule.livejournal.com]

All of this oversensativeness is crushing everyone's religion which drives me crazy! Hello! Religions the reason we even have these holidays! My aunt found a poem on this I should post one of these days. :(

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i'll have to disagree with you on this. It's not being oversensitive to expect respect for ALL religions

[mulzrule.livejournal.com]

I get your point, but before they used to say Happy Chuanikka, Kwanza and all the others. Now I don't even hear Merry Christmas as much. IT's just, Happy Holidays. :(

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Well mostly that's because MANY major religions have their holidays in December. It's just polite to not ignore them. That's what bothers me, the outright hostility some people react with when they learn someone isn't a Christian. It's becoming so common any more, looking at my flist where several Jewish friends have come under verbal attack recently. I just find it frightening

[mulzrule.livejournal.com]

It is frightening, and sad. That's such a shame about your friends. Being Catholic, I've always considered Jews my religious cousins, if that makes any sense. Where's the love people?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

now that's an attitude i can respect. I'm hoping that a certain someone won't be at our christmas parties (she's the daughter of my mom's best friend and my dad's) and two years agao she started spewing crap about how Hitler wasn't wrong about jews and blacks and gay should be locked in mental asylums and I'm like just don't INVITE her (but I can see why my parents don't want to upset their friends by not and her parents are NOTHING like this but her husband is...)

[mulzrule.livejournal.com]

Wow, Hitler? That's pretty scary that there are actually people still out there parading that kind of idea around. :(

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i know

[rain-oubliette.livejournal.com]

I don't think it is just the hillbilly area. A friend of mine is Jewish. A few years ago she was given a HAM for her Christmas bonus. Ok. She's not a Kosher Jew - hell, I don't even think she goes to Temple anymore - but still! Shouldn't they have ASKED employees do you want a ham or something else?

As to the post office, I wouldn't go back. Or, being the asshole that I am, I'd write a note to or call the post master and tell him/her you were greatly displeased with the service you received. And yes, I'd still do it if the person who was the crotchety moron WAS the post master.

EDIT: I draw my own cards every year since I got sick of buying 10 different packets of cards and trying to figure out who to send them to.

Lastly, when I tell someone "Happy Holidays" and I get a snide, "Merry Christmas" in return. I always smile and say, "Happy Hanuka (you schmuck)". Well, the schmuck part is under my breath but that at least tells the person that there are SEVERAL holidays right now, not just ONE.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

definitely the post master. I'll just go to my post office or the one in Jackson. The government already has a big enough file of my letters at this point

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i can't draw so...but hand drawn cards make up a small portion of those i get every year which is cool

[makd.livejournal.com]

Dude: Ignorance is everywhere; unfortunately, it doesn't weigh much....... ::hugs::

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i know. sigh. thanks. Hey is your semester almost done?

[0-mother-0.livejournal.com]

Yikes... That lady at the post office needs (A.) to get laid by a young man that knows what he's doing and (B.) to be strapped down like Malcom McDowell in 'Clockwork Orange' and forced to watch every Mel Brooks film ever made.

Actually, that doesn't sound like a bad sentance for the rest of us either heh ;)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

frankly no

[lejlkwiet.livejournal.com]

It's almost impossible to find cards here that don't say "Merry Christmas" on them. So I usually just send those and hope my friends know me well enough to know the thought behind the card. That said, I always avoid the religious ones even though Mum always tries to make me buy those. Giving her "Most of my friends aren't Christian" wouldn't go down well as a reason. *sigh*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

well yes whereyou are that makes sense. we're SUPPOSED to have religious freedom here. time people started remembering that

[stephanierb.livejournal.com]

I usually purchase Unicef holiday cards which are non-denominational and also give money to a worthy cause. Though being in New England, finding cards like that in stores is not hard to do.

Same with our local post office. I went one year to purchase holiday stamps and the ONLY ones available were the religious ones. The Santa/Christmas tree/stocking stamps were sold out.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

the other ones being sold out OUGHT to be a clue to someone ...

Unicef is a good idea actually

[sita-137.livejournal.com]

....Woah.

Now I want to go cause a ruckus in my post office. :)

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I never had trouble in FL or ANYWHERE before this. I mean seriously. Hello not only Christians are having holidays right now

[rahirah]

Humanity depresses me so much sometimes.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i know