I’m Offended

[Admin]

In My Opinion by Trevor Bothwell

Whenever the “holidays” roll around -- or as I like to call it, Hanuramakwanzimas -- most people use this time to reflect on how truly thankful and blessed they are to be surrounded by so many loving friends and family members.

But not me. No, the “holiday” season merely reminds me how truly offensive the United States of America is.

For starters, I’m offended that so many people these days seem to think the Bill of Rights actually limits the powers of the State over the people, or that it defends the people’s right to celebrate their religion publicly.

I’m also offended that so many folks in Maplewood, N.J., are giving the South Orange/Maplewood Board of Education such a hard time just because it voted to ban Christmas carols during its schools’ instrumental “holiday” concerts this year. After all, don’t we live in a democracy here? What right do outraged Americans have to act as if the First Amendment trumps a public school district’s right to decide what’s in the best interests of its students and faculty? I mean, come on, the Board voted.

And what’s with the Thomas More Law Center suing the town of Bay Harbor Islands, Fla., just because it decided to ban the display of Christian nativity scenes while allowing public displays of the Jewish menorah? Didn’t I just read somewhere that something like 90% of Americans celebrates Christmas? Clearly the constitutional guarantee of freedom of religion for every citizen need not apply if the majority gets its own federal holiday.

Come to think of it, I’m offended that it’s taken the city of Denver, Colo., so long to ban the words “Merry Christmas” or any Christmassy floats from its traditional parade of lights. What right do the taxpayers of any city have to expect that events funded with their own tax dollars represent their values?

And frankly, how about the very term “Happy Holidays,” which anti-Christian types seem to have so enthusiastically embraced in exchange for insulting wishes like “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Thanksgiving”? To be honest, I’m offended that we so casually accept the usage of a word derived from the religious term “holy day.”

Indeed, I hold in contempt all who would bruise my fragile self-image by subjecting me to the ritual of Assault by Traditional Observance. But for all the progress we’ve realized in the continual secularization of mainstream American society, nothing so offends me as that most evil of American -- nay, Western -- traditions: New Year’s Day.

Think about it. What does the year itself represent? Time. Time based on Christian history, and the generally accepted chronological recording of events since the birth of Chr…Chri…Christ.

I’m offended that in little more than a week, I will be forced to observe the year 2005 (AD, that is, which is Latin for “year of the Lord.”) Offended that EVERY SINGLE DAY of EVERY SINGLE YEAR I am force-fed vicious reminders that Christianity dominates virtually all of Western civilization. Oh, to awaken to the headline, “ACLU Sues to Abolish New Year’s Day,” in the New York Times!

No more “Happy New Year!” No more worthless New Year’s resolutions. No more succumbing to the intolerant, discriminatory religious majority!

And so from now on I propose that each new “year” commence with the date: January 1, (Since the Beginning). The beginning of what, you ask? Why, of life. Of the earth. Of the sun. Of the universe. We have plenty of starting points to pick from!

Certainly there is a generic, inoffensive system of chronological measurement we can all agree on. You know, as the great Sen. Clinton would say, for the “common good.”

I sure am glad to have the protections of the First Amendment on my side this “holiday” season. Aren’t you?


Trevor Bothwell is editor of The Right Report, and he is also a Townhall.com book reviewer. He can be contacted at bothwell@therightreport.com.

[Kain99]

Dear Trevor,

Do us all a favor and move to Canada.

Merry Christmas,

Kain

[mAlice (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Kain99

Dear Trevor,

Do us all a favor and move to Canada.

Merry Christmas,

Kain

I thought it was satire. Am I wrong?

[Kain99]

Originally Posted by elaine

I thought it was satire. Am I wrong?

May have been.... I've just given up reading into things. :sad:

[Steve]

Originally Posted by elaine

I thought it was satire. Am I wrong?

I thought it might be a wee bit too much egg nog. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Trevor!

[Club'nBabySeals]

Dear Trevor,

Do us all a favor and move to Canada.

Merry Christmas,

Kain

Judging from all of Trevor's other columns, I would wager a guess that this entire piece is meant to be ascerbic and entirely tongue-in-cheek.

Merry Christmas?

[Sharon (Premo)]

Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, but with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose to practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all; plus, a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2004, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of the other cultures whose contributions have helped make our society great, without regards to the race, creed, color, religious, or sexual preferences of the wishes.

Disclaimer: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for him/herself or others and no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit.

[gumbo (Premo)]

I'm offended that someone is offended !
How dare anyone be offended by what founded this Country.
And only in this Country, Someone is entitled to voice their offensive opinions of feeling offend by the rituals and traditions of the higher majority (Christians).

In some other Country's , their out bursts of how offended they are by the majority's beliefs, would get them stoned to death in the streets..

I believe they should be a little more thankful and respectful for this Country and the majorities beliefs and traditions.

Where else but here in America,with our free social society that was founded by Christians,
would they be able to voice their offensive opinions with out suffering repercussions from the Government or the people of that country?

The majority of this Country ,are Christians and the majority controls the Government by elections.
Which in turn gives them the right, to have freedom of speech.

So exactly , how is it anyone is offended?

[happyappygirl (Premo)]

My give-a-damn's broke..
lemme look a little deeper....
NOPE...still broke

Merry Christmas!

.......will not be happy until every single inalienable American right has been eroded away and the people are to do as their Government tells them to do.

• Any and all beliefs held by any individual will have to be removed and or twisted in such a fashion that it will not offend anyone or anything.

• Grey scale will be the only legal color, as all other colors can be offensive. (red primer as well *too bad rednecks**)

• All houses will be torn down and rebuilt to be exactly like everyone else’s house to remove the chance that someone will feel lower in class than anyone else, no matter how hard anyone has worked to achieve where they are.

• All cars will be repossessed and melted down to be used to create a single class of vehicle. Families will be limited to two vehicles, if a child is only enough to drive, they should be living in their own abode producing children to support the Govt. (Trucks will be for commercial use only **too bad rednecks**)

• Private jets will be taken and given to UCDP airlines.

• Guns are only to be owned by the Govt. because they are the only ones that know what’s best for their people.