Xmas trees
- Thread starter Ike_009
- Start date
Ike_009
Assassin of Accountants
I have no idea what happened there and it looked fine when i posted it the first time, now its gone to hell. Let me try again.
Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as Holiday Trees for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does to America ...
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God ? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... Terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as Holiday Trees for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does to America ...
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are, Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God ? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
In light of recent events... Terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said okay.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing yet?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
Lycanthrope
New member
What an absolute load of drivel...
Where should I start? The assertion that people "trash God" (as opposed to religion), that "discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace" (rather not forced down the throats of those who don't subscribe to YOUR or that institution's particular religion), that Doctor Spock's son committed suicide because he was against hitting his children (why else make such a batshit reference to such a horrible thing), that people "worship celebrities" but "aren't allowed to worship God" (feel free to point out where religion has been criminalised, I'd love to live there, thanks) and that the "world's going to hell" because people "trash God" (last time I checked, it was the God-lovers who were "trashing" the lives of good people and making it "Hell," just because their personal God is different to the next person's, but what do I know).
I can't believe that anyone can take someone who makes such absurd use of hyperbole and gross abuse of rationality and reason to tie so many loose pieces to string to whatever nonsensical bit of madness he believes fits the mould seriously.
Humour me: which bit did you like? Which bit of hyperbole resonated with your exaggerated feelings of outrage?
Or is this just an excuse to have a bit of a sermon and blame the state of the world on pragmatism and secularism before someone points out how freedom-loving and tolerant some of the world's most theocratic states are?
Either way, I can't believe I've just wasted ten minutes of my life responding to this fucktarded spam brought about by secular institutions referring to an adopted Pagan tradition as a "holiday tree" who then, instead of sticking to his little tiff, went on to assault and assail everything under the sun that he had a gripe with.
I can't believe the infinite capacity people have for downright stupidity.
The Joker
Thread Killer MKII
:wtf: You're way to angry over something that supposedly doesn't affect you xD
Any way I am a Christian and I believe in God and although most of the message is just a rant there are valid points.
Whether you believe or not it is you're choice..who are you to tell someone that they can't believe, or they are idiots for believing in God ect? Just try starting up a thread about God and or Christianity on MyBB and see the response you get from the know it alls on that forum. You are sworn at, threatened, bashed until you stop posting.
Anyway, not getting into a debate about it, let people believe what they want to, If that's what gives them hope and comforts them then so be it, who are you to tell them they can't or shouldn't or they're idiots ect.
Awesome Tree
Last edited:
Ike_009
Assassin of Accountants
:wtf: You're way to angry over something that supposedly doesn't affect you xD
Any way I am a Christian and I believe in God and although most of the message is just a rant there are valid points.
Whether you believe or not it is you're choice..who are you to tell someone that they can't believe, or they are idiots for believing in God ect? Just try starting up a thread about God and or Christianity on MyBB and see the response you get from the know it alls on that forum. You are sworn at, threatened, bashed until you stop posting.
Anyway, not getting into a debate about it, let people believe what they want to, If that's what gives them hope and comforts them then so be it, who are you to tell them they can't or shouldn't or they're idiots ect.
Awesome Tree
That's why I forwarded it here. No debates or shit stirring, just a reminder to proud of who you are at this time of year.
Also I'm getting tired of this political correct bullshit that is taking over.
I loved the post Ike, nice one.
However - be prepared to be insulted, your religion mocked and your general character being humiliated by the same "product of the world" that this article/post talks about. There are LOADS of people on mygaming who cannot wait to insult ANY form of religion, and I fear you've just given them that opportunity.
But, still, nice post. +rep from me.
However - be prepared to be insulted, your religion mocked and your general character being humiliated by the same "product of the world" that this article/post talks about. There are LOADS of people on mygaming who cannot wait to insult ANY form of religion, and I fear you've just given them that opportunity.
But, still, nice post. +rep from me.
Ike_009
Assassin of Accountants
I really don't care, I'm proud of being Christian and I can take it. I spent 5 years in a school as one of 5 people who supported the Blue bulls. I would also take over the TV on sunday to watch Nascar and F1, one day of internet assault should be fine.
Thanks for the support and understanding.
Fivel
New member
I really wish you hadn't wasted 10 mins of your time and posted this....
czc
Thread Killer Mk VIII
Lycanthrope
New member
The following has kindly been brought to my attention: http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/confessions.asp
Seems that the vast majority of that spam-filled sermon was never said by Bill Stein and even the bits that were, have been altered in Ike's version. Nonetheless, I am so glad that so many of you are happy to support such fallacious vitriol (guess that comes with the package, eh?)
It's also over seven years old and, most notably, the White House has never referred to Christmas trees as "holiday trees," another charming fabrication to stir those "deep feelings" and that self-righteous piety.
And I wish that people would stop being so gullible and easily manipulated. Unfortunately we don't always get what we want.
All the same, I'm quite done giving this garbage the time of day.
Back to you.
Seems that the vast majority of that spam-filled sermon was never said by Bill Stein and even the bits that were, have been altered in Ike's version. Nonetheless, I am so glad that so many of you are happy to support such fallacious vitriol (guess that comes with the package, eh?)
It's also over seven years old and, most notably, the White House has never referred to Christmas trees as "holiday trees," another charming fabrication to stir those "deep feelings" and that self-righteous piety.
And I wish that people would stop being so gullible and easily manipulated. Unfortunately we don't always get what we want.
All the same, I'm quite done giving this garbage the time of day.
Back to you.
Fivel
New member
It's a harmless post, no one is asking you to read it or comment on it. We all get it that you don't approve, I struggle to understand why you are so worked up about it?
Lyt
New member
That's what happens when it comes to religion. Somebody will always have something to say.