The Decorations - what Happened to MERRY CHRISTMAS?

[Gabriella7]

Oh yes, the garbage madam picked up our garbage last week. I guess it was her hubby driving the vehicle while she heaved the heavy containers up to be emptied into the truck. I guess this is equal employment opportunity at work. I just hope she gets the same pay as the two guys who usually do the job.

Merry Christmas
Gabriella

[RandomThought]

Oh, I do hope your Garbage Madam gets equal pay !

My little one very recently corrected me; Daddy, they're Garbage Men NOT Garbage Fairies....and for me, a little bit of magic went out of the Holiday.

[Mike Weins]

I don't think this is a "Political Correctness" issue, or one of 'respect,' rather its a matter of the rules, which includes the Laws of the United States, even this:

First Amendment:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

and thus opportunity generated here, which is intended to be generally available, is not supposed to be based on a particular religion, etcetera. 'Church' and state were separated apparently here:

Just to clarify a huge misunderstanding of the 1st amendment and the internet, it does not apply to any website, forum, or blog that is NOT run by the United States government. Since BrainTalk Communities is not the US government, we are free to restrict discussions as we see fit.

The 1st amendment had nothing to do with the change of the banner to read "Happy Holidays". The change was made because there are not ready made styles available for the other religious holidays that are observed during the month of December. IF there were such styles available I would have simply left this one alone and added the others.

[TrimTab]

Earth moves circa 67,000 miles per hour, which is part of the reason solstice occurs

Yes, solstice occurs when it occurs. So what's you're point?

:ambivalence:

I am sorry my knowledge of astronomy caused me to view your implicit suggestion somebody or organization caused solstice to occur, which would be wondrous were it even possible, to be absurd. We can only very very slightly influence the movement of Earth . . . and the Sun, so much larger than the Earth, would only laugh at us were we to try. A miracle would be needed. While we could change the number of days in a particular month, such would have no effect on the moment of Solstice. The subtle flaw in your expression loomed exceedingly large in my scientific mind, which immediately wanted to know how could, whomever they were, do that? I was merely offering a scientific correction to your expression.

Although the vBulletin software calls that smiley 'ambivalence,' the bent smile most closely reveals how my mind felt upon reading your expression . . . I am certainly not ambivalent about it.

[TrimTab]

Just to clarify a huge misunderstanding of the 1st amendment and the internet, it does not apply to any website, forum, or blog that is NOT run by the United States government. Since BrainTalk Communities is not the US government, we are free to restrict discussions as we see fit. . . .

I very much doubt justice could be done in the examination of the relationship between United States' First Amendment and the internet with only one sentence. No one knows what you mean when you say '. . . as we see fit . . .' so you could be right or wrong. Lets suppose Scientific American decided not to publish your article . . . would this be a violation of your free speech rights? I think we both would say no, but possibly for different reasons. An article that is perfectly suitable for the New York Times is not obliged to be published by Scientific American . . . publishers are free to choose what they wish to publish (yet if you bought an ad in either of these publications they would be obliged to publish it (lets presume there is nothing untoward about the ad)) and their refusal to do so is not ordinarily a violation of an author's free speech rights at all. Various publishers have long been selective about the kind of articles they will publish - this practice does not substantially impair a citizen's free speech rights. There are law schools with a 'department' of many law professors studying the relationship between the First Amendment and the internet on a full time basis - the relationship is very complex.

I disagree with your assertion that if a web site is ran by a United States' government, citizens would thereby have the right to practice their free speech therein (are you saying that I can make posts on the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke's web site?) . . . so I don't quite understand your point in your first sentence. Regarding your second sentence, although I am not certain, non-profit organizations in the United States practically are government entities and can become nothing else.

I wasn't so much raising the free speech issue but rather the religion issue in my post. If a person wants to establish their own web site and therein express "Merry Christmas," or simply, "Have a Nice Day!" well, due to the First Amendment, there is practically nothing the United States can legally do about it. Yet, if an OCCUPY organization wanted to pitch their tents inside a United States Post Office, I am practically certain they can be thrown out. I think a government usually has a right to the integrity of its own property. Your apparent assertion that the ". . . 1st amendment . . . does not apply to any website . . ." especially those within the United States is hard to accept. I think many people would disagree with you on that. Is that what you really mean?

[Gabriella7]

There will be an airing of the 30th annual "Christmas in Washington" with musical stars Justin Bieber, Cee Lo Green, Jennifer Hudson, and Victoria Justice. The following is quoted from our local newspaper.

"In honor of the "season to celebrate miracles," Obama spoke about the story of Jesus' birth during his brief remarks to the crowd. He said the story of Jesus Christ has changed the world by teaching basic values such as loving one another, helping and serving the less fortunate, forgiving, drawing closer to family, being grateful and keeping faith."

"Those are values that are shared by all faiths, so tonight let us all rededicate ourselves to each other , and in that spirit, from my family to yours: Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, God bless you all, and God bless the United States of America."

To be all inclusive BT's greeting should include "Merry Christmas" as well as "Happy Holidays".

The concert will air Friday on TNT.

Merry Christmas,
Gabriella

[Abby2006]

Here is a beautiful little video


Where is the line to see Jesus

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

Abby

[agate]

Just to clarify a huge misunderstanding of the 1st amendment and the internet, it does not apply to any website, forum, or blog that is NOT run by the United States government. Since BrainTalk Communities is not the US government, we are free to restrict discussions as we see fit.

The 1st amendment had nothing to do with the change of the banner to read "Happy Holidays". The change was made because there are not ready made styles available for the other religious holidays that are observed during the month of December. IF there were such styles available I would have simply left this one alone and added the others.

Thank you for the lucid and reasonable explanation.

[Mike Weins]

I will reply one last time to this thread, I do not want to further derail the spirit of the topic.

I very much doubt justice could be done in the examination of the relationship between United States' First Amendment and the internet with only one sentence. No one knows what you mean when you say '. . . as we see fit . . .' so you could be right or wrong.

It was an over simplification of the complexity of the internet vs the 1st amendment yes, but I felt that was all that was needed. "As we see fit" means what it says. We (directors, admins, mods) can edit or remove any post on these forums for any reason without explination.

I disagree with your assertion that if a web site is ran by a United States' government, citizens would thereby have the right to practice their free speech therein (are you saying that I can make posts on the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke's web site?) . . . so I don't quite understand your point in your first sentence. Regarding your second sentence, although I am not certain, non-profit organizations in the United States practically are government entities and can become nothing else.

If a website is run by the US government then they are forbidden by the 1st amendment to restrict your free speech. However they all have a Terms of Service that outlines what you can and can not post, which contradicts the 1st amendment. I'm not a lawyer nor an expert on the Constitution or the BIll of Rights so I wouldn't know how to approach the issue of censorship on a US government run forum, website, or blog.

Your apparent assertion that the ". . . 1st amendment . . . does not apply to any website . . ." especially those within the United States is hard to accept. I think many people would disagree with you on that. Is that what you really mean?

I said what I meant, the 1st amendment does not apply to any website, forum, or blog that is not run by the US government. Until the 1st amendment is changed to prohibit non government run entities from restricting the freedom of speech, the 1st amendment does not apply to non US government run websites.

[Gabriella7]

Abby, that is a beautiful video and thank you for sharing. Originally the banner included "Merry Christmas" as I also saw it but the next time I came back it was gone. Yes, WHERE IS THE LINE TO SEE JESUS?

Merry Christmas,
Gabriella

[Abby2006]

Here is another one

How Great Thous Are


forgot link sorry!
Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

Abby

[Cherie]

Well, I want to say Happy Advent! And to those who celebrate that, Merry Christmas. If you celebrate Hanakah, happy that. Solstice, may it be a peaceful acknowledgement of the days starting to lengthen and winter's spell promising to be broken. I enjoy reading about individual traditions but do not enjoy when someone comes in and tries to set things straight.

Blessings all...

[Frog42]

What happened to Peace On Earth? It's difficult to find that on this board!

[Geneo76]

I, like another person that posted here was born and raised in a Catholic region of a mostly white population. That being said, I have mainy friends of different races and religions. I work at a retail store and it probably isn't politically correct in these times when you have to watch what you say and do but during the holiday season I always wish my customers a Merry Christmas! So, Merry Christmas to all my BT friends and their familys and have a safe and Happyy New Year!
Gene

[agate]

Geneo76, thank you for stopping by with your good wishes.

Good will to all sounds like a pretty good idea.