Religious "insane" accomodations in Canada.

[Advocate]

...and this is why multiculturalism doesn't work...

If multiculturalism doesn't work (and I disagree with that paradigm), it is because we seek first to be understood, THEN to understand. It won't work with intolerance and misunderstanding. It won't work when religion is the main source, rather than personal conviction to peace and love. It won't work when a nation's laws are compromised in order to accommodate religion, rather than a person's right to freedoms issued through the charter of rights and freedoms. It won't work if people are ignorant and uneducated.

These are just a few issues that come to my mind, given a lot more thought, over time, I would think of more.

WE can make it work.
‎"Since the rise of capitalism, all of the world's great faiths have catered to the rich, even if their leaders pay lip service to the poor. There have not been enough prophetic voices to to keep the social and economic order moving towards peace and justice for all humankind." Sulak Sivaraksa SEEDS OF PEACE

‎"Western economics encourages the maximization of material gain without regard for people." E.F. Schumacher SMALL IS BEAUTIFUL

[Advocate]

So what happens when the rights of the few collide with the rights of the many?

War?

[Advocate]

So what happens when the rights of the few collide with the rights of the many? I don't see a problem with having the freedom to indulge religious beliefs, but the issue gets muddied when one groups wants concessions from another group based on religious beliefs the second group does not share. Based on that reasoning, I think it was the right move to get Christian religious practice out of the public school system, as well as technically removing the Christian focus from December holidays...

Therein lies the chafing rub on this topic...

The "holyday" was established previously as "Christmas"...

The point of the holyday was to celebrate the life of a christian figure.

Due to Liberal sensitivities, the expression of this holyday has now been subverted under the guise of consumerism and let's face it, the original point of the holyday's message is largely lost.

There is no point now to continue this holyday if it's founding principle can no longer be expressed or acknowledge as it's intended purpose.

Just another work day...

No more 'Merry Christmas" at work, at school, or in the public hearing range, someone might be offended.
No more Happy Ramadan, No more Gong Xi Fa Cai! No more happy Rosh HaShanah or Yom Kippur. No more happy Losar. No more happy Hanamatsuri. No more Happy Solstice, Happy Hanukkah, or, Happy Kwanza
Someone might be offended. Does anyone stop to think how the word Holidays was created, what the root word is, and the meaning of that?
Yes, just another day at work.

A Politically Correct
Christmas Greeting
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;


Additionally,
a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2000, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions have helped make our society great, without regard 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 her/himself or others and no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit.)

and another to break the tension:

From us ("the wishor") to you ("hereinafter called the wishee") :

Please accept without obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, politically correct, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all.

Notwithstanding the above, we wish for you a financially successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated celebration of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2003, but with due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures or sects, and having regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform or dietary preference of the wishee.

By accepting this greeting you are bound by these terms :

1. This greeting is subject to further clarification or withdrawal This greeting is freely transferable provided that no alteration shall be made to the original greeting and that the proprietary rights of the wish or are acknowledged.

2. This greeting implies no promise by the wishor to actually implement any of the wishes.

3. This greeting may not be enforceable in certain jurisdictions and/or the restrictions herein may not be binding upon certain wishees in certain jurisdictions and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wishor.

4. This greeting is warranted to perform as reasonably may be expected within the usual application of good tidings, for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first.

5. The wishor warrants this greeting only for the limited replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wishor.

6. Any references in this greeting to "the Lord", "Father Christmas", "OurSaviour", or any other festive figures, whether actual or fictitious, dead or alive, shall not imply any endorsement by or from them in respect of this greeting, and all proprietary rights in any referenced third party names and images are hereby acknowledged.

My message is that I wish for everyone PEACE, HEALTH, and LOVE. Simply applies to all. And I will greet anyone with a resounding Merry Christmas, on Christmas, and Happy (apply the above) on the applicable dates set to celebrate their religious holiday, because I have the right and freedom to do this, without offending those who do not like it. But I am not easily swayed by the influence, or attempted influence of others with regard to my own rights and freedoms. Far too many have died on my behalf to give up this freedom.

[Advocate]

When I was in elementry school here in the mid 1980's (South Rutland elem) the Bible was read every morning followed by the singing of Oh Canada. Anyone remember when this was no longer happening?

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule.
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And any time my head I bow
Becomes a federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green.
That's no offense, it's the freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise,
And prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate.
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues, and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant senior queen,
And the unwed daddy, our senior king.
But it's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth control,
Study witchcraft, vampires, and totem poles.
The Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It is scary here, I must confess,
When chaos reigns, the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot, my soul please take. --Anonymous

[Advocate]

The "holyday" was established previously as "Christmas"...

The point of the holyday was to celebrate the life of a christian figure.

Due to Liberal sensitivities, the expression of this holyday has now been subverted under the guise of consumerism and let's face it, the original point of the holyday's message is largely lost.

Nah. It just so happens that to a lot of people Christmas doesn't mean much - they are born in different cultures, religions, or mindset. Yet they continue to celebrate end of the year holidays. So, it only makes sense to do away with "Jesus, Jesus is born!" Christmas and replace it with "Yay, it's end of the year, let's hang out and eat tasty food" holidays.

In that retrospect, I support Christmas being replaced by generic holidays.

Those people certainly have the right to refrain from celebrating this Holy Day in the Christian faith. (although many people do celebrate it, and call it Christmas day, Christmas dinner, and Christmas gifts, with no religious awareness or commitment. They do not have the right to take this away from others who also have rights and freedoms to celebrate their religious holy days, or to control which words they use express their relative good wishes that come from their mouths to others, regardless of where they are.

[Homeownertoo]

Well put.

[Bagotricks]

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule.
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.

...and thank our maple syrup and beaver tails we live in a country where religion in politics do not mix!

I remember going to "public school" and having to pray, and 7 kids had to "sit in the hall" everyday because their parents were Non-Christan and didn't want their kids praying.

If you want to have god mixed in with culture - send your kids to a religious school. We don't have crucifixes hanging in federal buildings for a reason.

[nolanrh]

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule.

Is praying actually against any rules in school? Obviously banning teacher led prayer makes sense... But if someone were to pray in a hallways or something, or on their own time, do schools actually prohibit that?

[susanj]

i am a canadian..born canadian...and if i want to say merry christmas or sing o canada... no matter it be in a store or a school i will do so..it is my right as a canadian ...and the charter of rights gives me that right. people say to respect other people religion well this is my religion and non christians should also respect my religion...if it offends anyone then so be it ..but you can not deny me of my religion and canadian ethics.

[Hmmm]

i am a canadian..born canadian...and if i want to say merry christmas or sing o canada... no matter it be in a store or a school i will do so..it is my right as a canadian ...and the charter of rights gives me that right. people say to respect other people religion well this is my religion and non christians should also respect my religion...if it offends anyone then so be it ..but you can not deny me of my religion and canadian ethics.

What if others religion bothers or interferes with you in some way? Most people are cool with things until it directly effects them is why I ask. And I do value and respect the charter of rights too.

[grammafreddy]

If a normal public school day had to start off with "prayer", then accommodating all the religions of all the people attending that school could take a while. It was wise IMO to not have any prayer or any religion in the public schools. However, I do think the school day should start off with O Canada because all Canadian children could use more allegiance to their country.

[Glacier]

Religious accommodation has been working really well in Sweden, and thus it works wonderfully here too...

[susanj]

all im saying is we that are born canadians have grew up with singing o canada in school and grew up saying merry christmas..so why should that be taken away from us...if i was to go to another country would that country change there ways just for me..i dont think so and i would respect that.

[36Drew]

all im saying is we that are born canadians have grew up with singing o canada in school and grew up saying merry christmas..so why should that be taken away from us...

"Born Canadian" eh? Why don't you pay a visit to the WFN office and ask their opinion on having customs taken away from those born here?

[Libelle]

all im saying is we that are born canadians have grew up with singing o canada in school and grew up saying merry christmas..so why should that be taken away from us...

"Born Canadian" eh? Why don't you pay a visit to the WFN office and ask their opinion on having customs taken away from those born here?

Do those customs you speak of Drew consist of casinos? Lord have mercy when will this card no longer be delt? Guess that is for another thread.