I’m glad that everything is so perfect in the world that our only worry is what to name a tree. I don’t understand why we can’t have the religious symbols that represent all of the nation’s religions displayed. Let the Christians have their little trees, the Jews their Menoras, the Muslims, Hindus, Bhudists, Kwanzas and whatever other religions and/or beliefs there are in the world, display their symbols of worship wherever they want.
However, let’s do it all in the same week of the year…..say one week in August. It’s good and hot, kids are out of school and most people are on vacation anyway. Besides, I’d rather get shorts and T-shirts from Santa so I can wear them in December while I’m in the Carribean, escaping all this madness.

LOL John

Adam,

If they have the X-MASS tree along side the Menora…..then its fine…. however being that Menoras are usually small in size they are often lost in the holiday decor. So if this is the case or if there is no Menora at all in the area then its justified.

Note:

When I lived in Miami in my town there was a huge fuss about having i cant think of the name but ( its those things with like baby jesus and those people) next to the menora and x-mas tree. And the town was taken to court and it was on FOX and all over the news. There was also a whole mess with the Decorations all over the mess if it was fair and balanced. I cant remember what happend in the end.

This was in Bay Harbor Islands, FL

Avi….You’re probably refering to Nativity scenes, or displays. I remember the big fuss over them, but I can’t recall whatever happened regarding the court’s decision. It is this kind of petty bickering, plus the commercialization of the Christmas in this country, that gets on a lot of people’s nerves this time of year. I personnaly know of people that used to look forward to this time of year……….now they dread it.

Yah nativity scences was the word i was looking for……. Also My at the middle school i went to Nautilus Middle School in Miami beach now im in 11th ( in israeL) they asked me to bring a menora to be put next to the X-MASS tree…..My parents agreed and bought one of those electric menoras and i brought it to school and yah they used it. Hopefully everyone can put there diffrences aside and either have 1 of each holiday represented respectivley or have nothing. I dosnt bother me when i see an X-Mass tree in a prodeminatly christan area however when its on or in govt property theres a fine diffrence and all have to be represented.

One of the idea in Bay Harbor was having a put anything you want type thing were the menora and x-mass tree where placed near the toll booth im not sure if thats what happend. And the menora was donated from a synagogue the Shul of Bal Harbour i think so that was another issue for the defendent. Also there was these boats near all these type which one could interpret as the jesus boat or whatever you wanna call it. So yah all of this relgious stuff can drive your mind crazy.

I say have 1 of each period .

To me it is Jesus birthday, Nativity Scene, Merry Christmas, Christmas Tree, Do not leave Christ out of Christmas.

sUSAN…… U want me to bring in all the jewish characters in and all the whole set to… it will end up looking like a super babrie party!

we need to grow up!

It’s a Christmas tree.
Sandra Snowden is the lady in Florida that started the controversy there. I can’t find the resolve to that either. I did find the newletter dated December 2006 from Bay Harbor Island, it said they will display a Christmas tree, Manorah and sail boats. It goes on to say that any other decorations are not those of the town but are those of private citizens.
I don’t know if that means they allowed her to put up a Nativity scene or not.

Avi, Jesus was in a manger as a baby, not a boat. That came later….a fisher of men. I don’t know why the city has boats there as a Christmas decoration??

Oh yah thats her Sandra Snowden just drove us nuts…. the whole town she went on a hunger strike and everything…. And also in the town we had like menoras and red roses on the light poles i think we also had draidels and we had yellow lights around the trees on the main street. If i rememebr correctly we also had draidels on the light posts but after Snowden they took them ( draidels) down.

NOte: Bay harbor has a largely jewish community and the mayor himself was as well as was a few councilmembers.

OO and Jane thanks for the Jesus transportation history =/….. One thing that cuases alot of problems in our world is Religon some say thats why the world is in CHAOS! BUT thats another issue.

Just a general comment.. not pointed anywhere with it…..
Why is it with religion and politics can no one get along?
We cant just agree to disagree?
I have no problems with what anyone else wants to believe and I try not to judge anyone for thier belief. Dont take away mine, and i wont take away yours type of thing.

I enjoy hearing your stories Avi, i’ve never had anyone near that was Jewish, and never really understood. Our community is 90% Catholic. I dont choose to follow much of thier “?” lost the word i was going to put there…grr hate it when that happens!!
I choose to be “christian” in general, Im not big on labels. I believe in a higher power like most religions.

Feels like this conversation is dejavue

Avi..its really not that religion is the downfall of the world as some want to suggest in my opinion, its that someone let loose of the “common sense” and it all flew out the window somewhere along the lines!! The religion arguement has gone on for over 2000 years and never seems to change

Did anyone see the Xmas Spectacle by Larry the Cable Guy? He is crude yes- but funny- and he mocked this whole thing- it was on yesterday and I had to watch it-

Now don’t forget- you can’t say ho, ho because it is offensive to some women-

Queen Creek is doing this? I am way west and Queen Creek is real east from me-

……. *So as you celebrate “Winter Break” under your “Dream Tree”*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*

*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holidays *

–I sooooo agree. Rather than eliminate or change the name oh holiday celebrations, why not let all celebrate in their own way by adding, rather than subtracting.

Adam

comment from me to Adam- I soooo agree too- wouldn’t this be fun? I am all for it! So Adam, you being the writer here, write up a petition and we can all circulate it in all of our states and get this ridiculous argument settled!

Avi, so are so bright! I love your comments.

Love your neighbor!!! Happy Hanukkah!

I just received this in my email from a friend of mine who lives in Honolulu-
Trudy said she found this on the internet-

12 Hawaiian days of Christmas
On the…….day of Christmas my Tutu (Grandmother) gave to me

1) A mayna bird in one papaya tree
2) Two coconuts
3) Three Dried squid
4) Four Flower Leis
5) Five Big fat pigs!
6) six hula lessons
7) seven shrimps a swimming Eight ukuleles
9) Nine Pounds of poi
10) ten cans of soda
11) eleven televisions
12) Twelve missionaries

That sounds like a darn good bbq by the fire pit with drink in hand and granny doing the hula!

Patty-

I could have fun- I have a hula hoop here- should I bring it the festivities and do the hula jingle bell?

what do you think Greta thinks about this one? It has been going on for over a week-

MADISON, Wis. — The 35-foot tall balsam fir standing proudly in the rotunda of the Wisconsin Capitol is a familiar annual December display, but it’d be a mistake to call it a “Christmas tree,” much to the dismay of one Badger State lawmaker now leading a legislative fight to change the name of the evergreen.

The General Assembly is expected to vote Tuesday on the bill proposed by Rep. Marlin Schneider, a Democrat, who wants the tree to be known officially as the State of Wisconsin Christmas Tree…

The article is on the home page when you open up Fox News-

Here is one if you want to use for sending pictures you have stored in your computer-

I copied if from Greta’s blog (edit-) and then I opened up my email and sent myself an email and pasted this-

It is real cute- I had it in the other holiday blog but I don’t know if anyone saw it- check it out-

http://www.elfyourself.com

Religions are simply a series of beliefs about how a person got here, why they are here and where they are going when they leave. Since these beliefs come from the individual’s mind, they are best kept there……..to oneself. It is when an individual starts “preaching” that his/her beliefs are the only possible answers to the questions:how, why and where, that arguments usually follow. IMHO.

Merry Christmas One and All….

Being a christian and believing in God, it upsets me to see how we have taken Christ out of Christmas. Everthing around us is a display of greed and ignorance. How unfortunate that we have propelled ourselves and our great country into bigotry and atheism.
Probably the only people who keep God in thier lives are Muslims. To them God remains to be the sacred one overlooking this world.
I say Merry Christmas to all. If you don’t like the word, don’t read it.

ah yes… so they renamed the Christmas Tree to Holiday Tree….. I hear the next thing they have in mind is to re-name VACATION to ‘Time Off With No Pay’…. Is becoming a land of ‘no right or wrong’, so I think it best to keep my guns…

Interesting to look at the comments and to realize that few, if any, have looked into what the others believe in. The fact is that for the Nativity Scene, the primary characters (Jesus, Mary & Joseph) are Jews. The setting was in Israel.

Christianity is merely an off-shoot of Judiasm, and if you investigate the rites and rituals of Judiasm and Christianity you will find that both have the same origin and even the same activities. Most of the Holidays (or Holy Days) of Christianity have their basis from Judiasm.

Look at the Jewish Holy Day(s) of Sukkot and compare the setting of the Nativity Scene. Are there similarities? Do that with each and every Holy Day of Judiasm and compare it to Christianity and you will find more similarities than differences.

In Christianity you even have Priests, Priests were in the Temple in Jerusalem, it says so in the Tenach.

Please consider & investigate what you are talking about before you make a judgement.

I live very comfortably with my Menorahs and my Faith with my Christmas Tree and the Celebration of the Messiah’s Birth.

SJSB

How about this……………..CUT THE TREE DOWN~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! you don’t want to celebrate the birth of CHRIST>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>(In case your residents don’t know, that is the first part of the word CHRISTMAS) And to be joyful for his presence on this earth is the reson for that celebration. Personally , I believe all the hype and commercialism has ruined it.Why not just pick a day in the middle of the year, compile St Patrick’s Day, 4th of july, Thanksgiving, etc,; and get it all overwith in one day~!???

wow-

what interesting comments-

Margaret…………February 30th, Chrishannakwanza Day.

For those that use ‘real’ Christmas trees………..Ever wonder how God, if you’re so inclined to believe in him, feels about you killing one of his trees to celebrate Jesus’ birthday?…………..Every year?

Note: I’m guessing that God is a ‘he’…………..for I strongly believe that a Goddess would have designed a little more “user friendly” universe.

I found this article- and it sure is interesting-

hnn.us/articles/9144.html

http://hnn.us/articles/9144.html

John stop your preaching.

HAHAHA JOHn you crack me up…… maybe you should replace Jay Leno? I think this world is going back to like the first day ( if your jewish and go by the tanach) that the first day was a mess haha …. maybe were back to that and working our way back?

Btw adam in Israel we say ” chag samamach” meaning happy holiday! not happy huanukkka or like happpy purim….. cham samamach is what everyone says……… And its a jewish country made America can follow and make it happy holidays ….the merry x-mass is not apporiate lol

John, I,m sure God, who I believe in, encouraged the killing of his trees to further his PLAN, was pleased when Noah, Soloman, etc.,built their Boat, Temple, etc., which were made of wood.(Trees)..James

How about we call god im sure he got a 1800 number… John i think you go it?

S J Bailey
It is a good point you bring up about looking at what others believe. I am taking a class at my church next month on World Religions. It is suppose to include history, beliefs and practices. In this short 6 week class I’m sure it will not go into great detail, but it’s a start and I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge in this area. I have a hard time of it when the Jehovah’s Witnesses come to the door and I really don’t know what they believe. I use to run and hide.
I believe we are all created and related by The One Almighty God. And Christ should be left in Christmas, since that’s what it’s all about.
John,
As far as cutting down the trees, there are farms that raise these trees just for this purpose. Just like farms for the chickens at KFC and cows for the T-bone steaks we enjoy. So I don’t think He minds. As for the fake trees, I dunno…. (hmmm….kinda looks like everyone is picking on you today )

I FOR ONE, AM SICK AND TIRED OF ALL THE EUPHEMISMS SOCIETY USES TODAY.
POLITICALLY CORRECTNESS IS BULL UNLESS OF COURSE YOU WANT TO SPARE
SOMEONE’S FEELINGS. OUR GRANDCHILDREN WILL BE LOOKING INTO A DICTIONARY
THE SIZE OF THE WARREN REPORT. ENOUGH OF THIS SILLINESS. LET’S GET BACK
TO THE “REAL”. I USED TO THINK IT WAS INSULTING TO CALL IT A HANUKKAH BUSH.
THIS COUNTRY HAS BENT OVER BACKWARD TO ACCEPT EVERYONE’ S NATIONALITY, RACE
AND RELIGION. HOW ABOUT THESE VERY SAME PEOPLE SHOW SOME RESPECT AND
WHEN IN ROME, DO AS THE ROMANS DO. YOU MOVED HERE, WE OPENED OUR ARMS
AND IN SOME CASES OUR WALLETS TO YOU. THIS IS AMERICA, THIS IS HOW ITS DONE,
YOU MUST SPEAK ENGLISH, YOU MUST OBEY THE LAW AND WHILE WE GRANT YOU THE
FREEDOM TO WORSHIP IN YOUR OWN WAY, DO NOT TRY TO CHANGE OUR WAYS, DO
NOT TRY TO UNIVERSALIZE OUR CUSTOMS. AND DO NOT COMPLAIN ABOUT AMERICA,
WE ARE NOT HERE TO BE CHANGE BY YOU, YOU ARE OUR GUESTS.

Wow- Barbar-

I hear you loud and clear-

I am with you on this Adam-

What you do everyday to yourself and others is what you believe in- If you lie, practice deception, or ridicule others with malice in your heart, malice is your belief-

If you believe in honesty, humility, compassion, respect to all, and you do this with love in your heart, love is your belief.

Reading the Book, whichever one, and quoting from it, in my opinion, does not mean I will be saved. For me salvation is the daily deed of being a good person. And at the end of this, someone is going to read my heart.

I don’t put up a real tree because this means I have to go through the pain of discarding it so the tree I didn’t cut down, you can have -

Avi-
thanks for the heads up- chag samamach”

Jen- I don’t mind anyone’s religion but I can’t stand it when you can’t have a conversation without every other sentence being directed to converting the person to theirs- My neighbor across the street is this way- and I spent two days helping her with her husband but I had to bite my lip as not to offend her- she is what I call-a fanatic! But I love her dearly- I just don’t like pushy people- let it be-

MSN’s home page has Christmas Around the World from India to Brazil- pretty cool-

here is something I copied while visiting from the editor’s note-

Translations of “Merry Christmas” are by Merry Christmas From FLW in 350+ Languages (http://www.flw.com/merry.htm).

http://www.flw.com/merry.htm

SUSAN-PHX-AZ

YOUR COMMENTS POSTED AT 4:06 PM WERE SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL. YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL
PERSON. I READ YOUR HEART………ENJOY THIS WONDERFUL SEASON.

Barbar-

You took me for a loop- thanks so much! I mean it!

and you enjoy this season too-

Susan—–How do I know if something new has been added to one of these ‘threads’ unless I walk back here to see? Is there a trick? So I looked at this link you told me to—> Nollaig Shona Dhuit.
And you know I agree 100% with BARBAR!

Jen-
I just left you a Swedish – God Jul och Gott Nytt År and a Polish – Wesolych Swiat i Szczesliwego Nowego Roku over there at the border!

Now- you and Barbar don’t make me cry- you two deserve all the credit- you bring out the best in me-

Hard to be nasty with good people around– such as you all- hugs!

Lastly- in a nutshell-

You reap what you sow-

to err is human and to forgive is divine-

It is ridiculous to call a Christmas Tree by any other name than “Christmas Tree.” If anyone doesn’t like it, move to another country. This is a holiday we have celebrated since our founding fathers named it. Now everyone wants to get in the act. It is a Christian Holiday and our country was founded on Christian/Judiac principles.

Have a Merry, Merry Christmas in front of your beautifully decorated “Christmas Tree.”

Speaking of events-

I was just in little Mexico’s convenient store down the street- and they had on the tele the big thing going on in Mexico City- Las Mañanitas de la Virgen de Guadalupe- these people come from all over the world to celebrate the Virgin Mary- tomorrow is the big day-

Barbar-

don’t listen to Adam- he abandons us for hours at a time- some friend he is!!!!

Adam-

I remember you mentioning Hayakawa but I don’t know under which topic it went- but I had to go look him up that day- and I posted some fun stuff about him- I believe it came from his book-
Language in Action- so here I had to go out into the internet to find what I had posted to no avail, but I did find these famous quotes by him:

“Notice the difference between what happens when a man says to himself,’I have failed three times,’and what happens when he says,’I'm a failure.’”
“I’m going to speak my mind because I have nothing to loose.”

What I remember from reading about him- what one says can mean something else completely different as to perception-

Under what topic did you originally post this? SPARE ME!

AND-I am disappointed in you Adam for getting that B- I am going to notify your mailperson of this so your mailperson can ditch your mail in the person-hole-cover! That will teach you!

Hunukkka is over now you can fight about Kwanza and X-MASS cat and dog……

btw adam i saw you on facebook but i didnt add you i figure that would be odd haha

oo and btw the israeli teacher strike was about to end then at the last secound negoations failed.

court order issued teacher supposed to go back to work thursday

teachers saying they wont

union saying anarahcy!

day 55

I wonder what kinda day ill have at schoool thursday lol

Hanakkah may be over where you are Avi, but on the East Coast of the USA, it is the 8th night…unless I got my Jewish Calendar mixed up…..my menorah is aglow with all eight lights and the servant candle……

To John, construction & destruction of natural resources were going on long before humans set foot on the Earth’s stage (according to scientists)……so your point about whether the Creator takes a dim view of the cutting of trees to celebrate a Holiday or Holy Day rings dull. I can point out any number of occurances all over the globe that contribute to destruction of trees and many other growing plants, animals, etc.

For human beings to take certain days within a year’s time to celebrate or acknowledge a Creator that you may not, should not diminish those days or times. It is unto each person to decide for themselves whether or not they should acknowledge that there is a ‘power’ greater than themselves. In times of trouble, it is of no comfort when one must pray to himself for help or assistance or even an understanding why something happened to you.

While I think that the Birthday of the Messiah took place at a different time than December, I will not let it diminish my enjoyment of the Season.

Happy Hanakkah and Merry Christmas to you all…….

SJSB

Avi-

chag samamach-

SJ Bailey-

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas to you too-

Susan, I believe in much of what you said at your 4:06 posting, however good deeds and good works will not gain you Salvation..The Bible says Salvation is gained by believing on our Lord Jesus Christ, and having FAITH in Him..Good works helps, but will NOT in and of itself be grant you Salvation….James

Adam-

stop your sniveling- those planes and trains are going to have to be put on the back burner-

(did you take a train? cool- where and when and how?) Did you take a picture? Share-

James-

By the way, I do believe-

My favorites in the Bible: 1 Corinthians 13:4 through 13
—Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous or boastful or rude. Love does not demand its own way….

I also like from Matthew 7:3-5
Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

James- the Book has some very neat stuff!

Talk about religion- our presidential candidates- Huckleberry and Romney-

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, an ordained Southern Baptist minister, asks in an upcoming article, “Don’t Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?”

These guys are so ridiculous- leave your beliefs out when running for President.
What is your purpose to run for President? To better the country or just get a coin with your picture on it way down the road?

http://jokelibrary.net/yyPictures/m/2008b.html

If anyone likes to laugh- click on the joke library I posted on the preceding post-

UH oh Bible classs…?? i get enough of that in tanach class ( required in all israeli schools public and private) i go to public and bible ( Tanach) class is my most dreaded class lol… well i havnt had that in 55 d ays lol….

SJ Bailey………with all respect to your comment, I was not making a “point”…….merely asking a question for fun. I can see where the construction of the question can be construed to look like I was making a point, but I was just attempting to add a little humor into the Creator’s world. Since he/she created me, he/she will just have to put up with that. If not, then I guess I’m headed to the basement when it’s all over…….And, yes, I do like to stir things up a bit at times, but then again I’m just here for the fun of it.

Happy belated Hanukkah to you……

BTW………Why is it “happy” Hanukkah,Easter,etc. but “merry” Christmas?

John,

merry
adj. happy, glad, joyful, cheerful, festive

i guess thats why

marry haunukka

marry easter

marry presidents day

lol..

Avi…….God does have an 1-800 number, but it went unlisted in 2005……..He was getting tired of all those calls on Sundays…….his only day off. He’s working on a blog, but has yet to decide whether to use FoxNews as the carrier. He likes the idea of “We report, You decide”, but is a liitle leery of possibly being chastized by Bill O’…..And, Geraldo scares the hell out of him.

LOL… Bruce Almighty haha ……

John-

I wonder if G- has an email address? I am sure my name will be blocked!

And don’t be cutting down any trees and hanging beer cans on it!!!!!!

ADAM, THANKS FOR THE WELCOME, BUT I CANNOT CONTRIBUTE TOO MUCH SINCE I’M
LIKE YOU AND CANNOT MONITOR AS OFTEN AS THE REST OF THESE WONDERFUL BLOGGERS.

SUSAN, I DO GET A SENSE OF THE PERSONALITIES HERE AND I ENJOY MOST. HOWEVER I
WILL BE GUILTY OF ABANDONMENT AS WELL. SORRY, SO LITTLE TIME………

EVERYONE,

I just spoke to my homeroom teacher to see if my school is desobeying the court order to return to work and she said yes… 100 school are as well…

This is crazy…. Tomarrow is going to be a funny day get fox to cover it … i dont think such a thing has happend like this in the world ever!

oo and my poor miami dolphins are 0-13 !!!!!! Maybe they should get steroid players on the team lol aka bonds and 0-13 will turn into 1-13 !

Avi…..that sounds like an interesting situation, yet sad at the same time. Is the court order a temporary return to work order or are they trying to bust the teacher’s union? ie- are they calling the strike illegal?

Barbar-

Will you stop by and say hi once in awhile? And have a good holiday! (From AZ to you)
I agree with you- I really like the people here- everyone has a different personality but everyone seems to be genuinely nice-

Avi-

Your side of the world sounds chaotic- interesting to see what happens?

And all of you have a good day-

SUSAN,

I SURE WILL. BARBAR FROM NEW YORK WISHES YOU ALL PEACE & HAPPINESS THIS SEASON.
HERE’S HOPING ALL YOUR DREAMS ARE ON THEIR WAY……….

John is a combo of all that

1. the govt was behind the one who asked for it not the citys ( who employ the teachers)
2. the head of the union cannot publicy tell the teachers not to go to work ( hed be jailed)
3. teachers are taking action into their own hands….

crazyniesss

James @ 10:20 pm,
I agree!! You hit the nail on the head. John 14:6
Jesus is the reason for the season. Wise men still seek Him…..

Patty,
We are looking for you. I hope you aren’t one of those without power in KS.

Avi–keep your nose in the books at this point is all the advice I have for you. But keep us informed. You are one smarty.

Adam,
Good answer on the 800 number . I knew there was a sense of humor in there.

Barbar
We know you will be back, once you come here, it’s hard to stay away.
Best to you during this beautiful season of Light.

John,
I have one quarter left so I will use it on you.
Love ya’!

John,

If you re-read The Night Before Christmas……you will see at the ending……Santa says, “Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!”

SJSB

S J….you are correct, I guess the powers-to-be figured that by the end of the year we have had enough “happy” holidays and it was time for a “merry” one.

And Adam…lol on the ‘no call’ list comment

Forget the Happy whatever- My holidays are ruined for life- I had the answer to the picture and I didn’t post it-

What is that number again to reach ^ ? I have to call and wail!

bah humbug!!!

SJ Bailey–

You are right about the Night Before Christmas-

I had never noticed- till now- I had just bought a couple of those little books- for stocking stuffers to send to my nieces so I read it- thanks for sharing-

MERRY Haunuka

MARRY HAD A LITTLE LAM LITTLE LAM LOL

Of course, to be “happy” and “merry” is a definition of “gay”……………how about, have a Gay Chrstmas.

Oh dear John—————
On second thought…..Why not!

[...] According to Fox News reporter Adam Housley, [...]

Thank you Adam Housley! This is one of the few places to get any news on this story. I’ve added my two cents on my blog at: http://whereschristmas.wordpress.com/

Todd