Arkansas Blog

TOTALLY Annoying.

"Its roughly 100 members..."

And Benton County has 175,000.

THAT is why people hate being "PC" -- the (literally, in this case) 999 have to change to placate the 1.

And we aren't talking about the minority being beaten up or mocked, but simplycalling "CHRISTMAS BREAK", "christmas break"

HEY, BENTON COUNTY JEWS: WHY DO YOU THINK YOU GET OUT OF SCHOOL AT THE END OF DECEMBER? HANNUKAH? NOPE. THAT'S IN MID-DECEMBER, DURING SCHOOL.

Kinda like saying "omg lets say "common era" instead of "a.d." -- you are still dating from Christ, so it's a stupid change.

Benton County Jews: diversity is GOOD. If you are EVER discriminated against, DO CRY FOUL and i PROMISE arkansas will come to your rescue.

But until then, pick your battles and stop annoying people with your "winter break" whining, or then you will be the boy who cried wolf, and no one will support you if you really ARE being taken advantage of.

This ain't Manhattan, and it ain't Boca Raton.

"At last count, they filled 39 Baptist, 27 United Methodist and 20 Assembly of God churches."

We have a few extra Churches of Christ here in NE Arkansas I'd be glad to send them, too.

WAAAHHHH! I have to accomodate a minority religion.
If you really thought diversity was good, then you wouldn't have any problem giving up the name of a break.

"If you really thought diversity was good, then you wouldn't have any problem giving up the name of a break"

K.

Let's ditch MLK Day. Surely some minority KKKers are "offended". And apparently from the history channel exposes I'm seen, their beliefs constitute religion too.

Satisfied?

Or do you actually think that there is ANY issue in which "no one complains"

people complain about everything, like that old joke says:

"This food is TERRIBLE -- and the portions are so small!"

you'll know things have truly
changed when someone opens
"Barry's House of Knishes."

"Let's ditch MLK Day. Surely some minority KKKers are "offended". And apparently from the history channel exposes I'm seen, their beliefs constitute religion too." Get Real

See, this is the problem with the polarized way of thinking that the right has thrust upon us through the lapdog media--every side is considered equal. Wrong.

I'd say it's just fine to offend the KKK, and I think that anyone who has ever read the speeches and writings of Martin Luther King would agree that he has much to say to all of us of all races, not just a few overly sensitive black people. If we are going to take this country back, we can't tolerate stupidity like this. Get real, indeed.

Christianity, as I recall, has something to say about "the least of these." Could it be that Christ was talking not only about the poor but the powerless minorities?

I don't understand why the right can always call "PC, PC" but then bleat on and on about "The DaVinci Code" or anything else that offends their little sensibilities. But hey, notice how easily the Benton County authorities accomodated the "100". Maybe they just asked nicely and no one in charge saw any problem with it. What a novel approach.

Yeah, that might satisfy my respect for the constitutional mandated separation of tributes to civil-rights leaders and state. The problem is that the separation doesn't exist so I don't care about it. The point you've raised is almost, but not quite altogether, unrelated.

It's not about offending people. It's about intrusion of religion in public affairs. Are these Jewish folk asking that Christmas no longer exist? No. They're asking that the publicly funded entities, like schools, not associate with a particular religion - which is a request dating back to Jefferson.

Nice job MRH, insulting me and calling me stupid. Anyways.

4 QUESTIONS:

1. Even though I support separation of church and state, show me where the law is? it's a practice developed over time, not a law. In the constitution? Look again. It's not in there.

2. Please tell me, why do schools get out for 2 weeks at the END of december again? (no this isnt some 'war on christmas' mantra)

3. Who decides what groups (KKK) are 'unoffendable' and what groups (Jews) are 'offendable'? OBVIOUSLY, the world can agree the KKK is "less than" "nwa jews" ((though the supreme court doesn't - google SKOKIE and KKK)). But, what about a race being offended? A gender? A short guy? A blonde? A teacher? A guy with bad breath?

4. Please give me an issue that no one will complain about, and I'll give you some oceanfront property in Arizona.

1. The 1st amendment and later strengthened by the 14th.

2. The tradition of getting out for Christmas carries over because many schools built schedules around the holiday. You're right, school schedules should have never been adapted to work around a certain religious holiday, but we're in a pattern that would hard to break. This question has as much relevance as asking why kids get a big break during the summer. Do you know why? Is it now relevant?

3. Again, it's not about offending people.

1. No, it's not. First amendment says "congress can't make or require adherence to a certain religion" and "Congress can't prohibit a certain religion".

Hmm... NOTHING about "don't say Christmas break". Actually, the 1st amendment backs ME up. You can say what you want.

Sorry, if you have been discriminated against I sympathize with you, BUT, unless you are forcibly being converted to Christianity (and some would say only if by Congress), then please be quiet about removing the word "Christmas".

Power of Free speech > Your being 'offended' by free speech

Or, are you being legally required to become a Christian?

I know, i don't mean to sound harsh, this is a tough issue, and PLEASE shout at the top of your lungs if you are actively legally discriminated against, and I will rush to your defense. But until that day, the "christmas break" thing, man, get over it.

Should we change the name of ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA because the namesake is a Jewish Convert to Christianity? A former jew who turned his back on jews in life and in his Writings (scathingly at times)? I would bet some people somewhere in St Paul are offended at the GOVERNMENT, but nothing happans, because it's not violating amendment 1.

2. Kids got a summer break to help the family with the harvest. Had the schools not let out, kids would have quit school because their parents would have forced them to work during the summer.
Of course I know why.

1. No, it's not. First amendment says "congress can't make or require adherence to a certain religion" and "Congress can't prohibit a certain religion".

Hmm... NOTHING about "don't say Christmas break". Actually, the 1st amendment backs ME up. You can say what you want.

Sorry, if you have been discriminated against I sympathize with you, BUT, unless you are forcibly being converted to Christianity (and some would say only if by Congress), then please be quiet about removing the word "Christmas".

Power of Free speech > Your being 'offended' by free speech

Or, are you being legally required to become a Christian?

I know, i don't mean to sound harsh, this is a tough issue, and PLEASE shout at the top of your lungs if you are actively legally discriminated against, and I will rush to your defense. But until that day, the "christmas break" thing, man, get over it.

Should we change the name of ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA because the namesake is a Jewish Convert to Christianity? A former jew who turned his back on jews in life and in his Writings (scathingly at times)? I would bet some people somewhere in St Paul are offended at the GOVERNMENT, but nothing happans, because it's not violating amendment 1.

2. Kids got a summer break to help the family with the harvest. Had the schools not let out, kids would have quit school because their parents would have forced them to work during the summer.
Of course I know why.

I guess the responses on Christmas Break also explains the need for racial diversity also.

My son works for one of those WM suppliers and has an adopted Chinese daughter.

He was directly asked on a Bentonville street why he adopted a Chinese girl. That probably explains that while he works in WM-ville, he doesn't live in that red neck community.

There are even WM employees who have adopted Chinese children. Every child needs a loving home but I guess when the word "loving" doesn't appoear in your version of Christianity, it makes it hard to understand what others are doing.

Get Real, I know it may be painful to be dragged into the Twentieth Century, but there are people who are not protestants out there. You are conflating a number of different issues and making a general hash of it. The First Amendment actually protects five different rights and the one involving the KKK and Skokie was Freedom of Speech not either part of the Freedom of Religion.

The First Amendment actually says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohiting the free exercise thereof ..." This is very different from what you just said. This means that the government cannot favor one religion over another in official functions. That phrase, "respecting an establishment" goes beyonf ordaining a single religion. The First Amendment says much more than you are willing to give it credit. If you hold that only Congress can violate the First Amendment, you need to get over the fact that the civil war is over. The Union won. The only people who argue against the Bill of RIghts applying to the States are people who would rather be Confederates than Americans.

You then segui into proper names of cities and towns. This is an absurd argument that has nothing to do with religion. WHat about Cinncinnati named partially after a Roman patriot? You are stretching. The name of St. Paul is not an endorsement of religion. Putting up a creche in December is.

Stop writing and start thinking. Don't confuse Freedom of Speech with Freedom of Religion. Realize that the government is for all Americans, including minorities. The Goverment, Federal, State, and Local, cannot put a stamp of approval on a particular religion. That is the FIrst Amendment's implication here.

Fed up to here: sorry to hear about your son's run-in. Please don't judge all of Arkansas or all Christians from him. Did the offending redneck say he was a Christian?

*BUT you are dragging this into a "Who can be offended/victimized/persecuted" the most game... not too smart, because there will always be someone to one-up us, even though we ALL think ("yeah but NO ONE's been what I'VE been through!!!")

***I LOVE, i LOVE, i LOVE the fact that you all laugh at attempts to soften 'r' language, defend sheehan's hate-filled "bush is a terroist" rants, support howard dean's profane anti-red state speeches, soak up the mean spirits of Air(Hate)America, laugh at anyone who wants to ENFORCE movie ratings, deride James Dobson and his focus on the family for attempting to "squash speech" by boycotting needlessly profane movies, you -in symbols, jokes, articles, art, expressions, or cursing - denigrate God and Jesus, and regularly insult Republicans, Christians, Baptists, church leaders, whites, straight people, people that don't want to encourage homosexuality, people who are against affirmative action, and call people homophobes, racists, bigots, and hatemongers--- YOU HURT A MILLION FEELINGS EVERY DAY AND ALL THE WHILE YOU DEFEND FREE SPEECH.

.......Then, your child's calendar says "Christmas Break" in type 10 font, and you decide YOUR INDIVIDUAL HURT FEELINGS > FREE SPEECH.

Yeah, it's a HUGE mystery why you people can't ever win any elections..... I'm RACKING my BRAIN why Democrats "can't connect" with "regular Americans"

GR, I see you have finally displayed your true colors with your vitriolic attack.

Your intolerance is now on full display. I, however, do see several things in your rant that are not internally consistent.

Perhaps you can explain them: You claim to be in favor of free speech, but are criticizing liberals who defend movies against Dobson's editorial choices. You seem to be confused over whether movie ratings should be enforced. Should they? Or should we just abdicate our thoughts about movies to Dobson? Of course he gets to boycott. That is the glory of free speech.

There, however, appears to be nothing consistent about this. Can you tell me what "profane" speech of Howard Dean's you are referring to? COuld you explain how movie ratings are not being enforced? When, as an organization, has what I assume to be the Democratic Party denigrated either the Judeo-Christian God or Jesus?

Are you mad because there are people who stand up for minorities? That seems to be what you are saying. Minorities should know their place and just sit down and be quiet? We know best because we are white, straight, GOD fearin' Protestants? That is the image you are projecting. If that is the image you want to be projecting, than I will leave it to you to wonder why there are such low poll ratings for the Republican President and Republican controlled Congress.

You leave out some important phrasing in the 1st amendment. There is no question as to what was meant by the authors of these amendments when they wrote the establishment clause.

Power of Free speech > Your being 'offended' by free speech
This doesn't make sense. Nor does it pertain to public institutions.

Your scenarios don't apply to our discussion. Naming something after a person isn't "respecting an establishment of religion." We're talking about students in public schools being denied class time because of someone else's religion. You create a "law respecting an establishment of religion" to get schools statewide to observe a Christmas break.

I'll be the first to admit that there are huge conflicts and gray areas between the establishment clause and the protection clause when it comes to individuals. When public funds come into play, things become alot less fuzzy because the protection clause doesn't apply to public entities.

I notice you didn't answer my question on #2.

Obviously, you can't read.

How many times did i emphasize "i am sorry for your discrimination" and "if during this bentonville issue you are discriminated against let me know"? Scroll up the WHOLE page. Take a gander.

That in mind , I am AGAINST all kinds of discrimination, as all Christians are (ok, SHOULD be), any kind of hate is just plain wrong.

MY "rant" as you say meant to point out, anytime a conservative "attacks free speech", you guys freak out and say "FREEDOM OF SPEECH FREEDOM OF SPEECH"......................................................... but now a liberal is "attacking free speech" (change CHristmas break) and you guys are silent. What gives?

THAT'S the point.

(Examples of the dem party knocking Jesus? Surely you jest? Attend some YD meetings, even the Fayetteville meetings with a thumbs up Jesus scared me away as a Freshman, but seriously, you don't have to dig deep to find examples of that, cmon now, thats like saying "what? show me examples of bush acting corrupt?" (see there, i am fair and balanced))

********GREATEST OF ALL: i'm smiling, because at the U of A one of the most brilliant professors of politics i know, a democrat, always said "Democrats lose elections because they think their opponents are either RACIST or STUPID"... in your last few posts you have accused me of both :) ... my how right my prof was!!!

Maybe we should change the name of "Little Rock" to politically correct "Bantam Mineral"...sorry...bad joke.

AGAIN: Obviously you cannot read (i'm getting tired of typing that sentence)

i did answer #2 - check the 12:20 post

"Democrats lose elections because they think their opponents are either RACIST or STUPID"... in your last few posts you have accused me of both :)

At no time have I implied either thing. I suppose you're talking to Themis, but I would like to point out the small irony in your sentence,

"Obviously, you can't read."

This isn't about discrimination. This is about not showing favoritism to a majority religion. This is about following the constitution. You can say that you're "against discrimination" all you want. It doesn't matter. If your point was to argue freedom of speech, then you picked the wrong platform because this has nothing to do with it.

You might have missed that there were two questions on #2.

Some people just hate change; it forces them to think about the things they have long accepted.

prob, afaid that the jewish community up there is cutting into their turf...can't have some non -christains in NWA not giving to the religious CULTS of NWA people might bring a new idea and a progressive voiceand religious concept and Spook their GOP sheep herds . does it cut into their collection plates ??whats next for NWA white christian ONLY- wally world supercenters ?