Keep it in Perspective
December 2nd, 1999

Hello everyone. (Hello all!) We have been quite discouraged lately. By what you ask? (Okay, by what?) All the silly bickering that has been going on about the holidays. (Well perhaps some people are forgetting the meanings of these holidays. I have learned something today....) What is that? (That no matter what the Webmaster decides to put on his or her personal web page, there will always be someone to critisize you.) Is that what you really learned, Reggie? ([Frowning] no.) Tell people what you really learned. (Okay [swinging his feet over the chair] I learned that the actual meanings of these respectable holidays are as follows, Christmas: the birth of the Christian God, Jesus Christ. Born of a virgin, in the town of Bethlehem. With three wise men, bearing Mir, Gold, & Frankincense for the new Son of God who preached tolerance, peace, and love. Next, is Jewish holiday of Chanukah. Every year between the end of November and the end of December, Jewish people around the world celebrate the holiday of Chanukah, the Festival of Lights. Chanukah begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, but the starting date on the western calendar varies from year to year. The holiday celebrates the events, which took place over 2,300 years ago in the land of Judea, which is now Israel. Next, the Muslim holiday of Ramadan, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. The Month of Ramadan is also when it is believed the Holy Quran "was sent down from heaven, a guidance unto men, a declaration of direction, and a means of Salvation" It is during this month that Muslims fast. It is called the Fast of Ramadan and lasts the entire month. Ramadan is a time when Muslims concentrate on their faith and spend less time on the concerns of their everyday lives. It is a time of worship and contemplation. Then Kwanzaa. Which I could not find the meaning of.) Wow! You knew all that? (Yes, and they all teach the same things. Tolerance, faith, peace, and love.) That is amazing. (Let me just say, that no matter what you believe, it all has the same effect.) You should all be ashamed of yourselves, fighting and squabbling about if, Gary does or does not have a Chanukah bear or not. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Gary is a Christian. Sorry, to be the one to break this to all of you. Personally, being a C&E Catholic, I fall into the Judean Christian belief system. Moreover, if I want to put up menorahs, dradels, Christmas trees, Jesus, a photo of Mohammad, and or a picture of Satan. That is my prerogative. Neither you nor I have the right to tell anyone what they can or cannot put on their websites. Robin, you have not errored at all in this respect. The only thing you should not do is let this get to you. You should never have to defend what you put on your website. Moreover, for all you who feel outcast by the Judean Christian majority. I now go to a favorite quote of mine. Goes something like this. "It's hard to be a Jew on Christmas." Also another quote. "Instead of one night of presents, we have eight crazy nights." Therefore, the point I hope is clear. Be proud of your religion, do not be mad that it is not on someone's website, or in a line of collectibles. If it was meant to be it, will. In addition, for the Christians, come on guys, there are other religions and they need recognition to. So on your websites, you could put a menorah next to those Christmas trees. (Okay Bill, you need to put that, Hey can't we all just get along stuff away now.) Okay, Lets go sunbathe! (Groovy baby, yeah, yeah.) Bye all. (Bye you beautiful people!)

-Bill, Shannon, Redmond, & Reggie Foxworthy :oP :o)

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