When did Pezzer turn into OS Jr.?

I guess I've never understood why people are upset that other people want to be shown repsect.

Why do Republicans think that all Democrats are extreme Liberals?

Hell, I am a Democrat and think its too hard for a (normal sane person who wont go on a killing spree) person to buy a gun (See also: California).

Tolgak wrote: USAF: It's still religious persecution and that was my point. Many people want the distinction between sects of Christianity anyway. I know people who would would correct you and say Catholic or Baptist if you called them Christians. Some sects don't recognize others as valid religions. The Catholics and Protestants in Ireland have fought just as viciously against each others than Jews and Muslims. The way to take "the separation of church and state" too far is the eradication of church by state. Secularists aren't doing that, nor do they want to do that. What would you call "too far," and why do you think those actions are wrong? JohnnyCanuck wrote: Tolgak wrote: My spiel on secularism. I was thinking from a childs perspective, they could really care less if santa is fat, says ho ho ho, christmas/hanukkah, but luckily they have people like you who tell them what they should think. Secularism is not about the kids, it's about everybody. It has nothing to do with how offended people are. Religion has proven time and again to be an extremely destructive force when governments are dominated by a single one, or there are fights by different religions to dominate the government. The way to remedy that is to make sure that religion does not touch policy or the budget. While allowing schools to prefer one religion over another (in your case, Christians through Christmas concerts sanctioned by public schools), you're putting public money towards one religion over all the others. It seems insignificant to allow a school production to prefer Christmas over other holidays. But each waved infringement on the Constitution makes it possible for greater infringements to make it through without being questioned. If it wasn't for secularists fighting back against these transgressions, this country would easily have become a Christian theocracy by now. And I know you think I'm some evil spawn of Satan, but being a secularist =/= wanting the state to indoctrinate people against religion. Kids need to learn how to think. They need to develop logical thinking skills and skepticism. Religion wants to turn people away from that, because once logic is applied to the thought, many claims can be proven wrong or made less believable. I couldn't care less whether or not you want your kid to sit on Santa's lap at the mall today, just don't make me pay so your religion can be put above others. I don't think I can make it any simpler.

You should write a book on how to raise a child in these dangerous times, using your lawyer-esque point of view.  Somehow I managed to raise my son without it, and he still enjoys the late-december-winter-celebration-that-we-dare-not-speak-of.

I say both, usually happy holidays to any customers at work.  I asked my son today about what he thought about Christmas, he said he can't stand the christmas music, not because of the content but because it's so overplayed.  There's a lot more evils out there imo than saying merry christmas, however I certainly respect those that either don't celebrate it or just plain don't want to participate or are sick of it.