I don’t know them, but I love them
I drive down 675 four times a week — and back four times a week — and every year at Christmastime the Zink family wishes us a “Merry Xmas” on the side of their barn, which we can see from the highway.
This year, though, the Zink family is wishing us a “Merry Christmas” — and not only that, but the letters aren’t all the same color. I’m going to try to get a picture of it (well, Missy is) tonight but I don’t know how well it’ll work from a moving car. Anyhow, the words are written as follows:
Merry Christmas
from the Zink Family
While I’m surrounded by people who are removing any reference to Christmas, people who wish me a “Happy Holiday Season” or “hope your winter season is happy,” who insist that all nativity scenes be hidden away lest they offend a non-Christian (who probably couldn’t care less), who insist that I acknowledge Ramadan, Kwanza, Winter Solstice and whatnot (how come the Jews don’t insist I acknowledge Hanukkah? Oh, wait, I’ll tell you why — they don’t CARE what I believe as long as I let them believe what they want to believe. Those silly Jews are missing their chance to be righteously indignant and mortally offended by my wishing them a “Merry Christmas” because they know it’s the sentiment that counts), while all this is going on around me, it’s nice that the Zink Family is wishing me a Merry Christmas.
I wish them one as well.
December 8th, 2009 at 10:41
Yeah, they’ve been doing that for years. Never ceases to bring a smile or to lighten your spriit just a bit, does it?
December 8th, 2009 at 23:13
I’m not so bothered by “Happy Holidays” as it IS a holiday season and there are at least two major world religions observing holidays this time of year. You know me, I’m not really religious but I honest to goodness don’t get the problem with “Merry Christmas”.
December 9th, 2009 at 00:55
Merry Christmas and if libtards don’t like it, tough shit.
December 9th, 2009 at 02:15
Correction, Jeanette: It’s not “at least” two, it’s only two. As in, there are only two major religions observing holidays at this time of the year in America. Christianity with Christmas, and Judaism with Hanukkah.
There are also Buddhist and Muslim holidays during December—but since each of those religions are held by about 0.5% of the U.S. population, they don’t qualify as “major” religions here.
As for “Kwanzaa,” that’s a bullshit phony holiday manufactured by a racist, white-hating black separatist; and it isn’t part of any religion, so it doesn’t even deserve the word “holiday.” It also doesn’t deserve any respect or recognition—it deserves open scorn and condemnation. The proper response to anyone wishing you a “Happy Kwanzaa” is, “Fuck you, you goddamned racist.”
The only other people who even claim a holiday around this time of year are all idiot Neo-Pagans who like to pretend they invented the Winter Solstice, and who have no more numbers in America than the Buddhists or Muslims—and then only if you count all the idiots together, even though there are at least a dozen widely differing varieties of Neo-Pagan idiocy—and they merit only slightly more respect than Kwanzaa-celebrating black racists. Less if they open their mouths.
By contrast, 76.7% of the U.S. population identify themselves as Christians of one variety or another. This being a Democracy, that means we may tip our hats to Hanukkah out of courtesy, but it’s Merry Fucking Christmas.
December 9th, 2009 at 09:32
Out respect for peace on Kate’s blog, all this “idiot Neo-Pagan” is going to open her mouth an say to you is Merry Christmas and Happy fucking Yule.
December 9th, 2009 at 09:55
Experience a Joyful Hannakwanzaramadamalinglongmas!
December 9th, 2009 at 12:02
Yes, the Zinks have brightened 675 for years. I don’t feel it’s Christmas time til they put up their sign!
December 9th, 2009 at 13:21
“Peace on Kate’s blog?” Since when?
All forms of “Neo-Paganism” are phony, manufactured modern religions. That’s a historical fact. They pretend to be carrying on ancient traditions—despite having very nearly nothing in common with those long-dead religions—and the overwhelming majority of them openly espouse logical absurdities like Polytheism and Subjective Truth. That too is a fact.
I’d call Neo-Paganism a joke, except that it’s not actually funny to think anybody is brain-damaged enough to believe in it. You might as well get your religion out of a Crackerjack box.
December 9th, 2009 at 18:41
You’re right, I guess. Peace on this blog IS a bit silly.
Yes, Neo-Paganism is generally modern. That doesn’t in any way, shape, or form negate its many facets as religion. As long as someone has faith, that is the important thing. Besides, you might wish to define “modern” as several christian factions may be considered “modern” as well. Do you consider them ridiculous as well?
Also, Monotheism is a religious viewpoint just as Polytheism is (and for your information, I happen to be a henotheist). There is no scientific proof for either, so calling one absurd is in itself absurd.
Now, I’m not here to say that my personal beliefs are better than anyone else’s. Mine works for me, somone else’s works for them, and that’s what counts. The only real joke here is that you might actually respect someone else’s viewpoints and beliefs.
December 9th, 2009 at 18:43
And yes, I will own up to my typing error. “christian” should have been capiltalized. My apologies.
December 9th, 2009 at 18:52
I think most religions are “henotheistic” in nature, even some branches of Christianity. Any religion that sees the Godhead as three distinct individuals would, by definition, be henotheistic, wouldn’t it?
December 10th, 2009 at 02:17
Henotheism is functionally indistinguishable from Polytheism—and Polytheism is not only intrinsically absurd, but was demonstrated to be so about 2500 years ago by Greek philosophers, beginning with Socrates, and it has nothing to do with “scientific proof,” just simple Logic—and if simple Logic is beyond the Neo-Pagan capacity for reason, then I’d suggest the word “idiots” was well-chosen.
Either there is one God, or there are no gods at all—period. I’m not going to waste my time explaining why. You want to argue about it, go take a few dozen Philosophy classes and try feeding that “Henotheism” shit to a Professor.
And I have no problem at all showing respect for other people’s viewpoints—when those viewpoints merit respect. Neo-Paganism of any variety is a joke, and it doesn’t merit any respect. If you don’t want to have your religious beliefs ridiculed, then find some religious beliefs that aren’t ridiculous. If you choose to worship Bozo the Clown, you don’t get to whine when people laugh at your stupidity.
December 10th, 2009 at 03:56
Jenn, if you’re worshipping Bozo the Clown, you’re going to make me hold you down and tickle you at Christmas dinner.
And if you’re not (if? *since*) I will continue to happily accept your faith as valid for you and allow you to continue to enjoy your beliefs free of my ridicule or scorn just like you do for me. And even if I think you’re mistaken, I don’t think you’re an idiot.
Mandy, strange as it may sound to you since we’re probably polar opposites on most things, I think I would agree with you on the Godhead angle. Some of these people insist upon equal status for all three and cast divinity upon each of them. Sounds like it would qualify to me but I won’t pretend to know that on anything other than a instinctual level. And I have been advised that years of repeated exposure to peroxide may render my judgment into question, so you probably won’t want to put any money on that.
December 10th, 2009 at 10:35
Actually, *both* viewpoints have been (and continue to be) discussed by philosophers. Just because the Monotheistic viewpoint was picked out by Western philosophers more often than the Polytheistic viewpoint does not invalidate the latter. All religious viewpoints have been discussed, and not one has been deemed “the right answer”.
Furthermore, go ahead and “explain” to me why only your viewpoint on God is valid while mine is not. I was under the impression that was the discussion we were already having, but that’s apparently not the case. So, please. *Enlighten me*
Again, actually explain why you don’t believe that my religious beliefs don’t “merit” your respect but do “merit” your ridicule. If it’s simply because of the multiple diety concept, fine. Just come out and say it. But don’t tell me I’m wrong if you can’t prove it. And by the way, from what I have seen on this thread, you’re the only one who’s “laughing”.
Kate, thank you for your encouragement. It is much appreciated.
December 10th, 2009 at 15:51
As an African American and Pan-African holiday celebrated by millions throughout the world African community, Kwanzaa brings a cultural message which speaks to the best of what it means to be African and human in the fullest sense. Given the profound significance Kwanzaa has for African Americans and indeed, the world African community, it is imperative that an authoritative source and site be made available to give an accurate and expansive account of its origins, concepts, values, symbols and practice.
Moreover, given the continued rapid growth of Kwanzaa and the parallel expanded discussion of it and related issues, an authoritative source which aids in both framing and informing the discussion is likewise of the greatest importance. Therefore, the central interest of this website is to provide information which reveals and reaffirms the integrity, beauty and expansive meaning of the holiday and thus aids in our approaching it with the depth of thought, dignity, and sense of specialness it deserves.
The holiday, then will of necessity, be engaged as an ancient and living cultural tradition which reflects the best of African thought and practice in its reaffirmation of the dignity of the human person in community and culture, the well-being of family and community, the integrity of the environment and our kinship with it, and the rich resource and meaning of a people’s culture.
December 10th, 2009 at 15:53
Somehow I messed up the link to the site, so here it is: http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml
December 10th, 2009 at 15:57
Kwanzaa was created by this man and i don’t believe anyone can call him a racist:
Dr. Maulana Karenga
Professor and Academic Advisor
Department of Africana Studies
California State University, Long Beach
B.A., M.A. University of California, Los Angeles
Ph.D. United States International Unviersity
San Diego
Ph.D. University of Southern California
Los Angeles
Dr. Maulana Karenga is professor of Africana Studies at California State University, Long Beach. An activist-scholar of national and international recognition, Dr. Karenga has played a significant role in Black intellectual and political culture since the 60’s, especially in such educational and social movements as Black Studies, Black Power, Black Arts, Independent Schools, Afrocentricity, ancient Egyptian studies, Ifa ethical studies, the Million Person Marches, and reparations.
Furthermore, he is chair of Us (The Organization Us), and the National Association of Kawaida Organizations and executive director of the Kawaida Institute of Pan-African Studies. He has lectured on the life and struggle of African peoples on the major campuses of the USA and in Africa, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Trinidad, Britain and Canada.
Also, he is the creator of the pan-African cultural holiday Kwanzaa and author of numerous scholarly articles and books, including: Introduction to Black Studies; Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture; Kawaida: A Communitarian African Philosophy; Odu Ifa: The Ethical Teachings; Selections From The Husia: Sacred Wisdom of Ancient Egypt; and Maat, The Moral Ideal in Ancient Egypt: A Study in Classical African Ethics.
Having earned Ph.D.’s in social ethics (University of Southern California) and in political science (U.S. International University), his fields of teaching and research within Black Studies are: Black Studies theory and history, Africana (continental and diasporan) philosophy; ancient Egyptian (Maatian) ethics; ancient Yoruba (Ifa) ethics; African American intellectual history; ethnic relations and the socio-ethical thought of Malcolm X. He is currently writing a book on Malcolm X and the Critique of Domination: An Ethics of Liberation
December 10th, 2009 at 16:03
My apologies for being sensitive on this, but if you will please read what I have said above in the posts, then given all that you now know about Kwanzaa how can you belittle it or call it racist? Kwanzaa is rich in history and tradition, and in times of turmoil and strife, history and tradition are the things that will save us. History because we must remember the past and come to terms with it and tradition because it gives us roots and a foundation on which to build. What is wrong with that?
December 10th, 2009 at 16:41
Jenn: “Just come out and say it”…?
I did say it. Did you not read it, or are you just too dense to understand it? Oh wait, you’re a self-professed “Neo-Pagan,” so obviously it’s Option B.
How ’bout you just go right ahead and keep believing your “Henotheistic” idiocy all you want. I don’t care what kind of crap you fill your head with.
Boom: Nice try. If I wasn’t already sick of this subject, it would give me great pleasure to disassemble your myth of the Wonderful “Dr.” Karenga—aka Ron Everett, the convicted felon whose adopted name alone is proof of his racism—but I am sick of it, and arguing with the idiot Neo-Pagan has spoiled the fun.
So you too can feel free to fill your head with whatever idiotic crap you want.
December 10th, 2009 at 21:03
Hmm. Scrolled back and looked. You keep hiding behind half-baked philosophical “logical” arguments that you don’t appear to be able to actually defend. You haven’t actually specified *what* exactly your problem is, which leads me to believe you were just looking for an argument.
So yes. I’ll keep believing what works for me. Dense or not, you won’t provoke me into losing my temper, which is obviously what you’re after. Sorry, hon. You failed.
Love,
The Resident Idiot Neo-Pagan