Being Politically Correct is a pain in the ASS!!

This is an email I received from my aunt and to me it speaks the truth.

Only hope we find GOD again before it is too late ! !  The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary. My confession:  I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees... I don't feel threatened.. I don't feel discriminated against.. That's what they are, Christmas trees.  It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.  I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat...  Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.  In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking. In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc.. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school... The Bible says thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about.. And we said okay.. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'  Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.  Are you laughing yet?  Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.  Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.  Pass it on if you think it has merit.  If not, then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,  Ben Stein

I was born and raised as a Roman Catholic, I don't say Happy Holidays I say Merry Christmas; do I intend to insult people or belittle their beliefs?? Of course not! All I mean to convey are good wishes for the holiday season, regardless of what you and your family celebrate. I celebrate Christmas, therefore my first instinct is to wish people a Merry Christmas. I'd have to say that's probably what people respond to most of all; instinct! It's your instinct to wish people a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or whatever holiday you celebrate.

I can honestly say that if someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah I wouldn't be offended. I don't necessarily celebrate Hanukkah, but I understand the impulse and the good place those feelings are coming from.

And although I think being politically correct is a pain and sometimes people are just a little too sensitive (especially with this whole holiday situation) I do think we all need to be aware of other people and their beliefs. For instance nothing mad me sadder/made me lose more respect for my former boss than what happened with our Holiday Party a few years ago.

Long story short I used to work for my town, essentially a government office, therefore we had to separate church and state. That's just the way it is and how it had to be. Well every year the village would put on a Holiday party for all it's employees in every aspect of the town, garbage men, library, pool, etc. And that's what it was, a holiday party, where we could all get together have some good food and just relax and have a good time.

My boss one year however, felt the need to complain rather loudly and publicly that it should just be a Christmas party. And I quote, "Hanukkah is over so we should only be celebrating Christmas." I'm sorry?!?! Did you not notice that two of your employees who are Jewish are seated not ten feet away?!?! Now bless the two of them for not going back at him tit for tat when they really should have and been totally justified. However they both bit their lips and just let it go.

To only make matters worse, my former boss, has a law degree! He should know better than anyone that there is a separation of church and state. Unfortunately he is a narrowed minded man with little or no respect at all for anyone else.This moment was one of many that made me slowly lose respect for this man. It's narrow minded people like him that make political correctness a necessary evil, people like him that can't just go with the flow when trying to respect everyone's beliefs.

Just go with the flow people! Trust me having a holiday party and not a Christmas party at work is not a big deal. You can still celebrate Christmas and go to church with your family, still celebrate Hanukkah, still celebrate Arbor Day! Whatever! No one is stopping you from celebrating the holiday you want to celebrate, however you feel it should be celebrated, so don't try to stop other people from celebrating their holidays either.