No good would be climbing an evergreen, wearing nothing but a bow, with 12 candles up your arse.

You might even make it into Ripleys.

Let me try something else

Should stores not be allowed to put up Halloween decorations because it might offended someone? Not everyone celebrates Halloween.

I don't celebrate my own birthday. I haven't had a party since I was young because of my own personal beliefs. Should I be offended if someone wishes me a happy birthday? should stores not sell birthday supplies? Just because of my own personal beliefs, others shouldn't have to conform to me.

Others have the right to celebrate as they see fit (within the law of course)

I have the right to decide whether or not I want to celebrate.

So in all fairness....no one should sell celebration supplies and no one should decorate anything ever. Right?

You are absolutely right - "respect goes both ways" - which is why everyone should respect the 'public domain' as neutral common ground. That's an ethical view and my opinion and it is not limited to religious expression.

The owner or owners of a business are in effect utilizing private property to service the public. Yet there are laws that prevent certain types of discrimiation against those they serve or employ.

That does not preclude business owners from expressing religious ideals in the products they sell or produce or in the religious displays placed in their work environment.

But that doesn't mean what they do is ethical.

Like you, I would not attempt to 'enforce' legal restrictions against that kind of behavior and I'm definately not arguing in favor of that.

However, there are a lot ethical questions surrounding this topic to consider.

For example;
When is tolerance practiced and when is it enforced?
Who has the greatest responsibility to ensure equality for all?
What responsibility do business owners have to the public who
would purchas their product?
When a behavior offends another whose problem is it?
Do the core values of individuals take precident over behavior that serves the common good? When would this be the case and when would it not?

Why do you that is?

hey something in this post got messed up. It shows my picture as posting the last reply, but I didn't write that - I only wrote the part that goes like this:

One person's religious freedom STOPS when it infringes on the eqaul freedom of others.

If I want to see the many creative and festive dressings of the season, I feel as free to go to private residences and enjoy the view, as the person who had the freedom to express their religion in that manner.

That freedom is taken away from me when religious expression is allowed to permeate every PUBLIC area.

That is how offense is given and taken. It is not the privately held belief of individuals nor the the way that beleif is expressed in the private sector that is offensive. What is offensive is being forced to tolerate religious infringment in the nuetrality of common areas in which ALL of us are supposed to have equality.

why do I what?

If I decide to decorate the outside of my house, then I will. Just because someone who is driving by might see it and be offended, then that is on them, not me. I have the right to express myself as I see fit as long as it is within the law.

The point you are missing is that no matter what it is....someone will be offended.

If I get offended at some of the posts here that are against my belief, should they not be allow to say it? If it's within the rules, then they have that right.

I have the right to ignore it or whatever. Those would be MY actions and I would be responsible for my own actions and feelings.

If every Christian in the USA stopped celebrating Christmas, how many non-Christians do you think would continue and for how long?

Do you think the non-Christian consumers would have enough financial clout to maintain the expenditures that make this season so visable to the public? Imagine your local Walmart at this time of year without Christians....

so Christians are making non Christians celebrate?

If you want to blame Christians, then the reverse can be used as well. The money spent during this time stimulates the economy and helps keep people employed.

Why should any one have to stop celebrating something the way they chose?

I'm not even just defending Christian rights, but I'm defending all rights to celebrate as they wish without being pressured by others to hide their celebration.

If you get rid of Christmas, then you have to be fair and get rid of ALL celebrations as well and not just the December ones.

This has been asked before by others, so I will ask it again....

Where does it stop? Someone will always be offended at something. Where do we draw the line at personal freedoms? When do individuals can personal responsibility to not get offended over every thing?

I think we do expend a great deal of effort not to offend - it's called conformity and we do it to fit in, we do it to please, we do it to avoid conflict and sometimes we do it becasue it serves the common good (in other words it's the ethical way to behave).

On the other hand, I think we expend the same amount of effort (or more) in trying to rationalize why the offense taken by others is not our problem. When does offence taken become a problem for everyone involved?

Not always. I won't conform or change my beliefs just because it may not "fit" into society. If we did that then we never would have evolved in many ways. Why should we have to conform? To be accepted? What about those that accept others differences? Who are we pleasing? I would much rather know I'm a good person and still be myself. If I am the only one that thinks a certain way, then so be it. Who is anyone to tell me I can't think that way? As long as it isn't illegal, then let it be. Ignore things if you have to. No one can make others feel a certain way. We think and feel because of us.



If I tried to understand everything I don't understand, I wouldn't get very far. Somethings you can't understand. It is what it is.

I'm not going to spend my time or effort trying to figure out why some people want to stomp on others legal rights. I know who I am and what I believe and no one can take that away from me. I will fight for my rights and beliefs.

If someone gets offended then that is for them to deal with. I certainly don't set out to do things for the sole purpose of offending people.

Pleasing everyone and not offending everyone is impossible.

I will continue to celebrate as I see fit and I will send well wishes as I see fit without anyone telling me I'm wrong.

I would be wrong only in some peoples eyes, but not everyone's

It's a Pagan store, what would you expect to find there? If I go to a Christian book store should I be offended if they don't carry lesbian erotica?

So if I perceive a problem (like being offended by a Christmas tree display in a bank)and I attempt to take contol of the problem by calling the Bank CEO or H/R department, and the tree is removed, I have corrected my problem - and I now have control of myself.

Who could be offended by that - and if they are is it my problem or theirs?

when it is intentional and repetitive and , for those who believe , karma comes around

well, the mere fact that something is offensive means it is causing someone a problem of some sort

the bank only has a problem if they have a net loss of business by their choice of action

for instance, if they are in an area where a majority celebrate christmas they may stand to gain five percent more customers by keeping the tree, and lose one percent

in that case, its not a problem for them to keep the tree

in an area where most dont celebrate christmas, they may stand to lose five percent and gain one percent, making it a loss to keep the tree and , therefore, a problem


businesses must look at their NET client base and not necessarily cater to every individual clients preferences, thats why they spend billions in advertising commercials, they recognize specific BASES and demographics that they try to appeal to

I actually said "basically"
They sell all types of things there (religious or not) and the decorations can be seen by people driving by. I'm trying to make a point here



Actually you are trying to impose your beliefs on others and not allowing them to celebrate as they see fit. You would be trying to control others.

An easier way to respect others would be to blow it off and ignore it.



Again, if they get offended by you doing that then that would be on them. Personal accountably

I'm not saying people don't have the right to be offended. That is where you are misunderstanding. They have every right to be if they wish. But those would be THEIR feelings.

so who decides what is offensive or not? When do we elect these people?

Live and let live people.

Sorry, it's late here (or early)


Why do you think that is?