Happy Birthday

I had wanted to put a list together like Edwin Kagin did, but didn't find the time. You should go check his post from December 22.

As I wrote on my blackboard this morning,

Happy Birthday to:

Horus 3000 BCE,
Osiris 3000 BCE,
Attis of Phyrgia 1400 BCE,
Mithra of Persia 600 BCE,
Dionysus 186 BCE,
Tammuz 400 BCE,
Adonis 200 BCE,
Hermes,
Bacchus (crucified in 200 BCE),
Prometheus,

and...

last but not least....


Jesus of Nazareth somewhere between 8 BCE & 6 CE



Merry Mithrasmas everyone! I hope you have a wonderful day whether you celebrate at this time of year or not.

Happy Solstice Everyone!

Today is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the reason for this celebration season. Most cultures have held a celebration at this time to acknowledge rebirth and many of our current symbols have been adopted from ancient cultures. I find it fascinating to learn about how different cultures have celebrated this season and hope to pass that curiosity on to my kids.

Beginning after Thanksgiving, my son's class learned about different cultural celebrations around the world. Each child made a passport and they pretended to travel to other countries. Not only did they learn about the holidays that these cultures celebrate, they also made the country's flag as an art project and wrote a recount about what they had learned as a writing project. I have been really impressed with my son's teacher this year.

As I've looked through his projects, I've been excited to see that he is learning about cultures other than his own. Since my kids were tiny, we've read them stories about Hanukkah, Ramadan & Eid ul Fatr, Kwanzaa, and ancient solstice celebrations. We wanted them to see that all people have different beliefs and different ways of celebrating. There is no such thing as the "right" way to celebrate or the "wrong" way to celebrate. We need to appreciate each other's differences.

Some of our friends and relatives were offended by this. They were appalled that we were teaching our kids to be tolerant of other cultures. Not only that, we weren't teaching our children that our way is the right way and those other people are wrong. This makes me wonder how other parents might react to their children bringing home projects about other cultures. Does the teaching of other views threaten them? Or are most of them as thrilled as I am that our kids are learning things in elementary school that we didn't learn until we were adults?

We celebrate Christmas every year simply because that is what our families celebrate. For me, that is what the holiday is about...family, friends, caring for others, helping people out. In a time that could be depressing because of the hours of darkness, these are the things that help us overlook the darkness. We look beyond our differences and come together to celebrate.

I am lucky to have a very tolerant family. My mom & sister are quite religious and were surprised when I first told them that I was an atheist. However, that has not changed the way that they treat me. We are able to look past the differences we have and find common ground. Actually, it's amazing how many things we do have in common and it's quite easy to overlook our religious differences. They are respectful of us and the way we raise our children and we are respectful of them. We all realize that disagreements do not equal attacks or disrespect.

I guess that is why I find it sad that many people see the holiday as a time to fight over who is right or wrong. There is no such thing as a "War on Christmas" in the real world...it's all in peoples' heads. Each person may celebrate how he/she wishes. When someone celebrates differently than someone else, that does not mean they are attacking that person. If I like white bread and you like wheat, am I attacking you when I eat white bread? How ridiculous!

My hope is that one day people will realize that our differences make the world more interesting. Just because I am not like you, does not mean that everything I do is an attack on you. Celebrate the differences....don't be afraid of them.

Finally finished!

I feel free! Yesterday, after what felt like a never-ending period in my life, I graduated from nursing school! I don't know what to do with myself :) There are no papers to write, no diseases or disorders to study, or skills to practice! I can actually read what I want to read :) Now, I just need to pass my licensing exam and I will officially be Humanist Mama, R.N.

Unfortunately, my busiest time in school coincided with a big uproar across the nation about a holiday display in my own state's capital. I'm not going to write a huge post about this because everyone else already has. But, I figured I should put my opinion out there since I am actually a resident of the State of Washington:)

First, there was not an issue in our state until a couple of years ago. I am not clear on the reason, but Governor Christine Gregoire decided to display a Menorah alongside the capital's holiday tree in 2006. A citizen then petitioned to display a creche and was denied. Last year the Alliance Defense Fund, a religious right legal group, sued the state of Washington on behalf of that citizen. In the settlement, it was agreed that there could be no discrimination when it comes to displays in a government building. So, a member of the Freedom From Religion Foundation asked the foundation to help her by posting an atheist sign in our capitol building identical to the one they place in Wisconsin's capital each year. They petitioned for it and they were allowed to put up the display.

Now personally, I think it would have been much better if the state had just been able to remain neutral...no religious displays allowed. But, since they weren't, then atheists have every right to put up their own sign. It is called freedom of speech. It may not be the display I personally would have chosen to put up, but I support their right to display it.

I've had many Christians tell me that they support freedom of speech. But oddly enough, I didn't hear an uproar from Christians when Bill O'Reilly spewed his hate or when the sign was stolen from the capital building. The Freedom from Religion Foundation has since decided to post a reminder next to their display proclaiming, "Thou Shalt Not Steal." Oh, the irony.

Hmmmm....is it that most Christians only like free speech when it's speech they agree with? If that's the case, then they need a wake up call....one does not support freedom of speech unless one supports speech he/she does not agree with. If you are a Christian and you truly do support freedom of speech, then your voice needs to be heard. Otherwise, people only hear the extreme Christian position and believe that all Christians feel the same way.

On the other hand, I read via Dale McGowan's blog, The Meming of Life, about a church's drive through nativity scene being destroyed in Georgia. What is wrong with people? This is deplorable and I hope that they find who did it. In the meantime, Dale has posted a link to send an e-mail of support to the pastor of the church. They need to know that this was unacceptable. As an atheist, even though I don't agree with their message, I support their right to display it. I hope they are able to put it back together quickly.

Maybe what needs to be learned this holiday season is tolerance for views other than one's own. If we want peace on earth, it's going to take more than just saying it. We need to speak out against intolerance and stand by our Constitution's Bill of Rights. In some cases, people need to recognize their own intolerance of others and make a change. Each little change will lead to a big change. Stand back, take a look, make a change. WE have to make the difference...it's not going to happen on it's own.