WHAT'S WRONG WITH CHRISTMAS?

An American democracy---a great idea gone amuck. Today there are too many rights for too many people and a continuing erosion of personal freedoms. If you want to come to America, it is your obligation to learn the language. My grandparents were immigrants here, and they learned enough to make it. I'm tired of pressing one if I want to continue in English. Let the others get a translation program or take a course. This is a land conceived by Christian men under God. When God leaves America, I will move to Brasil, until then, three cheers for the red, white and blue!!:+

People around the world are starving, dying of disease, living in war zones, being blown up - and this this little stuffed, complacent, spoiled Canadian bitch is whining and feeling all victimized because some people may get angry at him if he says "Merry Christmas."

As far as I know, neither the U.S. nor Canada have any laws prohibiting people from saying "Merry Christmas." So if you want to say it that badly, what the fuck is stopping you?

>It's MY country and if I want to say MERRY CHRISTMAS, I will

>and if others don't like it, may I suggest a one-way ticket

>back to where ever you came from that is so friggin wonderful,

>you wanted to leave!

>

>fukamarine

While I certainly agree with your right to say Merry Christmas, I'm not aware that it has been taken away. True, out of comity for other's beliefs, the all-inclusive "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" has become the holiday euphemism, especially for retailers and public officials, politicians, and maybe even teachers (Woodie help us here) who don't want to offend or leave anyone out, however, there is no rule that says school kids can't say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or whatever in school or out. Nor is there any rule that says anyone else can't either.

The heart of the matter, as I see it, is when you wish somebody a "Merry Christmas", and Christmas is not their holiday, isn't your greeting a little disingenuous? Is it them you're trying to instill good cheer in or make yourself feel good?

.....And I'm not so sure why you think this is "YOUR" country anymore that it is your Jewish, Moslem, or (whatever other religion) neighbors'????

I have a very close Jewish friend that sends me a Christmas cards every year, with a hand written note and signature, even though he has printed, pre-personalized Hanukkah cards which he sends to his Jewish friends. I would not be insulted if he sent me one of the others, but that fact that he makes the extra effort to care about what "my" holiday is, makes it more special and personal. I try to do the same in the cards I send and the greetings I give. I have friends and clients that I know celebrate Christmas, and to them it's a hearty "Merry Christmas." If I'm not sure of what they celebrate, I simply say "Happy Holidays." What's the problem?

I'm not a biblical scholar by a long shot, but Hanukkah was around thousands of years before Christmas and I don't believe that it is a coincidence that the dates seem to coincide. I've read that the actual birth day Christ was in spring, not anywhere close to our December 25, although there was a pagen holiday at this time -- so who is the interloper?

As far as the principles our country "was founded on," what provisions did our founding fathers (many of which were slave traders/owners), make for people of diverse sexuality--people like us? It's only been recent legislation like domestic partners' acts, anti-discrimination legislation such as it is, and a few court decisions that have included us into the State and Federal Constitutions of this country. Certainly the all Christian sailors on the Mayflower had no room for gays or lesbians in their belief structure, their churches and their everyday life, including well-wishing "Merry Christmas."

Thankfully things change and we are not stuck back in the days of the Mayflower nor of the days when "the founding fathers" of this country, founded it--we have seen progress in almost all areas, and have benefited from more progressive thinking and the inclusion of many belief's and lifestyles.

So when you say "may I suggest a one-way ticket back to where ever you came," it seems to lack the insight, humanity, and the tolerance that many of us here seek, and that YOUR religion preaches :+

That being said, May I wish YOU and everyone else here a heart felt MERRY CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH, KWANZAA, or simply HAPPY HOLIDAYS :-)

flower cool post, except one technical oversight, Hanukkah isn't "merry" it is "happy"

>and this this little

>stuffed, complacent, spoiled Canadian bitch is whining and

>feeling all victimized because some people may get angry at

>him if he says "Merry Christmas."

Congratulations Dougger - you've done it again! Completely misunderstood the message. Do you ever get tired, trying to swim upstream all the time?

>As far as I know, neither the U.S. nor Canada have any laws

>prohibiting people from saying "Merry Christmas."

Then you don't know as much as you think you do - surprise, surprise!

There may not be laws, but there sure are well documented policies.

>So if you want to say it that badly, what the fuck is stopping you?

Nothing is stopping me - never said there was, I'll even say it to you Doug - MERRY CHRISTMAS from the little, stuffed, complacent, spoiled, whining Canadian bitch.

And may Santa bring you everthing you ever wished for, in spades!

fukamarine

God Bless America ----- Original Message -----

Subject: STORY IN TAMPA BAY NEWSPAPER

Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice??? Think about it . . .

All I have to say is, when will they do something about MY RIGHTS? I celebrate Christmas, but because it isn't celebrated by everyone, we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings. It's not Christmas vacation, it's Winter Break. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday? We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that.

This says it all!

This is an editorial written by an American citizen, published in a Tampa newspaper. He did quite a job; didn't he? Read on, please!

IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT.

I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we

are offending some individual or their culture.

Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11,

we have experienced a surge in patriotism

by the majority of Americans.

However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled

when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about

the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.

I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge

against anyone who is seeking a better life

by coming to America.

Our population is almost entirely made up

of descendants of immigrants.

However, there are a few things that those

who have recently come to our country,

and apparently some born here, need to understand.

This idea of America being a multicultural community

has served only to dilute our sovereignty

and our national identity.

As Americans, we have our own culture,

our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle.

This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women

who have sought freedom.

We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic,

Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language.

Therefore, if you wish to become part

of our society, learn the language!

"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women,

on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented.

It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools.

If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world

as your new home, because God is part of our culture.

If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam,

then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.

We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change,

and we really don't care how you did things where you came from.

This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle.

Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion

and we will allow you every opportunity to do so.

But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag,

our pledge, our national motto, or our way of life, I highly encourage you

take advantage of one other great American freedom,

THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.

If you agree -- pass this along;

if you don't agree -- delete it!

AMEN

I figure if we all keep passing this to our friends

(and enemies) it will also, sooner or later

get back to the complainers, lets all try,

please

Thanks to LG320126:

This is exactly the point I was trying to make previously and I believe in it with all my heart & soul!

Isn't it pathetic that Doug69 and his ilk are too fucking stupid to understand it? They are as big a threat to our countries as the assholes who took down the twin towers.

Unless of course he isn't an American at all, but one of the interlopers who are intent on ruining what we have taken hundreds of years to establish.

fukamarine

>God Bless America ----- Original Message -----

>

>

>

>Subject: STORY IN TAMPA BAY NEWSPAPER

>

>

>Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if

>we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people

>from other countries that came to live in America because it

>is the Country of Choice??? Think about it . . .

>

>

>All I have to say is, when will they do something about MY

>RIGHTS? I celebrate Christmas, but because it isn't celebrated

>by everyone, we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has

>to be Season's Greetings. It's not Christmas vacation, it's

>Winter Break. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS

>occurs over the Christmas holiday? We've gone so far the other

>way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now

>being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with

>that.

>

>This says it all!

>

>This is an editorial written by an American citizen, published

>in a Tampa newspaper. He did quite a job; didn't he? Read on,

>please!

>

>

>

>

>

>IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT.

>

>I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we

>are offending some individual or their culture.

>Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11,

>we have experienced a surge in patriotism

>by the majority of Americans.

>However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled

> when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about

>

>the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.

>

>I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge

>against anyone who is seeking a better life

> by coming to America.

> Our population is almost entirely made up

>of descendants of immigrants.

>However, there are a few things that those

>who have recently come to our country,

> and apparently some born here, need to understand.

>This idea of America being a multicultural community

>has served only to dilute our sovereignty

>and our national identity.

>As Americans, we have our own culture,

>our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle.

>This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles,

>trials, and victories by millions of men and women

>who have sought freedom.

>

>

>We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic,

>Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language.

>Therefore, if you wish to become part

>of our society, learn the language!

>

>"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some

>Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto

>because Christian men and women,

>on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is

>clearly documented.

>It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our

>schools.

>If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part

>of the world

>as your new home, because God is part of our culture.

>

>If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam,

>

>then you should seriously consider a move to another part of

>this planet.

>We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change,

>and we really don't care how you did things where you came

>from.

>This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle.

>Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express

>his opinion

>and we will allow you every opportunity to do so.

>But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about

>our flag,

>our pledge, our national motto, or our way of life, I highly

>encourage you

>take advantage of one other great American freedom,

>THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.

>

>If you agree -- pass this along;

>if you don't agree -- delete it!

>

>AMEN

>

>I figure if we all keep passing this to our friends

>(and enemies) it will also, sooner or later

>get back to the complainers, lets all try,

>please

>

>

Uhm so did you mean to ILLUSTRATE or ask what is wrong with Christmas?

>Isn't it pathetic that Doug69 and his ilk are too fucking

>stupid to understand it? They are as big a threat to our

>countries as the assholes who took down the twin towers.

LOL!!!!! Anyone who doesn't think it's one of the world's greatest problems that Fukamarine's can't say "Merry Christmas" without some people thinking he's impolite is just as dangerous and threatening as the "assholes" who drove airplanes into office buildings and murdered 3,000 innocent people. To use his words- just "as big a treat to our countries".

LOL!!!!!!!!!!

>Unless of course he isn't an American at all, but one of the

>interlopers who are intent on ruining what we have taken

>hundreds of years to establish.

Oh, look what we have here - fukamarine, who doesn't even live in America, has arrogated unto himself the right to decide who is a real American and who isn't - all based upon whether or not one is sufficiently symapthetic to his whiny complaints that he can't use the holiday greeting he wants without others thinking he's mean.

And that attitude - "either agree with me or you're a terrorist" - "accept the way we do things in this country or get the fuck out" - really is so very, very Christian.

It's nice how you so publicly and loudly tout your Christanity, and then proceed to spout sentiments which are the exact opposite of the religion you claim to embrace.

What a load of xenophobic horseshit this is!

>God Bless America ----- Original Message -----

>

>

>

>Subject: STORY IN TAMPA BAY NEWSPAPER

>

>

>Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if

>we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people

>from other countries that came to live in America because it

>is the Country of Choice??? Think about it . . .

>

>

>All I have to say is, when will they do something about MY

>RIGHTS? I celebrate Christmas, but because it isn't celebrated

>by everyone, we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has

>to be Season's Greetings. It's not Christmas vacation, it's

>Winter Break. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS

>occurs over the Christmas holiday? We've gone so far the other

>way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now

>being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with

>that.

>

>This says it all!

>

>This is an editorial written by an American citizen, published

>in a Tampa newspaper. He did quite a job; didn't he? Read on,

>please!

>

>

>

>

>

>IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT.

>

>I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we

>are offending some individual or their culture.

>Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11,

>we have experienced a surge in patriotism

>by the majority of Americans.

>However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled

> when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about

>

>the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.

>

>I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge

>against anyone who is seeking a better life

> by coming to America.

> Our population is almost entirely made up

>of descendants of immigrants.

>However, there are a few things that those

>who have recently come to our country,

> and apparently some born here, need to understand.

>This idea of America being a multicultural community

>has served only to dilute our sovereignty

>and our national identity.

>As Americans, we have our own culture,

>our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle.

>This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles,

>trials, and victories by millions of men and women

>who have sought freedom.

>

>

>We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic,

>Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language.

>Therefore, if you wish to become part

>of our society, learn the language!

>

>"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some

>Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto

>because Christian men and women,

>on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is

>clearly documented.

>It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our

>schools.

>If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part

>of the world

>as your new home, because God is part of our culture.

>

>If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam,

>

>then you should seriously consider a move to another part of

>this planet.

>We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change,

>and we really don't care how you did things where you came

>from.

>This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle.

>Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express

>his opinion

>and we will allow you every opportunity to do so.

>But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about

>our flag,

>our pledge, our national motto, or our way of life, I highly

>encourage you

>take advantage of one other great American freedom,

>THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.

>

>If you agree -- pass this along;

>if you don't agree -- delete it!

>

>AMEN

>

>I figure if we all keep passing this to our friends

>(and enemies) it will also, sooner or later

>get back to the complainers, lets all try,

>please

>

>

...hmmm, well you're right of course--but how about a Merry, Happy Chanuka?:7

>>Isn't it pathetic that Doug69 and his ilk are too fucking

>>stupid to understand it? They are as big a threat to our

>>countries as the assholes who took down the twin towers.

>

>LOL!!!!! Anyone who doesn't think it's one of the world's

>greatest problems that Fukamarine's can't say "Merry

>Christmas" without some people thinking he's impolite is just

>as dangerous and threatening as the "assholes" who drove

>airplanes into office buildings and murdered 3,000 innocent

>people. To use his words- just "as big a treat to our

>countries".

I said "threat" not "treat". Improve your reading skills!!!

>>Unless of course he isn't an American at all, but one of the

>>interlopers who are intent on ruining what we have taken

>>hundreds of years to establish.

>

>Oh, look what we have here - fukamarine, who doesn't even live

>in America,

Please consult an atlas..... You know what an atlas is, don't you? It's one of those big books with all the maps in them. I live in North America Dougger, the part of which is above you.

has arrogated unto himself the right to decide who

>is a real American and who isn't - all based upon whether or

>not one is sufficiently symapthetic to his whiny complaints

>that he can't use the holiday greeting he wants without others

>thinking he's mean.

You really don't have any reading or comprehension skills at all. Who the hell said "mean" has anything to do with it?

>And that attitude - "either agree with me or you're a

>terrorist" - "accept the way we do things in this country or

>get the fuck out" - really is so very, very Christian.

It's just as Christian as the Catholic Church's attitude - stop sucking cock or get out.

>It's nice how you so publicly and loudly tout your

>Christanity, and then proceed to spout sentiments which are

>the exact opposite of the religion you claim to embrace.

Don't recall claiming to embrace it. Big differance

between "embracing" and "being".

But your entitled to your opinion - flawed as it may be. When "In God We Trust" disappears from your money, you'll probably find a way to rationalize that too.

Oh! By the way - did I wish you merry Christmas yet?

fukamarine

Yuletide Greetings

You've voiced a pet peeve of mine, albeit more strongly than I would have. My local television stations broadcast "Happy Hanukkah" and "Kwanzaa Greetings," but they say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." I understand the need to respect others' religious and ethnic observances, but there seems to be a problem with recognizing Christmas in the media and in any institution related to government, like public schools. (Well, $tore$ don't seem to have that problem!) "Happy Holidays" and "Seasons Greetings" handily cover all bases, but there ain't nothing wrong with being specific when appropriate!

So, let me wish you all a Happy Boxing Day in advance! :+

>Thankfully things change and we are not stuck back in the days

>of the Mayflower nor of the days when "the founding fathers"

>of this country, founded it--we have seen progress in almost

>all areas, and have benefited from more progressive thinking

>and the inclusion of many belief's and lifestyles.

At the risk of Doug posting a photo of a cheerleader in response, I just want to say that you've done it again, Flower. Well put.

RE: Yuletide Greetings

I believe in embracing cultural diversity, but so often, as we do so, we forget that one of the cultures in that embrace is our own, and it deserves just as much honor as the others.

The children's theater that I run used to do a play about Santa Claus each year. Then the schools stopped buying performances of them because of the stress they couldn't help but put upon Christmas, and the associated "problem" that Santa Claus started out as Saint Nicholas.

We have also, no matter what other plays we had afoot, always offered Snow White. But no one used to buy any of them at Christmas time. This year it was our biggest seller during that period of the year because it was bright and happy and had absolutely nothing to do with the season. It did just barely sell more than the other secular play we were offering - Swiss Family Robinson - which spent more time on Christmas than the other holidays, but touched upon Thanksgiving, Channukah, and New Year's Day. Sorry, but I really thought that it would be going a bit far to fit Kwanzaa into a story that, though we didn't mention it exactly, happened about 100 years before Kwanzaa was started in America, and all the action was about shipwrecked Europeans (well, and pirates).

Note to the "English-first" or "English-only" crowd: Spanish was the first European language spoken in North America, including what is now the Continental 48. English only narrowly edged out German on the eastern seaboard where the political power began. For reasons lost to history (?), our Christmas was linked to the celebration of the winter solstice and to Saturnalia, a Roman orgiastic holiday.

As for multi-ethnicity, I think of an old suggestion:

Let's put the X back in Xmas and the CH back in Ch'nookah!

Just have a good one whatever you celebrate.

buzz

RE: Flower's Pinky-lavender

Flower,

I always adore your posts, and wish to be able to give them my fullest attention. But, that color you're using these days makes it very hard to read!

La Trix

I don't get this thread... what do recent immigrants have to do with the use of the word "Christmas"?

Today the Hindu couple from India who own the toy store I was shopping at wished me a Merry Christmas.

I've been invited to Christmas dinner by the young Mexican family I refered to in my Thanksgiving post.

The Vietnamese family up the street have more lights on their house than anyone else in the neighborhood.

The only persons I ever hear complaining about the use of the word "Christmas" in public arenas are political atheists and Jews. Both of whom have lived in the US pretty much since it's inception.

So please, no immigrant bashing for Christmas!

The de-merriment of Christmas is wholly the doing of US citizens, many generations here residing.

Trix

>And I object very strongly to the current fashionable

>movement, that attempts to be politically correct, to

>substitute the phrase "Happy Holidays" - or "Seasons

>Greetings" for the good old-fashiened "MERRY CHRISTMAS"

I totally agree. And thinlk of all the great music we have lost or are losing too. Go into a store or turn on the radio and Christmas is just "Jingle Bells" and "Frosty the Snow Man" etc. Don't bother trying to hear Adeste Fidelis or others. Are other religions so weak, or their adherents so unconvinced in their own beliefs, that a mention of Christmas songs, symbols nd salutaions is going to make them convert? Tolerance, is, it semms to me a two-way street. The majority has a duty to permit the minority to exercise its religion, but the minority ought to do the same too.

RE: Flower's Pinky-lavender

I know Trix, I was thinking the very same thing--it's fine for short little blips, but when I get carried away, the color is terrible.

I've tried many but really miss my green--I used it for over 1.5 years while Ethan was absent. I'm trying this blue--a little different from the traditional blue used here--nothing exciting but much more readable and cetainly more straight acting lol}(

Hope you like it, and thanks for the kind words--when I'm in a hurry and scanning the MC, I always take time to read your posts--you're always a cut above the rest of us :*

Actually, the first European language spoken in North America was Old Norse, spoken by the Viking settlers in Vinland.

And don't forget French, spoken in eastern Canada and throughout the midwest and Missisippi Valley. Many US cities carry French names - Detroit, St Louis, New Orleans, Des Moines. Louisiana, like Quebec, still uses pre-Napoleonic French law.

Australia is heading down the same politically correct path as the USA, though we don't legally have such a strict separation of church and state as prescribed in the US Constitution. There is some pressure to eliminate Christmas carols in public schools, but we don't really have any other strong late-December festivals to rival it. I think Christmas is now so thoroughly commercialised that its religious overtones have been long forgotten by most people.

I remember on my first trip to the USA in 1981, flying from Seattle to Washington DC on Easter Day on American Airlines. As we were taxiing at SeaTac, a junior hostess was doing the usual announcements and ended by wishing us a Happy Easter. There was a thunder of high heeled shoes down the aisle, and the senior hostess took over the microphone. "I apologise for that reference to Easter, ladies and gentlemen, we should also have wished you a happy passover".

Oh yeah? :-)

How about Old Irish?

Didn't St. Brendan the Navigator sail to North America in the 5th or 6th Century?

:+

Nollaig Shona Dhuit ("Merry Christmas" in Irish Gaelic)

Gio, I bet that there is nothing wrong with waking up next to TJ on Christmas morning... :* }(

>Gio, I bet that there is nothing wrong with waking up next to

>TJ on Christmas morning... :* }(

There is, it means that soon I'll have to let go of him and get up, and that the night of holding him wrapped in my arms and him wrapping him in my arms will soon be over.

>I totally agree. And thinlk of all the great music we have

>lost or are losing too. Go into a store or turn on the radio

>and Christmas is just "Jingle Bells" and "Frosty the Snow Man"

>etc. Don't bother trying to hear Adeste Fidelis or others.

>Are other religions so weak, or their adherents so unconvinced

>in their own beliefs, that a mention of Christmas songs,

>symbols nd salutaions is going to make them convert?

>Tolerance, is, it semms to me a two-way street. The majority

>has a duty to permit the minority to exercise its religion,

>but the minority ought to do the same too.

At whom is this complaint directed? I have never heard anyone argue that "Merry Christmas" should not be used as a greeting but that "Happy Chaunakah" or Muslim greetings should be.

If commercial establishments try to de-emphasize the overtly religious components of the holiday because that may alienate customers in a largely secular society, then that's merely a commercial decision being made for commercial purposes. You're free to do whatever you want with regard to how you want to express and celebrate Christmas.

So, where's the suppression of Christmas? Who or what restricts any of you from being as Christmas-y and Christ-ish in your expressions and behaviors as you want???

This whole thread has the odor of some sort of victim-grievance - that somehow the society is suppressing the rights of Christians with regard to Christmas - but what right or freedom do you think you should have in this regard that you don't have?

What it really sounds like is nothing more than a whine that stores and businesses don't express your personal and religious feelings about this holiday the way you want them to. They're not required to; you have no right to demand that they do; and your mere irritation that they don't is incredibly petty and self-absorbed, particularly when compared to the lofty and angry victim language being used to describe this "problem".

Christians used to be fed to the lions. Sometimes religious persecution has resulted in churches being burnt and priests being tortured or whole communities being slaughtered. Or, at least there were laws prohibiting certain religions from being practiced. THAT's religious persecution.

Even though some people in this thread are talking as though there is religious persecution going on, all it really is a big whine that other people don't share their religious views and don't celebrate their religious holidays the way they want to. You have every religious freedom you could possibly want and deserve; you're just complaining becuase you want to feel persecuted.