OT: Florida Gulf Coast bans Christmas!

[Bravesfan]

Well, Christmas decorations anyway. Coincidental considering Bradley is still playing down there, but this was mentioned on Fox and Friends on the Fox News Channel this morning:

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20081125/NEWS/811250964/0/COLLEGE?Title=Florida_Gulf_Coast_University_bans_Christmas_decorations

What a bunch of Scrooge's down there! I don't think any of this really is a bother to most people, but unfortunately Florida Gulf Coast is just the latest in this trend of trying to snuff out the holidays, or at least trying to downplay their significance.

I hope the community down there puts up a big backlash against the university because this has got to stop!

[Big Mike]

I'd like to ban christmas music in stores until after Thanksgiving like it used to be....was at the grocery store over a week ago and Christmas musac was already on? Too Early!

[Bravesfan]

I'd like to ban christmas music in stores until after Thanksgiving like it used to be....was at the grocery store over a week ago and Christmas musac was already on? Too Early!

Or that God awful techno Christmas music that some of those mall Christmas stores play 24/7! I don't know how those poor workers can stand that!

[Big Mike]

I tried to tune it out but wasn't man enough! There are about 15 houses in the neighborhhod already decorated?

[tornado]

Then to be consistent, they shouldn't even allow the holiday to be called Christmas, or even be called a "holiday".
Oh, and by the way, they should also look into which society actually was the first to follow and use a 7-day week with a period of rest weekly, and whose name is cited as the reason in the Declaration of Independence, for the founding of our country, and as the Source of our unalienable rights.

[SFP]

Well, Christmas decorations anyway. Coincidental considering Bradley is still playing down there, but this was mentioned on Fox and Friends on the Fox News Channel this morning:

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20081125/NEWS/811250964/0/COLLEGE?Title=Florida_Gulf_Coast_University_bans_Christmas_decorations

What a bunch of Scrooge's down there! I don't think any of this really is a bother to most people, but unfortunately Florida Gulf Coast is just the latest in this trend of trying to snuff out the holidays, or at least trying to downplay their significance.

I hope the community down there puts up a big backlash against the university because this has got to stop!

I also think the Christmas has gotten way out of hand. I'm probably going to go the opposite way of FGCU though but the holidays have turned into the season of excess IMO. Christmas should be a season to reflect what is good in our society and how we all can make sacrifices for the good of all.

Instead it has become this huge commercial opportunity to buy things, eat and drink in excess. So if you need to tone down Christmas and get past the commercialization of the holiday's and get back to the basics of this most HOLY DAY, that is fine with me. I'm also sure the school is playing to their contingent of students who are either non religious or non Christian and I really do not see any harm in that. I would suspect most students will be home or can find other like minded students to celebrate the most holiest of days for Christians if they like.

I have already paired down what I will be buying for Christmas and am concentrating on how I will serve my community with kindness and giving to the less fortunate. Now those are Christian beliefs and teachings that do not need an non Christian organization to sponsor.

Our society is based on seperation of church and state and I believe everbody has the choice to either participate or not. If you want to make sure that a higher ed institution celebrates Christmas it is within your right to go to a Christian school otherwise it has the right to conform to the ideals of its charter. Religion should always be an individual choice not one where outside influence restrict your beliefs. Otherwise we become no better then the Talibans of the world.

[tornado]

I am not quite sure we are anywhere near being comparable to the Taliban...

[Da Coach]

Yeah, it's big news here. Political correctness run amok.

[SFP]

I am not quite sure we are anywhere near being comparable to the Taliban...

I was taking things to the the extreme to make a point but you get what I am saying. I'm a Christian but I do not feel I need to cram my views down anyone's throat. I hope that my values and the way I live can set an example that others find compelling.

The Dali Lama once said,"My religion is kindness."

[tornado]

but Pete, we are talking about people who display a little greeting card near their desk at work. They aren't cramming anything at anyone, but now they're being prohibited from doing such a harmless, simple, common, and traditional act!
I'll bet FGCU didn't ban display of witches at Halloween or bunnies at Easter!

[Chico]

I am not quite sure we are anywhere near being comparable to the Taliban...

Agree. Sounds like a Dick Durbin statement. I didn't see anything in SFP's whole post that would make anybody comparable to a terrorist group in any way shape or form.

[tornado]

SUDDENLY...Breaking news!!

"Ho, Ho, Ho! Santa Claus is allowed back at Florida Gulf Coast University.
FGCU’s president reversed his decision to ban Christmas decorations."

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7952496&version=4&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

"...president Wilson Bradshaw, Ph.D. acknowledged the “overwhelming negative response”
to his original letter banning all holiday and seasonal decorations from the school’s common
areas...
“It is now clear to me that we have erred in our attempt to find a balance between how best
to observe the season in ways that honor all traditions..."

[Bravesfan]

I also think the Christmas has gotten way out of hand. I'm probably going to go the opposite way of FGCU though but the holidays have turned into the season of excess IMO. Christmas should be a season to reflect what is good in our society and how we all can make sacrifices for the good of all.

Instead it has become this huge commercial opportunity to buy things, eat and drink in excess. So if you need to tone down Christmas and get past the commercialization of the holiday's and get back to the basics of this most HOLY DAY, that is fine with me. I'm also sure the school is playing to their contingent of students who are either non religious or non Christian and I really do not see any harm in that. I would suspect most students will be home or can find other like minded students to celebrate the most holiest of days for Christians if they like.

I have already paired down what I will be buying for Christmas and am concentrating on how I will serve my community with kindness and giving to the less fortunate. Now those are Christian beliefs and teachings that do not need an non Christian organization to sponsor.

Our society is based on seperation of church and state and I believe everbody has the choice to either participate or not. If you want to make sure that a higher ed institution celebrates Christmas it is within your right to go to a Christian school otherwise it has the right to conform to the ideals of its charter. Religion should always be an individual choice not one where outside influence restrict your beliefs. Otherwise we become no better then the Talibans of the world.

Agreed about the overcommericialization of Christmas, but I don't think that's what FG Coast is doing here. They are knee-jerking because a couple of people may have been offended by a few decorations. I don't think putting up a Christmas tree or two will pressure non-Christians into participating in Christmas in a public institution.

Just another case of someone going way overboard in the other direction, IMO.

[Bravesfan]

SUDDENLY...Breaking news!!

"Ho, Ho, Ho! Santa Claus is allowed back at Florida Gulf Coast University.
FGCU’s president reversed his decision to ban Christmas decorations."

http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=7952496&version=4&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1

"...president Wilson Bradshaw, Ph.D. acknowledged the “overwhelming negative response”
to his original letter banning all holiday and seasonal decorations from the school’s common
areas...
“It is now clear to me that we have erred in our attempt to find a balance between how best
to observe the season in ways that honor all traditions..."

Great news! I'd like to think it was my post that was the deciding factor!

[SaintLouBrave22]

Can it really be Christmas w/o snow anyways



Then again...wish it could here...never have been a big fan of the stuff...