| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Dec 31 2010 : 3:50:29 PM
One of my friends sent this to me and I read it many times. I thought you all would enjoy it.
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 creche, 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.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Hurricane Katrina).. Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
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 S
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World!
I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- E. B. White |
| 9 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Rxgirl |
Posted - Jan 02 2011 : 11:11:52 AM
Diane, that's wonderful...thank you so much
Dana-farmgirl #1432
"He who throws mud only loses ground"-Fat Albert |
| classygram |
Posted - Jan 01 2011 : 7:46:04 PM
Thank you for sharing this with us. I totally agree with everything he said. Hugs,Brenda
http:///www.scatteredlittleblessings.blogspot.com
Seek reasons to Love..In every sigment of everyday-look for something that brings forth within you a feeling of Love-Abraham Hicks |
| pnickols |
Posted - Jan 01 2011 : 7:10:12 PM
my sister sent this to me, loved it and I feel it is so true |
| Penny Wise |
Posted - Jan 01 2011 : 3:01:29 PM
thank you for sharing this! i love it!
but don't get me started about madeline murray o'hare--i remember when she started all that....and i believe that her actions did much to destry the public school system.
ok...off my soap box.....
Farmgirl # 2139
~*~ counting my pennies and biding my time; my dreams are adding up!~*~ |
| Cindy Lou |
Posted - Jan 01 2011 : 1:51:22 PM
It never made sense to me when Christmas suddenly disappeared from the school where I was teaching 2nd graders. It had been a bit over the top with music programs, plays, projects and parties and 6-8 Christmas sings in the gym but to have it disappear just when we were being told to teach about other cultures and their holidays just seemed totally wrong. I just couldn't understand why it became so taboo. The school population has become more diverse but a little common sense can go a long way.
A few years later I was working with young kids in a Lutheran School. One little angel, a first gradere, came to me one day very sad. She said her friend was moving to a public school and she really worried about her because she wouldn't be able to talk about God there. It really makes you think.
Susan
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Mary Oliver |
| knittinchick |
Posted - Jan 01 2011 : 1:38:03 PM
Thank you for sharing Diane! More things like this should sent around.
God's and New Year's Blessings,
Megan aka Loretta Rae
At heart, I am both a sassy city girl and a down-home country gal.
The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work. |
| Old Spirit |
Posted - Jan 01 2011 : 07:43:36 AM
Thank you and how true!!!
Rae
Farm Girl #647
...those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles:...
Isaiah 40:31
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| peebs |
Posted - Dec 31 2010 : 9:10:42 PM
I am so glad you shared this with us. I couldn't agree more with what this article says, and am happy that someone expressed themselves without shame, about this topic.
Yannira,
Connecticut
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| maggie14 |
Posted - Dec 31 2010 : 5:48:59 PM
Diane, Thank you sooo much for sharing this!
Hugs,
Hannah
Farmgirl sister #1219
Lifes not about the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away.
Just a small town country girl, farmgirl,loggergirl, trying to live her dreams. :)
P.s. I've been playing around with the spelling of my name ( weird I know) and I've decided that I will stick with Hannah for good. Sorry I got you all confused. Hugs!! |
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