solstice

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Yeah. Though have you heard some of the controversy over whether children should be allowed to wear them in schools? Controversy was in France initially, I think, though I've heard it is being picked up on around the world.

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I haven't heard anything about children not being aloud to wear a hajib. Although I did read about a woman in Florida where she refused to remove her veil to have her picture taken for her drivers license. Which has nothing to do with your question tho.

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It rather irks me when my religious beliefs and/or traditions are attacked and when my beliefs are protested against only to be replaced by other’s beliefs.

Is that what you perceive me to be suggesting?

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Actually yes, that is what I think you are suggesting. I don't like the "neutral" idea you are suggesting. You are asking that Christian holidays not be celebrated because they offend some and you feel it would be better for things to be "neutral" . This is discriminating against Christian beliefs. In my opinion, your ideas would only benefit those who have no "religious beliefs"...

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I haven't heard where folks are risking their lives to move and live in other countries.

You are kidding - right?

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Nope I am not kidding.. Maybe you can explain. I was mostly thinking of the Cubans risking their lives to get to America..And of course USA offers political asylum to people because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion.

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Would people who are christian take it as an attack on their faith, do you think? Would people not be able to understand that the intention would be to have statutary holidays that were neutral between faiths?

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Yes I believe Christians would take your ideas as an attack on their faith. I don't see anyone complaining about Valentines Day.

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This isn't at all about who has the 'best' country, it is about an ideal country.
I was just suggesting that the statutary holidays be neutral with respect to religion.

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What actually would you consider an "ideal" country to be? And as for the neutral holidays with respect to religion, who would benefit from these ideas??

When I first saw this thread, I thought it would be great to hear about Solstice celebrations. But instead the discussion has been more of a political debate, which is not what this forum is intended to be. As tempting as it is to contribute my ideas along with all the rest, I don't see where the support is in this thread and I'm going to lock it. This isn't in response to any particular person. I just want to add that when this forum was developed, the purpose was to have a place where we could get support for spiritually-based mental health concerns. The majority of threads in this forum seem to have other purposes than that. I would really like to see this forum move back towards providing support. All religions are welcome here. If more participants happen to subscribe to a particular set of beliefs, then those beliefs will tend to get more representation. That doesn't mean that others are not just as welcome to talk about their own faith, as much as they want to or have need. One is not better than another, and I believe that all faiths have something that we can all learn from if we are willing and able to open our hearts and listen.

TC all of you,
Rap