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June 28, 2004 Is the United States the land of the free or the land of the easily offended? It seem's as though a person can't do or say anything without someone being offended. Those who are offended have the right to a lawsuit and their face on the news or article in the newspaper. I am not a religious person, but I do believe that banning children and young adults from wearing religious apparatus, such as head scarves and crucifixes, from school is violating their freedom of religion and freedom of choice. I may wear a cross around my neck because I like it as a piece of jewelry, why should I get reprimanded because the necklace is a symbol of a religion some people don't believe in. If you don't like my necklace, you don't have to stare and stew over it. I believe it's wrong to replace Merry Christmas with Happy Holidays because of the name "Christ" is in Christmas. Have you noticed the lack of decorations and spirit these past few years? Businesses are afraid they will offend potential customers if they decorate for a Christian holiday. I haven't seen Hanukah or Kwanza get the beatings that Christmas had. It's seems to me that people have too much time on their hands when they search for a legal loop hole to find something - anything - that can be considered offensive and seek attention for their two minutes of fame. What good are our freedoms when they can be so easily charged, changed or taken away? After 9/11, the country wanted to express their support and patriotism by displaying the American Flag. Some people actually had the audacity to claim that displaying the American Flag offended them. I say this, if the symbol of your country offends you, then move to a country that has the symbol you can bear. Basically people, what I'm trying to say is this, stop your whining and use your energy on things that really matter! Instead of seeking petty lawsuits, put your time and energy in your community and your family. Freedom does not come cheap and if I want to wear my cross around my neck, spray paint Merry Christmas across the side of my house and display fifty American Flags outside my home, thats my right. You have the right not to like it. Just because you don't agree with what I do, doesn't make me wrong. No human or animal was harmed during the writing of this article. ------------ About the author Donna Shelton: I am a long time resident of Joliet, Illinois. I'm married with two children and a mortgage. I've been writing for 18 years and have had poetry published in various magazines and anthologies. The poem "Lonesome Dove" was published in A CELEBRATION OF POETS 1998. The poem "You Are Your Wings" will be published in October 2004 edition of GENERATION X magazine. Short Story "Family Ties" will be published in CITIZEN IN AMERICA magazine (release date to be determined). Email: COVET75@aol.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ |
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