Archive for November, 2005

Oh, [Insert Holiday Name Here] Tree…

Nov 30th

Posted by Ash in Ash

On Sunday, in order to get Morgan to behave while we did our weekly grocery shopping, I promised him that we would put up our Yule (Solstice) tree once we got home. Of course he took that literally… He practically demanded that we start on it as soon as we walked through the door when we got home! He had to be reminded that the groceries had to be put away, and laundry had to be started. Finally we were able to put it up, and it was accomplished without too much frustration on my part. (Why is it those damned string lights always seem to tangle?! *lol* That reminds me of the song "Twelve Pains Of Christmas" by The Bob Rivers Comedy Corp!)

Morgan is all excited now that the tree has finally been put up, and practically all we hear from him is about Santa Claus & presents. Though, it’s the thought of all the presents he’ll be getting for Yule that really has him excited the most. He definitely has presents on the brain.

We also plan on having him go see Santa Claus this year, as this is the first year he’s fully grasped who he is. Hopefully, we’ll be able to find a Santa that knows how to handle children with autism. I’m just glad that we finally can use the "You better be good, or Santa won’t bring you any presents!" ultimatum. It’s amazing how quickly Morgan will behave when we say that! So few ultimatums even work with Morgan, so it’s refreshing to have one that works so well. Though, once Yule goes by it probably won’t have the same effect, but we’ll enjoy it as long as it lasts.

<rant>
This whole Christmas tree vs. Holiday tree debate is merely a mountain made out of a molehill. Why is it so terrible to call these trees "Holiday" trees? It’s not an issue about being politically correct, it’s about showing respect for other people’s beliefs, since a lot of other religions also decorate evergreen trees for their winter holiday(s). Yet, the Christian Right in this country refuse to acknowledge that, and basically want their religion to dominate everyone else’s during the winter holiday season. By calling evergreen trees bought with taxpayer money "Christmas" trees, sanctimonious federal/state government officials are trying to establish Christianity as THE state religion. This is wrong, not to mention unconstitutional.

The "Christmas" tree (along with Christmas itself – Jesus was NOT born on December 25th!) is one of many winter holiday traditions/practices that Christians ~~co-opted~~ borrowed from a myriad of Heathen/Pagan religions. The Celts for example decorated trees with nuts, fruits, coins, and candles during the Winter Solstice, to encourage the sun to return to bring spring. Many other European people had tree decorating rituals as well. Other traditions/practices that Christians "borrowed" from various Heathen/Pagan religions include: Santa Claus, wreaths, Yule logs, red, green & white decorations, Yule candles, mistletoe, holly, etc. I could go on, but hopefully you get the idea.

So what I’m trying to say here is that there are other religions, besides Christianity, that have winter celebrations, and it would be nice if we could get the same respect for our winter holiday(s) that Christians expect for theirs. That’s not asking for too much, is it???
</rant>

A Visit…

Nov 28th

Posted by Ash in Family

1 comment

Well, my mom & stepfather just returned home on Saturday after visiting us for a whole week over the Thanksgiving day holiday. It’s been 2 1/2 years since their last visit, so it was nice to see them, but it’s hard to have people who you aren’t used to living with anymore in your home 24/7. It’s also hard when you are used to having time to yourself, and there’s none to be had AT ALL. Though, of course they are guests, so you have to just grin and bear it, but it is still a relief when the time for them to go home finally comes.

All I know is the saying "absence makes the heart grow fonder" is waaaaaaaaay too true!

Religion!!!

Nov 25th

Posted by Ash in Ash

I’ve been Wiccan since my early 20′s, though I now consider myself more as a Pagan with Wiccan tendencies. It was an arduous journey to find a religion that felt so right to me. In a way that was good: It made it a certainty that the religion I found would be one I could live with, and be one that would make me a better person than when I started.

Wicca’s one rule: "And you harm none, do what you will" is one that cannot be twisted, or misinterpreted. You break this rule, and you pay the price threefold. It’s that simple.

My religion is not my life, but instead shows me how to live it… It helps me to choose which is the right path to walk down, and what is not. Wicca teaches us that everything in the universe depends on everything else to exist. All things are interconnected to one another. Nothing is more important than any other thing. We all equally deserve to live our lives in peace.

Back when I was unconsciously searching for a path to follow I found that there were always some major flaw(s) in the religions I looked at that I didn’t care for, and couldn’t live with. You know: Being treated like a second class citizen (My husband is my equal, not my master), harming your child in the name of your religion (Circumcision, only treating medical conditions/diseases of minors (who cannot truly consent to follow any religion at all anyway) through prayer, etc), having to proselytize to non-believers, etc. Stuff like that. I could go on, and on, but you get the picture.

Being part of a religious minority has given me a unique point of view on the issue of religious freedom in America today, and it seems to me that some people feel it is their "right" to force their beliefs upon others. Why do this? What good is gained from it? In my opinion, none. What is gained instead is hate & bigotry… Those aren’t exactly family values, are they?

Plus, if people are barred from forcing their beliefs upon others, then it’s considered an "attack" on their religion. This is fucked! There is nothing wrong with being devoutly religious as long as you realize that not everyone follows your religion, and they should not be expected to follow its practices. Trying to force all schools to teach creationism, outlawing gay marriage, prayer in schools, banning abortion, etc, are just a few examples of people trying to force their religious views on others. Just because people don’t want your beliefs/practices forced on them does not mean that they are attacking your religion. Grow the fuck up. Realize that everyone has a right to their own beliefs, and also have a right not to be harassed by people with differing ones.

I have absolutely no right to dictate to anyone what they should believe, and others have no right to dictate that to me. I respect other people’s beliefs, as long as those beliefs do not harm others, and I expect the same respect. Is that so hard to do? I guess it is, because no one seems to see anything overtly wrong with shoving religion in a person’s face, and trying to convince them that the path they are following is the wrong one. It’s that lack of respect for the validity of someone else’s beliefs, mine included, that upsets me the most. I firmly believe that there is "no one true way", so what’s good for me isn’t necessarily good for someone else. The sooner other people realize this, the happier I’ll be.