What’s Wrong With a Paid Vacation?

“At this season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell.

“There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”

So reads a sign in the state capitol building of Washington state. It may surprise you to know that I don’t really have a problem with the sign. If the state is going to allow religious displays, then I think that the group responsible has every right to display it as long as they are ready and willing to take the heat for its content. After all, freedom of speech and religion are freedom of speech and religion. While I may question the judgment of the “Catholic” governor over its placement next to a Nativity scene, the fact remains that I think they have a right to place it in the building.

What confuses me about this group and all other groups is their seeming determination to have Christmas removed as a federally recognized holiday. Why don’t they want the day off? Nobody says that they have to celebrate anything, in fact they could spend the day at the movies as many Jewish and Muslim people I know do. Christmas would be a great day for a romantic night with your sweetie since hotels are almost empty on Christmas Eve and Christmas Night. You could have a romantic getaway for a song. Why do you have a problem with that?

In fact, if we were smart, we would push for more religious holidays instead of fewer. Imagine for a moment that Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa were all federal holidays..you could get a full 2 1/2 paid weeks off of work. Figure out a way to include Eid for the Muslims, and Spring and Winter Solstice for the Wiccans, throw in Earth Day for the Global Warming crowd (it really is a religion, you know), with all the days we could think of, the average person would only have to work 3 days a month, and anything over that would qualify for holiday pay of time and a half. Or maybe you don’t like making time and a half. Whatever, it’s your paycheck.

I guess I just don’t understand how my holiday and all its sale and hooplah are bad for you. What do you say..we get to keep Christmas and I promise to help your push for the national recognition of the Atheist/Agnostic holiday, Festivus? (I know it’s a made up holiday, but you think the others are too.) I understand it’s “for the rest of us”. I promise not to protest it at all and to campaign heavily for its recognition. After all, any day that I can sleep late and still get paid is alright with me.

Merry Christmas, Y’all and a Joyous Festivus to everyone!