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Should government offices and services be closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving?
With the exception of some vital services (law enforcement, IT, etc) most local, state and federal offices are closed on these 2 religious holidays.
Considering how people have been very clear about getting 'religion" out of government is it not inconsistent to effectively shut the govt down for 2 religious days of the year? I wouldn't want people to lose time off so another vacation or personal day could be added to their current benefits. They can simply ask for the day off as they would for any other day off they wanted.
I don't see why someone who is atheist or jewish or muslim or whatever shouldn't be able to pay their car tax bill or mail a package on a day they don't even celebrate. Also those workers who would rather have a day off for Ramadan or event/celebration of their choice could do so rather than be forced to, at least passively, celebrate Christmas.
I realize it's become fairly secular but if it's offensive to have a Christmas tree up in the school board office then they probably don't need to be closed for Christmas.
Re: Should government offices and services be closed on Christmas and Thanksgiving?
yes, they cannot force or compel states to observe and that's not what I meant. I was looking at it from the perspective that NO govt -state, federal or local should be celebrating a religious holiday. Of course many people would want it off. They do now. Many people want the nativity scenes and Christmas trees to stay too. I just got to thinking about how closing in observance of both days was something of a govt endorsement of both religious celebrations. We have a lot of religious agendas that were previously instated or endorsed that have since been stripped by policy, the courts and laws.
I think private business should close for any and all reasons they wish to.
Look, I'm the Jewiest Jew that ever Jew'ed, but you can quit yer bitchin about holidays. Don't freaking take away any more of my holidays. We've lost Veteran's Day, and Armistice Day. I would love Eid as a national holiday. Happy Eid, people. We're closed.
Please for the love of all things don't start this take away another holiday crap. Because then it'll be "Merry Paid Time Off"
No. Just, No.
You mention 2 Religious holidays...is the other one your referring to Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving may have been rooted in christian tradition but I think of it more now as a day of family and food...not strictly a religious holiday. I have many friends who are not christian (Jewish and Hindu) and they celebrate Thanksgiving.
I understand what you are saying that these holidays might be considered a government endorsement of the religious celebrations but when these days were declared federal holidays, this nation was much more christian that it is now. I just don't see the government striking those two holidays off the calendar.
So, Annie a Christmas Tree would not offend you in the same way a Nativity Scene would?
I would imagine (and correct me if I am wrong) that most non-christian people feel the same as you.