Thoughts about the European Union. - Page 8

inked · 01-19-2011, 12:13 AM

Mari, you mean like verifying that the calendar in question actually does leave off the Christian holidays? while including the others?

Or do you mean that they verified the person commenting actually said the comments attributed to her by quotation marks?

Or, could you be straining at gnats and swallowing camels?

**Mari** · 01-21-2011, 11:06 AM

I meant the first, didn't mean the second and have no idea what you mean by the third

But yeah, in the article there is a sentence about this lady which suggests to me that the entire article is based on what she said. Now, I'm not sure if the protest is also based on what she said, but in any case it seems odd to base anything on something one person said, especially since it just seems illogical for the EU to 'forget' or worse leave Christian holidays off on purpose.

inked · 01-21-2011, 10:08 PM

Ummm, Mari,

"A new 2011-2012 school calendar for children published by a branch of the European Union has omitted references to Christian holidays but has kept its references to prominent Jewish, Hindu, and even Muslims holidays, according to a Catholic news outlet."

Fact.

French politician makes statement.

Remark on the politician, ignore the fact = strain at gnat, swallow camel.

Does that help?

***Earniel*** · 01-22-2011, 07:49 AM

People sure get worked up over a printing error...

inked · 01-22-2011, 10:01 AM

And the proof that it was a printing ERROR is located where?

Pretty big error for the home of the GREGORIAN calendar -

!

***Valandil*** · 01-22-2011, 10:05 AM

Also hard for me to swallow that it's a complete oversight.

On the other hand, I think it's probably a decision by a low-level official, rather than EU policy.

Still though - a cautionary note for those in Europe who wish to hold onto Christianity. Whether as an actual faith or just a heritage of traditions.

**Mari** · 01-22-2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inked

Ummm, Mari,

"A new 2011-2012 school calendar for children published by a branch of the European Union has omitted references to Christian holidays but has kept its references to prominent Jewish, Hindu, and even Muslims holidays, according to a Catholic news outlet."

Fact.

French politician makes statement.

Remark on the politician, ignore the fact = strain at gnat, swallow camel.

Does that help?

No. It was to my mind presented as a fact at first and later in the article it was suggested that this fact had been gotten from that French lady. It's not a fact unless the writer actually saw those calendars and could see for himself that they were missing. By the way they quoted that lady it suggested to me that not the writer, but the French lady had seen the calendars.

If you read it differently that's fine too.

***Earniel*** · 01-22-2011, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inked

And the proof that it was a printing ERROR is located where?

Where's the proof that it's a deliberate ommission? Saying this is a premeditated attack on Christianity is in the same League of Silly as accusing Israel of deliberatedly training sharks to go attack tourists off the coast in Egypt. Let's stay reasonable. It's not like christians are a poor widdle suppressed group in the EU either.

But if anyone wants to feel prosecuted over a misprinted agenda, be my guest. Personally I think there are better matters to feel suppressed by, but hey.

inked · 01-22-2011, 08:01 PM

No one's prosecuted yet, E.

Pretty big "misprint".

Perhaps the Wiccans can sue for being left off, too?

The EU is the EU (eewww!).

***Earniel*** · 01-23-2011, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inked

The EU is the EU (eewww!).

What is this, kindergarden?

And I don't know about the Wiccans, but the witches aren't exactly afraid of hexing the government if they disagree about taxes...

Gwaimir Windgem · 01-23-2011, 11:09 AM

Quote:

It was not immediately clear how car valets and driving instructors, also taxed for the first time, would react.

I bet it won't be anywhere near as impressive.

inked · 01-23-2011, 08:35 PM

"But now they have been classified as self-employed, as part of the cash-strapped government's push to collect more revenue and crack down on tax evasion."

Hey, do they list prostitution as a taxable employment? Sixteen per cent per client X number of sex workers (male/female/AC/DC) ought to bring in a chunk of change. Why limit taxes to witches, valets, and taxi drivers? Let's see some intense prosecution of taxation.

After all, this ISN'T kindergarden. It's Romania. EU!

GrayMouser · 01-23-2011, 11:54 PM

You know what other holiday they didn't mention? Mayday!

The Christmas and Easter thing is obviously just a cover for evil right-wing EU elements to deny European schoolchildren knowledge of their heritage of the struggle for workers' rights- it's probably directed by conservative groups in the US and Canada, two of the few places on the planet that don't acknowledge International Labour Day.

Meanwhile, back on Planet Sanity, some EU bureaucrat, feeling all multi-kulti, said to the calendar designer, "you know, since Christmas and Easter are holidays everywhere in the EU [the only religion whose holy days are public holidays, and like Labour Day and New Year's Day presumably marked as such in red on a school calendar] why don't we include some holy days of some of the millions of children in the EU who aren't Christian?"

The designer then dutifully looked up religious days for Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists etc. and put them in without even thinking of Christmas and Easter, which are already marked as holidays.

from Wiki:

Quote:

This is a list of holidays in the European Union. The European Union does not have any official holidays. These are under the control of the member states. Most of the major holidays are mentioned although some are not public holidays.

Union-wide (at least mostly)

January 1 - New Year's Day
May 1 - Labour Day (excludes UK(First Monday in May) and the Netherlands) (note: while this day is observed in Poland it is intentionally not called Labour Day, but State Holiday (Polish Święto Państwowe) see Holidays in Poland; in Bavaria, it's called May Holiday (German Maifeiertag, see Holidays in Bavaria)
December 25 - Christmas Day
December 26 - Boxing Day / St. Stephen's Day / Second Day of Christmas (excludes Belgium, France, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia (Independence and Unity Day celebrated on that day) and Spain, except Catalonia and Balearic Islands)
various dates - Good Friday (excludes Belgium,Czech Republic, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Slovenia)
various dates - Easter Sunday
various dates - Easter Monday (excludes Estonia, Malta, Portugal, Scotland and most of Spanish regions

The Gaffer · 01-24-2011, 05:26 AM

LOL. Well done GM.

Draken · 01-24-2011, 07:06 AM

I always take shock-horror stories about the EU with a pinch of salt. So many of them turn out to have originated from some tabloid hack who has seized on half a story and spun it according to editorial policy, quoted it out of context or just plain made things up.

As to the EU itself, I have mixed views. It seems a pretty poor way to govern half a continent. Until you look at the alternatives.

inked · 01-24-2011, 10:31 AM

Excellent job, GM. Wonder why the EU couldn't have done it?

inked · 02-02-2011, 06:17 PM

Another bang-up political correctness scorer! Baroness Ashton

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...Christian.html

"Baroness Ashton is under fire after the EU failed to agree on a statement condemning attacks on religious minorities in the Islamic world because it is not politically correct to use the word "Christian". " ...

No Christian holidays on the calendar....

Don't defend Christians by name....

No pattern here, none! Move along!

I re-iterate, EU!!!

The Gaffer · 02-03-2011, 05:40 PM

Why are you so obsessed with Islam?

(Edit: serious question)

inked · 02-04-2011, 08:50 AM

(serious answer)

Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Russia, Africa, ... .

***Jonathan*** · 02-04-2011, 11:31 AM

(serious incomprehension)

Wut?

01-19-2011, 12:13 AM	#141
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	Mari, you mean like verifying that the calendar in question actually does leave off the Christian holidays? while including the others? Or do you mean that they verified the person commenting actually said the comments attributed to her by quotation marks? Or, could you be straining at gnats and swallowing camels? __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

01-21-2011, 11:06 AM	#142
Mari Elf Lady Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In the lands where mountains are but a fairytale Posts: 8,588	I meant the first, didn't mean the second and have no idea what you mean by the third But yeah, in the article there is a sentence about this lady which suggests to me that the entire article is based on what she said. Now, I'm not sure if the protest is also based on what she said, but in any case it seems odd to base anything on something one person said, especially since it just seems illogical for the EU to 'forget' or worse leave Christian holidays off on purpose. __________________ Love always, deeply and true ★ Friends are those rare people who ask how we are and then wait to hear the answer. ★ Friendship is sharing openly, laughing often, trusting always, caring deeply. ...The Earth laughs in flowers ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Hamatreya"...

01-21-2011, 10:08 PM	#143
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	Ummm, Mari, "A new 2011-2012 school calendar for children published by a branch of the European Union has omitted references to Christian holidays but has kept its references to prominent Jewish, Hindu, and even Muslims holidays, according to a Catholic news outlet." Fact. French politician makes statement. Remark on the politician, ignore the fact = strain at gnat, swallow camel. Does that help? __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

01-22-2011, 07:49 AM	#144
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	People sure get worked up over a printing error... __________________ We are not things.

01-22-2011, 10:01 AM	#145
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	And the proof that it was a printing ERROR is located where? Pretty big error for the home of the GREGORIAN calendar - ! __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

01-22-2011, 10:05 AM	#146
*Valandil* High King at Annuminas Administrator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wyoming - USA Posts: 10,752	Also hard for me to swallow that it's a complete oversight. On the other hand, I think it's probably a decision by a low-level official, rather than EU policy. Still though - a cautionary note for those in Europe who wish to hold onto Christianity. Whether as an actual faith or just a heritage of traditions. __________________ My Fanfic: Letters of Firiel Tales of Nolduryon Visitors Come to Court Ñ á ë ?* ó ú é ä ï ö Ö ñ É Þ ð ß ® ™ [Xurl=Xhttp://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=ABCXYZ#postABCXYZ]text[/Xurl] Splitting Threads is SUCH Hard Work!!

01-22-2011, 08:01 PM	#149
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	No one's prosecuted yet, E. Pretty big "misprint". Perhaps the Wiccans can sue for being left off, too? The EU is the EU (eewww!). __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

01-23-2011, 08:35 PM	#152
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	"But now they have been classified as self-employed, as part of the cash-strapped government's push to collect more revenue and crack down on tax evasion." Hey, do they list prostitution as a taxable employment? Sixteen per cent per client X number of sex workers (male/female/AC/DC) ought to bring in a chunk of change. Why limit taxes to witches, valets, and taxi drivers? Let's see some intense prosecution of taxation. After all, this ISN'T kindergarden. It's Romania. EU! __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

01-24-2011, 05:26 AM	#154
The Gaffer Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In me taters Posts: 3,288	LOL. Well done GM.

01-24-2011, 07:06 AM	#155
Draken Elf Lord Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Durham, England Posts: 694	I always take shock-horror stories about the EU with a pinch of salt. So many of them turn out to have originated from some tabloid hack who has seized on half a story and spun it according to editorial policy, quoted it out of context or just plain made things up. As to the EU itself, I have mixed views. It seems a pretty poor way to govern half a continent. Until you look at the alternatives. __________________ I'm beset by self-doubt ....or am I?

01-24-2011, 10:31 AM	#156
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	Excellent job, GM. Wonder why the EU couldn't have done it? __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

02-02-2011, 06:17 PM	#157
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	Another bang-up political correctness scorer! Baroness Ashton http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...Christian.html "Baroness Ashton is under fire after the EU failed to agree on a statement condemning attacks on religious minorities in the Islamic world because it is not politically correct to use the word "Christian". " ... No Christian holidays on the calendar.... Don't defend Christians by name.... No pattern here, none! Move along! I re-iterate, EU!!! __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

02-03-2011, 05:40 PM	#158
The Gaffer Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In me taters Posts: 3,288	Why are you so obsessed with Islam? (Edit: serious question)

02-04-2011, 08:50 AM	#159
inked Elf Lord Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: sikeston, MO, usa, earth, sol Posts: 3,114	(serious answer) Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Russia, Africa, ... . __________________ Inked "Aslan is not a tame lion." CSL/LWW "The new school [acts] as if it required...courage to say a blasphemy. There is only one thing that requires real courage to say, and that is a truism." GK Chesterton "And there is always the danger of allowing people to suppose that our modern times are so wholly unlike any other times that the fundamental facts about man's nature have wholly changed with changing circumstances." Dorothy L. Sayers, 1 Sept. 1941

02-04-2011, 11:31 AM	#160
*Jonathan* Entmoot Attorney-General, Equilibrating the Scales of Justice, Administrator ♎ Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 3,891	(serious incomprehension) Wut? __________________ An unwritten post is a delightful universe of infinite possibilities. Set down one word, however, and it immediately becomes earthbound. Set down one sentence and it’s halfway to being just like every other bloody entry that’s ever been written. ☻

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
State of the Union Address 2004	jerseydevil	General Messages	73	01-23-2004 02:40 PM
Your thoughts on animal rights	afro-elf	General Messages	91	12-18-2002 05:44 AM
Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy	Philia	General Messages	7	11-09-2002 08:08 PM
Why Books are Better than Drugs	emplynx	General Literature	160	09-20-2002 07:03 PM