:eek: I have an odd question. I work in a very diverse work environment. We even have classes on celebrating diversity. These classes have started to make me look at the world around me. What I see, I don't like. I see that in our efforts to make other minority groups feel included, we are hiding our own identity. Take Christmas for example. We no longer can say "Merry Christmas". We have to say "Happy Holidays". It has come to the point that any holiday with a Christian origin is considered forbidden. I am terribly concerned with this. How can we teach tolerance, if we do not expect tolerance on other's parts? At what point do we tell the minority to stop nitpicking and sit down and shut up? What are your thoughts?:confused:

What type of minority are your co workers? How much percent?

In my working environment, we act like a team, no one is left out. Everyone is treated as an individual, no minority tries to nipick and call for anything.

It's a surprise that your company is doing that... it is a little bit overdue.

PS. We have a few minorities and I'd say 90% are white in my company.

I never feel I am a minority I don't think your coworkers should create a gap either!

25%... Mainly Muslim Bosnian. 70 % Christian white 5% Other

What type of minority are your co workers?

In my working environment, we act like a team, no one is left out. Everyone is treated as an individual, no minority tries to nipick and call for anything.

It's a surprise that your company is doing that...it is a lil bit overdue.


You would be surprised at the lengths some companies take to insure a tolerant and diverse environment. Its goofy.

I personally feel that people are too sensitive. Its not about leaving anyone out. If you don't celebrate Christmas no one is forcing you to the same goes for Hanukkah & Kwanzaa. It's a personal choice. Plus a holiday like Christmas is so commercialized that it hardly holds much Christianity. My best friend is Jewish and when she and I moved in together after college she went BONKERS at Christmas time. It looked like Santas Village exploded in our apartment. She physically stopped me from taking down our Christmas tree (it stayed up into March).

She was so stoked to experience Christmas in all its glory - which to her was the tree and decorations.

I think as long as people are open minded and recognize that not everyone celebrates the same holidays or shares the same beliefs the I don't think it matters. I still call my Christmas cookies Christmas cookies when I bring them to work.

I don't mind honoring diversity, but I think in the quest to do so... we are ignoring who we are. I love learning about other cultures, but on the flip side... allow me the courtesy to celebrate what I believe without complaining.

Yes, I dislike minorities who take things personally.

Our company has very few minority so it's not a big deal and I never felt left out. We learn from each other. I really like all of them.:)

If you treat people the way you want to be treated, everything will be fine!

I have been surrounded by mostly caucasions since I came to this country, I think it's my responsibility to adjust myselves to the new environment.

Your company has exceeded their responsibility on diversity issues.

I wish more people felt that way in my company.

I don't mind honoring diversity, but I think in the quest to do so....we are ignoring who we are. I love learning about other cultures, but on the flip side...allow me the courtesy to celebrate what I believe without complaining.

I agree with you completely. I don't think its fair to ask others to suppress who they are in the process.

nicespringgirl -

You are truly an exception. However I imagine it has more to do with your easygoing personality more then anything else.

IMO I would think that people would feel singled out in regards to all of the diversity. That was one thing I loved about working in finance no one cared, there was no diversity training or anything like that. You came as you were and if you were smart no one cared if you celebrated a day where a large insect act babies as long as you "brought it" at work

And I don't understand why colleges in this country recruit more African Americans than any other ethnic?

We even tried to celebrate the Irish heritage by having a St. Patrick's Day event with green punch and shamrock cookies. There were 3 people that just about put a stop to the whole thing because of St. Patrick's Day religious background.

Oh please. That holiday is so far removed from any religiousness its all about drinking green beer and wearing a giant leprechaun hat.

The smart workers are not going to create any personal/sensitive topic problems... I am afraid that your co workers are either close minded or not very smart with interaction. They might be taking advantage of your management who are in favour of them too much!

You know those promoted are ones who are everyone's favourite? Who is going to like them if they keep doing that!
I guess they don't know that?

christmas is just a comercial thing now, it lost most of its christian meaning. May as well rename it x-mas, because it don't have much christ in it no more sadly.
diversity has been a issue here in australia for many years, our government went through a myriad of policies to do with how to treat other cultures, from a "you can come in, but you gotta become like us" policy, to a "come in, we want your differences!" policy.
I reckon differences should be celebrated, no tip toed around, and all people should not be judged by their nationality or culture, just by their good traits.
nicespring is right, no one should take their differences personally, or get offended over small things, it makes for an uncomfortable environment for everyone, where people can't relax.

I don't understand that either, but it is probably due to guilt. The history with the slaves has a lot to do with it. But we have also treated Native Americans horribly, but they aren't recruited like that. Heck, Irish Americans were left to do the dirty jobs in the 1800s and early 1900s. Do we owe then something too? At what point do we stop acting like we are guilty of something that we aren't? I don't have slave, my ancestors didn't have slaves. We didn't mistreat native americans either. Where does it stop and everybody is glad for what they have and stops acting like they are owed something? You want it? You work for it. That was the motto I was raised with.

Trust me, I don't want everyone to be the same. I like different people. However, if you are going to live in a country some things are a given. You are going to have to learn how to speak their language and you have to respect the native dwellers. This is true no matter which country you move to. I wouldn't move to France and expect everyone to speak my language all of the time for my accord. I also wouldn't expect the people in France to forgo their long standing traditions because it offended me. This whole thing just pisses me off.

Pardon my outburst. A very sensitive topic with me.

Star I agree with you. When we become too accommodating we run the risk of losing who we are

You know I live in a part of the country in which we have reservations... as in the ones Native Americans live on. I am an educated person, I know about the retarded treaties that say "as long as the rivers run, your decendents will be taken care of." This is just stupid. I have had personal experience in which people that live on these reservations will get a job and work just long enough until their next month's check comes and then the whole lot of them will quit. Next month it is the same cycle, but the business put up with it because they need to fill the positions that were left in the month prior. They will also rack up credit card bills and other debt and then move back on the reservation to evade those debts. They are immune to just about anything there. I realize that different cultures have different work ethics, but at what point do we say you need to pay for what you have. New houses are built and families move in and trash the homes. They strip the copper plumming and sell it for booze. Has anyone ever had the privilege of visiting one of these glorious places? Not all reservations are like this. Ones that have casinos or other economic windfalls usually don't display this... but very few of them have these windfalls. I am just so frustrated with the whole thing. How do I explain to my 8 year old why mommy has to go to work everyday, while others sit on their butts waiting for a check in the mail just because of their heritage? What are your thoughts?

I don't know if it has much to be with heritage but there are some people out there who believe that it is their right to not work and sponge off the system. Its sad and pathetic. All you have to tell your son is that you would rather be a productive member of society and contribute something to the world everyday then sit at home taking other peoples money to live. By him seeing you go to work everyday and do your best he will mimic your work ethic as he gets older.

Good point.

Here in australia, we have a set of laws
But for some reason, we have a whole different set of laws for indiginous peoples
Which I think is stupid, one country should have one set of laws that applies to all, regardless of religion or ethnic background or whatever.
People whinge about lack of equality, well a different set of laws isn't equal!

Here people of a certain ethnic origin can move to our country and not may taxes for 7 years. The government says it is to allow them to become established. The funny thing is, most people of this origin usually land very well paying jobs. I went to school with a family of this. When all of their kids turned 16, they got brand new... expensive cars. It sucks that in a country with many people struggling, that we give handouts to others that can support themselves... what about taking care of our own??

Exactly!
You are onto something I have been realizing for at least a couple years now.
The people that push for diversity are offended by difference and want us to have tolerance but at the same time lose our identity to take on a conformity so as not to offend "them"

It is ironic. The people that want us to except the fact that they are different from us, won't accept the fact that we are different from them. In an effort to not offend them, we try to pretend that the differences are not there---this is how we lose our identity. Take the schools for example... in my area they are made up up 97% Christian. We are a very small school district. Yet, the children don't have a Christmas program or a Christmas break. They have a Winter Program and a Winter break. If you mistakingly call it a Christmas program in the presence of others from the district, you will get scowls. Why is that? At what point to we say hey, I am the majority... I don't expect you or want you to be like me... but don't try to change me to be you either... at what point do we tell those that are making the stink about political correctness to "sit down and shut up". We are losing who we are here. How can you teach kids to accept differences, if they can't see any?

It is ironic. The people that want us to except the fact that they are different from us, won't accept the fact that we are different from them. In an effort to not offend them, we try to pretend that the differences are not there---this is how we lose our identity. Take the schools for example....in my area they are made up up 97% Christian. We are a very small school district. Yet, the children don't have a Christmas program or a Christmas break. They have a Winter Program and a Winter break. If you mistakingly call it a Christmas program in the presence of others from the district, you will get scowls. Why is that? At what point to we say hey, I am the majority....I don't expect you or want you to be like me.....but don't try to change me to be you either....at what point do we tell those that are making the stink about political correctness to "sit down and shut up". We are losing who we are here. How can you teach kids to accept differences, if they can't see any?
America has gone nuts. I am a minority. I came to this country in 1983. I've never asked special treament, I've never asked anyone to speak my native languge. I simulated how things are done here and learned English and adopted American culture. Political correctness is a joke. What is wrong with saying Merry Christmas? We say that because it is Christmas. America needs to stand up and say, " This is how things are done here and if you don't like it, you are free to leave"
Yes. Unfortunately, America is losing it's identity...

Thank you Sunny for your input. If only the people that come up with that political correctness crap could see this. Of course, they would be out of a job. :O)

My favorite part was the "this is how things are done here and if you don't like it you are free to leave" Well said.

I would just like to say Merry Christmas and no one can tell me that I can not say this. Too bad if anybody does not like it. Wow, anyway just wanted to add Merry Christmas and do not let anybody tell you any different.

Tolerance goes many ways. Not just one way.

Joe

star3114, If you want to put a big neon sign that says Merry Christmas, then you should do that this year to chrish what Christmas is all about. Last year, I put a blinking light on my restaurant window that said Merry Christmas and some lady told me that I should not have that on the window, because I may offend somebody. Do you know what I told her? I said "hey lady, don't worry about what I put on my window, I believe in budah and it doesn't offend me, December 25th is a Christmas day, it is not a holiday day.

:eek: I have an odd question. I work in a very diverse work environment. We even have classes on celebrating diversity. These classes have started to make me look at the world around me. What I see, I don't like. I see that in our efforts to make other minority groups feel included, we are hiding our own identity. Take Christmas for example. We no longer can say "Merry Christmas". We have to say "Happy Holidays". It has come to the point that any holiday with a Christian origin is considered forbidden. I am terribly concerned with this. How can we teach tolerance, if we do not expect tolerance on other's parts? At what point do we tell the minority to stop nitpicking and sit down and shut up? What are your thoughts?:confused:

You need to understand that it's all about POLITICS. Minorities hold more sway over the rest because they have the power to swing the vote one way or the other. So naturally the politicians are catering to them. Minority groups know this. That's why they act like peacocks strutting there stuff all over the place.

Remember"
SWINGING THE VOTE IS ALL POLITICIANS CARE ABOUT! PERIOD!

Take that last sentence and tape it above your computer so you don't forget it.
While you're at it, tape this next one, too:

THIS COUNTRY IS ALSO ABOUT GETTING AS MUCH MONEY AS IT CAN FROM ITS WORKING CLASS.

Anytime a new law is passed restricting whatever, it's because some minority majority pitched a bytch about it. Americans are totally NOT seeing the picture. We get a daily dose everyday of, what I call, the 3 in 1 shot, "manipulation, subjugation and innoculation." And what's the shot for? To insure that we STAY passive... like the good little sheep that we now are.

Tolerance? The only tolerance I see is we Americans sitting on our hands and LETTING it all happen. Last time I checked there were more citizens than politicians... so how come we are STILL sitting on our hands? That's the real question, here. Freedoms? Going, going, gone!

That was a very analytical scope of the question. Thank you for your input.