Nutty atheist goes insane in CA

Diesel66 · 12-23-2006, 07:38 PM

FOXNews.com - California Man Sets Himself, American Flag, Christmas Tree on Fire to Protest Religious Names - Local News | News Articles | National News | US News

A man used flammable liquid to light himself on fire, apparently to protest a San Joaquin Valley school district's decision to change the names of winter and spring breaks to Christmas and Easter vacation.

The man, who was not immediately identified, on Friday also set fire to a Christmas tree, an American flag and a revolutionary flag replica, said Fire Captain Garth Milam.

Kern County Sheriff's Deputy John Leyendecker said the man had a sign that read: "(expletive) the religious establishment and KHSD."

On Thursday, the Kern High School Board of Trustees voted to use the names Christmas and Easter instead of winter and spring breaks.

and

Yes lets light a tree, some flags and yourself on fire because you dont like public expression of religion.

motivez · 12-23-2006, 07:45 PM

Seems more like government expression of religion, but seems like a pretty stupid way to protest.

He could have contacted the ACLU and I'm sure they would have looked into it at least

Did this guy die?

Diesel66 · 12-23-2006, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

Seems more like government expression of religion, but seems like a pretty stupid way to protest.

He could have contacted the ACLU and I'm sure they would have looked into it at least

Did this guy die?

negative, darwin didnt win this round

JaJae · 12-23-2006, 07:50 PM

Well he is a loon. Personally I don't have a problem with calling it Christmas and Easter break. You have off over Christmas and Easter for those who celebrate those holidays. That's the purpose of the breaks. When a school has off for Yum Kippur they don't call it "Pre-winter break." They call it by the holiday they are giving you off to celebrate.

JaJae · 12-23-2006, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by Diesel66

negative, darwin didnt win this round

He's still young... I'm sure Darwin will have another chance.

motivez · 12-23-2006, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

Well he is a loon. Personally I don't have a problem with calling it Christmas and Easter break. You have off over Christmas and Easter for those who celebrate those holidays. That's the purpose of the breaks. When a school has off for Yum Kippur they don't call it "Pre-winter break." They call it by the holiday they are giving you off to celebrate.

So if a school district somewhere in Mr. Muslim Congressman's district decided to call a certain period of time off Ramadan Break, you'd be fine with that?

Diesel66 · 12-23-2006, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

So if a school district somewhere in Mr. Muslim Congressman's district decided to call a certain period of time off Ramadan Break, you'd be fine with that?

as long as I got the week off with pay

motivez · 12-23-2006, 08:38 PM

Something tells me most of the people who are fine with "Christmas Break" would have a hissy fit over "Ramadan Break" for the same reason they're having trouble with someone who happens to be Muslim being elected to Congress.

JaJae · 12-23-2006, 08:43 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

So if a school district somewhere in Mr. Muslim Congressman's district decided to call a certain period of time off Ramadan Break, you'd be fine with that?

As long as the break was for Ramadan. Why not call it was it is? If I'm being given time off for the holiday of Ramadan and to allow the majority of the local population who celebrate it spend time with their family.. what do I care if they call it their Ramadan break?

If I was given a break for the eight days of Hanukah, why not call it what it is? There's a reason "winter break" takes place for Xmas... and it ain't a random coincidence every year. When I was in elementry school they called it Christmas break. Nobody cared or took offense.

Now the local school calls it "Winter Holiday." They don't even call it "Winter Break". Let's stop beating around the bush here with this PC crap. It's getting ridiculous during Christmas time lately.

motivez · 12-23-2006, 09:07 PM

No one is saying it's a coincidence, and it doesn't offend me either way.. but I guess that's the point, neither way offends me.

If a school district wants to call it "Holiday Break" or "Winter Break" that's fine with me, I see no reason it should be limited to 1 specific Holiday for the name

But as far as beating around the bush, you can't tell me you wouldn't expect massive outrage if we had a Ramadan Break here in the US

Diesel66 · 12-23-2006, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

No one is saying it's a coincidence, and it doesn't offend me either way.. but I guess that's the point, neither way offends me.

If a school district wants to call it "Holiday Break" or "Winter Break" that's fine with me, I see no reason it should be limited to 1 specific Holiday for the name

But as far as beating around the bush, you can't tell me you wouldn't expect massive outrage if we had a Ramadan Break here in the US

We have outrage over Colombus day, Cesear Chavez day, MLK day etc.....

JaJae · 12-23-2006, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

But as far as beating around the bush, you can't tell me you wouldn't expect massive outrage if we had a Ramadan Break here in the US

If the majority of the US partook in the festivities, I don't see what the problem would be. I just think people would be upset that if there's a Ramadan break the kids would be forced in school longer unneccessarily or they'd have to sacrifice their Christmas break which makes no sense considering the numbers who celebrate.

Diesel66 · 12-23-2006, 09:30 PM

Originally Posted by JaJae

If the majority of the US partook in the festivities, I don't see what the problem would be. I just think people would be upset that if there's a Ramadan break the kids would be forced in school longer unneccessarily or they'd have to sacrifice their Christmas break which makes no sense considering the numbers who celebrate.

especially since Ramadan is a month long.

Would have no problem with the 1st and last day made into a holiday except it would be a waste of time.

motivez · 12-23-2006, 09:38 PM

So now it's about how many people celebrate it?

People would be upset because it's a non-Christian religious holiday. They're upset about a non-Christian being elected to Congress! Saying it's killing America's values, and some idiot Republican put out a statement saying unless we're careful, we'll have more Muslim's elected!

I guess it's only ridiculous to be angry or upset about something if one isn't actually angry or upset themselves.

JaJae · 12-23-2006, 10:04 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

So now it's about how many people celebrate it?

Uh... yes. The town next to me is mainly Jewish. Their public school has off for the Jewish holidays and they call the days for the holidays, they don't rename it to a PC subtitle to make non-Jews feel better about having the day off for a holiday they don't celebrate.

It's a numbers game. If you didn't give people off for Xmas, there would be so many absences that it would make the week fairly pointless.

motivez · 12-23-2006, 10:11 PM

I'm not saying they should. Like I said, neither bothers me. I'm just saying if there was a holiday called Ramadan Break, people who are perfectly fine with "Christmas Break" would be up in arms

Dumpy Dooby · 12-23-2006, 10:32 PM

Christmas isn't the only holiday in the winter. People don't get a winter break so that they can celebrate Christmas. They get it a winter break to celebrate all of the year-end holidays.

I reckon it would be the same for Easter. Spring and Winter have historically been times for celebration, and they have both historically marked the births/deaths of savior-gods. Also, spring and winter are the two most common times to celebrate a new year. Spring equinox and winter solstice are probably the two most celebrated days (or at least sometime around them) in human history.

Diesel66 · 12-23-2006, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by Dumpy Dooby

Christmas isn't the only holiday in the winter. People don't get a winter break so that they can celebrate Christmas. They get it a winter break to celebrate all of the year-end holidays.

doubt the week off is for Kwanza or Boxing Day.

Dumpy Dooby · 12-23-2006, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by Diesel66

doubt the week off is for Kwanza or Boxing Day.

That's nice and irrelevant. Thanks!

Pro Street · 12-23-2006, 11:47 PM

There is nothing religious about christmas or easter anymore.

Christmas is about presents/shopping/family/food
Easter is about candy/eggs/family/food