Yeah, yeah, I know — using two R.E.M. lyrics in the space of two days for subject lines.  Get over it, they’re both relevant.

I’m in Tucson right now visiting The Parents™, but am heading back to Los Angeles tomorrow.  My parents seem to be pretty happy here, and my dad keeps talking about how we should’ve moved to Tucson years before they actually did.  Personally, I’m not a fan.  And one of the main reasons why is the fact that religion is way up in your face here.  Half the cars here are sporting bumper stickers featuring all kinds of “yay God” sayings… just today, I saw an “honor God and His Son” one, one that said “I’m putting the CHRIST back in Christmas,” another one that said “I love my family so I listen to Christian Family Life Radio” (with the implication that anyone who doesn’t listen doesn’t love their family), I also saw license plates that said “ILUVGOD” and “GODHLPR,” and I’ve seen more of those fish things than ever.

I’m not anti-God, nor am I anti-religion, nor am I anti-any particular kind of religion just because I’m not in a majority.  I’m not one of those militant Jews who will correct people when they wish me a merry Christmas.  But I am a bit sensitive to proselytizing, and I’m also a bit sensitive when Chief Moron Bill O’Reilly starts yelling about his “war on Christmas” again.  My point is this:  I have no issue with religion, and I don’t mind people being religious, but what people have to realize is that theirs is not the only religion and theirs is not the only way.  This is a country founded on freedom from religious persecution, and people (especially those in the majority religion) need to remember that everyone has a right to their own beliefs and opinions and shouldn’t have to face religion being foisted on them and pushed in their faces.  That’s great that you want to put the Christ back in Christmas, but do it on your own time — go to church on Christmas and volunteer with whatever place to help further peace and love and goodwill towards men, but actions speak louder than words, and I don’t need to hear about it… just do it, there’s no need to trumpet the fact.  To Bill O:  If you’re so concerned about “secular progressives” taking the religion out of Christmas, then encourage Christians to go to church or whatever.  The Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Sikhs or whoever here in the U.S. have a right to not celebrate Christmas, and we don’t need to be hounded for not wanting it shoved down our throats.  A lot of us tolerate it because we realize we are in the minority, but we shouldn’t be forced to be portrayed as the enemy because we don’t want to participate.  You want to be a part of it, go ahead.  Just don’t make me.

It’s one of the reasons why I’m so upset about the religious discussion in terms of politics.  Politics and religion shouldn’t mix, because then you’re legislating morals according to a book or a set of principles that not everyone believes in or abides by.  And quite frankly, “good Christian morals” these days seem to involve a lot of naughty priests and intolerance.  Turning the other cheek doesn’t mean you have to do everything in your power to convert me or tell me that I’m evil and going to hell because I’m not following your path.