County Executive orders "religion-neutral" Christmas (and blames 9/11 Attack)

King County Executive ^ | 11/30/01 | Ron Sims, King County Executive

[ppaul]

TO: KC Global Announcement to All King County Employees

FM: Ron Sims, King County Executive

RE: Holiday Celebrations

With the post September 11 tragedy climate and the religious holidays starting, we at King County want to ensure that any upcoming holiday celebration at the workplace is held in a respectful, inclusive, and sensitive manner that does not favor one religion over another. Particularly in public areas, this means that any holiday recognition or celebration should be religion-neutral.

Examples of religion-neutral practices include: naming the celebration(s) "Holiday Celebration" or "Winter Celebration;"

using general greetings such as "Happy Holidays" or "Holiday Greetings;"

using decorations that are commonplace - poinsettias, evergreen boughs, lights - but not using religious symbols nor practices; and

obtaining the concurrence of all affected employees prior to holding a holiday social and/or food gathering. Care should be taken that employees who do not concur with holding a gathering are protected from retaliation.

Cultural information sharing about various religious holidays in the name of diversity is allowable when it is done in the context of employee education and is inclusive of various religious celebrations such as Ramadan, Hanukkah, Christmas, etc.

I encourage you to contact Maria Batayola, at (206) 263-7380, should you have any questions and/or comments.

cc: Robert S. Derrick, Director, Office of Human Resources Management (OHRM)

Maria Batayola, Manager, Diversity Management Division, OHRM

King County Executive, RON SIMS

:

[harpseal]

As it is I am livid. If someone can wish me a happy Kwanza or Channuka, or Joyous Yuletide I thank them. It is their good wishes to me. Absolutely anyone who is offended by merry Christmas can "Kiss my Royal Irish Ass." In short I do not give a rat's a$$ if you do not celebrate Christmas I do and if you are offended by my celebration of it I suggest you either go pound some sand or try to express your greivance to me.

Stay well - stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown

[MSCASEY]

I don't understand! How come he has American Indian Heritage Month on his web-site? Doen't he understand that not everyone is Indian? That is not being diverse!
MCD

[Benny3740]

yes, this is the liberal, lefty, Seattle "Tax to the Max" Ron Simms

[Neckbone]

Ron Simms licks poodles.

[Ol' Sox]

The text of my letter to Mr. Sims:

Mr. Sims,
I was unfortunate enough to see a copy of your "Holiday Celebrations" memo on the Internet and although I don't often write to public figures, I am making an exception in your case.

Let me quote from Websters:
Diversity n 1: The condition of being different or having differences. 2: An instance or point of being different.

By attempting to stifle our differences rather than including them all, you are misstating your case when you say that you "...want to ensure that any upcoming holiday celebration at the workplace is held in a respectful, inclusive, and sensitive manner that does not favor one religion over another."

In truth, what you have done is to insult us all - Jew, Christian, Muslim and African-American - by presupposing that we are "offended" by our differences. We are Americans and we come from a wide, rich variety of backgrounds. Attempting to deny this by painting over our differences is to deny the true nature of America. In your attempt to avoid victimizing the easily insulted, you victimize us all. You do a disservice to the concept of diversity.

If this is an example of your executive decision making skills, you, sir, do not deserve the honor of serving your community.

Sincerely,
Xxxxxx Xxxx (Ol' Sox)

[history_matters]

Maybe Ron and Maria need lots and lots of e-mail wishing him a Happy Chanukah or a Merry Christmas with images attached like Jesus, Mary and Joseph surrounded by the children of the world (there's diversity for you) -- or maybe the Maccabees killing the enemies of the Jewish people or the Jewish faithful lighting a menorah. Has possibilities methinks

[VoodooEconomist]

"religion-neutral"??? That's Orwellien new-speak for anti-religion. We're on to these d@mn, rotten liberals.

[VoodooEconomist]

"religion-neutral" Is that anything like "non-partisan" (as defined by a leftist)?

[Diva Betsy Ross]

Lets start a Merry Christmas campaign. I refuse to say happy holidays. If anyone sends a seasons greetings or happy holidays my way I will respond Merry Christams. Any other ideas. How about only Merry Christams gift wrapping and cards. Lets see how many others we can get to join us.

[Right_Wing_Mole_In_Seattle]

Ron "Tax to the Max" Simms

Boy, do I miss Pastor Pete!

[hollywood]

Happy Festivus to All (you Seinfeld fans)!!!

[Dutch Boy]

So let me get this straight.... Christmas, the celibration of Jesus's birth should be religion neutral??? So we should expect Ramadan to be a non-religous activity too? Each culture/religion has their own celibration and holidays. That's what makes them unique. When you remove the uniqueness of people you destroy all cultures. Even the ones you are attempting to save.

[VoodooEconomist]

Maria Batayola, Manager, Diversity Management Division, OHRM

Now, that there is your problem. Far too many weak-kneed, spine-less, diversity-crapola folk making policy.

The Diversity Hoax: Law Students Report from Berkeley
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0966994000/

[RnMomof7]

Working around mostly non-Christians I don’t tend to have the TS attitude. But I will not be told not to say "Merry Xmas" to someone who would like to here it on the chance someone within earshot might be offended...

I think you mean hear it..:>)nice to run into you here..

We need to hide the word of God in our heart..the day may be soon when owing a Bible is not permitted as too devisive!

[ThomasMore]

would decorate their homes exactly the way they always did and even moreso!

..how about boycotting all businesses in King County and tell them why? Money talks!

[history_matters]

Here's some diversity for you...

Painting by Greg Olsen.

[Rocky]

Yep, let's not offend anybody. Take everything to the lowest common denominator. You don't like the word "Christmas"? We won't use it. You don't like parties? We won't have one. Decrease freedom until everyone is happy. No irony at all in this, is there?