Outside my window

[izzarina]

Does anybody have any idea how this blew out into an objection to likenesses in general?

Hmmm....I tend to think it's a perversion of the actual meaning of the commandment to a certain extent. In other words, taking the meaning too far, and applying it to things that were never intended. Obviously, having a picture of a loved one hanging upon your wall does not constitute idolatry. Nor does taking a picture of a person. Or perhaps it has to do with vanity on their part (something the Amish try to avoid if at all possible...which is why they wear darker colors, don't use buttons, and have rules about even the width of the brim of the mens' hats, just as a few examples).

[Wombat]

Does anybody have any idea how this blew out into an objection to likenesses in general?

Hmmm....I tend to think it's a perversion of the actual meaning of the commandment to a certain extent. In other words, taking the meaning too far, and applying it to things that were never intended. Obviously, having a picture of a loved one hanging upon your wall does not constitute idolatry. Nor does taking a picture of a person. Or perhaps it has to do with vanity on their part (something the Amish try to avoid if at all possible...which is why they wear darker colors, don't use buttons, and have rules about even the width of the brim of the mens' hats, just as a few examples).

Hmmm. I missed your photo. Was the horse really good looking? Did it have a big hat?

[jsluder]

Hmmm. I missed your photo. Was the horse really good looking? Did it have a big hat?

Only if "hat" is a euphemism.

[izzarina]

Hmmm. I missed your photo. Was the horse really good looking? Did it have a big hat?

Well...I suppose good looking has to do with the person beholding. I didn't particularly think it was too good looking, but I'm sure the man driving the buggy could have, or you might even be partial to said horse, Wombly. The horse's outward appearances could be a factor here, indeed. But he wasn't wearing a hat. Sorry.

[Father Emmet]

It only took one complaint to cause the city of Walnut Creek (where I work) to abandon the use of the term "Easter Bunny" and change it to "Spring Bunny" and "Spring Egg Hunt." Yes, it's a silly bit of historically inaccurate nomenclature to begin with, but I do resent over-reactions like that.

I would hope that whoever made that decision (and after only one complaint!) finds themselves unemployed after the next election.

[crookedtune]

It only took one complaint to cause the city of Walnut Creek (where I work) to abandon the use of the term "Easter Bunny" and change it to "Spring Bunny" and "Spring Egg Hunt." Yes, it's a silly bit of historically inaccurate nomenclature to begin with, but I do resent over-reactions like that.

I would hope that whoever made that decision (and after only one complaint!) finds themselves unemployed after the next election.

To me, 'bunny' is something like 'boy'. Honestly, I'd be a lot more comfortable with 'Spring Oryctolagus Cuniculus', but the animal rights groups I know don't have that kind of clout.

[Joseph E. Smith]

People, I'm dying here...

Maybe it's those blasted pipes you've been playing. Or maybe it's because you need a vacation. Or maybe it's because you just need some chocolate...that's usually what my problem is

But if it's my avatar, you're out of luck. I'm not changing it

No, it could never be the pipes, I refuse to admit that.

We all could use a good vacation.

No, the Audrey avatar is the tops!

Must be the lack of chocolate!

[Joseph E. Smith]

People, I'm dying here...

Maybe it's those blasted pipes you've been playing. Or maybe it's because you need a vacation. Or maybe it's because you just need some chocolate...that's usually what my problem is

But if it's my avatar, you're out of luck. I'm not changing it

No, it could never be the pipes, I refuse to admit that.

We all could use a good vacation.

No, the Audrey avatar is the tops!

Must be the lack of chocolate!

[Father Emmet]

To me, 'bunny' is something like 'boy'. Honestly, I'd be a lot more comfortable with 'Spring Oryctolagus Cuniculus', but the animal rights groups I know don't have that kind of clout.

Oh, I see. So it's alright to use the term "bunny" amongst yourselves, but God forbid someone outside the Oryctolagus family uses it, then you make a big stink over it.
Well I've had it up to here with all of this PC nonsense!

[WhistlingArmadillo]

Death be not proud...

But it may be uncomfortable.

[The Weekenders]

What's even a bit more interesting is that Walnut Creek made the change five years ago. Somebody in the media finally noticed and it hit the right-wing rage-fest shows.

They were discussing it on the radio a few weeks ago and several callers phoned in that their children's high schools had re-named the Valentine's Day dance the "Cupid Dance" and the St. Patricks Day Parade became the "Shamrock Parade." True story. This is all here in Calaforny. All to avoid those religious references.

America, where we cater to the few and offend the many....sometimes.

[jim stone]

This sort of thing is widespread--the public-official world must
be religion-free, people think, which comes down
to Christianity-free.

It's very hard to stop, especially in liberal enclaves.

The American Center for Law and Justice has made
an industry of litigation concerning this sort of thing, e.g.
Multicultural Day in schools where Christianity cannot
be represented but Islam, whatever can. ACLJ
is probably the chief organization defending
the right to religious expression.

A lot of people think that Supreme Court rulings
forbid words like 'Easter' and 'Christmas' in
publically funded events. They think you can't
have a student Bible Study class meet on
school property, and so on.

I think one of the saddest such cases was of a school
teacher who kept a Bible on her desk, never said anything
about it. She was disciplined, she fought, and she lost
and lost on appeal as well.

[gonzo914]

Whoa -- this is drifting a long way from the original topic -- photos of the Amish.

Let's see if we can't get it back on track with --

Amish Girls Gone Wild

[talasiga]

That is one of the better photos I have seen hereabouts and I include rubbish (contrast) and window casing in my purvey.

......

I should be the most offended one here!

You posted a photo in the topic starter.
The topic had no responses and was dropping to the bottom fast.
I salvaged its fall.
I said the above about the photo.
It was, for me, one of the better photos.
I liked the horse, the buggy, the crisp wintery vegetation
(leafless, nakedly awaiting the spring),
the contrasts of olden beauty with modern garbage
of horizontal direction (of the horse and buggy)
and the vertical direction of the trees,
the wooden casing a metaphor
for restricted observation.
I liked the care you took (you and your son)
to avoid photoing the person.

I like it that you have such views from your house
and I like it that you like it.

I do not like it that I find myself agreeing with the likes
of the Weekenders, Tyler Morris, gonzo914 and others in this topic.
They have spoken well and I like what they say.
It offends me to admit it.

That photo had soul.
Why hide it under a bushel?

[anniemcu]

Religion belongs in the hearts of folks, in their churches, not on the walls of public buildings, nor in community events that are for the public. There is no one religion among the public, and there is no official religion that must be put forth (yet). All religious reference that has to do with publicly funded or government funded institutions is contrary to the very tenets of freedom of religion that this nation was founded upon - the freedom to choose for one'e self, not have anyone force or pressure it upon you.