Tuesday, June 8, 2010

I Do NOT Understand

Cranky Old Woman time...On a forum that I frequent, I related a recent incident. I ate at Chicken Express a couple/three weeks back (and loved every grease laden morsel). I started visiting with another diner, and she mentioned the receipt. I looked. There was a Bible verse printed at the bottom. I thought Bravo for the owner! He came around and asked about our meal. It was good, and I told him that we both appreciated the Bible verse. He said that a week before he did the same thing...visited with the diners and asked if everything was okay. A woman said No. That she was offended by the Bible verse on the bottom of the receipt and would not be back. He paid for her meal...gave her $10 for a $7 meal.

Another poster on the forum said that she would've been offended too.


WHAT?! I buy gasoline from people who do not believe as I do. I stay in motels that are owned by people of different beliefs. I purchase clothes and various other items from people who worship differently from me...or don't worship at all. I would never dream of telling them that I was insulted by a religious icon or quote from one of their religious leaders in THEIR store. Nor would I say anything about displaying a flag from their native country. I would be more apt to ask, "Oh, where are you from?"


But if a cross is displayed. Or a Bible is on the counter. Or I say "God bless you." Or an American flag is flying. THIS IS INSULTING?!

When did EVERYTHING become acceptable except for Christianity or country pride in the United States of America?! EVERYTHING else can be jammed down our throats, but if we have a Bible verse printed on the bottom of a receipt in OUR store that is not acceptable?!

Where do we live?

In America where soldiers have died for our freedoms...

...or in some middle eastern country where people are killed because they do not believe in the 'state' religion?

9 comments:

Pat said...

I agree with you wholeheartedly.

marie said...

I agree also!

Lady Beekeeper said...

I love Chicken Express!

Oh, and as a Pagan, nothing irritates me more than people trashing the Christians. Get over themselves. I guarantee you as a woman, I am much happier and have far more freedoms with a Christian religion than most others. They gave up burning us at the stake centuries ago and are much more likely to be kind to us than wave a crucifix at me. And as far as I am concerned, if someone has a true belief, no matter what it is, a verse at the botton on a receipt is not going to derail that belief. Moreover, even if you aren't Christian, the verse probably said something worth reading.

And for those folks who are just anti religion, in general, I have this to say - some people don't need religion to be decent people. But the older I get, the more I appreciate that a religious tradition that calls on its followers to examine their conscience and try to do the right thing is good for all of us.

Hrmph!

JodyC said...

You Go Sherry!!! Well said, keep spreading the word.

Rita said...

My thoughts are: Are we just going to fight and argue for the sake of fighting and arguing? It is as if brains have left with irritation taking its place. We could all live peacefully if we wanted to. We could all care for and help each other if we wanted to! If...we wanted to.....

Sherry said...

Rita, EXACTLY! We should be free to worship God the way we worship him...or NOT if we do not believe in God...or a creator...or a supreme being. ...Without comment or negative actions or derision from someone else...

Has the skin on Americans become so thin that we can't accept someone else's beliefs without commenting on it?

Generally when I decide not to spend my money at a business...it is because of the actions of the owner or manager...sometimes the way that their employees are treated...not his/her faith, ideology, color of their skin, etc.

Darlene's Quilts and Stuff said...

Why can't people keep their opinions to themselves. That woman who complained was very small minded. She could have stayed away from the restaurant without insulting that man for his Bible verse. Live and let live is my motto.

elsie123 said...

Good post, Sherry. I agree with you.

Kathy Raker said...

Sherry,
AMEN!