The Season Of Being Offended

[From article]
This is the time of year when news of people being offended by Christian symbols reaches a high point. Progressives view complaints about a “war on Christmas” as manufactured. Barack Obama commented on this in 2006:
This notion that's peddled by the religious right -- that they are oppressed -- is not true. Sometimes it's a cynical ploy to move their agenda ahead. The classic example being that somehow secularists are trying to eliminate Christmas, which strikes me as some kind of manufactured controversy.
[. . .]

 

Professor James Hitchcock has written, “Far from being neutral, the American government is now in the position of favoring unbelief over belief and irreligion over religion.” When there is media attention to their efforts and a strong reaction they tend to deny that they were establishing a new policy.
[. . .]
The chief of staff of Walter Reed National Medical Center banned family members from bringing Bibles to the facility. Col. Chuck Callahan’s memo stated, “No religious items (i.e., Bibles, reading materials and/or artifacts) are allowed to be given away or used during a visit.” After the memo became public the hospital released a statement saying that it was worded “improperly” and, “We apologize for any confusion the policy may have caused.”
[. . .]



The Department of Veterans Affairs director of the Houston National Cemetery, Arleen Ocasio, banned saying God or Jesus at funerals. VA Press Secretary Josh Taylor responded, “The idea that invoking the name of God or Jesus is banned at VA national cemeteries is blatantly false.” However, this policy was observed by several witnesses, including Congressman John Culberson.
[. . .]
The national Christmas holiday is gradually being replaced by a “Winter Celebration.” However, this may be too much of a reminder of the Christian holiday. Although it is not in the United States, Winnipeg, Canada, may give us a glimpse of the future. They have replaced their annual Winter Concert with an evening of African drumming.

http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2015/12/tis_the_season_to_be_offended_.html

December 23, 2015
Tis the Season to be Offended
By John Dietrich

Upskirt Photography of Teenagers In Oregon Is Not Illegal

[From article]
But his defense lawyer, Mark Lawrence, argued Buono didn't violate the laws against invasion of privacy and attempted encouraging child sexual abuse, a child pornography count.
The privacy law bans clandestine photography in bathrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms and tanning booths, but the Target aisle was plainly public, Lawrence said.
Upskirt sightings can occur by happenstance, he said, citing a famous photo of Marilyn Monroe with her dress flying up. And that could happen to someone riding up an escalator, taking a spill or exiting a car, he said.
"These things are not only seen but video-recorded," Lawrence said. "It's incumbent on us as citizens to cover up whatever we don't want filmed in public places."
The privacy law also specifies nudity, and the girl was wearing underwear, Lawrence said.
[. . .]
The judge called his decision to acquit Buono "upsetting to say the least."

http://www.timesunion.com/news/us/article/Oregon-judge-Upskirt-photos-of-teen-at-store-not-6066832.php

Oregon judge: Upskirt photos of teen at store not illegal
Updated 2:59 pm, Saturday, February 7, 2015

More Details About Use of Indian Names For Pro Teams

[From article]
Amanda Blackhorse, a Navajo who successfully moved a federal agency to withdraw trademark protections from the Washington Redskins because it considers the team's name derogatory, lives on a reservation where Navajos root for the Red Mesa High School Redskins. She opposes this name; the Native Americans who picked and retain it evidently do not.
[. . .]
In today's regulatory state, agencies often do pretty much as they please, exercising discretion unconstrained by law.
In today's regulatory state, agencies often do pretty much as they please, exercising discretion unconstrained by law.
[. . .]
Thomas Sowell is correct that "some people are in the business of being offended, just as Campbell is in the business of making soup,"
[. . .]
People offended by this might be similarly distressed if they knew that "Oklahoma" is a compound of two Choctaw words meaning "red" and "people."
[. . .]
When two Oregon bakers chose, for religious reasons, not to provide a cake for a same-sex wedding, an Oregon government official explained why tolerance meant coercing the bakers: "The goal is to rehabilitate." Tolerance required declaring the bakers' beliefs and practices intolerable. We are going to discover whether a society can be congenial while its government is being coercive regarding wedding cakes and team names.

http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/will062814.php3#.U7IqGd0--yM

Jewish World Review
June 28, 2014

Are you offended?
By George Will

Newspaper's Job is to Offend

http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/if-a-newspaper-offends-no-one--it-s-not-worth-printing-89350552.html

Mar. 28, 2010
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal
THOMAS MITCHELL:
If a newspaper offends no one, it's not worth printing