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Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB
OK, OK, I didn't mean for this to get into an argument about Mardi Gras being offensive. My point was that actually most people don't find partying on Mardi Gras offensive, even Catholics. But along those lines, I have to ask whether people celebrating Mardi Gras appreciate what the celebration is for...and if so, do they even observe Lent? I get tired of people celebrating holidays that have nothing to do with them, or holidays that even completely contradict their beliefs. Christmas is the worst in this regard. I can't stand it when people say that Christmas is about Santa Claus, being nice, world peace, etc. Sure, those things are commonly associated with Christmas, but the fact is that Christmas is a Christian holiday and nothing else; if you're not Christian, you shouldn't be celebrating it. Really, Mardi Gras, though not a holiday itself, was established with Christians in mind. But nowadays most people don't even think - or don't know - what it's about.
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Who's having an argument? This was just a bit of a fun tangent. Here's the difference IMO. First, as you state, Mardi Gras is not a "holiday" and the observance of Lent is rather irrelevant to that for non-Catholic/Christians.
As for Christmas, I again see a difference since even those who aren't celebrating Jesus' birth are celebrating a rather joyful season with a joyful spirit. Not everyone certainly, but many.
However the point here is that somehow, American Indians shouldn't be upset that people dress up like them and get loaded because Catholics/Irish/Mexicans don't get upset about Mardi Gras/St. Patrick's Day/Cinco de Mayo. There's a big difference here. The latter are events that are intended for celebration (even St. Patrick's day), the first is dressing up in an attempt to "imitate" another culture. The equivalent here would be dressing up as a pregnant nun/ pedophile priest combo. I hate that and I get offended by it. VAST difference.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SWTXBelle
Drole, the Anglican tradition came from the Roman Catholic, true, but just because the Roman Catholics have changed ( some, at least - I know Roman Catholics who still celebrate the two religious observances) while we haven't, our beliefs aren't negated, are they? I think the point is that any group, not just the "first", that finds their religous or cultural practices being used for amusement may be offended.
What Peppy said.
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Hey, I even looked again, checked the Catholic Encyclopedia and since before the Reformation the Church thought Carnival had gotten out of control but no mention of a specific service as there may be for the Anglicans. Doesn't mean that some parishes don't have a tradition of doing something though. And I do know where the Anglican Church comes from.
Did you see the "silly" comment? You're taking this too seriously, possibly in an attempt to justify its legitimacy as a "come-back" to the American Indian's complaints in ND, possibly because you don't get that I'm not really saying that only X group gets to be offended because of X thing.
I will maintain there's a difference between someone else "co-opting" your day and someone mocking who you are.