So, as I was getting ready for work this morning, the following story aired on 6ABC's Action News:

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=8466544

In a nutshell, The Freedom From Religion Foundation is in an uproar because the Knights of Columbus have paid for and hung a banner stating "Keep Christ in Christmas" on a street in Pitman, NJ. Their beef is that it violates the constitution because it is on public property.

Now, I'm all for everyone having their say and opinions but the holiday is Christmas. Broken down: CHRIST'S MASS, a celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Holiday itself is religious. It is a shortened version of HOLY DAYS.

This group doesn't want public space used for religious connotations. Ok. But think about all the things/holidays I'm sure they celebrate or participate in that are indeed HOLY DAYS/religious events. Let's start with Christmas. This HOLY DAY is a religious birthday party for Jesus, so why not stay home on Black Friday instead of venturing out to the stores to spend obscene amounts of money on stuff that will still be on sale through the end of the season to give as Christmas presents. Why not ask radio stations not to play Christmas songs or TV stations to not show Christmas movies and specials. Sure, groups like The Freedom From Religion Foundation can argue that these things don't promote religion even though they are public. But I beg to differ. The gift giving concept stems from Santa Claus (I'm sure the Foundation would be ok with the Jolly Fat Man), but Santa Claus himself is based on Saint Nicholas, a CHRISTIAN saint. Then of course there are the sappy, sentimental songs with Christmas themes gracing the radio airwaves, but there are just as many religious songs being played (Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Go Tell It On The Mountain, Ave Maria, just to name a few). And let's not forget the direct scripture quote from A Charlie Brown Christmas where Linus explains the TRUE meaning of Christmas (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKk9rv2hUfA). This cartoon is the ULTIMATE go to Christmas program and is played every year without fail (coming on again tomorrow night Thurs 12.15.11 on ABC @ 8pm). I completely agree with the message in this program that we have turned what should be a religious celebration into a massive commercial greed fest.

So if the Foundation's beef with this holiday is the religious meaning behind it, then I suggest they stop enjoying all the festivities (going to parties, exchanging gifts, going to tree lighting ceremonies, stay out of the stores). CHRISTMAS is a religious holiday. We, CHRISTians, are not asking you to participate, but you are welcome to join us. We're not shoving it down your throat, we're using our RIGHT to celebrate and participate in a religious event honoring our Savior, utilizing a HOLY DAY to wish Jesus a Happy Birthday. We don't ask our Jewish Brothers and Sisters to not display Menorahs. We don't ask our Brothers and Sisters of African descent to not wear traditional dress and celebrate Kwanza. Why is it wrong for CHRISTians to put up Nativity scenes depicting the reason this HOLY DAY exists? Why have we become a culture so bent on being overly PC so as not to offend someone to the point of needing to hide our religious decorations behind a sea of north pole/Santa/penguin ones?

One of the founding principals of this nation is the FREEDOM OF RELIGION. If you are not a religious person or don't believe in a higher power, that is fine. We're not going to boot you out because of it. So why do groups like the Foundation feel they need to stomp all over MY rights to celebrate my religion just because they don't? If CHRIST being included in the celebration of Christmas is so vexing to them, then they should push to change the name to something like, "Spent a boatload of money on toys that will only be played with for about a week" Day. Or how about, "Sending my electric bill to the stratosphere with my insane light and music display when the economy is struggling and I'm being laid off" Day.

And if we are banning religion based holidays, let's not stop at Christmas. We'd have to get rid of Easter too (the HOLY DAY to celebrate Christ's triumphant rise from the dead). No more Peeps in a rainbow of colors, no more chocolate bunnies and vacuuming green plastic grass from the carpet for weeks.

Oh, and then there's Thanksgiving (a HOLY DAY to give thanks to your God/Higher Power for the blessings in your life). Tryptophan addicts won't get any turkey fixes and the Dallas Cowboys will just be playing another Thursday game.

Of course we'd have to do away with St. Patrick's and St. Valentine's days too. No more green beer and red boxes of chocolates.

Let's not forget other nationally celebrated HOLY DAYS that are not Christian based. No more Dreidels for Chanukah. No more charitable giving during Eid Al-Fitr. No more of any celebrating of a HOLY DAY for whatever religion you subscribe to. This just sounds like a sad state of affairs to me.

I understand there are people who don't subscribe to any particular religion and don't want Bible Thumpers telling them they're going to Hell because they don't believe. And yes, you can argue that religion and it's practices are man made and therefore you shouldn't be villain-ized for not participating. You don't have to participate in our celebrations. You can go to work on the days you would have had off for holidays. You can stay home and eat microwaved meals instead of going to a relative's or restaurant for a holiday meal. You can put your hard earned money to use by paying bills or saving it instead of camping out in front of a store in the freezing cold on Black Friday so you can get that phone or TV that is a MUST HAVE but will have a new version out in a couple of months.

I, a Christian, am not asking you to participate in my observance of a HOLY DAY like CHRISTMAS Freedom From Religion Foundation, but please don't try to strip me of MY RIGHT to celebrate. So, KUDOS to the Knights of Columbus (a religious layman's group) for utilizing your right to celebrate a HOLY DAY and remind everyone there would be no Christmas without CHRIST.

Ok, I'm stepping down from my pulpit/soap box now. Enjoy the day and the HOLY DAYS! Merry Christmas.

Peace,
Carmen

WHEW!!!! 60 miles over 3 days was NO JOKE, but I did it and it was both tiring and exhilarating. My blisters were proudly earned for my Momma Angel Riley (survivor) and my Heavenly Angel Barbara. And we all walked to get one step closer to ending Breast Cancer forever.

The 1st day was the hardest (especially those 2 HUGE hills near the end). Being a 1st time walker in the Susan G Komen 3Day for a Cure walk, I didn't know what to expect other than sore legs and blistered feet... LOL!!! But right out of the gate, there was so much support from the event staff and residents of the areas we walked through, it was hard to feel down or tired.



After leaving the Willow Grove Park Mall we found tons of people out to greet us and cheer us on as we walked through the surrounding neighborhoods. The most AAAAAWWWWWW worthy were the little pre-school kids with their signs and ENTHUSIASTIC cheering. They may not have understood why all these people in pink were walking past their schools but they were more than happy to cheer us on and load us up with candy.



I think all the walkers got a kick out of all the little ones supporting us, but we were even more taken aback by the families who decorated their homes and lawns in support of the walk. And they were out to cheer too. Even though it was the butt crack of dawn... Entire neighborhoods came out... It was AWESOME!!!



My friend Anita came out to the Chestnut Hill cheering station and it was soooooooooo good to see her. Thanks again for the support Anita.



We ended the day at the Plateau at Fairmount Park. The Philadelphia skyline in site and the buses ready to load us up and take us to "camp" at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in downtown Philly. I don't think there have ever been more people so happy to ride school buses in their lives...LOL!!!



"Camp" was quite an experience. Special shout outs to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America for helping those of us who'd never slept in a sleeping bag let alone set up a camp site get our tents set up. Shout out to my tent-mate Jackie. Have you recovered yet!?!?!





Day 2 was just as exciting as day one, but mostly everyone was moving at bit of a slower pace...LOL!!! I know I was. But again, tons of people were out to support us and they seemed to be spaced at just the right spots where walkers may be feeling tired, but their cheers and greetings gave us just the boost of energy we needed to keep moving.

Also, other walkers did their part to keep things moving along. Shout out to Kathy (and her sister Nancy) who walked through Manyunk with me (good thing we got the downside of the Manyunk hill, LOL!!). I met so many people, fellow walkers, from all over the country. Some were 1st time walkers like me, others had done the walk before in Philly and other places across the country. But all were united in our goal... PLEASE LORD LET ME MAKE IT TO THE NEXT PIT STOP!! LOL!!!

Day 3 was a short day, but everyone was both excited and worn out. The event staff met us at the starting point with cheering and motorcycle revving and "HIGH-5', WOO's and HOORAY's!!!















...and yes it is hard trying to walk, laugh and take pictures at the same time...

The final days walk took us through Center City proper. This included City Hall and the Love Park area...


(...and even the Occupy Philly protesters came out of their tents to cheer us on)...

...University City...







...The Avenue of the Arts...







...and no visit to Philly would be complete without a stroll through South Philly and a stop at Pat's & Geno's...







...the sea of pink in line at both joints was amazing...

Things wrapped up at the Navy Yard and even though we were all tired and aching, the "Victory Line" got us all pumped up again and we felt like we could walk another 10 miles. Ok, maybe not 10 miles, but at least the short distance to the tent to get our t-shirts...LOL!!! Big shout out to Mommy, Nikki, Drew, Devin, Chloe, Arianna and Leylah for being there with tons of hugs and pink roses for me... But the party didn't stop there. After the big march into the closing ceremony, we kept dancing and celebrating... Celebrating the lives of those who have survived, celebrating the struggle and loss of those who did not... Celebrating the accomplishment of all the walkers that weekend. One I know I won't soon forget.







Thanks to the Susan G Komen organization and staff for such a remarkable weekend and I look forward to doing my part again next year to help stamp out Breast Cancer. And a special thanks to all my family and friends who supported me with their donations, thoughts and prayers. Gonna do it up BIG in 2012, so get ready to do it all again...

Peace,
Carmen
www.the3day.org/goto/Carmen.McGilberry

Harold & Kumar... Nuff said...

Finally, the hellatus is over... Supernatural Season 7 kicks off 2nite... WOOOHOOO!!!

Peace,
Carm

http://youtu.be/l99SmsJo454

Check out Christian Kane's latest video, LET ME GO on CMT.com!!!

WOOOOHHOOOOOO!!!!

Peace,
Carm

CAN'T WAIT TIL 9PM!!!!



Peace,
cmac1nj

Hi Everybody,

I'm participating in the Susan G Komen 3-Day for a Cure walk in the Philly area in October...

Please support me in this effort to wipe out Breast Cancer. Donations can be made at www.the3day.org. Click on "Donate to a Participant" then enter Carmen McGilberry in the name boxes...

I'll be hosting a couple of auctions/fundraisers later in the year, so stay tuned for more info...

Every little bit helps.

And if you'd like, register to participate in a walk yourself... Go to www.the3day.org for locations and dates.

Thanks in advance.

Peace,
Carmen (cmac1nj)

Everybody got their Kleenex ready for this weekend?!?!?!?



Peace,
cmac1nj