My boss just sent this to EVERYONE!
Offline Soooo...I work for Intel here in New Mexico. My boss works somewhere on the east coast and just sent this message out to everyone who works for him. Im not sure if I should say anything or just leave it alone. Have a look and let me know what you guys think I should do. It is my boss we are talking about and Im wondering if I should just delete the email and act like I never read it.
This started in 2005, but it is still relevant and worth reading.
When you've got a moment .. this is worth reading ....
The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.
It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu . If people want a crche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away .
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.
Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.
In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.
Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.
She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"
In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.
Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.
Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.
Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.
Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."
Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.
Are you laughing?
Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.
Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.
Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards.
Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein
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http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_ben_stein_christmas.htm
As a matter of fact, I do.
People who think there is something they refer to as god don't ask enough questions.
it's interesting how the add-on segment at then end entirely changes what the original author intended by this message.
however, in regards to your boss i think he's just another one of those e-mail forward people that clog your inbox with on necessary junk. does he do this often? i have to wonder if he really even thought about this or about how his forward list included his employees.
Nah he dont send stuff like this often. Im not even annoyed by it really. More than anything Im wondering if Having a little friendly debate with him about this would cause problems. He did send out the first email so i wonder if an opposing response would piss him off or not. I want to say something but I dont want any trouble for it.
www.garageband.com/artist/abandonmypeace
I would email him anonymously stating that he should "keep his belief in a silly little sky god to himself" that to suggest god was punishing america with Katrina makes his sky god kinda a prick. I would point out that "those terrorist attacks" were done by "men of god" and basically i would rip to shreds christianity. Keep his nit wit beliefs to himself....
There are plenty of other things i would consider saying. Maybe, "if you are a creationist you are a moron" with that picture from family guy attached.
If he agrees with what the email says he already believes he is under attack from atheism and that god is punishing america because we removed god from school. SO NO THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A FRIENDLY DEBATE... because what you will say is "If there is a god, prove it" and he wont be able to... then say well then its illogical to believe it... then he gets mad... there is no way to argue with a nut case without them being sensitive... they are silly little creatures
Maybe something like this:
Dear Mr. Boss Man.
I am writing this anonymously because I fear the repercussions of writing my sincere objections to this article and signing my name. I think the piece is absolutely ridiculous, and it illustrates just how horrible this god you apparently believe in actually is.
Consider, Mr Boss Man, that if I were to sign my name to this email, it is possible that there would be unintended consequences for me, including negative evaluations, lack of promotion, or other tangible punishments for not agreeing with your email.
Consider further, Mr. Boss Man, that by sending out this email, you have put me in the position of having to listen silently to your religious view. You have used your position of power as Mr. Boss Man to preach your religion.
Consider that in sexual harrassment cases, it is deemed inappropriate to use a position of power to force someone into a situation in which they are uncomfortable.
You have used your power to put me in a religiously uncomfortable situation. Ask yourself whether you are willing to go down a road that could lead to a religious harrassment lawsuit. You have already started down that road. I would encourage you to stop.
Atheism isn't a lot like religion at all. Unless by "religion" you mean "not religion". --Ciarin
http://hambydammit.wordpress.com/
Books about atheism
Yeah your right. I guess I probably couldnt debate it in a friendly way. Would hate to possibly put my job in danger over it. I was just really surprised to see it. Maybe Ill just send out a mass email on satan worship so we can all read about other sides of the issue.
www.garageband.com/artist/abandonmypeace
Do what I do with communiques from my boss: ignore it.
Would that not be considered a hostile/oppressive work environment lawsuit?
(as apposed to sexual harassment)
Then again, it could be just a harassment suit as well... if it has been repeated in the past
What Would Kharn Do?
I think Hambydammit has the best solution so far, although I would throw in some actual debate points as well.
Reply with an attachment of pr0n.
I would reply that "I dont understand what the forwarded Ben Stein mail has to do with manufacturing, distributing, selling or marketing our computer chips. Did I miss the memo that allowed the employees of this company to use the company resources and employee time to send each other personal messages? cc:Insert your boss's supervisor name here"
Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful. - Seneca
The corporate world is filled with opportunities for professional suicide. A threat to sue if you get similar emails again is certainly one of them, as it may well get you pinned as overly confrontational and litigous and whilst that probably won't go down on your record, your boss will remember it and will have trouble trusting you in future.
Instead, approach him informally in a social environment and ask what that was all about. It may be that he intended to send it to a different group of people and simply addressed the mail incorrectly - Outlook is a fucker for that kind of thing. If that was the case, fine and dandy, no problem. If he did intend to send it to you, say that you'd appreciate it if he didn't include you on things like that in future. If he asks why, tell him the truth about your religious standpoint and go from there. If he reacts badly to the fact that you are an atheist (assuming you are given the fact that you posted this) say that it doesn't impact your performance in any way and that it shouldn't matter what your religious position is - Intel are a global company with an extremely diverse set of employees.
If anything, he's likely to respect you for being honest with him and for voicing your opinion - whilst some may slip through the cracks, you don't get to be a manager with a company like Intel by being an idiot.
If it becomes apparent that he's mistreating you or passing you over because of your being an atheist, or is targeting you for conversion and is genuinley harrassing you, then take it to his superior. Only get legal if you have to.
Stop that... It's silly.
If you want to be anonymous, you can make a new free email address, and use that to email him.