A shocking development

[RetroEclipseMan]

Originally posted by deathstalker

First off, AWESOME KEYCHAIN!!!

Anyway, I could take your argument and logically conclude that we should not celebrate the life of Martin Luther King Jr. because he was a minister. Do you think that we should not have a holiday simply because he was a man of God?

I'm not sure if you were just bringing up a point or what not and I am not flaming you but if you say that we shouldn't celebrate MLK Day because he is was a minister(btw, already been said why we actually celebrate that day) then technically the government shoudln't recognize Christmas as a national holiday then. Now I personally could care less about the whole issue. It's not like anyone is forcing me to buy those stamps or anything.

[scarpa43]

Very true. But because it is funded with Tax Dollars and controlled wholly by the Government, it is a Church and State issue.

I am prety sure this is not true, as I remember the USPS gets 100% of its money through the sale if stamps. No tax dollars go to them.

Also, the separation of church and state does not really exist. The phrase "In God We Trust" is everywhere, most notably on currency.

In addition the that, Christmas is a huge thing in the government. Every year they make a big deal of putting up a tree in the White House, that is a symbol of a religious holiday.

[shartley]

Originally posted by RetroEclipseMan


I'm not sure if you were just bringing up a point or what not and I am not flaming you but if you say that we shouldn't celebrate MLK Day because he is was a minister(btw, already been said why we actually celebrate that day) then technically the government shoudln't recognize Christmas as a national holiday then. Now I personally could care less about the whole issue. It's not like anyone is forcing me to buy those stamps or anything.

[shartley]

Originally posted by scarpa43
I am prety sure this is not true, as I remember the USPS gets 100% of its money through the sale if stamps. No tax dollars go to them.

Also, the separation of church and state does not really exist. The phrase "In God We Trust" is everywhere, most notably on currency.

In addition the that, Christmas is a huge thing in the government. Every year they make a big deal of putting up a tree in the White House, that is a symbol of a religious holiday.

[RetroEclipseMan]

Originally posted by shartley

Very true. I was going to add that in but totally forgot.

[hitech]

Actually, a Christmas Tree is NOT a religious symbol. That tradition was started by those who were not Christian ("pagans") and wanted something in "protest" of Christianity. Interesting, isn't it?

[Jack_Dubious]

Wait a min...did anyone check to see even if it is a true story? I mean is the USPS really trying to create that stamp?


*EDIT Ok i just checked....they did issue that stamp.

JDub

[shartley]

Originally posted by hitech
Actually, a Christmas Tree is NOT a religious symbol. That tradition was started by those who were not Christian ("pagans") and wanted something in "protest" of Christianity. Interesting, isn't it?

[Hexis]

From: USPS History Web Page
...we are an "independent establishment of the executive branch" wholly owned by the U.S. government and its citizens.

Pretty clear to me that they are a Gov entity. I still think they should be able to issue stamps for anything (within reason). Since no 1 stamp is forced on a USPS customer, there is no reason (in my mind) to use the seperation of church and state argument to limit stamp types.

[hitech]

Originally posted by shartley
Actually Christmas is non-secular as we know it today. I think that the vast majority of people have no idea what Christmas is really about (the reason it is on the day it is, the various symbols we now use and where they actually come from, etc.) and would be very surprised to find out that Christianity actually plays a very small part in the "holiday" now days? and none as it pertains to Church and State.

I agree! I think many people would be quite surprised to find out where some of the various traditions came from. I would assume that most people know what the day is and why we give presents (but maybe not, I was raised Catholic). I'd bet that's are far as it goes. I am not "Christian" but don't have a problem with this country celebrating Christmas. As a matter of fact, I refuse to call it our annual "Holiday" Party. It is our "Christmas" party. I wish people Merry Christmas, and it doesn't matter if they are Jewish, Muslim, etc. I'm certainly not offended when someone wishes me a happy Hanukah.

[shartley]

Originally posted by Hexis
Pretty clear to me that they are a Gov entity. I still think they should be able to issue stamps for anything (within reason). Since no 1 stamp is forced on a USPS customer, there is no reason (in my mind) to use the seperation of church and state argument to limit stamp types.

Well, that about settles the Church and State issue.

Also, I think folks may want to check out their Annual Report page.

Originally posted by hitech


I agree! I think many people would be quite surprised to find out where some of the various traditions came from. I would assume that most people know what the day is and why we give presents (but maybe not, I was raised Catholic). I'd bet that's are far as it goes. I am not "Christian" but don't have a problem with this country celebrating Christmas. As a matter of fact, I refuse to call it our annual "Holiday" Party. It is our "Christmas" party. I wish people Merry Christmas, and it doesn't matter if they are Jewish, Muslim, etc. I'm certainly not offended when someone wishes me a happy Hanukah.

[cphilip]

I don't even think Christmas is celebrated on what is believed and accepted to be the actual date of the birth of Jesus. But still I can see the argument of it all. And I also will note that just becuase terrorists use the Muslim religeon as an excuse we should not blame all of them for the actions of a few. In fact when those actions are totaly contrary to the teahings of that faith its an abomination of it. Nor can I blame all Christains for the Crusades...

I think they will do anything for revenue though. And selling stamps is one of the biggies. And they have done so on any subject that they can. It's kind of a unique Art form and collected. But that doesn't realy make it right though. But in the whole scheme of things in the world it realy doesn't bother me too much. I am not offended by any of it so far.

[cphilip]

...dam...I need to check my spelling a little better!

[nippinout]

shartley, the USPS is not funded through tax dollars.

It is self-sufficient.

The Postal Inspectors is like the USPS's version of the FBI, also self-sufficient, but part of USPS.

Their website is even a .com not a .gov site.

Taken from the site:

Three of the Postal Service's six product lines would qualify as Fortune 500 companies:

Correspondence & transactions
a $35.9 billion business
Business advertising
a $15.7 billion business
Expedited delivery
a $5.9 billion business
Publications delivery
a $2.2 billion business
Standard package delivery
a $1.99 billion business
International mail
a $1.7 billion business


That's a lot of chedda!

[shartley]

Originally posted by nippinout
That's a lot of chedda!

http://www.usps.com/history/anrpt02/