Long Life and Happiness (Was: Re: Advent calendars)

[Goddlefrood]

> Susan:
> ... which I, and other founding fathers like Benjamin Franklin, 
> believe is a direct assault on our traditions of separation of 
> church and state, religious freedom and religious tolerance.

Goddlefrood:

I'm just wondering exactly how old you are and if you could share 
the secret to such longevity as yours.

I do agree that the encroachment of church onto state is not 
something that should be encouraged, the power of the church 
in that regard having been all but eliminated long since in 
much of the Western world.

Here's how the UN greets people at this time of the year:

"Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, 
my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially 
responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral 
celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced 
within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious 
persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your 
choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion 
and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice 
religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a 
fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically 
uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally 
accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect 
for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose 
contributions to society have helped make this world 
great. Also, this wish is made without regard to the 
race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious 
faith or sexual preference of the wishee."

Goddlefrood