Been thinkin about this most if the day yesterday...
There is a small family run store five minutes up the road from me. The family is from India, are now US Citizens, and they are Hindu. This is the only convience store I will stop at because they are super nice and friendly, give all the kids that come in those little Dum-Dum suckers, they volunteer in the community, and keep a handgun under the counter lol. They are genuinely glad to see/talk to their regulars.
We have never spoken about religion prior to yesterday. I stopped in for my weekly tank of gas, and as I was leaving she tells me 'Merry Christmas'. I have never said that to her or him, because, well, I was pretty sure they are not Christian and some otherwise decent people get bent out of shape over things like that.
So, obviously, it caught me flat footed a little and I echoed the sentiment back to her. Then I asked her if she was Christian, and she got a big smile across her face like she was reading my mind.
Her response: 'No, we aren't. We're Hindu but that does not give me any right to tell you how to practice your religion.'
A few moments later in the conversation, she tells me 'Just because I'm not a Christian doesn't mean I can't wish you happiness during your celebration. People really need to get a grip on what it is to actually give a $h!t about someone other than themselves.'
For my part, I'm glad this family came to the states and, more so, they settled in my area. I wish them nothing but happiness and success.
There is a small family run store five minutes up the road from me. The family is from India, are now US Citizens, and they are Hindu. This is the only convience store I will stop at because they are super nice and friendly, give all the kids that come in those little Dum-Dum suckers, they volunteer in the community, and keep a handgun under the counter lol. They are genuinely glad to see/talk to their regulars.
We have never spoken about religion prior to yesterday. I stopped in for my weekly tank of gas, and as I was leaving she tells me 'Merry Christmas'. I have never said that to her or him, because, well, I was pretty sure they are not Christian and some otherwise decent people get bent out of shape over things like that.
So, obviously, it caught me flat footed a little and I echoed the sentiment back to her. Then I asked her if she was Christian, and she got a big smile across her face like she was reading my mind.
Her response: 'No, we aren't. We're Hindu but that does not give me any right to tell you how to practice your religion.'
A few moments later in the conversation, she tells me 'Just because I'm not a Christian doesn't mean I can't wish you happiness during your celebration. People really need to get a grip on what it is to actually give a $h!t about someone other than themselves.'
For my part, I'm glad this family came to the states and, more so, they settled in my area. I wish them nothing but happiness and success.
