Would a Postage Stamp Offend you?

[auntpolly]

I refuse to use the Religious stamp every year.I no longer practice the religion I was born into. Doesn't mean I hate Christians, by a long shot.

So your theory that people who refuse to use religious stamps must hate Christians is poppycock, IMO.

I think you can disagree with me without being rude. Why can no one debate without giving digs?

 

[smartestnumber5]

Maybe the complaints came out of an attitude of "Why is it that I never see stamps celebrating my religion? or with people of my race on them? But I see stamps with the majority race and majority religion everywhere."

I don't know that much about stamps because I don't buy them very often. I know someone on this thread mentioned Hanukkah stamps. I've actually never seen those stamps before (though I don't buy stamps very often so perhaps I just haven't bought any stamps during the time of year when they would have Christmas and Hanukkah stamps). I wouldn't be surprised if the availability of Hanukkah stamps were much more spotty than the availability of Christmas stamps. Same with stamps which have African Americans on them (unless is MLK). And all other religions don't even seem to get a stamp at all.

So maybe it wasn't a matter of hating Christianity or White people, or being horrified at the idea of using a stamp with a white Mary and Jesus, but more an objection to other religions and races not be represented on the stamps...which is just one symptom of almost everything else in our culture.

I don't know--just offering a guess here. But that would make sense to me.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

 

[Poohbear123]

It sounds like you were just as bad as your customer.

I think stores should just carry plain stamps. People who are looking for a certain type of stamp should just head over to the post office.

No, I was just "insulted" and wanted to let her know, in a round about way, she insulted me.....and NO I am not a BAD Cashier, I was just surprised that in ONE night I had 2 Different People react to a Stamp for Craps sake! Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[joshsmom]

I couldn't care LESS what stamp is on my mail--as long as it gets where its supposed to go! I have NO idea what stamps were on my mail yesterday and I don't CARE!! I know it got here and that's all I care about.

I know this year besides the Madonna and Child, they do have the snowflakes. I also heard the guy at the post office run down an entire list of available stamps for another customer.

Now, the fact that they are OUT of Disney stamps ticks me off!!

 

[LoraJ]

I don't care what stamps are on the envelopes I receive, but I wouldn't buy the religious ones unless I was in a bind and there was no other choice.

 

[yeartolate]

No, I was just "insulted" and wanted to let her know, in a round about way, she insulted me.....and NO I am not a BAD Cashier, I was just surprised that in ONE night I had 2 Different People react to a Stamp for Craps sake! Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving!

I am curious what the insult was

 

[robinb]

So many comments so little time this Thanksgiving morning ...

I swear people just want to get all upset over nothing - read what I said.

I said that I don't want a Bush stamp and I can only assume that a nonChristian wouldn't want a Christian stamp for the same reason - real hatred. I didn't say that either were "OK", just trying to understand the emotion.

Like, if you refuse to use a Christian stamp -- just admit it -- you feel revulsion for Christians.

I think you can disagree with me without being rude. Why can no one debate without giving digs?

I didn't see it as a dig. She said IN HER OPINION your theory that non-Christians hate Christians is Poppycock. I have to agree with her. Just because I no longer follow Christianity doesn't mean that I hate those that do.

I do think you have a general understanding on why someone wouldn't want their only choice to be a Jesus stamp. I wouldn't use the Reagan stamps on a bet when the USPS came out with them after he died.

 

[Pam]

But when the Postal Service puts Jesus and Mary on a stamp that stamp becomes both. I can totally understand why the Jewish woman was upset that Publix only had Jesus stamps. It's not like she really wanted Hanukah stamps, just stamps without Jesus. Is that really too much to ask?

Actually the post office does sell Hanukkah stamps, as well as Kwanzaa ones. They also have some really nice snowflake ones this year.

The problem is that the patrons are going to the grocery store and not the post office to buy the stamps. Of course the store is not going to have a wide selection of stamps and the patron should realize that.

IMO, if it's such a big deal to the patron then he/she should make the special trip to the post office and get the stamps he/she desires.

 

[robinb]

Here are the USPS's Holiday Stamps this year:

The Jesus stamp:

The Snowflake stamp:

The Hanukkah stamp:

The Kwanzaa stamp:

The Eid stamp:

I do wonder if the only stamps available at your local store was the Eid stamp, wouldn't many of you also ask for a different choice?

 

[LoraJ]

Actually the post office does sell Hanukkah stamps, as well as Kwanzaa ones. They also have some really nice snowflake ones this year.

The problem is that the patrons are going to the grocery store and not the post office to buy the stamps. Of course the store is not going to have a wide selection of stamps and the patron should realize that.

IMO, if it's such a big deal to the patron then he/she should make the special trip to the post office and get the stamps he/she desires.

But, I don't see the big deal in the patron asking if there were other choices at Publix so they wouldn't have to make the trip to the post office. Maybe they will go there now.

 

[auntpolly]

So many comments so little time this Thanksgiving morning ...





I didn't see it as a dig. She said IN HER OPINION your theory that non-Christians hate Christians is Poppycock. I have to agree with her. Just because I no longer follow Christianity doesn't mean that I hate those that do.

I do think you have a general understanding on why someone wouldn't want their only choice to be a Jesus stamp. I wouldn't use the Reagan stamps on a bet when the USPS came out with them after he died.

I thinks we can have a discussion with comments just the way you've written here -but the first poster jumps in to give me a and then I get a "poppycock". I'm just tired of not being able to have a civil discussion around here. I have strong opinions, granted, but a serious discussion I will give a thoughtful serious opinion.

I just don't get the "Ewwwww cooties" reaction to the stamp. In trying to understand it I realized that I get the same feeling when I see Bush's picture on it. But that's because I hate him. I don't hate Republicans and I'm sorry to offend them by saying this but I can't help it. I just get a "Ewwwww cooties!" feeling at the sight of him.

And so I tried to reason it out - are nonChristians getting that same feeling? I swear, if Madalyn Murray O'Hair's picture was on a stamp I'd just slap it on my letter without a thought of this stamp defining me.Because I have no feeling one way or the other about her. But Bush, I couldn't do that.

Can you see that I'm just curious about the emotion that keeps someone from using a stamp?

 

[Pam]

But, I don't see the big deal in the patron asking if there were other choices at Publix so they wouldn't have to make the trip to the post office. Maybe they will go there now.

I agree with there not being a problem with the patron asking -- but they shouldn't assume that they will be offered a varied selection. I am sure that the grocery store just buys xxxx amount of the same stamp for sale to the patrons. I guess what I am trying to say is that if the patron INSISTS on a certain stamp (or in this case NOT a certain stamp), chances are that they will have to go to the post office.

Robinb - I can tell you from experience that I actually buy all of the stamps at the Post Office and use them on my cards, bills, and even the invoices that my company sends out.

The day that I bought the snowflake stamps they did not have any of the Kwanzaa or Eid stamps in stock at the post office or I would have purchased those as well. I did buy some of the Hanukkah ones.

 

[yeartolate]

But, I don't see the big deal in the patron asking if there were other choices at Publix so they wouldn't have to make the trip to the post office. Maybe they will go there now.

See, that is exactly what I was wondering. It seems like , to me, she was just asking a question. Step back Bill O'Reilly.....nothing to see here.....

 

[robinb]

Can you see that I'm just curious about the emotion that keeps someone from using a stamp?

It's not emotion. A Jesus stamp is not me and it does not represent my believes. It's a bit like not wanting to wear a company's logo you don't like. A while back there were a lot of people who didn't like Nike due to their labor practices overseas. My guess is they did not buy Nike shoes or garments. Another example: I don't buy or wear FUBU garments (For Us By Us). While I admire and support the brand, I'm just not the "Us" in the title.

 

[azgal81]

They wouldn't offend me but I wouldn't buy them. Just like I wouldn't buy the hanuakkah stamps just not me. The snowman stamps they had last year were adorable!

 

[auntpolly]

It's not emotion. A Jesus stamp is not me and it does not represent my believes. It's a bit like not wanting to wear a company's logo you don't like. A while back there were a lot of people who didn't like Nike due to their labor practices overseas. My guess is they did not buy Nike shoes or garments. Another example: I don't buy or wear FUBU garments (For Us By Us). While I admire and support the brand, I'm just not the "Us" in the title.

I'm not a logo person either - I wouldn't go around with a Madalyn Murray O'Hair t-shirt because that would just be weird. I'm Christian and she isn't my hero or anything. But a stamp? I could care less what's on my stamp. Who looks at them anyway? I guess this is one of those things going over my head.

Like I said, the only way a stamp would bother me is if it had something I really hated on it. Otherwise, stamps are just something I buy without paying much attention to.

 

[Pop Daddy]

I thinks its ok to have religious symbols, but wouldnt be ok is having one mocking another religion

 

[Liberty Belle]

They don't offend me, personally, but then again I'm in the majority...I'm a white Christian. I can see how, especially after a while, this would get frustrating.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I think someone assigning strong negative emotion to someone else's choice of a stamp is very interesting. (There's that word again.) Some people just pick any stamp, doesn't really matter to them what's on it. Some people would avoid certain stamps, thinking that they don't find it visually attractive or because the stamp does not relate to the purchaser in any way. (I wouldn't choose to buy a boring, single color stamp, nor a stamp about football, nor a stamp with a holy cross on it.) And of course sometimes there is an emotional connection, thinking they would never use a particular stamp because of the negative emotion associated with it. (I would never choose a stamp with certain politicians, living religious figures, or Madeline Murray O'Hair on it. Neither would I choose one with serial killers on it!) I think anyone assuming that because I refuse to buy a football stamp that I 'hate' football or football players or football fans is a bit over the top.

I choose my stamps with care. I want it to be something fun and colorful, or something beautiful. Occasionally I buy 'message' stamps that I don't find appealing, strictly because of the message (like a breast cancer awareness stamp, for instance.) Though not a Christian, I have bought and used Madonna and Child and angel stamps for Christmas cards, though I would not buy a holy cross stamp. To me, the first two were beautiful art, the third is more a religious symbol that does not relate to me.

If I received mail with a holy cross stamp or an Eid stamp, I would not make negative assumptions about the sender. I would, though, probably assume that the sender is a religious person.