Silenced at Work

[Momma2Killian]

Hello everyone,

I am a new poster. I've been learking the site for quite awhile but am just now posting something.

My name is Jessica and I'm from Des Moines, IA.

I just need to vent...

I work for a large financial institution who prides itself on "Diversity". We have networks for employee's to join; the Latino Network, African-American Network, Asian Network, Womens Network, and the Gala Network (for Gays, Lesbians and Transgenders) and they're all open to anyone who wants to join. When I first started working here I thought it was offensive that they had all these networks but they didn't have one for the White Christian Hetrosexual. I've had to become comfortable with it however if I want a paycheck.

Just the other day, I recieved a forward email from my sister in law and I thought it was great so I forwarded it on to some of my friends at work. The email is as follows:

Subject: DON'T BUY PEPSI IN THE NEW CAN!

Don't buy Pepsi in the new can. Pepsi has a new 'patriotic' can coming out with pictures of the Empire State Building , and the Pledge of Allegiance on them.

However, Pepsi left out two little words on the pledge,

'Under God.' Pepsi said they didn't want to offend anyone.

In that case, we don't want to offend anyone at the Pepsi corporate office, either! So if we don't buy any Pepsi product, they will not be offended when they don't receive our money that has the words 'In God We Trust' on it.

HOW FAST CAN YOU FORWARD THIS ONE?

There is one guy here at work that I've debated about things like this in the past and we've always had a good time of it. I purposfully sent the forward to him because I knew what his response would be. He replied quickly "Not everyone is religious, so some of us don't care that that phrase is missing". I replied with, I sent it to you because I knew you'd say that, LOL.

About an hour later I get called over to my managers desk and I am told that the email that I forwarded had made it's rounds around the building and throughout different departments and someone complained to their manager that it offended them. The guy I had sent it to was the first person that came to mind But I listened with an open mind. I was told my manager just wanted to make sure I wasn't trying to start some sort of revolution, and that I need to be more careful who I forward things to and that it's probably best not to forward anything religous at all unless I am 100% positive they won't be offended. Well my question was how am I supposed to prevent them from forwarding to someone who may get offended? So basically it came down to when it comes to religion, keep it to yourself.

I went back to my desk and the more I started thinking about it the more I became angry, insulted and slapped in the face. The company can openly support homosexuals whose lifestyle offends many people, not only Christians but I have to keep God to myself?

I know God offends people. I'm a sinner to. We all fall short of the glory of God and we will all have to stand before Him in the end and give account to what we've done with our lives. That's uncomfortable to think about. I know I've done a lot of stupid and sensless things, so I know other people will be offened or uncomfortable thinking about it. The truth hurts I guess. Jesus said in the Bible that He didn't come to earth to bring peace but to bring war. Brother will turn against brother, father against daughter, mother against son, etc. I guess if he felt offended by it then I did my job.

I am just very frustrated with my company right now and I needed to get this off my chest to people I know will understand my plight!!

Thank you for listening!!

[Gail]

Hi, Jessica

I'm glad that you have a place to vent!

[Tallmark]

Check out afa.net. I purchased some videos about people who talked about Jesus at a HS graduation, and the mike was cut off, and other stories similar to yours. Some were arrested. This country is great because it was founded on Godly principles. Now weak Christians have allowed these wackos to eliminate God from everything. They're probably going to rewrite our documents: "endowed by their higher power for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

[Doug]

Snopes has the real explination over the can. But I do agree, Christians get persecuted more than other groups.

[John317]

Think they would tell an Islamist or fundamentalist Muslim to stop talking about Allah? I doubt it. Why the difference?

[Nan]

There may be a difference between forwarding emails generated for mass circulation, and one on one talking.

[Amelia]

At our company when we begin or forward an email that is thought to be funny or a joke or whatever we must begin the title ***SPAM*** and then whatever like New Pepsi can etc. That way the person can make the decision to view it or delete it without viewing. Also we can request that no ***SPAM*** be sent to our emails so no one is offended. Offense can be taken on many levels and topics and our company doesn't like to play parent or babysitter. So if someone receives a ***SPAM*** and took offense they knew the options and know not to run complaining to HR.

[Bravus]

If someone forwarded a message praising Allah to all his workmates in America in the current climate, the company wouldn't have to do anything about it because workmates would. So the difference is that Christianity is so dominant and powerful that it is treated with special care. This is not discrimination - it's just the same way as I treat the throttle with a lot more care and respect on my new 1200 than on my old 400. More power, more responsibility.

Having said all that, all this 'offended' nonsense makes me crazy. I think the whole world needs to harden up and stop being 'offended' by everything. That includes Christians too... a campaign to avoid buying Pepsi for this reason is exactly the same kind of over-sensitive nonsense that got you your little talk with the manager, Jessica, so if you have a problem with one you might want to look at the other.

[Dr. Shane]

I agree with Bravus.

[GreatLakesGramma]

I agree with you on this one Bravus. It has to do with respect for others.

On that general principle, I never, EVER forward anything that has that "If you really love Jesus, and are not ashamed of Him, you will forward this to EVERYONE" garbage on it. I consider that to be spiritual blackmail. If you really love Jesus, you will treat others as He did, which was never to force Himself on someone who wasn't interested. No one will ever be won to the Lord that way.

I also take issue with the practise of forwarding stories like the Pepsi can hoax without first making sure that they are really true. Forwarding malicious lies like that is bearing false witness, and it does not paint Christians in a favorable light when they are so quick to pass along such things. In fact, it would not surprise me one bit if that and other such false stories were actually started by someone who wanted to make Christians look bad. I am sure the enemy of all righteousness is delighted with the unthinking forwarding and re-forwarding this type of spam gets.

Jessica, I am not taking issue with you personally. This is a major pet peeve of mine. I have received many such worthless forwards from friends and loved ones, and have given up on trying to get them to behave more responsibly, as it has never made the slightest difference to any of them. I do hope, Jessica, that you will take it more seriously, and decide to be more careful not to forward falsehoods, especially those with the potential to damage entities which are innocent of the false charges being made against them.

[Nan]

I agree with you and with Bravus, GLM.

I especially dislike anything that implies my love for God is dependent on my forwarding whatever, and other things that promise wonderful things happening if I forward whatever in a cetain number of minutes.

(I did take joy in forwarding one that promised that a puppy would come squat on the receiver's computer and make it rather damp if the email was not forwarded soon enough!!)

I find www.snopes.com quite useful in returning forwarded mail with an attached link too.

[Beryl]

(I did take joy in forwarding one that promised that a puppy would come squat on the receiver's computer and make it rather damp if the email was not forwarded soon enough!!)

Hmmmm, Nan! You are not a nasty type of person, are you? Yes, there are some that are just too funny NOT to be sent on!

Beryl

[Nan]

Not sure about the nasty bit Beryl, I am not the judge of that, but you are right about some things that just have to be forwarded! :)

[Momma2Killian]

Bravus: I'd like to bring your attention to the above text, "Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with

– even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. Romans 14.1: The Message"

I feel your response was quite harsh. I agree that the whole world need to lighten up. I personally get engraged with the "political correctness" of this country, however I have always been taught that when you believe in something, you fight for it. I don't think that taking God out of the Pledge of Alligiance is "over sensitive nonsense".

GLG:

I also agree that the threatening emails saying if you love God you'll forward or else type things are not necessary. I try and find the good out of those emails however and when I choose to forward one I delete that info out of it.

I don't agree with you that forwarding emails of this type is bearing false witness but maybe I'm a bit more liberal than you and that's ok for me.

Thank you to all that responded, the different reply's were very interesting.

God Bless!

[Liz]

I don't think that taking God out of the Pledge of Alligiance is "over sensitive nonsense".

Actually the original Pledge of Alligiance didn't include the words "under GOD". They weren't adopted by law until 1954. Taking them back out of the Pledge doesn't make anyone *less* Christian, because we aren't Pledging our Allegiance to GOD, we are Pledging our Allegiance to a country. And if we are to believe the Bible and Ellen White about last day events, we are eventually going to have to stop doing that anyways, because man's laws are going to go directly against GOD's laws.

[Momma2Killian]

That is an excellent point Liz. God's government in Heaven certaintly is different than this corrupt one we currently have to live under. How great that day will be when we can go to our true home.