Hello people. I am fuming and as usual, vent here. I only had a few cards to mail and stopped at my post office to request 10 more Christmas stamps. My carrier is paid $29.50 per hour plus $.50 per mile, per day, for her route. I would assume the manager would be a higher rate. I asked her for the Christmas stamps, she held up a green stamp with a tree on it. I asked if she was sure and she said they are clueless as to the print (EID Greetings), but it is the Christmas tree stamp and the only one they have at that branch. So onto my envelopes they go and into the bin. I looked it up when I got home. It is shaped like, but not a Christmas tree - it's calligraphy with Islamic symbols. EID commemorates the two Islamic holidays, Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. It is a Muslim stamp for a Muslim holiday, they do not believe Christ is the Son of God, they do not recognize or celebrate Christmas, and my post office is selling them to me as a Christmas tree stamp. I am furious. All my cards to my Catholic and Christian family and friends have a Muslim stamp. Should I have known this? I'm not Muslim! Why would I know? More importantly, why didn't she? Another government employee that serves the public well.
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37 comments:
I am SO NOT HAPPY with the U S Postal system ~
thumbs down.
I would be furious too! Whatever next. I sincerely hope your friends and family font much look at the stamp:-)
Oh dear, I can see why you are fuming. So annoying!
I must ask who is the designer of that gorgeous Santa in your blog header - I think he is wonderful.
I understand your upset, but there are more pressing issues to worry you and the rest of us. At least you got your cards in the mail.
CJ
Although I'm not surprised ... still it makes blood shoot outta my eyes!!!
I would be very upset too. Hopefully your family and friends don't realize what it is, I wouldn't have known either, but that's not the point,
Shame on the US postal system
It was not an oversight; the shaping of that symbol to resemble a Christmas tree... Another deceitful ploy to integrate into and distort our traditions... Fortunately we were able to purchase traditional Madonna and Child stamps for our cards.. and they should be made
available at all branches.. Never
heard of only one stamp style being stocked. Thank you for
getting the word out, Marly.
The recipient was so delighted with the box you recently sent.
just beautiful..
You are absolutely right to be furious, now I am furious as well! Welcome to the new world order. I will be checking my stamps very carefully when I purchase them tomorrow, thanks for the heads up.
Well...now we know why the USPS is going bankrupt...
Honestly Marly, I'm Catholic and I wouldn't be upset.... I thought it looked like a Pinecone :)
Your post upset me to think that the Post Office was selling these stamps as Christmas trees. I looked up the stamp in Google and they have been selling these since 2005 to commemorate the last day of Ramadan. I think your postal employee was ignorant of what the stamp meant. We just have to be very alert and diligent. Please have a blessed and wonderful Christmas and celebrate the birth of our Saviour.
This is just horrid Marly!! I am so sorry. This is exactly why I was concerned about government managed health care. I have not experienced anything that is government controlled going very well.
While I'm not happy with the postal system either... If you didn't know, why would they? Just because they sell stamps doesn't mean they know either. Hopefully, no one will notice. It does look like a tree after all.
Well, one way to look at it is that your Christmas is celebrating diversity. Now if the idiots at the post office place the cancellation on the stamp, it will be very hard to read anyway. And it is shaped like a tree.... This could only happen to you, Marly.
Ouch !!
Holy Mackerel Marly, the postman/woman makes that much, why did I go to nursing school?
If friends and family wonder why you used those stamps, tell them they had sold out of all the Christmas stamps and they were the only ones left and you needed to get your cards out.
That is beyond ridiculous, but nothing surprises me about our postal system
anymore. The main Post Office in my city was unable to send packages for more than a few days about a week ago. They blamed it on the rain messing with the computer system. The rain~come on!
I don't blame you for being furious!!!
Sandra
Just another example of "not caring" employe. Don't let it put a damper on your holiday!
True that there are bigger fish to fry but this is America. We are Americans. We celebrate Christmas in honor of Christ Jesus. This stamp is offensive to me. We are taught not to offend yet we allow ourselves to be offended in the name of diversity. ENOUGH!
Shame on you USPS!
Well, the post office sells many, many different kinds of stamps that appeal to different groups. Yes, the manager should have known more about the stamps, but in the end your good wishes will be received by your family and friends. I have a wonderful mail lady who has brightened my day several times already delivering my packages with a lovely smile and kind words.
You have internet access and so could have checked what Eid is. Shame you are so insular that you have no awareness of the major festivals of other faiths. I am sure you expect everyone to know what Christmas is. When you pray next ask God to give you a little more perspective and tolerance. If you and your family are really offended by a sticker on an envelope then you are extremely fortunate to have no greater concerns in your lives!
I agree with Anonymous - have you really not heard of Eid? And it is your job to examine the stamps before you pay for them.
It is disgraceful but it's another sign of the times. Very frustrating. Rest in the knowledge that our Lord knows. Xx
Thank you for this post, I need to get stamps today and will make it a point that if those are offered to mention what the symbol is and will not purchase... Thank you!!!
What is our world turning into!
I'd be upset too, Marly.. Anyone working in the post office, getting paid that much should know what the stamps meant and they should have had CHRISTMAS stamps for you to purchase.
I'm sorry you had to have critical comments made by two anonymous readers.
I hope this will be a blessed, healthy and Merry Christmas for you and your family.
Hugs, Charlotte in Va.
Thank you for the heads up. I had no idea.
I would have been furious. Can you not demand your money back! I bet good money they aren't honoring our Christmas over in Muslim countries on a stamp. They killed my 2 cousins in 2001 at the Pentagon and now our country is honoring them.....I'm truly disgusted and I have mailed my last letter, package etc from the US Postal Services....thanks for posting this and Merry Christmas :)
Very deceitful design. Carefully crafted. Very disturbing.
God bless you Marly. Merry CHRISTmas!
We are fortunate to have a wonderful mail lady for many years, when she is off, however, everything goes to the gutter. The local offices (2) are staffed by miserable people who think you are interrupting them by coming into the building. I could rant on but I agree with you. The two anonymous commenters obviously are just repeating some rote line because they didn't have the courage to let us know who they were. Merry Christmas in America!
This is very concerning, but it is a part of a bigger effort in the USA to undermine Christianity. The lack of education by the USPS to their employees speaks negatively of that organization. We, as Christians, need to be aware and speak out on attacks and discrimination of all kinds toward Christianity. Our saving grace is that He knows all and has a plan that only He can fully understand. Grace and peace to you each day..............
Marly
I was lucky enough to "catch" the design before I paid at the counter. The clerk told me she would not have been allowed to make a stamp exchange after payment was made?????
Praying for you and Carole, today. Please post a good word soon.
Busy Hands...Happy Heart
Patricia
I cannot believe those anonymous comments -- I don't blame you one bit for being Pissed Off!! I would be too.
I don't really identify with ANY religion. The last time I bought stamps - which was last holiday season, I believe...I really don't use the regular mail that often! - they ONLY had the Madonna and child stamps. I was not happy - I asked for the plain flags or Liberty Bells or whatever, but was told they didn't have any at the moment. Since I had to get something in the mail ASAP, I took the Madonna ones....and put it on the envelope upside down.
My post office is always busy, but for the most part, the employees are friendly. I asked for Christmas stamps, and did NOT see those ones offered... Hugs for you my friend!
If the two anonymous commenters truly believe their words, they would have posted with their names and contact info.
To put a Muslim holiday on a stamp is offensive enough. But to see it deliberately used in the shape of a Christmas tree is another example of the deceptiveness our government uses because we are too "stupid" to realize what is best for us.
Have a Very Merry CHRISTMAS, Marly! We support you 100%!
Glad to hear your sister is doing so well.
FWIW, my husband worked in Indonesia, a predominately Muslim country, for 2 years. I told him about the stamp, and his response was that EID was a good holiday honoring family and something else that I can't remember, but all positive. We have to remember the majority of Muslims do not hate us and are not jihadists. But that **is** dumb that your postal worker did not know what she was selling you.
Merry Christmas to all!
Marly, did you know that you can go to USPS.com and order stamps? I always get mine that way, you can get all the unusual commemoratives that they never have at the post office. The send them in a day or two and only charge $1 or 2 for delivery.
That is ridiculous!! Why do they not have Christmas stamps, and why did the bone head think this was one!?
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