When in Rome, do as the Romans do

Not being completely up with these things, I had to look up when Advent starts ... it's tomorrow, Sunday. I was once in a Mosque as guest of a dignitary of a Russian Republic, taking the shoes off. Many years earlier, downunder, I was in a Synagogue during a new campaign for a super chandelier ... again as a guest, wearing a kipar or skullcap.

My gf and I were in a Buddhist temple a couple of decades ago, lighting a candle. I've also lit a candle in a Roman Catholic church. I have a tiny Orthodox cross for a pendant, bought in a Khram, the main one in a city. I've a vague memory of being in Westminster cathedral. I've been in the middle of Stonehenge many decades ago now near dawn. I've been in a Masonic Lodge for a concert by Talking Heads.

Point of all this? What to do when in a temporarily elevated position as a guest? How to react?  Obviously, in my mind at least, when in Rome, do as the Romans do ... yes, in the Sistine Chapel, I did lie on the floor and look up ... no one told me off.

How deeply? How far to get into it?  Depends on which country it was. In Sicily, it was obviously a Catholic church building or nothing. In Westminster Cathedral, it was obviously CofE.  One does as one must as a guest.

Christmas is an awkward time for the various hordes in Britain, inc. the atheist horde, although the latter have an escape valve ... Santa, reindeer, presents around the tree, Christmas stockings. By the way, I've been in Santa's workshop in Rovaniemi, Suomi, said hi to a reindeer as I went in. Ate a reindeer sandwich some days later with my hosts at a farm ... that bit I do regret, feeling they and I had crossed some red line.

I failed to unsubscribe from Quora, never got into Reddit ... they cater for the same normie crowd that Readers Digest used to ... very middling, secular ... types of people who watched Days of our Lives or listened to the Archies. My parents were avid Corrie fans.  One does as the Romans do, when in Rome.

This was in Quora this morning, from one Andrew Wright:

I’ve seen a couple shows that I can describe as being “disappointed” or “let down” by, but “ripped off?” One, and only one famous musician earns that lowly distinction.

This was at least 30 years ago. It’s Christmastime in Chicago and the iconic Chicago Theater is hosting for one night only, “The John Denver Christmas Show!”

Me? Not a fan. But I’ve gone to see plenty of acts where I “wasn’t a fan” and more often than not I come away pleasantly surprised. So, who was a fan? Grandma was! So…this’ll be awesome. We’ll pick up Grandma, take her out to dinner, and then enjoy a Christmas concert as a light snowfall gently meanders through the twinkling downtown lights.

John Denver had other ideas. On stage was a stool, a guitar, and a spotlight. No color. Not even a sprig of holly. The place is full. We’re near the front. Maybe 20th row or so. John comes out and starts to play. There’s plenty of hardcore fans who know every word and are singing along. Yep ok, fine. Pretty standard stuff.

Christmas? Zero, zip, nada. Maybe a generic, “Happy Holidays?” Again, no. What seasonal wishes, one might ask,John Denver want to convey?

Oh, why, politics! It wasn’t more than twenty minutes or so before the “John Denver Christmas Show” became long lectures/rants punctuated less and less frequently by an occasional (politically-tinged) song

 

As the show approached the one hour mark, we decided we’d had enough. I’m not sure I’ve ever walked out on a show before or since but we stood up from our seats and turned to do just that. Amazingly, we were the hold outs! As we walked up the aisle we discovered that 3/4 of the theater had already beaten us to it!

So, obvious next question is ... how much respect to show other people's commemorations and festivities? Well this of course includes this Ramadan and Diwali thing. Purim and other festivities from Judaism get a mention, someone writes an online piece ... as far as we're concerned, fine. I have two Romanian friends so I say Buno Diminatsa, transliterated, out of courtesy.

Two lots from the subcontinent though and the middle-east are seriously extracting the micturation, putting it politely. They can F off in my book because they've seriously crossed a line, they need stopping.

Question is ... how?  They're obviously aided and abetted by a traitor govt.