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Politically correct holiday greetings or the old favorites?

aNiMaLaNiMaL Posts: 7,117
edited November 2006 in A Moving Train
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/6242408p-5450164c.html

Being a liberal myself, I believe in tradition. And while I may have moved further away from organized religion, I still want to celebrate the pagan tradition of Santa Clause and Christmas. In fact, I play Santa Clause for my nieces and nephews on the big day itself.

I also believe that the majority wins. The majority of people celebrate the legal/national holiday called Christmas. I do not think ANYONE, whether they celebrate it or not, should be offended if someone wishes them a Merry Christmas. I personally would be elated if someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanzaa. And I do not think the government should try and candy coat the fact that this nation celebrates and recognizes Christmas Day as a holiday.
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Comments

  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    THERE'S A WAR ON CHRISTMAS!!! AAAAAHHHHH! TAKE UP ARMS CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS, DEFEND YOUR FAITH FROM GODLESS LIBERALISM.

    im pretty sure the sky is falling...
  • miller8966miller8966 Posts: 1,450
    soulsinging wrote:
    THERE'S A WAR ON CHRISTMAS!!! AAAAAHHHHH! TAKE UP ARMS CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS, DEFEND YOUR FAITH FROM GODLESS LIBERALISM.

    im pretty sure the sky is falling...

    Merry CHRISTmass
    America...the greatest Country in the world.
  • hippiemomhippiemom Posts: 3,326
    I think the world would be a much nicer place if people didn't take offense when others wished them well. If you don't celebrate Christmas and someone has the nerve to wish you a merry one, can't you just go ahead and try to have a merry day on the 25th anyway? By the same token, if you do celebrate Christmas and someone wishes you a happy holiday, say thank you! They want you to be happy on your holiday, how is that offensive?!

    I blame Bill O'Reilly for creating an issue where there wasn't one. Of all the things we argue about in this country, this is surely the dumbest.
    "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 1963
  • know1know1 Posts: 6,794
    It's Christmas for me and I celebrate it from the religious aspect. I send religious-related cards, etc. I don't get offended if someone wishes me a Happy Hanukkah and I do not care if they are offended when they receive my religious card or hear me say "Merry Christmas".
    The only people we should try to get even with...
    ...are those who've helped us.

    Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
  • CollinCollin Posts: 4,931
    Is this still an issue? I was flabbergasted last year that people actually took this seriously and now it's back?
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  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    miller8966 wrote:
    Merry CHRISTmass

    you see the insidious liberal effects of this war??? even the faithful can no longer spell their own holiday properly :(

    jesus is weeping in heaven somewhere over the tragic fate of the evergreen trees (the christmas ones, he doesnt care what we do to the rest of the trees of his creation).
  • AhnimusAhnimus Posts: 10,560
    Happy November 21st!!!

    To me it has the same significance as December 25th. I actually prefer to work through the holidays and earn overtime. Then take the following weekend off and visit the family. They don't like it because it's not "Christmas".
    I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
  • normnorm Posts: 31,146
    If someone wishing you a Merry Christmas offends you, you have serious psychological and emotional issues.
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,447
    Say whatever you want....I usually wish people what I celebrate....Christmas...
    hippiemom = goodness
  • hippiemomhippiemom Posts: 3,326
    I buy Happy Holidays/Season's Greetings-type cards, then I'll write "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Solstice" or whatever on each one, depending on who it's going to. With people I see at work, in stores, wherever, if I know what they celebrate, I'll wish them a happy one. If not, I just say I hope they have a great holiday.
    "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 1963
  • keeponrockinkeeponrockin Posts: 7,446
    I agree, I would be happy if someone wished me a happy Hannakuh (sp)
    Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
  • enharmonicenharmonic Posts: 1,917
    My favorite card reads..

    This Thanksgiving, give a Native American Smallpox for old time's sake.
    new music: http://www.myspace.com/blackbirdsymphonique

    old music: http://www.myspace.com/slowloader
  • miller8966miller8966 Posts: 1,450
    hippiemom wrote:
    I think the world would be a much nicer place if people didn't take offense when others wished them well. If you don't celebrate Christmas and someone has the nerve to wish you a merry one, can't you just go ahead and try to have a merry day on the 25th anyway? By the same token, if you do celebrate Christmas and someone wishes you a happy holiday, say thank you! They want you to be happy on your holiday, how is that offensive?!

    I blame Bill O'Reilly for creating an issue where there wasn't one. Of all the things we argue about in this country, this is surely the dumbest.

    I agree with you, but not in regards to Bill O'Reilly. I think he is fighting for people to say Merry Christmas, which i see nothing wrong with.
    America...the greatest Country in the world.
  • hippiemomhippiemom Posts: 3,326
    miller8966 wrote:
    I agree with you, but not in regards to Bill O'Reilly. I think he is fighting for people to say Merry Christmas, which i see nothing wrong with.
    Yes, but people say Merry Christmas all the time! I say it all the time, and people say it to me, and I'm not a Christian. I bet you say it all the time too, and no one has stopped you. I doubt anyone has even tried!

    What O'Reilly did was to create an "issue" out of thin air for his ratings, and it worked because a good number of his viewers are none too bright. Christmas is not an endangered holiday, everyone needs to go drink some egg nog and calm down.
    "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 1963
  • jlew24asujlew24asu Posts: 10,118
    hippiemom wrote:
    Yes, but people say Merry Christmas all the time! I say it all the time, and people say it to me, and I'm not a Christian. I bet you say it all the time too, and no one has stopped you. I doubt anyone has even tried!

    What O'Reilly did was to create an "issue" out of thin air for his ratings, and it worked because a good number of his viewers are none too bright. Christmas is not an endangered holiday, everyone needs to go drink some egg nog and calm down.

    he was using specific examples of schools taking away nativity screens and people not being allowed to say merry xmas.

    I cant remember exactly what he used to back up his arugment but it wasnt out of thin air. but he also did hype up some.
  • hippiemomhippiemom Posts: 3,326
    jlew24asu wrote:
    he was using specific examples of schools taking away nativity screens and people not being allowed to say merry xmas.

    I cant remember exactly what he used to back up his arugment but it wasnt out of thin air. but he also did hype up some.
    SOME?! In a nation of some 300 million people, there were a dozen or so nitwits who did stupid things, and suddenly it's a WAR ON CHRISTMAS!!!!

    Yeah, bit of hype there.
    "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 1963
  • cincybearcatcincybearcat Posts: 16,447
    hippiemom wrote:
    SOME?! In a nation of some 300 million people, there were a dozen or so nitwits who did stupid things, and suddenly it's a WAR ON CHRISTMAS!!!!

    Yeah, bit of hype there.

    You're right, it wasn;t a war on christmas...

    It WAS A JIHAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    hippiemom = goodness
  • Uncle LeoUncle Leo Posts: 1,059
    On the other hand, if a private store wishes to say happy holidays, let them. It's their business. If they wish to acknowledge all holidays, why do we care?

    I would argue that more people are offended by "Happy Holidays" (because of this percieved "war on christmas") than Merry Christmas.
    I cannot come up with a new sig till I get this egg off my face.
  • brain of cbrain of c Posts: 5,213
    happy fucking christmas.
    d'oh!!!!!!

    http://www.myspace.com/brain_of_c
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    hippiemom wrote:
    I think the world would be a much nicer place if people didn't take offense when others wished them well. If you don't celebrate Christmas and someone has the nerve to wish you a merry one, can't you just go ahead and try to have a merry day on the 25th anyway? By the same token, if you do celebrate Christmas and someone wishes you a happy holiday, say thank you! They want you to be happy on your holiday, how is that offensive?!

    I blame Bill O'Reilly for creating an issue where there wasn't one. Of all the things we argue about in this country, this is surely the dumbest.
    ...
    The 'War On Christmas' was just another lame diversion from the REAL issue this nation has faced since 2003... the WAR IN IRAQ. It was the Holiday Version of the Election Year's 'Gay Marriage' thing.
    There is no 'War on Christmas'... only assholes who believe there is.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    jlew24asu wrote:
    he was using specific examples of schools taking away nativity screens and people not being allowed to say merry xmas.

    I cant remember exactly what he used to back up his arugment but it wasnt out of thin air. but he also did hype up some.

    some schools opted for holiday parties instead of xmas parties. some stores were switching to happy holidays instead of merry xmas. but nowhere was anyone filing suit saying they were outraged at being wished a merry xmas.
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    soulsinging wrote:
    some schools opted for holiday parties instead of xmas parties. some stores were switching to happy holidays instead of merry xmas. but nowhere was anyone filing suit saying they were outraged at being wished a merry xmas.
    ...
    I can remember being in the 3rd grade and finding out that this one kid didn't celebrate Christmas. All of us kids just figured he was going to Hell.
    ...
    But, Hey... we were in the 3rd grade.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • AhnimusAhnimus Posts: 10,560
    Cosmo wrote:
    ...
    I can remember being in the 3rd grade and finding out that this one kid didn't celebrate Christmas. All of us kids just figured he was going to Hell.
    ...
    But, Hey... we were in the 3rd grade.

    Isn't it great how society inserts these concepts of heaven in hell into children who's brains aren't capable of deductive reasoning?

    I believe it's called brainwashing.

    I see a fine line between teaching and brainwashing. One uses proven facts and the other uses beliefs to influence a person's mind. A childs brain hasn't fully developed, the prefrontal cortex we use for logic, concentration and reasoning (our higher consciousness) doesn't develop until adolescence. When it does, these programs are already dominating the thought process.
    I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
  • aNiMaLaNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    soulsinging wrote:
    some schools opted for holiday parties instead of xmas parties. some stores were switching to happy holidays instead of merry xmas. but nowhere was anyone filing suit saying they were outraged at being wished a merry xmas.
    Yeah, I don't think really anyone has ever been offended by a Christmas tree or being wished a Merry Christmas. i think more than anything, those of us who openly and proudly celebrate Christmas, do not want to see it watered down and hidden for masses. We want to see the word Christmas instead of being overly politically correct and just stay safe and wish people a Happy Holidays.

    I say Merry Fucking Christmas!!!

    And Happy Festivus!!!
  • mammasanmammasan Posts: 5,656
    People need to lighten up. I'm not a christian and I could care less if people said Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. I figure that these people would be the same people who would be offended if christian leaders wanted to do away with Halloween in their area.
    "When one gets in bed with government, one must expect the diseases it spreads." - Ron Paul
  • soulsingingsoulsinging Posts: 13,202
    aNiMaL wrote:
    Yeah, I don't think really anyone has ever been offended by a Christmas tree or being wished a Merry Christmas. i think more than anything, those of us who openly and proudly celebrate Christmas, do not want to see it watered down and hidden for masses. We want to see the word Christmas instead of being overly politically correct and just stay safe and wish people a Happy Holidays.

    I say Merry Fucking Christmas!!!

    And Happy Festivus!!!

    i think you ought to be more worried about christmas being sold out to capitalism. christmas is not being watered down becos there's no xmas tree at your school. it's being cheapened becos every company in the world hijacked it for financial gain.

    also, give me one example where anyone anywhere was not allowed to say merry christmas? if you work at a store it doesnt count becos it's a corporate decision... kinda like your employee isnt allowed to tell customers to fuck off.

    in any case, it's not really christmas anymore. christmas is dec 25. the madness of the month before it is the holidays... kwanzaa, ramadan, hannukah, christmas, solstice, etc... are all part of it. christmas just has the most bitchin traditions, so most people have adopted them into whatever form of holiday celebration they practice. kinda like the christians adopted whatever cultural practice they had to to convert natives (which is why we have xmas on dec 25 to begin with).

    in short, say merry christmas all you damn well please. just dont get your panties in a bunch when the guy at walmart wishes you happy holidays. if that's enough to wreck your holiday your priorities are truly out of whack.
  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    The whole Holiday thing... TO MAKE MONEY.
    It wasn't instituted by government or ordered by our courts... it was done by MERCHANTS. To get Jewish dollars and Hindu dollars and Muslim dollars and Scientology dollars. And no one really cares... we are all conditioned to the consumerism orgy that takes place between Thanksgiving and Christmas day.
    ...
    Besides... those people who complain about Wal-Marts 'Holiday Sale' not saying 'Christmas Sale'... it baffles me. Do they want their Lord Savior's name tied to Wal-Mart's orgy of dollars?
    There isn't a law stating you MUST call it a 'Holiday Tree'... call it whatever the fuck you want... call it an 'Ass Reaming Pine Tree' for all I care... I don't give a shit. Hang your pagan ritual fertility balls on your Christmas Tree and sing 'Silent Night, Motherfucker' to your heart's content... it isn't a crime and no one ever said it was. Saying 'Merry Christmas' isn't going to land you in Camp X-Ray, Guantanamo. Getting pissed off because the gal at the Wal-Mart sends you off with a 'Happy Holidays, sir'... well, that just makes you an asshole.
    So, go out and celebrate it however you want and quit worrying about how the other guy celebrates. Who made you the fucking Christmas Nazi anyway?
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
  • aNiMaLaNiMaL Posts: 7,117
    soulsinging wrote:
    i think you ought to be more worried about christmas being sold out to capitalism. christmas is not being watered down becos there's no xmas tree at your school. it's being cheapened becos every company in the world hijacked it for financial gain.

    also, give me one example where anyone anywhere was not allowed to say merry christmas? if you work at a store it doesnt count becos it's a corporate decision... kinda like your employee isnt allowed to tell customers to fuck off.

    in any case, it's not really christmas anymore. christmas is dec 25. the madness of the month before it is the holidays... kwanzaa, ramadan, hannukah, christmas, solstice, etc... are all part of it. christmas just has the most bitchin traditions, so most people have adopted them into whatever form of holiday celebration they practice. kinda like the christians adopted whatever cultural practice they had to to convert natives (which is why we have xmas on dec 25 to begin with).

    in short, say merry christmas all you damn well please. just dont get your panties in a bunch when the guy at walmart wishes you happy holidays. if that's enough to wreck your holiday your priorities are truly out of whack.
    No my friend, I am not ruined by any of this. But in the example I sited in the opening post is of a city, and the people of that city not happy with their city saying a generic Happy Holidays. Not about a corporate ran Wal-Mart. I agree...commercialism is out of control in association with Christmas. WalMart is gonna do whatever they want to do. However, our schools and government offices we do have control and influence over.
  • hippiemomhippiemom Posts: 3,326
    aNiMaL wrote:
    No my friend, I am not ruined by any of this. But in the example I sited in the opening post is of a city, and the people of that city not happy with their city saying a generic Happy Holidays. Not about a corporate ran Wal-Mart. I agree...commercialism is out of control in association with Christmas. WalMart is gonna do whatever they want to do. However, our schools and government offices we do have control and influence over.
    We do have influence, and if we live in communities with Muslims and Jews and pagans and people who celebrate Kwanzaa and god only knows who else, it makes sense for the community to use the "holiday" standard, rather than the "Christmas" standard. Wishing someone a happy holiday is not an insult to their traditions. What's insulting is assuming that your own personal traditions should take precedence over others. If you're in a small town where everyone celebrates Christmas, then Christmas it is! If you're in a more diverse area, deal with it. "Happy holidays" means, "Whatever holiday you celebrate, I hope it's a happy one." It's a NICE thing to say, and people should take it that way.
    "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." ~ MLK, 1963
  • stupidcorporatewhorestupidcorporatewhore Posts: 761
    jlew24asu wrote:
    he was using specific examples of schools taking away nativity screens and people not being allowed to say merry xmas.

    I cant remember exactly what he used to back up his arugment but it wasnt out of thin air. but he also did hype up some.

    BULLSHIT!! This is the dumbest issue ever to cross major airwaves.

    nobody ever pulled down a nativity scene, and nobody ever told anyone to say anything other than anything they wanted to.

    And if anyone had a problem with anything anyone said about anything then it was their first amendment right to do so. even if it was rude there was nothing wrong with it.

    It's very simple. If someone says Happy Hannakah to me, I'll probably shrug and say "right back atcha". since I'm not Jewish, it really does'nt mean that much to me. The same way me saying Merry Christmas would have meant nothing to him.

    say whatever the fuck you want to anyone, that's your right. But if I were you, I'd leave Merry Christmas for your christian freinds and family. save something more generic for anyone you might not be sure what they celebrate if anything.

    It's the only smart thing to do.
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