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Home > Forum Community > Member Discussions > Religious Discussions   »   "Happy Holidays"?

 
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Old Nov 20, 2007, 01:36 PM
fallen2grace's Avatar
fallen2grace
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"Happy Holidays"?

Okay, I wanted more opinions on this. My mom got this email and sent it to me:

Quote:
'Twas the month before Christmas when all through our
land, Not a Christian was praying nor taking a stand.

Why the PC Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the
teachers would say December 25th is just a " Holiday".

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and
credit Pushing folks down to the floor just to get at it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa In hopes to
sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets are hanging their trees upside down, At
Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears You won't
hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-is-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen On
Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Hillary Clinton !

At the top of the Senate, there arose
such a clatter To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith,
Forbidden to speak, of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate "Winter Break" under your
"DreamTree" Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.


Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

I would rather say Happy whatever for each holiday then just say "Happy Holidays"
If people get so offended by saying "Merry Chirstmas" Dont they know that some people get offended if you say Happy Holidays? What do you guys think?

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Old Nov 20, 2007, 05:46 PM   #11  
CaptainRich
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck
in the stores where they say happy holidays, I ask them "what holidays"
and I won't just leave, I make them tell me exactly what are they wishing me. yes I am a pain
Make them, in the stores, understand the trapping of what they are tryin to sell us. If they don't acknowledge the purpose of the holiday, then try shopping somewhere else. This isn't supposed to be a commercial holiday!!!

I'll stick with,
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
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Old Nov 20, 2007, 06:19 PM   #12  
Wangdoodle
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When someone says Happy Holidays to me I just say Merry Christmas back. It does bother me to hear "Happy Holidays" instead of a specific celebrated day, but I don't get too worked up over it. I guess because I get where they are coming from. When the topic of the "Holiday party" comes up at work, I make a point of always calling it the Christmas party. I think people at work get where I am coming from too.

I guess I'm saying if you celebrate Christmas then say it. If you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanza, or any other religious event, then say it and be proud!

Comments on this post
Jesushelper76 agrees: Exactly.
MoonlitWaves agrees: Yes
margog85 agrees: I suppose-but the point of wishing someone ELSE something is not to wish them a happy whatever-you-celebrate... it's not about what YOU celebrate, it's wishing the other well in their celebration of what is important to them.
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Old Nov 21, 2007, 12:16 PM   #13  
fallen2grace
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck
in the stores where they say happy holidays, I ask them "what holidays"
and I won't just leave, I make them tell me exactly what are they wishing me. yes I am a pain


Right on! ^__^

Last year my mom went to a dollar store and the lady said "Happy Holidays" my mom started to say it then said "No! Its Merry Christmas. Have a Merry Christmas!" And she looked shocked and then said "Merry Christmas" The stores tell them to say that! Thats unbelivable. I get offended when they say it.
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Old Nov 21, 2007, 12:49 PM   #14  
NeedKarma
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Happy Hanukkah!
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Old Nov 21, 2007, 12:51 PM   #15  
silentrascal
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Why bother saying anything other than "hello" or "have a nice day" at all? You never know who does or doesn't celebrate the holidays, so isn't it a safe bet that everyone would rather just hear those common, regular greetings?
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Old Nov 23, 2007, 12:05 PM   #16  
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I really disagree with a lot of the anger and frustration revolving around this issue.

Here in the US, your can NO LONGER PRETEND TO BE MARTYRS FOR YOUR BELIEFS. THE WORLD IS NOT OUT TO GET YOU. STOP LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT!

Nobody is picking on you by trying to include others who don't agree with you or share your beliefs. Nobody is putting down your holiday by not saying it by name- they're simply acknowledging the fact that our country is not a Theocracy, not everyone celebrates Christmas- so why make that assumption?

People who are shopping at this time of year could be doing so for a number of reasons- how is a store associate supposed to know what religion each customer they encounter is a member of, which holiday each customer celebrates and how to adequately wish that customer an enjoyable holiday season? And, on top of that, why give the associate a hard time? If you're so against the consumerism of the season, why would you put a minimum wage over-worked employee through hell for a policy that they didn't implement, and which they would likely lose their jobs for breaking? That's just the spirit of christmas these days, I suppose, hmm?

I would think it odd for someone to wish me a merry christmas if I were in a store- how do they know I'm not Jewish? Muslim? Or hell, even an atheist?

I would be insulted that someone would make an assumption about my religious beliefs, and actually am happy that people use more generic terms when wishing me well. In a situation where we don't have much time to get to know someone on a personal level, a wish of happiness during a season where many people are celebrating SOMETHING is welcome in my book.

Demanding that everyone acknowledge that it's the CHRISTMAS season implies that there is very little respect for those of other religious beliefs- while it may be the christmas season for you, it is NOT for everyone else. When do others get to demand, say, the Happy Chaunnuka they deserve? Are their beliefs not as signifcant as yours?

Why people focus so much on this is beyond me. Do you think Jesus would really give two s if people said 'Merry Christmas', 'Happy Channuka', 'Happy Ramadan', 'Happy Quanza', 'Happy Winter Solstice'... as long as they were being good to one another, loving eachother, and wishing eachother well? Would Jesus become as irate as many Christians I've seen over this issue?

We have no right and no place to mandate the religious beliefs of others- nor to mandate the holidays other people celebrate- so why make generalizations that may offend others? If you're offended by not being acknowledge directly, imagine the offense to those who are directly excluded in a 'Merry Christmas' wish-

Please.

I really think that there are bigger battles to fight than this, don't you?

Comments on this post
ordinaryguy agrees: Well said. Thank you.
RubyPitbull agrees: EXACTLY!
Synnen agrees: Thank you!
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Old Nov 23, 2007, 12:54 PM   #17  
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You'll all be happy to know my local Target has very large "Merry Christmas" signs hanging in the store.

You'll also be happy to know that not once did I verbally abuse an employee, nor complain to the management for their obvious commitment to one religion over others. I paid for my snow boots and went on my way.
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Old Nov 23, 2007, 02:15 PM   #18  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by margog85
I really disagree with a lot of the anger and frustration revolving around this issue.

Here in the US, your can NO LONGER PRETEND TO BE MARTYRS FOR YOUR BELIEFS. THE WORLD IS NOT OUT TO GET YOU. STOP LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT!

Nobody is picking on you by trying to include others who don't agree with you or share your beliefs. Nobody is putting down your holiday by not saying it by name- they're simply acknowledging the fact that our country is not a Theocracy, not everyone celebrates Christmas- so why make that assumption?

People who are shopping at this time of year could be doing so for a number of reasons- how is a store associate supposed to know what religion each customer they encounter is a member of, which holiday each customer celebrates and how to adequately wish that customer an enjoyable holiday season? And, on top of that, why give the associate a hard time? If you're so against the consumerism of the season, why would you put a minimum wage over-worked employee through hell for a policy that they didn't implement, and which they would likely lose their jobs for breaking? That's just the spirit of christmas these days, I suppose, hmm?

I would think it odd for someone to wish me a merry christmas if I were in a store- how do they know I'm not Jewish? Muslim? Or hell, even an atheist?

I would be insulted that someone would make an assumption about my religious beliefs, and actually am happy that people use more generic terms when wishing me well. In a situation where we don't have much time to get to know someone on a personal level, a wish of happiness during a season where many people are celebrating SOMETHING is welcome in my book.

Demanding that everyone acknowledge that it's the CHRISTMAS season implies that there is very little respect for those of other religious beliefs- while it may be the christmas season for you, it is NOT for everyone else. When do others get to demand, say, the Happy Chaunnuka they deserve? Are their beliefs not as signifcant as yours?

Why people focus so much on this is beyond me. Do you think Jesus would really give two s if people said 'Merry Christmas', 'Happy Channuka', 'Happy Ramadan', 'Happy Quanza', 'Happy Winter Solstice'... as long as they were being good to one another, loving eachother, and wishing eachother well? Would Jesus become as irate as many Christians I've seen over this issue?

We have no right and no place to mandate the religious beliefs of others- nor to mandate the holidays other people celebrate- so why make generalizations that may offend others? If you're offended by not being acknowledge directly, imagine the offense to those who are directly excluded in a 'Merry Christmas' wish-

Please.

I really think that there are bigger battles to fight than this, don't you?

Who said it was a big deal? We were simply discussing it.
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Old Nov 23, 2007, 02:21 PM   #19  
margog85
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Refusing to leave a store until some tells you what holiday they're wishing is happy... leaving stores where people aren't wished a merry christmas...
That's making a big deal out of it.
Making people uncomfortable for trying to be inclusive-
is that really the christian thing to do?
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Old Nov 23, 2007, 03:31 PM   #20  
fallen2grace
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Quote:
Originally Posted by margog85
Refusing to leave a store until some tells you what holiday they're wishing is happy... leaving stores where people aren't wished a merry christmas...
That's making a big deal out of it.
Making people uncomfortable for trying to be inclusive-
is that really the christian thing to do?


The larger majority of people celebrate Chirstmas. Thats why alot of people are fustrated.
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