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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?
I don't have the time right now to go through all of that- there were a number of things I'd like to respond to, and will attempt to do so when I have the time.
My point is still that hearing someone you don't even know say 'Merry Christmas' should be of little concern- it's not what people say that is important, it's how they behave. Black Friday, for example, when people line up outside of stores at 5am and trample each other to get the best deals- the commercialization of Christmas- the way that it has turned into a consumer frenzy and the true meaning of the holiday is often merely a backdrop to the commercial aspect.
Hearing an under-paid store associate say 'Merry Christmas' to you while you're overloaded with bags full of unnecessary material items... and then becoming offended in an instance where they don't say it... it just does not make sense to me. Why preach the gospel while simultaneously being a hypocrite and feeding into the commercialism of your sacred holiday? Why not protest the commercialization of Christmas by refusing to excessively buy gifts or protesting stores that push materialism and lines of credit and deep discounts to rope in consumers- instead of feeding into all of that, and then complaining when those same companies fail to recognize Christmas in other ways? They are already distorting the true meaning of the holiday anyway.
The simple words 'Merry Christmas' don't hold as much significance as the actions of people this time of year. That's where the focus should be- but it's not.
In the words of St. Francis of Assisi-
'Preach the gospel wherever you go- and if you must, even use words.'
Wow. 14 pages already?
Iv been thinking. The stores provide Christmas lights, Christmas trees, Christmas Decorations. Do other holidays in December use these items? Hanukkah? Nope. Kwanza? Nope. So While the stores are trying not to offend anyone by saying Merry Christmas. Arnt they really offending them by having Christmas things, excuse me, Holiday things in their store? I dont know about you, But I havent seen any items for Kwanza or Hanukkah at Walmart or Target.
Even as someone who doesn't believe in any religion, I see nothing wrong with saying, "Merry Christmas!". The only time it's a problem is when you can't know someone's religious affiliation. I mean, how would Christians like it if everyone assumed they were Jewish and wished them a happy Hannakuh?
This is just common sense and I can't see why people get so offended. It's not just non-Christians getting offended by being told to have a merry christmas, it's Christians being offended by being told to say, happy holidays if they aren't sure. Is that REALLY so hard? If you don't know, what's so wrong or hard about simply saying happy holidays? Geesh!
Is there anything wrong with Christians saying Merry Christmas, Jews saying Happy Hannukah, and whoever else wishing happy whatever? Why can't we just say what our beliefs are and leave it?
margog I had to spread some more rep; but I think you have identified the troll in this conversation, point by point!
Lol! You're funny!
Here is the definition in google:
Participate on a mailing list or discussion board long enough and you'll find that there are certain people who pop in and add messages that are either diametrically opposed to the shared values of the group or subtly insulting or demeaning. If the author is just offensive, well, there are people like that everywhere, unfortunately. They're just, well, offensive.
Lets see who fits this description, you or I?
people who pop in and add messages that are either diametrically opposed to the shared values of the group
I'm a Christian on a Christian thread giving my Chrstian perspective on the matter of whether to say "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas".
You are a nonChristian on a Christian thread disagreeing with Christians.
Is there anything wrong with Christians saying Merry Christmas, Jews saying Happy Hannukah, and whoever else wishing happy whatever? Why can't we just say what our beliefs are and leave it?
Just to clarify:
I hope you mean Christians saying Merry Christmas to other Christians, and Jews saying Happy Hannukah to other Jews. Surely you're not suggesting that a Christian wish a Jewish person a Merry Christman and visa-versa, are you?
I don't have the time right now to go through all of that- there were a number of things I'd like to respond to, and will attempt to do so when I have the time.
Whenever you have time is fine with me.
Quote:
My point is still that hearing someone you don't even know say 'Merry Christmas' should be of little concern- it's not what people say that is important, it's how they behave. ...
Ok, so it seems we're starting over. But keep in mind my point is we should vote with our dollars.
Are you asking me to comment on your point above?
Are you saying that we as Christians should put ourselves in the position of judging whether someone is worthy of saying, "Merry Christmas"?
Are you saying that if a person who appears to be a Hindu comes up to me and says, "Merry Christmas!", I should say, "Stop that, you aren't worthy to utter those words!"
But as Christians we are told by the Master not to judge, lest we be judged. So that would go against our religion.
In addition, I don't see any reason why a nonChristian can't wish me a "Merry Christmas".
Quote:
Black Friday, for example, when people line up outside of stores at 5am and trample each other to get the best deals- the commercialization of Christmas- the way that it has turned into a consumer frenzy and the true meaning of the holiday is often merely a backdrop to the commercial aspect.
You are off topic.
The issue is not whether people are hypocrites, nor whether Christmas is being commercialized, nor whether Christmas has become a consumer frenzy.
The issue is, should we be offended by someone saying "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays".
My answer is no. But vote your preference with your dollars.
Quote:
Hearing an under-paid store associate say 'Merry Christmas' to you while you're overloaded with bags full of unnecessary material items... and then becoming offended in an instance where they don't say it... it just does not make sense to me.
Nor to me.
Quote:
Why preach the gospel while simultaneously being a hypocrite and feeding into the commercialism of your sacred holiday?
We are not being hypocrites when we preach the Gospel in or out of season. That means that we preach the Gospel when its convenient and when its inconvenient.
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Why not protest the commercialization of Christmas by refusing to excessively buy gifts
Most Christians that I know already do so. But "excessive" is a relative term.
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or protesting stores that push materialism and lines of credit and deep discounts to rope in consumers- instead of feeding into all of that, and then complaining when those same companies fail to recognize Christmas in other ways?
Because we place the blame where it belongs. No one is twisting anyone's arm to get into debt. It is ultimately the individual's responsibility to watch his budget.
Quote:
They are already distorting the true meaning of the holiday anyway.
We are working on that one also. For years, Christians havebeen concerned about the over commercialization of Christmas. Probably for decades.
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The simple words 'Merry Christmas' don't hold as much significance as the actions of people this time of year. That's where the focus should be- but it's not.
I think you are over reacting to one little thread on a little forum on the internet. If you go to Church, to prayer services or to Mass, you will find that many times Christians speak of these concerns. In fact, I've never heard a homily on whether to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays", but I have heard many on focusing on Jesus during this tumultous part of the year.
Quote:
In the words of St. Francis of Assisi-
'Preach the gospel wherever you go- and if you must, even use words.'
St. Francis is a wonderful Saint and one of my favorites. But St. Francis is not the Church. And the Church is calling us to evangelize by word as well as works.
Why not? If someone said Happy Hannukah to me, I would say Merry Christmas to them.
I suppose... As long as you wouldn't be offended and just trying to offend him back.
What if someone said happy roshashana, or yom kippur to you? Now you have no comparitive holiday to respond in kind to. Would you be offended that this person assumed you were Jewish and celebrated Roshashana? Just being the devil's advocate here.
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