[Fr_Chuck]

Yes, they can forbide them from telling you to >>>>>>> but I would not care if they told me a happy ramadan, or even a happy solstice,
( Ok, I would have issues with that Kwanza, but we can address that in a separate thread latter if anyone wants to)

The idea is freedom of religion, not freedom of all but christian religions.

[worthbeads]

I agree, Chuck, employers should not forbid their employees from saying "Merry Christmas" "Happy Ramadan" or simply "Have a nice day". But if one takes issue with that, they should address the organization, not the individual.

That's what I was trying to say.

[Synnen]

I think people are reiterating the same ideas here.

1. Christians want their holiday recognized as the major one of the season.
2. No one believes that saying "Merry Christmas" is the equivalent of a 4 letter word.
3. Non-Christians just want the same respect for THEIR holidays as Christians get. Note that this is NOT saying that Christians should go out of their way to celebrate these other holidays--just that if someone wishes you "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Solstice" it should be taken in the way it's offered, not as an undermining of the Christian faith.


I *would* like to note one thing, here, though: Christian posters have brought up that Christmas is recognized by our government as a secular holiday. This is true, but probably NOT for the reasons you wish. It's not because our government is Christian, and it's not because "everyone essentially celebrates Christmas". It's because, with Christians being in the majority in our country, half of the government employees would call in sick every year on Christmas, and nothing would get done anyway. So--why NOT just give them the day off as one of their 12 holidays, or however many it is.

I worked for the state at one point, in the Admissions office of a major university. As a non-Christian, I was generally the skeleton crew on Christian holidays (INCLUDING Christmas), and in exchange I got MY major holidays off. If you are a non-Christian, there is generally something you can do for your place of business on Christian holidays, and most employers are HAPPY to let you work on Christian holidays in exchange for your own holidays off. One girl always took the 8 days of Hannukah off, and worked the phones the week of Christmas. My boss was happy to let me work a Saturday in exchange for the day after a major celebration (as many of my celebrations are done at night). So--it's NOT because our government is Christian--it's because 81% of the employees wouldn't be there anyway, so it's easier to just schedule it as a day off.