Happy Holidays?

Mishaela

Mishaela

Too French to Care
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This is something I've been wanting to discuss with everyone for a while, since frankly, it bugs the unmerciful hell out of me.

For a while I noticed stores will begrudgingly say "Happy Holidays!" rather than "Merry Christmas", "Happy Hanukkah", or something silly such as "Christmahanukawanzakah". Why? Apparently people are offended and consider it "forcing religion upon one another".

When I was little, if someone was a different religion, they'd reply with their own version and everyone would happily go on their own way. e.g. one person says "Happy Hanukkah", other smiles and says "Merry Christmas", and both go on their way, all the happier for the season. Yet nowadays people are attempting to file lawsuits and every such pigcrappery because they find it offensive. Frankly, it seems like people are seriously [seriously] going out of their way to find any reason possible to be offended by and/or sue each other for the most ludicrous of reasons.

I don't in any way see this as "forcing religion" upon one another. On the contrary, forcing everyone to NOT speak of their religion and accept eachother during this time seems to be stepping in the wrong direction, and is promoting religious intolerance more than anything. It's a peaceful and celebratory time of year, regardless of what religion [if any] you're in, why does it seem as though people are going out of their way to castrate the meaning of it?

Discuss?
 
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Oh but it's only politically correct don't ya know...

I think it's ridiculous, and you're right, people are going out of their way to be offended. It's almost as if everyone WANTS to walk around livid and pissed off at the world. Our teenage angst behind us, now for our adult temper tantrums.

I was raised wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years, that just rolls off my tongue so comfortably. I can never recall even getting a bad glance from saying that to anyone.

We're too high strung, and as far as lawsuits go, looking for the easy buck imo. Disgusting.


so... without delay

Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

I hope your Holidays are wonderful..







(no offense)
 
This is going to be another religious debate ._.; /sigh.

I have no problem saying Happy <insert religion here> and other people whether they be Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish, have no problem saying Merry Christmas.

The Holiday is the supposed birth of Jesus Christ (of course, as is always mentioned, no one knows the exact day). If you don't want to celebrate it, by all means, don't. But don't force schools/businesses/etc. to call Christmas by another name when they do not change the name of any other religions Holiday. All or none, don't discriminate.
 
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The "Happy Holidays" might be a by product of marketing as well since a company does not want to "seem" to cater to a particular faith. Case in point, when I used to work at Starbucks the Christmas Blend was changed to Holiday Blend to cater to all faiths. I never thought to deeply on the subject since I didn't care much for the politically correct way of doing things.

In all honesty I have yet to come across a Jewish friend, for example, that was offended whenever I told them Merry Christmas. In a different but similar subject the U.S. Census labels my ethnicity incorrectly but I don't get offended by it. You would be surprised at how difficult it is to say my ethnicity correctly. Dumb it down for the masses I guess.
 
This whole "War on Christmas" thing is the biggest load of horseshit and it comes up every single year.

Christians, you have to accept that you are not the only game in town anymore. Businesses and people are not automatically required to act as though December is all about you you you and your mythical savior. I know you don't like hearing it, but you are not entitled to all due deference just because your religion highjacked the Winter Solstice to make it more palatable to conquered nations and their heathen ways.

Having said all that, "Happy Holidays" recognizes Thanksgiving, New Years, and all the other stuff that clusters around the end of the year. When someone says "Happy Holidays," they are not deliberately farting in Jesus' face or trying to be politically correct. It's a completely interchangeable phrase. Why don't just be thankful they recognize there's a holiday in the first place?
 
Myrrh!! <3 Jeff Dunham!!! That was great!
As for the whole Christmas/Holiday greetings etc. Just *sigh* To each his own I guess. If people want to get upset, they're going find something to get upset about!
 
Halifirien said:
I know you don't like hearing it, but you are not entitled to all due deference just because your religion highjacked the Winter Solstice to make it more palatable to conquered nations and their heathen ways.
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Best answer possible.
 
Halifirien said:
Christians, you have to accept that you are not the only game in town anymore.
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We never claimed to be. Who on earth would have said that. Other religions don't get their name edited on calendars or in schools. If you want to say "Happy Holidays" and yell at children when they use the "horrible" word Christmas (the Highschool my dad taught at suspended one of his students for refusing to say "Winter Break" instead of "Christmas Break") that's your beef. I will continue to say "Merry Christmas", because it is Christmas.
 
Mirewen said:
We never claimed to be. Who on earth would have said that. Other religions don't get their name edited on calendars or in schools. If you want to say "Happy Holidays" and yell at children when they use the "horrible" word Christmas (the Highschool my dad taught at suspended one of his students for refusing to say "Winter Break" instead of "Christmas Break") that's your beef. I will continue to say "Merry Christmas", because it is Christmas.
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In my experience, the only people who complain about "Happy Holidays" are Christians who treat respect as though it's a zero sum game where respecting the sensibilities of other groups and religions can only happen by taking away the respect and privilige Christians have enjoyed for decades.

This thread may as well have started with "Remember the good old days? When Christians were always dominant and the other faiths had the sense to keep their traps shut about it?"

It used to be a given in the United States that kids in public schools would sit in their classrooms and have to listen to the school principal read from the Bible over the intercom and lead them in morning prayer. I'm glad that crap was (mostly) long gone before I got to that age. Just like it used to be a given that schools were all about Christmas.

Well, schools aren't automatically indocrinating children into Christianity anymore. It doesn't bother me that Christmas vacation is now "winter break" or whatever they're calling it now.

Sorry, but this all about Christians indulging their persecution complex because they resent it that the culture at large is becoming more secular and neutral toward their claims.

You don't have my sympathies.
 
I'm atheist and I just prefer saying Merry Christmas. I grew up on Merry Christmas and it just reminds me of a fun childhood.
 
Honestly? Who cares what you call it?! As long as the well wishing is there, and the spirit is in the message, who cares what you say?

Realistically, Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and whatever else, are all descended from the same beliefs (they are all offshoots of the same thing), so is it that unconceivable that another religion has a celebration in the same time?

I find "Happy Holidays" to be more in the spirit of late December than "Merry Christmas". "Happy Holidays" wishes good tidings to *everyone* celebrating *anything*. "Merry Christmas" is pretty specific. It also gives a connotation of not well wishing anyone who isn't celebrating Christmas, much in the same way that some Hybrid drivers act to those that don't drive Hybrids.

Anyone who gets offended by the same message, regardless of what the words are, need to seriously think about what the season means to them.
 
This whole 'Happy Holidays' thing is just another product of human laziness. Perhaps soley American laziness, since we pretty much managed to market it. Instead of acknowledging other religions special time of the year, because.. of course they all happen on December 25th ...right. >_>;

Oh well, it's too much trouble to remember all those silly religions, but oh.. wait we still know they're there and ....ooooh we don't wanna belittle them by acknowledging Christmas as the almighty holiday of the season (EVEN THOUGH IT IS). *sarcasm, for you that can't tell*

I don't know about you guys, but I only get Holiday pay for Christmas, not Hanukka or Kwanzaa or any other holiday that falls around this very same time.

I care not for anything Christian and even though Christmas may have originated as a Christian holiday, I certainly don't see it as that and I haven't for a very long time. Santa totally trumps the fuck out of Jesus Christ during Christ-mas. Isn't it wonderful. Isn't it great paying tribute to an old fat man that just happens to fancy the color red? I thought so too. I love that tubby old bastard, he gives people stuff, magic stuff, that they wanted.. or maybe didn't want. But hey, it's okay 'cause he totally fucking rules and you got free shit, right? Of course Santa has as much validity as Jesus, but with the added bonus that you get free shit once a year and it's not your birthday too! OMG! (Well.. okay, except for you unfortunate people that were born around or on December 25th, sucks to be you.)

Boiled down to the core all Christmas is, is a mass marketing tool to stimulate the economy by the consumers.... in which they buy gifts or presents for friends, family and loved ones in the guise of the season of sharing or giving.

Tell me, what's so 'sharing' about getting people presents who don't deserve jack shit. Or people you have no idea about. They certainly wouldn't do the same for you, but then, why.. why should we be asked to give a rats ass about them. (Them being simply people you do not know/have never met. Or even seen.)

Now I know, Oh, the spirit of giving. Isn't that such a sack of horseshit? Give selflessly so... so... Well.. so what? That I can believe my soul will go to some made up place when I die? Haha.. that's funny. Tell me the person that's gone to heaven and come back to tell about it. Oh wait, you can't.. you know, because they're dead.

Okay, my rants done for now. I'm sure I'll have more later, but for now I should call it a night. I have to work in the morning anyway.
 
Ecks said:
I'm just a big old Grinch!
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I'm sorry to hear that.

Speaking as a non-Christian, I don't find "Merry Christmas!" offensive. Someone is basically telling you to have a nice day. I can understand a friend or acquaintance correcting with a friendly "I celebrate whatever holiday, but thanks! Merry Christmas to you too!" If it's someone you don't know, like a cashier or something, it's not even worth correcting them. Just reply with a "Thank you, you too!" and go about your business. There's no reason for anyone to get all huffy and offended when someone is simply trying to be nice and polite.
 
Halifirien said:
This thread may as well have started with "Remember the good old days? When Christians were always dominant and the other faiths had the sense to keep their traps shut about it?"
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Just to see you ruffle your feathers, and because the 2x4 on your shoulder says it will, I'll say "damn, those were some good old days."

Halifirien said:
You don't have my sympathies.
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Don't want them, didn't ask for them, don't need them.



I have said "Merry Christmas" for as long as I can remember, I will continue to say "Merry Christmas" to every shopkeep, grocer, cashier, busboy, member of wait staff, coworker, family member, friend, etc until I die, unless I know they celebrate something else. In which case, I'll use their favorite holiday of choice.
 
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Some schools I know don't sing christmas songs because it's 'unethical'

Fuck off. Singing Christmas songs with all my friends as a kid as we had the pass the parcel on the last day of 'little' school was one of my best school memories.
 
It doesn't ruffle my feathers at all. I don't crusade against "Merry Christmas." I say it and I celebrate the holiday (albeit in a secular way). I grew up in a Christian house, surrounded by Christian people, in the Bible Belt. It's part of the culture and I'm comfortable with it.

My point is that I view "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" as a completely interchangeable statement of good cheer. The only people I ever hear bitching about "Happy Holidays" are Christians who fear they're losing their grip on society and resent it that other faiths (and non-faiths) finally have some clout.
 
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Halifirien said:
It doesn't ruffle my feathers at all. I don't crusade against "Merry Christmas." I say it and I celebrate the holiday (albeit in a secular way). I grew up in a Christian house, surrounded by Christian people, in the Bible Belt. It's part of the culture and I'm comfortable with it.

My point is that I view "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" as a completely interchangeable statement of good cheer. The only people I ever hear bitching about "Happy Holidays" are Christians who fear they're losing their grip on society and resent it.
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I dunno, I remember seeing a story last year about a Jewish man (I don't think he was a Rabbi, but I could very well be mistaken), who jokingly said to a store clerk "hey, why isn't there a Menorah?", when he saw that there was a sizable Christmas Tree in the lobby of the store.

A day later, the store's management had the tree removed. Upon returning to the store, the man expressed his distaste for the removal of the tree, and the management cited "being sensitive to other [cultures, religions, what have you]". The man (being sensible and not lawsuit-happy) wrote a letter of complaint to the store's owner explaining, in so many words, that removal of any decorations was not in the "Holiday spirit", much less the "Christmas spirit" and that no representation of any icons during the season doesn't necessarily mean equal representation.

I'll say that sure, in the safety net of fear of being sued, "Happy Holidays" is a good catchall. If someone's so worried about being slapped with summons because they fail to wish someone Happy Winter-een-mas, then power to them. I'll elect to say "Merry Christmas" and expect my "Merry [insert their holiday here]" in return, and not a "well, I never!"

I think the only people who think it's insensitive to say "Merry Christmas", "Happy Hanukah", or "A Very Pleasant Boxing Day to You" and (note the bold) seek lawsuits for it are people with too much time on their hands, and a serious complex.
 
I'm sure the Rabbi didn't want to be seen as a Grinch. The manager could've just as easily put up a Menorah and kept the tree, but then they'd probably have to deal with irate Christians who resent "equal time."

Look at what's going on in Olympia. State officials decided it would be best to share the public space so that it's not just Christianity being singled out as worthy, and now they're getting a Festivus pole and a display from an atheist group. It's not atheists and Seinfeld fans who are complaining about this, but Christians who don't think other viewpoints should be included and are horrified the state isn't exclusively celebrating Jesus.
 
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