Does this sadden you?

[Samsara]

I was at the mall yesterday and the Salvation Army woman was bending over her knees and looked very tired. So I asked her to sit down, asked for the bell and I started ringing it and repeating what I'd heard her say to the passers by: "Merry Christmas!"

A group of High School aged kids were walking into the store after they heard "Merry Christmas!" and pronounced back at me: "Happy Hannukah!" I replied, "Same to you!" It didn't occur to me until later that that could have been intended as a "sarcastic response." Sera. Perhaps. Perhaps not. But the point being I started questioning myself on PC *holiday terms.*

All this aside but to stress a point of *offense* ... It's not my responsibility to insure people go unoffended. When a person *takes* offense, THEY are the ones taking it. I'm not offering it, necessarily, they're just taking it. If someone wants to be angry because I intend a warm sentiment, they can be angry. It's their anger and they can keep it.

Just like, what comes from my mouth never has anything to do with anyone other than me. NEVER. If I say "Merry Christmas" that obviously means: From where I sit. If someone says "Happy Hannukah" and I need to get uptight because I'm not Jewish well then, I am very sure I was already uptight.

It's about the spirit of intent. If I intend warm wishes and kindness it doesn't matter what falls from my mouth or your mouth to me. If I, however, am intending to *teach* you something or you, me, then the spirit isn't warm wishes but an agenda and I/they don't desire the warm wishes in the first place so they'd/I'd hopefully move on without taking it personally or as any reflection upon themselves/myself.

Merry Christmas,
Samsara

 

[Electric Sceptic]

I was at the mall yesterday and the Salvation Army woman was bending over her knees and looked very tired. So I asked her to sit down, asked for the bell and I started ringing it and repeating what I'd heard her say to the passers by: "Merry Christmas!"

A group of High School aged kids were walking into the store after they heard "Merry Christmas!" and pronounced back at me: "Happy Hannukah!" I replied, "Same to you!" It didn't occur to me until later that that could have been intended as a "sarcastic response." Sera. Perhaps. Perhaps not. But the point being I started questioning myself on PC *holiday terms.*

All this aside but to stress a point of *offense* ... It's not my responsibility to insure people go unoffended. When a person *takes* offense, THEY are the ones taking it. I'm not offering it, necessarily, they're just taking it. If someone wants to be angry because I intend a warm sentiment, they can be angry. It's their anger and they can keep it.

Just like, what comes from my mouth never has anything to do with anyone other than me. NEVER. If I say "Merry Christmas" that obviously means: From where I sit. If someone says "Happy Hannukah" and I need to get uptight because I'm not Jewish well then, I am very sure I was already uptight.

It's about the spirit of intent. If I intend warm wishes and kindness it doesn't matter what falls from my mouth or your mouth to me. If I, however, am intending to *teach* you something or you, me, then the spirit isn't warm wishes but an agenda and I/they don't desire the warm wishes in the first place so they'd/I'd hopefully move on without taking it personally or as any reflection upon themselves/myself.

Merry Christmas,
Samsara

I have to agree with Samsara here. I'm an atheist, and I don't like Xmas...but if somebody wishes me a merry Xmas, I take it in the spirit it's offered, and wish them the same back. I certainly don't get offended...and if I did, that would be my problem, not theirs. Similarly, if someone tells me "God bless you," I don't reply "I don't believe in god!" I thank them, accepting the spirit in which they've said it, not what they've actually said. Again, if I were to get offended, it would be my problem, not theirs. As Samsara said, it's not my job to make sure nobody gets offended at what I say, and it's nobody else's job to ensure that what they say doesn't offend me.

 

[Hydra009]

I have to agree with Samsara here. I'm an atheist, and I don't like Xmas...but if somebody wishes me a merry Xmas, I take it in the spirit it's offered, and wish them the same back. I certainly don't get offended...and if I did, that would be my problem, not theirs. Similarly, if someone tells me "God bless you," I don't reply "I don't believe in god!" I thank them, accepting the spirit in which they've said it, not what they've actually said. Again, if I were to get offended, it would be my problem, not theirs. As Samsara said, it's not my job to make sure nobody gets offended at what I say, and it's nobody else's job to ensure that what they say doesn't offend me.

I agree. Now I see a little about what Evee's talking about - apparently a few people are getting offended by manger scenes and what not - that kind of thing is just plain silly.

 

[FaithfulInHim]

They are now trying to make it clear that it is happy holidays not Merry Christmas.
I know this may sound petty to some.

I heard this on the radio - so many people are concerned with being "politically correct" - whatever. I think it stinks -

People can say Happy Holidays all they want, I'm gonna celebrate CHRISTmas.

 

[Eudaimonist]

Christ is being taken out of christmas?

Christmas (Winter Solstice) celebrations did well enough prior to Christianity, so they should do well enough with Christ taken out in modern times.

No, this doesn't sadden me in the least. Of course, I have no problem with Christians adding Christ to their holiday season if they so choose.

 

[Akasa]

Amen, faithful. I think people have a right to be offended that it is assumed everyone celebrates Christmas in the light of Christ. Christmas isn't christian for everyone. But I am not going to get upset at their offense, they have a right to it, as I have a right to celebrate it in MY faith.

 

[GMRELIC]

I feel as though Christians can always refer to it as Christmas,
and those who are not Christians can refer to it as Happy Hollidays, Seasons Greetings, Holliday season, what ever else they want to refer to it as. I am really no into trying to force people to believe as I do. and it does not offend me if someone doesn't want to refer to it as Christmas because they have different beliefs, but I personally will always refer to it as Christmas, because of my beliefs

 

[Talmidah]

I have to agree with Samsara here. I'm an atheist, and I don't like Xmas...but if somebody wishes me a merry Xmas, I take it in the spirit it's offered, and wish them the same back. I certainly don't get offended...and if I did, that would be my problem, not theirs. Similarly, if someone tells me "God bless you," I don't reply "I don't believe in god!" I thank them, accepting the spirit in which they've said it, not what they've actually said. Again, if I were to get offended, it would be my problem, not theirs. As Samsara said, it's not my job to make sure nobody gets offended at what I say, and it's nobody else's job to ensure that what they say doesn't offend me.

I agree completely with everything you said here, Electric Skeptic.

 

[Talmidah]

Just like, what comes from my mouth never has anything to do with anyone other than me. NEVER. If I say "Merry Christmas" that obviously means: From where I sit. If someone says "Happy Hannukah" and I need to get uptight because I'm not Jewish well then, I am very sure I was already uptight.

I think this is why many people are more comfortable saying "Happy Holidays". To try to offend the people they are wishing well. But then, it turns out, that many Christians seem highly offended by that expression. I am Jewish and just we just finished our celebration of Chanukah. Obviously I could wish fellow Jews a "Happy Chanukah", but should I say that to people of whom I have idea of their religion? Many would be offended if they're not Jewish. So, "Happy Holidays" comes into play. I don't know...If someone wishes me "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays", "Season's Greetings", "Happy Chanukah", whatever...I am just glad for their kindness and well wishes, and wish the same in return.

 

[Electric Sceptic]

I think this is why many people are more comfortable saying "Happy Holidays". To try to offend the people they are wishing well. But then, it turns out, that many Christians seem highly offended by that expression. I am Jewish and just we just finished our celebration of Chanukah. Obviously I could wish fellow Jews a "Happy Chanukah", but should I say that to people of whom I have idea of their religion? Many would be offended if they're not Jewish. So, "Happy Holidays" comes into play. I don't know...If someone wishes me "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays", "Season's Greetings", "Happy Chanukah", whatever...I am just glad for their kindness and well wishes, and wish the same in return.

You could say "Happy Chanukah" to me, and I, who know virtually nothing about Judaism, would smile, thank you, and say "Same to you," or somehing similar. Because it's not about what people say...it's about the spirit behind their words. For me - an atheist - to get offended because you say "Happy Chanukah", or because a christian tells me "Merry Christmas" or because a mutant star-goat worshipper says 'Happy Udder day" or anything else is simply ridiculous. And if I do, it's my problem, not theirs. They have no responsibility or duty to change their greeting based on what I believe (or don't believe).

 

[Talmidah]

You could say "Happy Chanukah" to me, and I, who know virtually nothing about Judaism, would smile, thank you, and say "Same to you," or somehing similar. Because it's not about what people say...it's about the spirit behind their words. For me - an atheist - to get offended because you say "Happy Chanukah", or because a christian tells me "Merry Christmas" or because a mutant star-goat worshipper says 'Happy Udder day" or anything else is simply ridiculous. And if I do, it's my problem, not theirs. They have no responsibility or duty to change their greeting based on what I believe (or don't believe).

If only more people were like you. And perhaps they are. Maybe it is a small group of people who get all in a huff if someone wishes them a well, but mentions the wrong holiday? Anyway, I feel exactly the same way you do when people greet me.

 

[Blackmarch]

Christ is being taken out of christmas?

Yes.

 

[JustJack!]

This PC **** about cencoring Christmas is just as stupid as those morons who try and get Halloween banned year after year. This PC ppl are using "Seperation of Church and State" and their motto, taking it out of context and making all of us Seperations look like idiots, just like the idiots that attack Halloween make Christian look like idiots. There are Extremists on both sides, and they are both equally dangerous.

People can say Happy Holidays all they want, I'm gonna celebrate CHRISTmas.

This however is a problem. I have no problem with Christmas or telling me to have a Merry Christmas, but I don't like it when ppl emphasize "Christ", almost shouting it at me. I don't celebrate Christ's birthday. I celebrate the fact that I get a week off of work to go party and get wasted. Someone says that to me, I'm gonna tell em to take their cross and shove it. No offence intented, just telling you what I think of CHRISTmas.

 

[Electric Sceptic]

If only more people were like you. And perhaps they are. Maybe it is a small group of people who get all in a huff if someone wishes them a well, but mentions the wrong holiday? Anyway, I feel exactly the same way you do when people greet me.

Yes, I think it is a small group who get all in a huff. Sadly, as always, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

 

[Archivist]

I wish people a merry Christmas because that is the holiday that I celebrate. I have Jewish friends who will occassionally wish me a "happy Chanukah" and several agnostic friends who simply say "happy Holidays," and I accept their wishes in the spirit of love in which they are offered.

What annoys me are those Christians who are offended by being told "happy Chanukah" or "happy Yule" or simply "happy Holidays." Why not accept the good wishes of others in the spirit in which they are intended?

 

[jameseb]

I heard this on the radio - so many people are concerned with being "politically correct" - whatever. I think it stinks -

People can say Happy Holidays all they want, I'm gonna celebrate CHRISTmas.

Exactly... me too.


Have a Merry Christmas all!

 

[The Seeker]

I'm guessing this "Happy Holidays" thing is primarily an American thing, because I never hear it outside of tinternet myself. You get a few right wing papers like the Sun going on about how Christmas is being banned or some such rubbish, it always turns out to be lies and exagerations. I've been an atheist pretty much all my life and of all my family, only my grandparents are practising Christians, so its never really an issue for us, we just enjoy Christmas as a time to relax, enjoy each other's company and exchange gifts. I can do without the Christian bits of Christmas myself, but I've gotta say that its a lovely story

Merry Christmas 'yall

 

[Volos]

And a joyous Yule to you jameseb

 

[Evee]

And a joyous Yule to you jameseb

What offends me is taking away our free speech and the politically correct stuff.
I believe we should be able to say happy anything without censoring.
This is what saddens me.

 

[twenty1blakjack]

Christ is being taken out of christmas?

Christmas started as a Pagan holiday. I'd love to see Christmas become more of a holiday about peace, joy, family, gifts and the like. It's heading that route anyway.