When all is said and done, I couldn't care less what nonbelievers say or do at Christmastime.
Posted on 12/21/2004 9:26:30 AM PST by Enterprise1788
Greetings get too generic Tuesday, December 21, 2004
By DEREK STRAHAN Monson High
It's the Christmas season again, and once again political correctness is rearing its ugly head.
I'm not sure if this particular form of PC is new, or if I just haven't noticed it, but it seems that whenever I put on the TV or radio, ads will always say "Happy Holidays," "Seasons Greetings," "Holiday Sale," or some other phrase that is so generic it does not actually specify what holidays are being celebrated, or what season is being celebrated, for that matter.
Now, I understand that there are several different holidays, such as Ramadan, Hanukkah, and Christmas that are all celebrated within about a month of each other. So, in order to avoid offending anyone by saying such a ghastly thing as "Merry Christmas," most people will end up hearing "Happy Holidays."
This would be great, if we lived somewhere where there was no one holiday that was more celebrated than the other. However, the truth is that most people in the United States, regardless of whether they are Christians or not, celebrate Christmas. It's a federal holiday, and most businesses are closed, regardless of the religious affiliation of the owners or employees.
However, since the phrase "Happy Holidays" appears to be the politically correct way of greeting someone this time of year, Christmas in a way looses some of its meaning.
Instead of being recognized as the day that Jesus Christ was born, it is now just another "holiday."
Don't get me wrong; I'm not saying that other religious holidays are not important; I would see no problem in someone using the phrase "Happy Hanukkah" in a place with a large Jewish population.
While I am not Jewish, I would not take offense to this, I would expect it, since most people in that particular community would celebrate Hanukkah.
Think of it this way suppose Americans decided that rather than saying "Happy Independence Day" on July 4, we should say "Happy Summer Holiday" to avoid offending any native Canadians who may be listening. After all, their independence day is only a few days before July 4, so why not adopt a more generic form of celebrating national independence?
Additionally, the only major holiday between now and the end of the year is Christmas, yet we still continue to hear "Happy Holidays."
Even though both Ramadan and Hanukkah are over, people still feel the need to change Christmas from a celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior to a "holiday."
Not even a specific holiday, just a "holiday."
To me, however, one of the most blatant anti-Christian forms of political correctness seems to occur every Christmas Day, when some newspapers run banners above the title on the front page saying either "Happy Holidays," or "Seasons Greetings."
Saying "Happy Holidays" during the month of December in place of "Merry Christmas" is annoying enough, but when reputable newspapers refuse to recognize it even on Dec, 25, it's an insult to Christians. It suggests newspaper don't even recognize it as Christmas, but instead just a randomly chosen day on which to proclaim winter cheer to their readers.
I can only assume that the reasoning must be that, in order to avoid offending someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas, people instead resort to a more generic expression. But why would someone get offended? What is so offensive about someone wishing someone else a good time on Dec. 25?
Again, if I were in a country where the majority of people celebrated a holiday other than Christmas, someone wishing me a "Happy Ramadan" or "Happy Hanukkah" would not offend me. I would take it as an expression of goodwill and leave it at that.
Message should be of unity Tuesday, December 21, 2004
By ALEX DALSEY Longmeadow High
While I respect my colleague Derek Strahan, I must disagree with him on almost all points of his argument.
Happy Holidays is meant to be a greeting that promotes unity and well wishing during a time of the year where our culture tries to put aside our petty differences and unify as people who are generally good.
Why one would attempt to break this phrase in favor of one that divides is beyond me.
Now, don't mistake me. I don't think people should be forced to use Happy Holidays amongst themselves.
When you belong to a religious denomination and are addressing someone else who shares that denomination, then there's no reason not to use your customized greeting of choice (Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or otherwise).
However, it is in good taste for corporations or businesses, who interact with people of many nationalities, to use Happy Holidays.
With regards to there being a significant difference between Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas, I fail to see it.
Both convey a virtually identical wish, except that Merry Christmas extends to Christians, and Happy Holidays extends to all denominations.
Should businesses be required to say Happy Holidays?
No, of course not. If we move into that reign, we can easily be accused of being fascist.
Part of the beauty of this nation is that we have the choice to do as we will. The owners of the company, if they feel strongly about the subject, should be able to do as they wish with regards to a slogan.
But it's simply bad policy to include a message that excludes and potentially offends a percentage of possible customers. The majority of people in our area are indeed Christians. But that does not mean that it gives Christianity the right to tout itself over other religions.
Part of what makes this country great is the freedom from religious persecution that it offers. Now, a choice in holiday slogans isn't persecution. No one goes home psychologically damaged because of seeing Christmas on a banner instead of Ramadan or Kwanza. (I do try to walk the middle path in these things you know.)
However, using the majority's choice in this matter is an issue of unnecessary division.
Derek makes an extremely interesting point when he brings up "Happy Summer Holiday."
That is indeed a convincing point, that bears similarity to the situation in which we find ourselves now.
However, he misses one key difference between the two. Independence Day is a celebration of a national event. It is meant to be accessible to citizens of the United States, and it's celebrated within the United States. The only people who would be offended are illegal immigrants or vacationing citizens of other countries.
The issue we currently face is one that discriminates on a religious basis, something defined as unacceptable by the constitution. All of us (or all of us who are reasonable) agree with that. But the final question I really have to ask is Why?
Why does one feel the need to replace Happy Holidays? I'm still scratching my head on that one. Happy Holidays though.
When all is said and done, I couldn't care less what nonbelievers say or do at Christmastime.
See my tagline...
WHAT holidays? 4th of July, Memorial Day?
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!
On Unity I believe there can be no unity with the
unrighteous.One cannot drink from the Lords cup and from
the cup of devils.(I believe th eapostle Paul wrote as much)
Whatever one says to me--is theirs--my response is my own.
I choose Merry Christmas--And if unbeleivers are offended
by my utterance I have No control over such. As for me and my house we will serve th eLord--and will keep Christ in
Christmas.
True that, but the young man makes an excellent point. Christians are not only made to feel they can't express joy over this special religious holiday without making others 'uncomfortable' but that they must secularize it to be 'tolerant', and many Christians are actually stressing the cultural/secular aspects as a way to make others feel 'less uncomfortable'.
As I've said before, here in my small town where most people are Christian and a large majority of them Catholic, you would think that Christmas is a joyous religious celebration. Think again. I have been greeted with 'Happy Holidays' in the choir loft at Midnight Mass (attendance light) and in my own parish office! Aaaaargh. After all, (sarcasm) if we Christians are to celebrate Christmas, it should be as a Happy 'holiday' of generic, fluffy, non-specific nature, not (whisper) religious. Far too many believers are made to feel guilty, or allow themselves to, for celebrating Christmas and are assimilating to the pc police demands to secularize it. Further weakening any religious aspects.
Is it my imagination or am I hearing more and more people refer to Christmas as 'the holidays'. Like it can't be referred to by name, even when talking about Christmas specific things like Santa. No one really mentions the Nativity. What holiday? Whose? When? Who knows! I watched a FoodTV special on the Holidays. I expected to see all the major seasonal holidays represented - Chanukah, Kwanzaa, New Years and Christmas and they were. Although all were shown equally festive and each was shown in context and called by name, Christmas was singled out and referred to as 'the holidays'.
Merry Christmas!
I know what ya mean.
I find myself in a business setting when I encounter a person of unknown religious affiliation responding to his "Happy Holidays" wish with "Happy Holy Days" with a distinct separation and pronounciation of the two words. It seemed like a good compromise. If I know he's Christian, I'll respond with "Merry Christmas" even if he says "Happy Holidays".
I've instructed my office staff that under no circumstances are they to utter "Happy Holidays" in my office!
I know of and have not read about anyone who has ever expressed offense at any referral to Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanza and the like. It seems it is only the reference to Christmas that causes some folks to grab their chests and reel about in some obscene parody of an epileptic fit.
As Glenn Beck would say, "Happy RamaHanuKwanzMas"
However, nowadays if you happen to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year," some hypersensitive Christians are liable to brand you a PC secularist (or worse).
That's just sad.
I, too, always respond "Merry Christmas" when addressing other known Christians. I have to admit there are business settings where Happy Holidays is generally more appropriate. I haven't tried 'Holy Days' yet, but it does seem like a good compromise.
Yes and no. There are probably those who see this as a politically correct phrase that also diminishes Christ's birth. However, the bigger issue is between Thanksgiving and New Years, including those holidays, there are many celebrations taking place. Happy Holidays encompasses them all, Thanksgiving, Kwanza, Hannuka, Christmas, Boxer Day and New Years and any other holiday that may fall between the last Thursday in November and the First day of the New Year.
The more I read these pieces, the more I believe they are designed to whip up an already anxious group of people, namely evangelical and fundamentalist Christians when it may largely be something about nothing. And yes I'm a believer and I do say Merry Christmas when I meet and great someone.
I remember how upset my mother would get when people would say Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays. I was just a kid 30 years ago, but she felt strongly, and appears to have been right, that glossing the 2 together (when not referring to the week of the 2) would somehow end up diminishing Christmas. And it has. Ironically, I have been greeted with "Happy Holidays" and a follow up, "and a Happy New Year". Now wait, I think, isn't the 'holidays' a communal Christmas/New Year thing, yet some feel to follow up with Happy New Year. So then the 'holidays' is now just a pc way to say Christmas. Yet one can and should indeed mention other holidays by name. I remember my mother and her friend, a Jewish shop owner, discussing religion and Christmas and Chanukah on a regular basis. And wishing each other a 'Merry Christmas' and a 'Happy Chanukah'. It seems we have devolved.
Yikes. It is very sad indeed.
Holiday is a CORRUPTION of Holyday... so next time somebody tells you Happy holidays just tell them Happy HOLYDAYS to you too!!! it'll drive them nuts
When all is said and done, I couldn't care less what nonbelievers say or do at Christmastime.
THANK YOU. Frankly all I'm concerned about is what I say and how I express my Christmas joy.
Went to the BMV (Indiana) today to renew my drivers license.Their sign indicated they will be closed Friday & Saturday this week for the "Winter Holidays" and next week for the "New Years Holidays".
What is at the root of this is the idea that we all owe good will toward every other perosn on this planet. That somehow, if we do something that makes someone uncomfortable, then we are in the wrong. This is blatent mind control. We have freedom of religion and speech so that we can say and do what we feel, and it does not matter if someone else feels badly that we do it. It is our right to do it. (For example say "Merry Christmas" if we want to.)
To bring up this feeling that we should feel guilty for being ourselves and believing what we do is nothing more than a part of the leftist agenda to make eveyone think and vote as they do because then you won't make someone feel uncomfortable. (The left, the minorities, Etc. can always do what they want because it turns out that only the white man and Christian has the ability to make someone uncomfortable, give me a break.
Merry Christmas, and shalom.
I agree with you totally. I am Catholic and find this whole campaign to be ludicrous.
I often say Happy Holidays in the weeks prior to Christmas. In my mind I am thinking Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (they are both holidays). It is more of an expression to wish someone well during the entire holiday season (the week between Christmas and New Year’s. On Christmas Day or Christmas Eve, I will wish someone a Merry Christmas.
What is wrong with people? You hear stories of people telling sales clerks that they will get them fired if the don’t wish them a Merry Christmas and organized campaigns to confront people who say Happy Holidays. Someone is making an effort to spread some cheer by wishing you well and they get a hard time in return. That doesn’t sound very Christian to me.
I for one will be very happy to receive a Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings or Merry Christmas from anyone.
On the other hand, I do agree that the PCs have gone too far in renaming Christmas Trees or changing lyrics to classic Christmas Carols, etc…
I see you missed the tag line. ;)
The 'new order' types are barely even Protestant, at this point. Get yourself to a Latin Mass parish. When they talk about Christmas, they say it, and they mean it.
It's sad. Some of these people I've known for decades. Some just want to be kind, others really have bought completely into the 'new order' thing, the everything goes types, that is as long as it isn't 'old-fashioned'. I'm looking into finding Latin Masses in driving distance.
Wow stream of consciousness writing lives!!!!
Happy Holidays has been said for ages and is perfectly fine and acceptable and one should not take offense at it.
No big deal. Just tighten it right back up and everything will be good again.
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