Posted on 12/25/2004 1:22:18 PM PST by diane in IL
My husband was going through the checkout line yesterday at Walgreens when the store clerk cheerfully bode him farewell with a "Happy Holidays!". My husband then gently corrected her with a "Merry Christmas". She then sheepishly told him under her breath .."we are not supposed to say that". I'm not sure if this is a local order or a nationwide policy, But I felt compelled to expose this corporate grinch for the hypocrite that it is. Sorry to post a vanity but I just had to get this off my chest. I, for one, will be changing pharmacies.
That does it for me, guess we are going to have to go naked and hungry if all the retailers are making this ridicuous rule.
Oh well, their loss.
Thanks for the post.
Hey, if 'Happy Holidays' is a good enough greeting for Sean Hannity then it's good enough for some shlump at Wallyworld.
walgreen infidels. stone 'em.
What if she had wished you "Happy Kwanzaa"? How would you feel?
I would hate for any American workers to lose their jobs because of a corporate decision. I went out of my way this week to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I had a lot of people smile at me and whisper Merry Christmas back at all the stores. Just because the people that run the stores are afraid to go along with 80% of Americans who are Christians doesn't mean that I have to follow these ridiculous rules. Merry Christmas, everyone!!!
Where you really notice the stark change in this attitude, is if you are like me (and there others on this forum) whereby you've gone overseas for five, six, seven years maybe, without being stateside for a Christmas once during all that time.
Suddenly one year you come back and you are stuck in 1989, wishing everyone "Merry Christmas" and getting only "Happy Holidays" or even a "were not supposed to say that."
You see, the erosion is so slow and sure. Year in and year out you may not notice it. But for those of us who returned to the US one day, stuck in our time gap (in a time really not so long ago in America when this greeting was openly and unapologetically acceptable) we confront a "Christmas that has been stolen". It is one of the saddest and irritating sentiments I have ever experienced. One wonders, "where did our freedom go?"
I think that in the last 10 years conservatives and traditionalists have complained amongst ourselves but have not really organized a counter movement to bring Christmas back. It will be challenging in public, and in fact on our jobs, especially those who work in local, state or federal government, it might take some courage and perhaps even risk of being fired...but we have to do it. We have to SEIZE Christmas back as the holiday it has always been for about 90% of the American people.
I would hope that movement would begin in earnest.
The key is to give a "Merry Christmas" in a spirt of Love, and not prosetylization. That is the key and that is what will resonate in people's hearts and allow us to overturn the Political Correctness regime imposed on our American society which have made a beautiful and signifcant holiday somehow "taboo", without, in many cases, even a written law to outlaw it. (Hint to All: Go to worldwide web pages on the internet today and you'll see "Merry Christmas" all over the place...in Spanish, Dutch, German, Japanese, Italian, Portuguese, Korean, Swahili...and yet when it comes to American internet web sites, you'll probably get just "Seasons Greetings" or "Happy Holidays".)
Having said all this, well.... MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Traditional Native American Wiccan Midget Carol
Deck the halls with boughs of non-endangered plant species
Fa la la la la, la la la la
'Tis the season to be self-actualizing,
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Don we now our alternate-lifestyle apparel
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Toll the ancient non-denominational-winter-solstice-holiday carol
Fa la la la la, la la la la
See the blazing log of non-denominational-winter-solstice-holiday-non-endangered wood before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Play the harp without unnecessary brutality and join the chorus
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Sing we emotionally stable in a collective group effort,
Fa la la la la la la la la
Heedless of the weather patterns despite the effects of global warming,
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Fast away the mature year passes
Fa la la la la la la la la
Hail the new year without any implicit ageism, ye persons
Fa la la la la la la la la
Dance in a non-hierarchical manner in merry measure,
Fa la la la la la la la la
While I tell of non-materialistic, non-denominational-winter-solstice-holiday
treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la
Author Unknown
Tomorrow is.
She's not in Africa, so "Happy Kwanzaa" is completely inappropriate. This is a Protestant Christian nation. Don't forget it.
That would be fine with me. As much as it galls people to admit, CHRISTmas is celebrating the birth of Christ. That's it. If people don't want to celebrate the birth of Christ that is fine. On Christmas day just go about your business.. go in to work, forget the giving and recieving of gifts... hands off those Christmas cookies, don't bother with the tree. If the infidels don't believe in Christ, then why celebrate Christmas? That is silly. You don't see me taking time off to celebrate Cinco de Maya or some other holiday I don't understand or believe in. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Either celebrate the birth of Christ, or get out of the way for those who want to. GGGGRRRRRrrrrrrr, this subject really bothers me can you tell?
I guess that leaves out 'Happy Hanukkah' too, huh?
To top it off, they are open today.
BTTT
I figure two years of messing with their little minds they'll happily say "Merry Christmas".
How long before some guy has his name changed to "Murray Christmas" just so he can goof on the morons every December.
Can't you just wait for the announcement in the Outback Steak House, "Murray Christmas, you're table is reeady".
Acts of conscientious objection, and civil disobedience, need to take place to start a movement to restore the openness of Christmas, socially, that we had in America since its foundation. We are not demanding anything new, really, we are simply demanding the restoration of something that was around for 210 years and then phased out over the last 10-15 years in the larger American social life. It is amazing that the 10% secularist minority has been able to intimidate 90% of celebrationists, and as I said, often without even a law, just eroding the social aspects of Christmas and replacing it with something of no flavor nor meaning.
A little research will easily show the difference between the "ethnic holiday kwanzaa" ,the idea of a rather vicious criminal; and the celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace or the older celebration of the miracle of the Chosen People's oil lasting much longer than it normally would have.
Read around--try some of our FR threads on it--and you'll find that Kwanzaa isn't even authentically African, either.
Yeah, but what if the clerk had wished you a 'Happy Kwanzaa'? Would you have given her the 'vicious criminal' story or would you have wished her the same?
Kwanzaa is not a African Holiday, its an American holiday created by a felon
When and where createdKwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga, who is the leader of the Black nationalist cultural group US, and also professor and chair of the Department of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach. He is an author of several books, some which are quoted throughout this site such as: Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture and Kawaida Theory.
Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday that was created by Dr. Karenga, a fact he does not deny. He doesn't claim that it's from another country or continent, but is an American-made celebration. He makes this clear in one of his earlier books titled: Kwanzaa: origin, concepts, practice. Dec. 1977:"...I did not mean to suggest in any way that Kwanzaa was a continental African holiday rather than Afro-American one. On the contrary. I have always stressed that although Kwanzaa has some historical roots in Africa, it is essentially a product of the particular social conditions and self-determined needs of the Afro-American people." p 12.
What "Kwanzaa" meansThe word "Kwanzaa" itself is man made. It is derived from the swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means first fruits. Karenga's history has it that the extra "a" was added to represent the seven children that were a part of his organization, (US Organization) as each child wanted to represent a letter of Kwanzaa. (Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, pg. 108.)
The Kwanzaa celebration consists of seven days to celebrate seven principles (the Nguzo Saba), with emphasis on one principle a day. The seventh day culminates in a feast, patterned much like the first-fruits celebrations of ancient Africa. There are activities such as the pouring the libation for ancestors, lighting of candles, raising names of ancestors (also referred to by many as "ancestor worship" - discussed more in detail later), and gift-giving.
Purposes"It was designed to unite and to strengthen African communities." Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, p. 108
In spite of attempts to make this celebration multicultural, Kwanzaa was clearly created with the intention of this being a "Black Only" cultural event. This would explain stories regarding white parents of black children who have been banned from entering Kwanzaa celebrations ("White Mother Unwelcomed at Black Gathering," San Francisco Chronicle; San Francisco, Calif.; Dec 29, 1993).
Those who understand the true purpose of Kwanzaa understand that is was intended only for those of African ancestry. Notice the use of the following quote from Dr. Karenga who speaks of Whites as the "dominant society:"
"...it was chosen to give a Black alternative to the existing holiday and give Blacks an opportunity to celebrate themselves and history, rather than simply imitate the practice of the dominant society." p. 21 Kwanzaa: origin, concepts, practice
Karenga clearly created this holiday for Blacks but has softened his "Black only" stance somewhat when in his 1997 book of Kwanzaa, twenty years later he says the following:
"Kwanzaa is clearly an African Holiday created for African peoples. But other people can and do celebrate it, just like other people participate in Cinco de Mayo besides Mexicans; Chinese New Year besides Chinese; Native American pow wows besides Native Americans." p. 110, Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture
The Nguzo Saba
(The Seven Principles Of Kwanzaa)
Unity, Self-determination, Collective Work and Responsibility,
Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and FaithBecause Kwanzaa was built with the intention of unifying the Black Family, Karenga created a set of moral principles to which Kwanzaa is centered upon. The following is a quote from his 1977 book on Kwanzaa:
"The Nguzo Saba are in fact, the matrix and minimum set of values by which Black people must order their relations and live their lives, if they are to liberate themselves and begin to build a new world and a new people to inhabit it." p. 40. Kwanzaa: origin, concepts, practice
Dr. Karenga shows more evidence of his desire to create not only just a 7-day holiday, but a way of life complete with principles to be followed daily. The Nguzo Saba will be examined more closely on the following web pages, revealing the meaning of each principle.
Did she know that you were an easily offended Christian or could Happy Holidays actually be inclusive of all Americans to inculde Christmas, Hanukah and New Years?
>>'Happy Chrismakwanzukkadan' <<
Snicker!
>>This is a Protestant Christian nation.<<
Wow! Are the Catholics allowed?
That's where you're wrong cupcake. Not only can I have my cake and eat it to, but it's a done deal. I had a wonderful Christmas, thank you very much, but I didn't celebrate the religious side of it, because frankly, I don't believe it's real to celebrate.
I have no problem when someone wishes me Happy Holiday, although I do prefer Christmas. Happy Solstice Day on the other hand is another story
I have no problem with Happy Holidays if it is BEFORE CHRISTMAS. If I get a Happy Holidays on Christmas, I will make darn sure I say rather loudly "Merry Christmas."
It is Christmas, after all, and not another holiday. If it was before, I do not object because there are other holidays that folks celebrate if they aren't Christian. But by golly, you better say Merry Christmas on Christmas Eve or Christmas.
Jez letting you know
Hey, if 'Happy Holidays' is a good enough greeting for Sean Hannity then it's good enough for some shlump at Wallyworld.
=====
Next thing to watch for is the upcoming thievery (or swap)of "Happy" by queers that are not joyful enough with "Gay" !!!
e.g., When Sean Hannity finished interviewing that person who claimed to be openly living an alternate Happy life style, Sean further wished him 'Gay Holidays' !!! ;-))
Good luck finding one that says Merry Christmas.
using any electricity today? tsk tsk.
Incidentally, Kwanzaa was invented by a convicted felon/California liberal professor. Nobody in Africa ever heard of it. It never existed there.
If anybody is offended by the words "Merry Christmas," they can go to work on December 25th and ignore it. We're celebrating it and talking happily and out loud about it, Mr. Scrooge.
Diane: I live in NYC and Macy's and Bloomingdales have a similar policy. Since I have a gaggle of grandkids (mostly girls) I have had the habit of giving them Gift Cards for Macy's and as they got older, Bloomies. Since their policy came to light I have cancelled both credit cards and wrote to Federateds home office to explain why and to let them know that the 9 gift cards will be purchased elsewhere. We have to hit them where it hurts...at the bottom line.
Happy Holidays.
Merry Christmas.
Whatever!
Enjoy life and enjoy the day.
A local radio guy has a perfect liberal character (he refers to her as a "euphorian")on the show who wishes folks a happy Hanna-rama kwanz-mas.
I just got back from Walgreens, (I needed COFFEE!) and the lady wished me a "Merry Christmas".
I returned it and said thanks!
Excellent post, but note my tagline.
sounds like it was just the one store
When I live in Chicago a few years back, members of the Walgreen family used to contribute to various charities run by the Catholic Church.
I've actually noticed that here in Kansas, there is open defiance of all this politically correct B.S. An awful lot of people shout "Merry Christmas" loudly and openly, and that certainly seems like the most radical, rebellious act possible in the P.C. age. I've come across this in the parking lot, the grocery store checkout, the drug store, the video store, and almost everywhere else.
I guess there's a silver lining, after all.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Is the US Protestant?
I guess the 64 million Catholics don't count, do they?
Too bad Christmas has gotten so political.
Here is a story for you. A friend has a gallery and he packed a customer's purchase in a Christmas bag, just a Santa Claus on it. The customer told him, I don't want that bag. I don't celebrate Christmas.
My friend who is from New York and every bit the sterotype of a brash New Yorker told him, I don't have any bags with a crinch on printed on them. If you don't like the bag, throw it in the trash. There is a can just outside the door.
I’ll second that!
Enjoy your family and friends.
Merry Christmas ... to us all!
Not to Walgreens employees 14 years ago.
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