Just out of curiosity - if you know people who get upset at "Season's Greetings" instead

[hedgehog]

of "Merry Christmas"; how many of them are actually active members of a Christian congregation?

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. they are more likely to be an active member of the bill oreilly congregation

[Kalidurga]

2. I prefer

Happy Holidays.

[Bagsgroove]

3. happy WHAT?!

I'm so offended that you would drag religion into this by using a word whose origins are a contraction of "holy days."

[Kalidurga]

10. Yeah I know words used to mean something

[Warren DeMontague]

17. I prefer "#%## you, you #%#}%*^ing #%#%*^ %#%^% of a #%##!!!"

But, then, I'm a sentimentalist.

[Ken Burch]

21. Little known fact: "#%## you, you #%#}%*^ing #%#%*^ %#%^% of a #%##!!!"

was the first draft of the lyrics of "Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer".

Originally, the song was just meant to be Burl Ives melodically cussing out everybody he denounced before the House Un-American Activities Committee.

Apparently, Rankin-Bass had a few problems with that-at least half of the "Misfit Toys" were blacklist victims.

[Warren DeMontague]

24. The island of Shitfit toys

[tularetom]

4. Most people I know still say Merry Christmas

But they don't care if somebody says Happy Holidays or something else instead.

The whole thing is bogus outrage designed to get stupid people in a snit so they won't think about how bad they're getting fucked by people who have a lot of money.

It would actually be funny if it weren't so sad. No, that's incorrect it's pretty goddamn funny anyway.

[840high]

19. Same here.

[Igel]

5. I find it mildly irritating.

It's a way of referring to a Xian holiday without actually having the guts to name it because somebody might be offended at its mention.

In other words, it's bowdlerizing the language and making it fuzzier than it needs to be.

There's a claim to be made that it's a shortcut, making it faster to get past the otherwise meaningless nicety of saying "Merry Xmas and Happy New Year's". If it's such a pain to bring up and so meaningless, best to not bother making an insincere wish.

Note that I don't say "Merry Xmas" since, while Xian, my particular little offshoot of the conglomeration of faiths and beliefs that get shoved into that category doesn't observe it. I occasionally say "Happy New Year's", but only infrequently. (In fact, I personally find the orgy of greed and the cloying Xmas carols mildly offensive, a dedication of the state to the supporting of the dominant strain of a single belief system that basically entails being forced to observe the day in some ways as the entire federal, state, and local government--with businesses--shut down.)

However, "Merry Xmas" I take at face value for the most part--a wish that I be well and prosperous during the time. The observation offends me; the greeting does not.

[99Forever]

8. Seeing how as...

... I am not a "christian," perhaps you can explain to me why I should give "christians" ownership of a celebration they stole from the Pagans?

Happy Holidays, buddy.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

9. Interesting take.

I'm fine with Happy Holidays. On the other hand, if I'm buying Christmas wrapping paper, and you can't say "Merry Christmas" because your boss says it might offend me, I find that ridiculous.

As an fyi, I don't expect a "Merry Christmas" because I live in a highly multi-cultural area. My checker might very well be Muslim or Hindi or some other religion or none at all. Instead, I find that friendly people have a nice way of acknowledging Christmas, anyway. Right before Christmas last year I heard comments like, "I hope you enjoy that turkey," or "Gonna' have a big feast with your family, huh? Enjoy!"
Very sweet.

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Or you could just assume it's more broad and inclusive.

"Holiday" and "Season" can include not just Hannukah, but also Thanskgiving and New Years.

Some people just like winter, for some odd reason.

I dont particularly mind if someone says "merry christmas" either, but to give a shit either way indicates to me someone with far too much time on their hands.

[kcr]

22. How does the observation offend you

yet you don't seem to acknowledge the fact that people other than Xians exist.

[kelliekat44]

26. No it is not. It's a way of acknowledging and respecting all celebrations during a long

holiday season.

When I was a kid no one seemed to have a problem saying "Happy Holidays" and Bing Crosby's song "Happy Holidays" was a huge and traditional hit. So, people, please stop being offended because you are told to be offended by the media.
It's total BS. When they want to demean a thought, a saying, a greeting, a phrase...they label it "political correctness" and fools take the bait.

[loyalsister]

6. I once heard that complaint from a Jewish woman

She had left a Christian church and converted to Judaism. I thing her complaint was driven spite for other religions.

[unionthug777]

7. i personally

don't celebrate most holidays.....being native American.....though, if someone wishes me a happy holiday or merry Christmas, I return the wish and leave it at that.

[etherealtruth]

11. Yep ...

Wish me well (for anything) and I welcome it and will extend well wishes to you.

[kelliekat44]

28. A gracious spirit would do the same. nt

[DawgHouse]

12. I see signs that say Season's Greetings but I can't recall anyone actually saying it. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

13. I prefer "C'thulhu F'tangn"

[The Straight Story]

15. I am wondering about the people who get upset over 'Merry Christmas'

Seems to be culturally insensitive to me. I live in a country where many celebrate Christmas and if I expect them to be open minded about other cultures here I think I should be as well.

'Season's greetings' is fine if you want to try not to offend anyone, it is non-committal, doesn't recognize any culture or belief, and is a safe way to say you care without saying what you care about.

[840high]

20. I like Merry Xmas just

because it's Christmas time.

[kcr]

23. I'm wondering where those people are

Most people take greetings in the spirit they are intended. If anything it seems a lot more people get upset over "Happy Holidays"

[Mariana]

31. I am also wondering about the ones who get upset over "Merry Christmas".

To be specific, I'm wondering where they are. I've certainly never met one. I imagine they're few and far between, if they exist at all.

On the other hand, I have met people who get angry if you say "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas" to them.

[Bigmack]

18. In the true spirit of Christmas...

... as it is celebrated in our consumer/BlackFriday/gimme society...

If someone is offended by "Happy Holidays"...

FUCK 'EM!

[greatlaurel]

25. It shows an incredible amount of ignorance to get upset at "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays".

These phrases have been around a very long time. I have some of my mother's depression era holiday ornaments and decorations and even a few old cards. Many of these old things have "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays" on them. The phrases have been used commonly for many decades, so anyone who claims using the phrases are part of some recent attack on Christmas, is just manipulating very ignorant and gullible people. People like that hold ordinary folks in total contempt.

It is obvious these phrases are meant to be inclusive of people of all traditions.

Time to wake up and smell the tea, coffee, espresso, cappuccino, latte or whatever it takes to stop getting scammed by these master manipulators.

[kelliekat44]

27. Are you ever so right!! People who want to you to be offended slap the "political correctness" tag

on any phrase, greeting, term, name they want to when they want you be offended and fools fall for it.

How old is "Happy Holiday(s)" At least this old...long before the term "political correctness."

&spfreload=10

[greatlaurel]

29. You have got it spot on, fools fall for it.

It is so very sad that people are so easily manipulated.

How many times is that Bing Crosby classic song played this time of year? You would think these folks would have a clue after hearing this song every year for decades. Oh my goodness.

[hedgehog]

30. What I was really wanting to know is, are the people who get offended

actually church goers, or do they subscribe to Christianity as kind of a civic religion, that to say "merry Christmas" has more to do with being a real 'Murican than being a Christan.

[Mariana]

32. I think you're right on.

It's about being a real "Murican, and defeating the Red Menace and the Terrists, and protecting our Precious Bodily Fluids from the scourge of Political Correctness, etc. etc.

I don't believe they're much different than most of the people who insist that "under God" must always be in the Pledge of Allegiance, and who lose it if someone suggests taking "In God We Trust" off the currency. It strikes me as a form of idolatry. Does any Christian seriously believe that their Lord and Saviour cares about superficial crap like that?

[jillan]

33. What I want to know is why they never talk about the war on Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving used to be a day of thanks, a day to spend with family and friends.
Now it's the official day to start shopping - spending lots of money which is the exact opposite of Christ's message.

You just gotta love those family values hypocrites.

[Rex]

34. Usually I lump in Halloween with 'seasons greetings' since xmas is now in October

but that is what I say. We should rename it, Hallowmas, Thanksmas and of course Christmas. Although I think we have Hallowmas and Thanksmas backwards.

[SomethingFishy]

35. The only people I have ever come across that actually

have the time and inclination to mentally debate over what is the appropriate way to say "Hi hope you are enjoying yourself" around the holidays are on fucking TV or the internet. I have yet to meet an actual human being face to face who gets bent out of shape about what greeting they prefer.

There is no war on Christmas there is a war on liberals.

[yellowdogintexas]

36. got my first facebook share of a meme on this subject

the point of the meme was "we're going to say Merry Christmas and nobody can tell us not to" as if it has suddenly become illegal to do so.

I replied that Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays had been around a very long time and apply to all celebrations related to the Winter SOlstice. Also, the root of all this is in retail where certain stores caution their sales staff to stay generic in greetings because you don't know what religion is practiced by every one of your customers.

Then I said that this whole thing is just another way for the right wing media to keep otherwise well meaning people all upset and their knickers in a twist over something that absolutely makes no difference

[SheilaT]

37. Oh, who cares?

I'm a completely non-religious person, and if someone wishes me Merry Christmas or that I have a blessed day, I simply smile quite happily and wish them the same in return.

It's NOT about what I believe, it's about the sentiment expressed. If their world view involves Christmas or Christ being a part of the day, then so be it. I can accept the good wishes implied and can return the same. What I specifically believe or don't believe isn't an issue.

Unfortunately, there are those who think everyone out there must believe in their rather narrow view of cosmology. Too bad. I'll still smile at them and reflect their wishes back to them. Sigh.