Christmas lunch at my parents retirement village. An observation.

[Fuzz]

My parents moved there early this year. It's a small apartment, but big enough for the two of them. It's close by, great for us and the kids, and them. Here in NJ, very diverse community, and so is the village/apartment complex.

My father is a retired Assemblies of God minister, very VERY right wing, at least used to be, time and experience has mellowed him.

The doorman is Hindu, we arrived and said Happy Holidays, he came back with Merry Christmas and we offered him a cookie.

I went outside to smoke a few times and rode the elevator with people I know to be Muslim, they wished me a Merry Christmas, I said Happy Holidays. We spoke of the great smells coming from the apartments because of all the cooking going on.

I mentioned this to my father and he said how great it was that everyone respected everyone's religion and traditions in the place and how now he doesn't force the Merry Christmas on people unless he knows they celebrate it because there are so many Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and other religions here in this area and in his apartment building. Not to mention his atheist son.

I then told him how I sent a text to bunch of friends and relatives that just said "Merry Merry!" last night and got back great responses, except from one person, a cousin who is very, very Christian who had to get in the 'it's Merry CHRISTMAS' jab.

It's supposed to be a time of peace, family, sharing, respect and love, and this day of all days, the ones who are in the majority are the ones who seem to show the least of all these qualities to their fellow man.

Imagine that.

[Thickasabrick]

1. That's a great story. I really liked the part about your Dad. My mom

is severely right winged and will never change. As a matter of fact, the last visit with her the discussion got her so enraged I thought it would bring on a heart attack so I am just going to deliberately not talk politics with her. It is good to know though that some older people actually do change.

Unfortunately, she has retired in a "Christian" retirement community so well..there you go.

[Fuzz]

3. I think it's just a matter of getting to know people, that's it really.

For most of my dad's life he was probably just like your mother, only surrounding himself with like minded people. Once his world opened up he realized the devil didn't live in others who may think differently than he did.

[timeforpeace]

11. Scenes like this are being replayed all over the Muslim world as well. Tolerance of Christians and

Jews is at an all time high.

[Fuzz]

15. That made me lol.

;)

[Wounded Bear]

2. I'm not so sure it's a "majority"

Just saying that most of the people I encounter don't seem to care much what the greeting is, they just like to say something positive to their fellows. One lady at work in a position of authority actually did "thank" me for saying, "Merry Christmas" to her so she could respond in kind. Apparently she was advised to use the more generic "Happy Holidays." Frankly, I never blame organizations for being "politically correct" on this issue. There are legitimate business reasons to be more inclusive. I do, like you, blame those who are so militant about these things. And I don't think they are a majority. They just tend to be loud and obnoxious.

[KittyWampus]

9. It isn't. And the OP'ers own story says exactly that. What a bizarre way to end that OP

it's as if some DU'ers simply need to go negative 100% of the time no matter what the facts.

[Christa]

4. A beautiful story

thank you for posting it.

[Hekate]

5. KnR -- and Merry, merry.

[Fuzz]

6. I posted this on another board I frequent, one that has shown

hostility toward other religions and observations and liberal politics.

Here are some predictable responces:

sigh....fuzz...the problem people have with zealots is that they can’t be content to just be what they are...they have to shove thier beliefs up everybody else’s ass and say "HEY LOOK AT ME!!!" Maybe your Dad is simply practicing a little "live and let live" style because the different folks have shown him respect and tolerance. Ever stop to think that maybe YOU are the zealot? You knew that sending a message like that to your cousin would agitate them. Why do that? What the hell are you celebrating, anyway?

--

You are very sad.

Merry Christmas.

--

Very nice of you to give the Hindu guy a cookie.

Nice holiday gesture.

--

Your old man sounds like a decent guy....you sound like a tedious pain in the ass.

--

i don’t understand this thread. it was almost a nice story until the last couple of paragraphs.

--

I’m confused.....why is it so important to list everyone’s religion? Do Hindus not usually eat cookies?

--

Everyone eats cookies...except maybe athiests, they eat babies I heard!

--

^ Wait a second - Obama’s not an atheist but I heard he eats babies.......

It’s so confusing this time of year.

FWIW, I say Merry Christmas because that’s what I’m celebrating. I would never condemn anyone else for saying Happy Holidays if that’s what they are celebrating. Courtesy does work both ways.

I like cookies too......where’s mine?????????

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Good for you and for your dad

the holidays are a time (in different days and traditions) for family. And that to me is what counts.

Merry whatever you happen to celeberate, in your case the great FSM...

:hi:

[KittyWampus]

8. Majority? You had a nice day and you come up with something that doesn't even jive with your own

anecdote.

What is it with DU'ers? Have they always been this toxic?

[Fuzz]

10. Perhaps I could have phrased it better, or perhaps you could have

read it more slowly.

"the ones who are in the majority are the ones who seem"

I did not say the majority acted that way, I said they are in the majority meaning that Christians are the majority in this country.

[POAS]

13. I found your statement quite clear

and correct. Many that call themselves Christian in this country while in a majority position do like to play the downtrodden minority role.

I see no reason for you to "rephrase" anything.

[Fuzz]

17. I thought it was clear. But what do I know.

:(

[timeforpeace]

12. Agreed.

[donco6]

16. It was a sweet story.

What the fuck is wrong with you?

[Dappleganger]

14. Thanks for sharing that uplifting story.

[Patiod]

18. My formerly-bigoted dad is becoming more open-minded, too

I thought you were supposed to become more difficult as you get older. I'm impressed with how he's come around.

Nice story, Fuzz.

I get an ulcer from the "War on Christmas" folks - it must be very easy (but dull) to live in a world where everyone they interact with is Christian (but not the kind of Christian like Jehovah's Witnesses, that doesn't celebrate holidays). How simple it must be to not have to worry about making your living interacting with Jews, Hindus and Muslims all day (like I do). How uncomplicated not to have to worry that your business will LOSE MONEY if you're not culturally sensitive (like my clents have to).

[bullwinkle428]

19. It was a very nice story, Fuzz - pay no mind to the grinches!

:)