Happy Holidays

[brodie21]

I was in the post office earlier today and there was this lady. i must say i immediately did not like her because she was wearing a long fur coat with matching fur hat. which immediately made me want to throw paint or napalm at her. thats just how i roll. anyway, when the person behind the counter wished her a merry christmas she corrected him saying: "Happy Holidays, happy holidays. im not christian. happy holidays." my gripe with this is its christmas f**king eve! and besides, cant you just accept the intent behind the words rather than the words themselves? i know that there are many people who do not celebrate christmas. but come on! [/rant]

my question is does this bother anyone else too. not that people dont celebrate christmas, but that people obsessively correct merry christmas because its not "politically correct"

 

[nunqual]

Don't get so sensitive about it. She wanted people to be more aware of her beliefs and what holidays she actually celebrated. It's the winter fucking solstice, who the hell cares what the 'actual meaning' behind those words is.

 

[oreopizza47]

Political correctness has never been my forte. If I say "Happy Holidays," it's because I'm in a hurry and it's a bit faster to say and less likely to be argued against so I have to stop and settle it. But normally I'll just go down the street saying "Merry Christmas" to everyone I see, whether they celebrate it or not, and they normally have the courtesy to say it back. Also, I don't see why she made a big deal out of it because she wasn't Christian. Whoop-dee-do, I'm not either, but I still celebrate it.

 

[maddawg IAJI]

Well, the person behind the counter isn't even suppose to say Merry Christmas. That said, the Woman wasn't in the right either. Christmas has very little to do with Christianity anymore. Also, its a federal holiday. It doesn't matter if you're Jewish, Christian or Muslim, you get the day off here in the states so its about on par with saying "Happy Labor Day."

 

[Thaius]

Political correctness has gone way too far. This is the prime example of it. It's amazing to me how people can be so intolerant as to throw a fit when a holiday is called by its name just because it has religious origins, then claim that their actions are in the name of tolerance. Seriously, you hypocrites. Shut up and call the holiday by it's name. You're being immature children.

 

[TehCookie]

When someone says Merry Christmas to me I say Happy Hanukkah, and for some reason they always freak out. I'm not even Jewish I just like saying it to see their reactions, other times I say Happy Christmas for that same reason. It's all the same thing to me, I don't know why people care so much.

 

[DesiPrinceX09]

I'm Muslim so I don't like being told "merry Christmas" or "happy holidays" since this is not my holiday. However, I don't get offended since I know people mean well when they say it so the most I might say is "I don't celebrate it but thanks" but mostly I say nothing in terms of correctness so I just smile and say "thanks, you to". And besides being told "merry Christmas" or "happy holidays" is the least of my gripes for Christmas

 

[Nimcha]

I'm really glad I live in a country where christmas is nothing more than just a tradition. None of these silly problems.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

the person behind the counter wished her a merry christmas she corrected him saying: "Happy Holidays, happy holidays. im not christian. happy holidays."

He should have said that 'Happy Holidays' is offensive to people suffering from depression.

 

[RhombusHatesYou]

Political correctness has gone way too far. This is the prime example of it. It's amazing to me how people can be so intolerant as to throw a fit when a holiday is called by its name just because it has religious origins, then claim that their actions are in the name of tolerance.

Man, my Hindu and Sikh neighbours fucking LOVE christmas. No idea why, don't care why, they're enjoying themselves so I'll be fucked if I'd let anyone tell them they shouldn't be.

Seriously, you hypocrites. Shut up and call the holiday by it's name.

I do but people just look at me strange when I wish them the blessings of Mithras on the Day of his Most Holy Festival and invite them them to the sacrificing of a bull.

 

[Queen Michael]

I say Merry Christmas because it's Christmas and I want people to be happy. But sure, I can see why smoebody'd be offended.

 

[WayOutThere]

not that people dont celebrate christmas, but that people obsessively correct merry christmas because its not "politically correct"

I support the phrase "happy holidays". Still, it hardly seems worth my while to express that opinion every time it comes up. At most I would say "thanks" in an awkward tone and move on. Although I probably wouldn't do that either...

cant you just accept the intent behind the words rather than the words themselves?

It does seem a jerk move to turn someone trying to wish you a good time into an unpleasent experience. Even so, I hope "happy holidays" becomes the norm if it hasn't already.

Political correctness has gone way too far. This is the prime example of it. It's amazing to me how people can be so intolerant as to throw a fit when a holiday is called by its name just because it has religious origins, then claim that their actions are in the name of tolerance.

I don't understand what the point your trying to make is, which leads me too...

Shut up and call the holiday by it's name.

Wait, what holiday by what name? You seem to think there is a THE holiday (your own, of course) instead of a multitude of holidays. Putting your own traditions on a pedestal this way is exactly why the "happy holidays" thing is good. Thank you for making my case for me.

You're being immature children.

While I do not wish to argue that political correctness has not gone too far, in certain regards at least, your brashness has me concerned. Let us keep in mind it only has because people wish to be inclusive of others, flying in the face of centuries of bigotry and oppression. The execution may leave something to be desired but that people are concerning themselves over this at all is a positive step.

Seriously, you hypocrites. Shut up and call the holiday by it's name.

I do but people just look at me strange when I wish them the blessings of Mithras on the Day of his Most Holy Festival and invite them to the sacrificing of a bull.

Nice. That's my main problem. Again I don't care what people say to me but the point is there's more than one holiday around this time. People who do prefer happy holidays shouldn't snap, but they should be allowed voice their beliefs. Just like if a Jewish person wished a Christian Happy Hanukkah the Christian would be well within their rights to say "actually I'm a Christian". At the same time they should take the time to appreciate it.

Think of it like anything else you disagree with. If a vegetarian is offered a ham sandwich they should say "Actually I'm a vegetarian but thank you." They should not throw red paint on the person offering. Also they should not just accept the ham sandwich.

If you don't drink alcohol and someone offers you a drink you don't scream at them about your body being a temple but also you don't just take the drink, you politely decline the drink.

If someone wishes you a season greeting that you don't associate with. Politely inform them and be thankful they considered you.

Tolerance is accepting we all have different views and we try to be as accommodating as we can. It is not the minority just accepting the majority's beliefs and hiding their own.

this

 

[Thaius]

Political correctness has gone way too far. This is the prime example of it. It's amazing to me how people can be so intolerant as to throw a fit when a holiday is called by its name just because it has religious origins, then claim that their actions are in the name of tolerance.

I don't understand what the point your trying to make is, which leads me too...

Shut up and call the holiday by it's name.

Wait, what holiday by what name? You seem to think there is a THE holiday (your own, of course) instead of a multitude of holidays. Putting your own traditions on a pedestal this way is exactly why the "happy holidays" thing is good. Thank you for making my case for me.

You're being immature children.

While I do not wish to argue that political correctness has not gone too far, in certain regards at least, your brashness has me concerned. Let us keep in mind it only has because people wish to be inclusive of others, flying in the face of centuries of bigotry and oppression. The execution may leave something to be desired but that people are concerning themselves over this at all is a positive step.

I suppose I should have been a bit more specific. If you have a particular other holiday that you celebrate, like Hanukkah for instance, it makes sense that you would not be going around saying "Merry Christmas" to everyone. But considering Christmas is the name chosen for the generally observed celebration (in our culture, at least), it should not be offensive for someone to wish you a merry Christmas; politely correct them and move on.

My problem is more with people who don't have any other particular holiday to celebrate, but decide to make a big fuss out of it because they apparently have some huge problem with Christianity, to the point where they will set themselves apart from a widely accepted cultural holiday simply because its name is Christian in origin. That's the exact opposite of tolerance, it's just throwing an immature fit. The generally celebrated holiday in our culture is called Christmas: Christian or not, that's what it's called. Getting offended by that is just stupid.

 

[WayOutThere]

I suppose I should have been a bit more specific. If you have a particular other holiday that you celebrate, like Hanukkah for instance, it makes sense that you would not be going around saying "Merry Christmas" to everyone. But considering Christmas is the name chosen for the generally observed celebration (in our culture, at least), it should not be offensive for someone to wish you a merry Christmas; politely correct them and move on.

My problem is more with people who don't have any other particular holiday to celebrate, but decide to make a big fuss out of it because they apparently have some huge problem with Christianity, to the point where they will set themselves apart from a widely accepted cultural holiday simply because its name is Christian in origin. That's the exact opposite of tolerance, it's just throwing an immature fit. The generally celebrated holiday in our culture is called Christmas: Christian or not, that's what it's called. Getting offended by that is just stupid.

Very well, I have little to take issue with what you say.

btw, a merry Christmas to you