Saying ‘Merry Christmas’ Now Okay (in Texas)

KTRH ^ | 12/10/13 | Cliff Saunders

[UCANSEE2]

I thought we already had free speech.

We do. Just don't say any banned words.

[Kip Russell]

Too libertarian

This country isn't Libertarian enough.

I have come to the conclusion that many of the Founding Fathers foresaw the United States as an Authoritarian Christian Republic.

“Political tags — such as royalist, communist, democrat, populist, fascist, liberal, conservative, and so forth — are never basic criteria. The human race divides politically into those who want people to be controlled and those who have no such desire. The former are idealists acting from highest motives for the greatest good of the greatest number. The latter are surly curmudgeons, suspicious and lacking in altruism. But they are more comfortable neighbors than the other sort.”

― Robert A. Heinlein

[Bringbackthedraft]

Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas? Hey, free speech, use whatever one you like. This controlling of greetings by the Government is a Socialist thing. I remember when I was in Germany years ago I was always greeted by Gutten Tag by passers-byers. Forty years earlier they would have greeted me with Heil H. which had replaced the Gutten Tag by order of the Government. So, at this point, I wish you all a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! SAY IT LOUD AND SAY IT PROUD! Its the most joyful time of the year, lets keep it that way.

[UCANSEE2]

[cloudmountain]

It's so odd. Jesus' birth, life and death were SO important that His birth was the division between B.C. and A.D.
Before Christ and Anno Dominum There is still the division, call it whatever the secularists and Jesus-haters want. Christ was victorious.

The secularists and Jesus-haters now call time: BCE and CE: Before Common Era and Common Era. I remember when that took hold and I remember those aforementioned folks who HAD to take Jesus out of ANY Christmas equation.

Too bad so many people LOVE Christmas, Christ's Mass. They even called it "Xmas" to further distance Jesus from Christmas.
Didn't work, did it?

Too bad Martin Luther HAD to take exception to St. James's "We are saved 'faith AND good works'" and change it to "We are saved by faith alone." With that came Protestantism. Luther created this particular schism and it's lasted 500+ years. I hope God found him a nice, warmish niche some place where he could contemplate his schism making. Who knows, perhaps he recanted to God.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

"This country isn't Libertarian enough."

No, Libertarianism leads to nothing but evil. Freedom of speech, religion, the bearing of arms, of life, are already covered by our Founding Fathers. There is no need for libertarianism to safeguard them, because conservatism, the direct descendant of our Founding Fathers, already stands to guard them. What can libertarianism lead to? It can only bring about evil, phaux-freedoms like abortion, gay "marriage," prostitution, etc.

[Kip Russell]

These would be the Founding Fathers whom you assert wanted an Authoritarian Christian Republic?

"But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."

-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, 1782

What can libertarianism lead to?

Leaving people alone and keeping the State's nose out of their business.

[laplata]

I haven’t heard one “Merry Christmas” this year.

---

Yesterday I went into a local toy store and purchased a cute stuffed animal for my Grand daughter. I wished the clerk a Merry Christmas and he said “Happy Holidays”. I asked if he had been instructed not to say “Merry Christmas” and he said “Yes, we can’t do that”.

I told him I wanted my money back.

[Kip Russell]

“I am free, no matter what rules surround me. If I find them tolerable, I tolerate them; if I find them too obnoxious, I break them. I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do.” ― Robert A. Heinlein, "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress"

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I said MANY of the Founding Fathers -- I had Jefferson specifically in mind as one those who did not. The enumeration of certain rights in the constitution, coupled with the writings of many of the founders, further coupled with the fact that the nation operated in the manner I described within the lifetimes of many of the founders without any known objection by the founders, leads me to my conclusion.

"Leaving people alone and keeping the State's nose out of their business."

Conservatism covers that to the extent that is necessary. Libertarianism only serves to protect evil phaux-rights like abortion, gay conduct, prostitution, etc.

[laplata]

“holiday” is Old English for Holy Day.

[Kip Russell]

I haven’t heard one “Merry Christmas” this year.

I would estimate that roughly one third of my customers say "Merry Christmas", with the other two thirds saying "Happy Holidays".

[Kip Russell]

I said MANY of the Founding Fathers -- I had Jefferson specifically in mind as one those who did not. The enumeration of certain rights in the constitution, coupled with the writings of many of the founders, further coupled with the fact that the nation operated in the manner I described within the lifetimes of many of the founders without any known objection by the founders, leads me to my conclusion.

Which Founding Fathers would you describe as wanting a Christian Authoritarian State?

Conservatism covers that to the extent that is necessary.

How generous of you to decide for the rest of us how much liberty to which the masses are entitled...

[siamesecats]

???

[laplata]

Click here: YouTube#%21

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

"Which Founding Fathers would you describe as wanting a Christian Authoritarian State?"

There are veritable volumes of writing by dozens of Founding Fathers on the subject. Google it.

"How generous of you to decide for the rest of us how much liberty to which the masses are entitled..."

Not me, our Founding Fathers. The nerve of those guys, with their enumeration of specific God-given rights!

You appear to desire the license to do whatever you damn well please. Are you in favor of legal abortion?

[frog in a pot]

Two quick thoughts, Kip.

re: saying Merry Christmas, or not: It’s not a big deal.
Perhaps, but only in the context of your business relations; I agree it is unwise to needlessly offend one’s customers. But if you are an American born citizen and you use that style elsewhere in your life, then imagine there is a large group who would very much like to extinguish this historically established tradition of good will and unique form of Americanism. Would that offend you and, if so, would you politely resist? (Actually, one doesn’t have to “imagine”.)

I don't support flag burning amendments...not on the grounds of free speech, but on the grounds of property rights.
Perhaps a closer call. But imagine that I, along with many others I so persuade, construct dummies in the likeness of your favorite politician or religious leader which are regularly and visibly burned for public view on our private property. Would such an act not constitute a threat to that individual or an effort to “incite”?

I would estimate that roughly one third of my customers say "Merry Christmas", with the other two thirds saying "Happy Holidays".
The age ranges of the two groups and perhaps the ethnic backgrounds may be a factor. Is your business with a "younger" community of those more recently of the modern "zero-tolerance" school system? Do you operate in a community predominately influenced by non-American born individuals?

[Kip Russell]

You appear to desire the license to do whatever you damn well please.

As long as it doesn't cause harm to others (self-defense excepted, obviously), you betcha. It's none of your damn business.

Are you in favor of legal abortion?

No. That harms someone, does it not?

[deport]

H.B. No. 308

   A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 
   AN ACT 
   relating to a school district's recognition of and education  
   regarding traditional winter celebrations. 
          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 
          SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is  
   amended by adding Section 29.920 to read as follows: 
          Sec. 29.920.  WINTER CELEBRATIONS. (a) A school district  
   may educate students about the history of traditional winter  
   celebrations, and allow students and district staff to offer  
   traditional greetings regarding the celebrations, including: 
                (1)  "Merry Christmas"; 
                (2)  "Happy Hanukkah"; and 
                (3)  "happy holidays." 
          (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a school district  
   may display on school property scenes or symbols associated with  
   traditional winter celebrations, including a menorah or a Christmas  
   image such as a nativity scene or Christmas tree, if the display  
   includes a scene or symbol of: 
                (1)  more than one religion; or 
                (2)  one religion and at least one secular scene or  
   symbol. 
          (c)  A display relating to a traditional winter celebration  
   may not include a message that encourages adherence to a particular  
   religious belief. 
          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2013-2014  
   school year. 
          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives  
   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as  
   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this  
   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this  
   Act takes effect September 1, 2013. 

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

"As long as it doesn't cause harm to others (self-defense excepted, obviously), you betcha. It's none of your damn business."

Opinions on what causes harm to other can vary. Would you say general police powers cover morality, or are you in favor of gay unions and prostitution?

For the record, I hold fully that the general police powers cover the banning of such activity.