Posted on 12/11/2018 7:03:42 AM PST by Kaslin
Is "Merry Christmas" a thing of the past, a greeting from a bygone era, a remnant of a past with which we no longer want to be associated? We might not be there yet, but if current trends continue, we're not far off. If so, it's a shame, a further coarsening of the culture -- and worse. It is yet another an example of the removal of religion, specifically Christianity, from a country that has long been the most religious major industrialized democracy in the world.
Proponents of "happy holidays" argue that this is no big deal. They say the advocates of saying "merry Christmas" are making a mountain out of a molehill. There is no "war on Christmas," they say. But the "happy holidays" advocates want it both ways. They dismiss promoters of "merry Christmas" as hysterical while simultaneously replacing "merry Christmas" with "happy holidays"; "Christmas vacation" with "winter vacation"; and "Christmas party" with "holiday party."
So, is all this elimination of the word "Christmas" important or not?
The answer should be obvious. It's very important. That's why so much effort is devoted to substituting other words for "Christmas." And these efforts have been extraordinarily successful. In place of the universal "merry Christmas" of my youth, in recent decades I have been wished "happy holidays" by virtually every waiter and waitress in virtually every restaurant I have dined; by virtually everyone who welcomes me at any business; by flight attendants and pilots; and by just about everyone else.
When I respond, "Merry Christmas!" I often sense I have created tension. I suspect many of those to whom I wish "Merry Christmas!" are probably relieved to hear someone utter what has become the "C" word, but all the sensitivity training they've had to undergo creates cognitive dissonance.
The opponents of "merry Christmas" and other uses of the word "Christmas" know exactly what they're doing. They're disingenuous when they dismiss defenders of "merry Christmas" as "fabricating" some "war on Christmas." Of course there's a war on Christmas -- or, more precisely, a war on the religious nature of America. The left in America, like the left in Europe, wants to create a thoroughly secular society, not only a secular government -- which is a desirable goal and which, in any event, has been the case in America -- but a secular society.
Most people do not realize that the left believes in secularism as fervently as religious Christians and Jews believe in the Bible. That's why "merry Christmas" bothers secular activists. It's a blatant reminder of how religious America is -- and always has been. That's why I predict activists on the left will sooner or later seek to remove Christmas as a national holiday.
Now, the left doesn't announce that its agenda is to thoroughly secularize American and European societies. Instead, it camouflages what it is doing by offering the "inclusiveness" argument: "Merry Christmas" or "Christmas party" or "Christmas vacation" is not "inclusive."
This inclusiveness argument plays on Americans' highly developed sense of decency. But the argument is preposterous: Who, exactly, is being "excluded" when one wishes someone "merry Christmas"? Non-Christians?
I'm a non-Christian. I'm a Jew. Christmas is not a religious holy day for me. But I'm an American, and Christmas is an American national holiday. Therefore, as an American, it is my holiday -- though not my holy day -- as much as it is for my fellow Americans who are Christian. It was a Jewish-American, Irving Berlin, who wrote "White Christmas," one of America's most popular Christmas songs. In fact, according to a Jewish musician writing in The New York Times, "almost all the most popular Christmas songs were written by Jews."
Apparently, all these American Jews felt quite included in Christmas!
And while on the subject of Jews, here's a question for those Jews disturbed by "merry Christmas": Should Israeli radio and TV stop saying "Shabbat Shalom" to be more inclusive of Israel's non-Jewish minority?
It borders on the misanthropic, not to mention the mean-spirited, to want to deny nearly all of your fellow citizens the joy of having Christmas parties or being wished a merry Christmas.
By not wishing me a merry Christmas, you are not being inclusive. You are excluding me from one of my nation's national holidays.
But even if Christmas were not a national holiday, I would want pilots to wish their passengers a merry Christmas, companies to have Christmas parties and schools to continue to have Christmas vacations. Just because I don't personally celebrate Christmas, why would I demand my society drop the word "Christmas" when the holiday is celebrated by 90 percent of my fellow Americans?
The vast majority of Americans who celebrate Christmas -- and who treat non-Christians so well -- deserve better.
Please say "merry Christmas" and "Christmas party" and "Christmas vacation." If you refuse to, you're not "inclusive." You're hurtful to most of your fellow Americans.
It is far beyond just “Happy Holidays” or “Merry x-Mas”.
it is no carols or hymns.
No Christmas trees.
Satanic vandalism of nativity sets on private property.
Attacking secular songs like “Baby it’s cold outside”
Attacking Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
on and on and on and on
the whole cultural tradition is being scrapped by godless Communists
A few years ago, while leaving a Costco, I said ‘Merry Christmas’ to a cart-checker door guard.
His reply: ‘No problem’.
Some years ago I clicked on the TV to catch the local news and inadvertently caught the remaining moments of a Dan Rather broadcast; he looked at the camera, gave the biggest of smiles, and said “Happy Hanukkah!!!”
So, I thought, that was gracious, and made it a point to encounter Mr. Rather on Dec. 24, and see how he acknowledged Christmas Day for us Christian folks.
The moment rolled around and at the end of his Dec. 24 broadcast, Mr. Rather looked at the camera, gave the biggest of smiles, and said “Happy Holidays!!!”
It seemed at the time that Christians don’t rate an acknowledgement of their celebration.
I once attacked Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. Decapitated him.
I was driving a truck through downtown Scottsdale, Arizona when I struck the Christmas decoration which was hanging too low over the street. In my left mirror I saw Rudolph's head swinging by a string; in my right his body.
With today’s commercialism Christmas is just a marketing venue; commercial after commercial ad nauseam about buy buy buy - people waking up excited that there’s a car with a huge bow in their driveway - people dancing around with new smart phones .... it’s the only four month holiday we have.
When the Easter morning edition of the East Valley Tribune failed to mention Easter I cancelled my subscription and never subscribed to dead tree media again.
It’s not the word “Christmas” that matters, in and of itself - it’s the whole concept of others trying to convince us we aren’t giving anything up as they try to silence actual free speech while spreading their own hatred and desire to subjugate us.
Don't wish me "merry X-Mas"
Or "happy holidays."
Put Christ back into Christmas
On this blessed holy day.Put Christ back into Christmas
Like on that silent night
When the Star of Bethlehem
Gave way to newborn light.Let all the world give glory
To Christ, the king of kings.
Let children hear the story
Of love our savior brings.Put Christ back into Christmas
While shepherds watch and pray.
As angels sing the glory of
Our Lord on Christmas Day.
It has taken me years...but I finally figured it out...there are those who celebrate the “Holidays” and those who celebrate “Christmas” and those who celebrate both. I have had terrible problems with “Holidays” for years...(product of multi marriage parents). But, I am learning HOW to celebrate a little of the “Holidays” while trying to keep CHRISTMAS special.... I hope.
i have heard Merry Christmas more this year than most. Our server at lunch yesterday initiated this. I think Christmas may be back in retail.
yeah but everybody celebrates the after Christmas sales!!
It would be appropriate on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to wish one Merry or Happy Christmas. Maybe even a few days before. However the period between Thanksgiving and New Years is full of holidays. I see no Christians getting red faced when ignoring Passover or other holidays.
The “defense of Christmas” consists of persevering in wishing others merry Christmas rather than begging them to wish you a merry Christmas.
Last night I told a phone customer service representative “God bless you” when she wished me “Happy Holidays” on completing the transaction.
The Thanksgiving-Christmas season roughly corresponds to the Christian Advent.
I guess we could wish a Happy Advent. But Merry Christmas seems suitable to me.
The word “Holiday’s” are used as an euphemism in place of Christmas. What’s the only holiday that’s celebrated preceding and after the 25th. of Dec? (I’m not speaking of Hanukah) - it’s all about selling selling selling and buying buying buying and the end theme is: “What did you get for Christmas?”
Oddly enough, the bible agrees with the sentiment. Christians SHOULD be special, not average.
Nobody has recorded a credible historic date for the Nativity. December 25 was arrived at by a calculation based on a church tradition that martyred saints die on the same calendar day that they were conceived. If this happened in Jesus’ case, then nine months after the Passover date of His crucifixion would be the calendar date of His birth. There isn’t any proof here, and some argue for other occasions. This is one of those “only God knows” matters. I have no problem with commemorating it on December 25.
Anyhow, even popular culture backs up the sentiment: do you want a merrier Christmas? Then start spreading it yourself.
The first steps are the pretense that everyone be treated equally, except they cling to the elitist faction that get to determine exactly what “equality” means.
The movement must begin by removing words like Christmas, claiming since all are not Christian, our beloved country must move in the direction of “inclusive,” and recognize all religions or none at all; the next step is to remove any acknowledgment of religion, no matter which ones for the god of Socialism/communism is the state!
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