Just hung up on by screener at Mike Gallagher show

970 AM radio | 12/6/16 | Me, myself, & I

[EinNYC]

The talk show host Mike Gallagher is currently discussing how outraged he was when a woman corrected his "Merry Christmas" greeting to her, telling him she "would prefer a 'Happy Holidays' greeting". I also prefer a "Happy Holidays" greeting because his original greeting would not be appropriate to me. I called the show to tell the call screener this (I NEVER call in to radio shows!). I was very respectful and told the call screener that I didn't even need to go on the air, but just wanted to get my opinion across. She took my name. As soon as I said I didn't even need to go on the air, I just wanted him to be aware of my opinion, I heard the phone on her end hung up without a single word. I couldn't believe it.

Meanwhile, Gallagher and a lot of his callers are saying that they feel they should say "Merry Christmas" to everyone and the heck with what the other party thinks. I think that is outrageously ethnocentric, sorry. This is a nation of nations and other peoples' peaceful beliefs should be respected. If you KNOW that the other person is a Jew, you should not wish them a happy [holiday that is not part of their religion]. Might as well tell a Buddhist or a Sikh "Merry Christmas". It would have as much meaning. I also feel that it is a subtle call to conform to the majority.

I'm sure that many years of blatant antisemitism toward me somewhat colors my attitude. In the public schools I attended as a child in the Midwest, I was publicly singled out by the teacher for not singing carols along with the other students in December music classes, and given a negative behavioral notation. I had other students scream at me in December and April that "you killed J.C.!" That was as predictable as the swallows returning to Capistrano. There was a huge push to conform and observe the rituals of Christianity. Judaism or simply being different was not given any consideration.

I do not want to be lumped into one big group. I do not want to have to duck under "The Great Leveler" rather than stick out. Never have, never will.

I have even less respect for Mike Gallagher and his staff now than I even did before.

[MamaB]

For many years we sent Christmas cards to a couple we had known for a few years. It was not until years later that we found out they were Jewish. They accepted the cards knowing our intent. You need to do the same. You did not want to go on the air so you were hung up on. Grow up. You sound like a dem complaining about everything. Why did you waste their time knowing you were just complaining? Send an email next time. Bless tour heart.

[wintertime]

I attended a professional school that was easily 90% Jewish. I sympathize. Believe me, I do.

The state legislature ( Republican) determined the holidays for the state colleges and K-12 schools. Soooo....When the Jewish holidays came the school was nearly empty. The professors were mostly Christian at this time since in their generation Jews were severely discriminated against when it came to admission to the professions. These non-Jewish professors still held classes and tested all the students on the material.

Of course, these students attended the city K-12 schools with predominantly Jewish enrollment and the same situation existed there throughout their childhood. All of this was imposed by a Christian and Republican state legislature.

All but a few of my friends were Jewish. The culture of Christmas was just over the top for many of them. and throughout all of December was a constant irritant for them.

Add to this the discrimination their parents faced in joining important Republican dominated clubs that would further their business interests, the open discrimination in obtaining professional and semi-professional jobs in Republican dominated business, and the blue laws ( no stores open on Sunday) enacted by Republican legislators, Is it any wonder that Jews tend to vote for Democrats?

Personally, I am as observant a Christian as anyone can get and my husband and I do NOT celebrate Christmas even though everyone else in our families and congregation does. We go skiing. No tree. No gifts, No Christmas carols, No egg nog. I detest this holiday. My favorite holiday is Thanksgiving.

So....HAPPY THANKSGIVING!, EinNYC!! And....Shouldn't we all be thankful every day of the year?

[Stentor]

You should find the fact, that I didn’t give a rat’s ass about you before you posted and give less of a rat’s ass now, very refreshing.

[Darksheare]

Yeah.
And guessing from appearance garners you the tired “are you stereotyping me?!” outraged shriek.

[ManHunter]

Ah, did your witto feewins get hurt because someone said Merry Christmas to you? I suggest you drive to Ithaca to participate in a cry-in at Cornell, visit one of any number of universities for pet therapy, or maybe even drive all the way to VMI for a nice, quiet session with a coloring book.

I have some Pakistani friends who are Pakistani Muslims and they tell people to have a Merry Christmas all the time. Even they realize this isn’t Pakistan, or India, or Israel; it’s America and we do Christmas here. So, on that note,

“Feliz Navidad, Joyeux Noel, Frohe Weihnachten, Vrolijk Kerstfeest, Mele Kalikimaka and here’s to a Very Merry Christmas!”

[Red Badger]

No egg nog?

Barbaric!................%^)

[vladimir998]

Merry Christmas! And a Happy Hanukkah too! And, since today is Dec. 6th, Happy St. Nicholas Day!

And, by the way, Christ IS the Messiah, the King of Kings, and He loves you too no matter who you are!

Merry Christmas!

[EinNYC]

You should find the fact, that I didn’t give a rat’s ass about you before you posted and give less of a rat’s ass now, very refreshing.

Stentor, that little blue trumpet ciliated protozoan. Had to share that lovely response with us all, did ya?

[right way right]

Why deny and chastise our joy in the enabling from the Holy Creator God to be HIS children,through His son Jesus Christ?
God himself created this way by His shear grace and mercy by His own choosing.
Jesus Christ is our only way to salvation.
How does our joy in this fact take away anything from you? You may not be offended, you may just be convicted. Pray on it.

[AppyPappy]

Not to mention that Christmas is a Federal Holiday. So telling people they can’t say Christmas is like telling them to oppose the government and, by inference, oppose Obama
So people who are against saying Christmas are Racists!!!

[miss marmelstein]

I have lived in Manhattan for over 40 years now (as well as NJ) and have never heard one Jewish friend or acquaintance say that Christmas was a “constant irritant” to them. In fact, they have always wished me Merry Christmas and I have always bought chocolate gelt for their children at Hanukkah. That's one of the beauties of America and living in a vast, thriving city. And I don't know where you get the idea that “blue laws” are solely a Republican idea. We still have blue laws in Manhattan and while, again, I've never, ever heard a Jew complain about them, I also know that this long-time Democratic city probably enacted those laws and/or has done nothing to get rid of them. Neither Jew nor Catholic can buy booze on Sunday here!

The things people complain about in this great country! Snowflakes, all.

[longtermmemmory]

what happened to Seasons Greetings?

That was a easy way to squeeze Christmass and new years.

(btw the pc phrase is “first night” NOT new years since new year is a micro aggression favoring Christian calendars)

[Irish Queen]

I taught at an upscale private school in the 1990's. The headmaster and a some of the staff were exquisitely PC.

One December as a joke I created a bulletin board display in the break room proclaiming, "Have a pleasant winter solstice". I cut out purple squares, pink circles, gray triangles, and mint green half circles with smiley faces to represent a singing chorus.

My design was praised my several Exquisitely Politically Correct staff members. My design inspired teacher to create her own "Have a pleasant winter solstice" greeting cards. Those staff members who considered themselves to be Not Politically Correct NPC were in on the joke.

[Twinkie]

Well. It IS “CHRISTMAS” after all & is an old holiday with
many traditions. NO ONE is forcing YOU to respond in any
way or to celebrate ANYTHING. Your Grinchy attitude is
crappy. - IF YOU celebrate HANAKKUH - GOOD! - I was raised
celebrating CHRISTMAS by people who did not attempt to ram
THEIR beliefs down others’ throats. I will tell you that
CHRIST is about to bust that eastern sky wide open riding
a white horse and wearing a kingly crown with an
inscription on his thigh “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS”.
I hope and pray to be accounted worthy to escape all these
things which are soon to come to pass and STAND before
THE SON OF MAN, and to be RETURNING WITH HIM ALSO riding
a white horse and dressed in purest white.

Is YOUR attitude toward CHRIST something MORE than just
plain old GRINCHINESS? HE has NOT done anything to you.
He did DIE for YOU.

[glennaro]

You should watch Dennis Prager's 5-minute video on why you should not take offense at "Merry Christmas".

Prager -- a Jew -- says that although he doesn't of course celebrate Christmas as a religious holiday, it - Christmas - is a national holiday -- an American Jew's national holiday just as it is for everyone else.

Lighten up a little ... I mean, after all, it's the holiday season -- it's Christmastime.

[Hot Tabasco]

I had other students scream at me in December and April that "you killed J.C.!"

I hate calling anyone a fibber but in the day of fibbers and snow flakes.......

Get over yourself bro, CHRISTMAS IS FOR EVERYONE! REGARDLESS OF YOUR RELIGION and regardless of how YOU may feel about it, I have no problem wishing you a Merry Christmas and if you don't like it then it's YOUR problem, not mine.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[afsnco]

I guess I don’t understand this at all, especially after saying this: “This is a nation of nations and other peoples’ peaceful beliefs should be respected.”

What you’re essentially saying is you don’t respect other peoples’ (Christians’) peaceful beliefs when they want to tell you “Merry Christmas.” Appears to be some cognitive dissonance here somewhere. You want us to accommodate you but you’re unwilling to accommodate us.

[Darksheare]

Y’all are posting in a troll thread.

[grey_whiskers]

Would you be mollified if someone wished you a ROTTEN Christmas? :-D

[GingisK]

This is a nation of nations and other peoples' peaceful beliefs should be respected.

Including the beliefs of those who believe in Christ and the Christmas story. Live with it, oh intolerant one.