[Ebenezer]

As Teddy Roosevelt would have said, "Bully for Zammarano!" I urge fellow FReepers to read the whole article via the link above.

[MineralMan]

I read the article. I did not encounter a single store where employees did not return a "Merry Christmas" greeting last Christmas season.

This is a silly campaign, IMO. Just say "Merry Christmas," and folks will respond.

Yes, some people say "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays." Not everyone celebrates Christmas as a religious holiday. Not everyone is a Christian.

Celebrate as you choose.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Manuel Zammarano has formed the Committee to Save Merry Christmas [(155 Judah Court, Folsom, CA 95630)] to protest the fact that big retailers profit from Christmas shopping dollars but refuse to mention the holiday by name.

Good point. PC silliness has no business denigrating the Christian essence of Christmas. How can we help?

[Skooz]

Right on. This is a major pet peeve of mine.

I first noticed it about 10 years ago when some ditz on a commercial said "I didn't have any idea what to get everyone for the holidays."

The "holidays?" To which "holiday" was she referring? Does it have a name? Flag Day, maybe? Or maybe she was out buying Bastille Day presents? Because the commercial ran during the second week or so of December, I assumed she was referring to Christmas, except that Christmas is a singular "holiday," and to refer to it as "the holidays" is factually incorrect.

If a store actually uses the dreaded "C" word in it's advertising, I will shop there for Christmas. Likewise, if a store uses all the PC euphemisms instead, I absolutely will not do any Christmas shopping there.

I buy Christmas presents, NOT holiday presents.

[discostu]

About half the people I buy gifts for are Jewish. Happy Holidays is OK in my book.

[maxwellp]

Many years ago when my husband and I lived in New Jersey, I remember reading about a town in NJ where they displayed a Nativity scene at the public square. A Jewish lady wanted it taken down because it was on public property. The town was debating on what to do when the town's newspaper published a letter by a Christian lady who wrote "Okay, fine take down the Nativity Scene, but no Christian should buy any Christmas presents from any Jewish-run business". The Nativity Scene remained.

Then we moved to upstate New York. A fellow in Saratoga was running a very successful auction. His wife, who is Jewish, and he, very publicly objected to a Christian painting, painted by a VietNam vet, hanging in the local public high school. The kids who attended the high school liked the painting and had no problem with it. The painting was removed, but they are no longer in business.

My husband and I are very strong supporters of the State of Israel, but will never understand liberal, Jewish Americans.

[pbear8]

I prefer "Blessed Christmas" as a greeting.

I truly think that we should make every effort to only support businesses which honor Christmas and/or Hannukah. They big box stores have decided that religious holidays are offensive. Those of us who are offended by their offense should purchase our gifts from small businesses who need and appreciate our support. Many skilled and clever Americans create and sell unique items. Many of these folks will wish us "Merry Christmas".

[RGSpincich]

Holiday wishes should be made from the heart of the well wisher. I wish others Merry Christmas some wish me Happy Hanukkah, etc. I enjoy getting a greeting that means something to somebody. I hope they enjoy my greeting, as well. Standardized greetings are rather impersonal which is okay for Kmart, Walmart, etc.