Merry Holiday/Culture wars at Christmas(more blue state bitching from the Star and Sickle)

MPLS Star & Sickle ^ | 12-22-04 | Star Tribune

[Rakkasan1]

Blue state bitches...

[frog_jerk_2004]

These complaints strike us as melodramatic.

Because they do not take faith seriously.

[Iowegian]

Indeed, Christmas is everywhere these days, in versions both secular and religious. Time, Newsweek and CNN devote increased attention to Christmas' religious meaning.

Only a lib dummie would cite all those MSM anti-christian hit pieces as evidence of lack of bias against Christmas and Christians. Blind fools.

[mike182d]

Call me naive, but I don't understand this argument over "Happy Holidays vs. Merry Christmas."

As a Catholic, I have absolutely no qualms or quarrels with wishing a Jew "Happy Holidays," in order to respectfully recognize that Channukah is also a holy celebration during this time. BUT...I do have a problem with forbidding Christmas entirely.

Why can't we be content with both? Why does it have to be an either/or scenario?

[eccentric]

If Christians must tolerate pagan names like January (for the Roman god Janus) and Thursday (named for Thor), heathens should be tolerant of Christmas.

[mike182d]

The Christian Church isn't "tolerating" the pagan naming of the months, per se, but rather embraced the Julian calendar in the latter days of the empire as the Church grew in the post-persecution era.

[Iowegian]

As a Catholic, I have absolutely no qualms or quarrels with wishing a Jew "Happy Holidays," in order to respectfully recognize that Channukah is also a holy celebration during this time...

Obviously you know what holiday Jews celebrate this time of year, so why not say "Happy Channukah" to them instead of the PC nonsense? That would be even more respectful.

[eccentric]

"Are we going to abolish the word Christmas?" asked former House Speaker Newt Gingrich...

What exactly is written in the federal holiday law? Is the word "Christmas" used? Like Rep. Ragel's draft bill, someone needs to submit a bill to do away with the federal holiday. At the same time, submit a bill stating what is allowed as a government recognition of Christmas. Then let's have a full house and senate debate on these subjects.

[mike182d]

Obviously you know what holiday Jews celebrate this time of year, so why not say "Happy Channukah" to them instead of the PC nonsense? That would be even more respectful.

Well, of course if I knew they were Jewish...

Should I ask every person is passing: "hey, are you a Christian, Jew, or Muslim?" before offering a salutation or farewell?

[Iowegian]

That's what I meant, if you knew. I doubt very seriously if many Jews are offended at a Christian saying "Merry Christmas" to them. Just as I would never be offended if a Jew said "Happy Hannukah" to me. I would just reply the same back.

Your worry of offending someone by saying "Merry Christmas" leads me to believe you may have been worked over by someone in the past.

[wbill]

Should I ask every person is passing: "hey, are you a Christian, Jew, or Muslim?" before offering a salutation or farewell

Be careful with what you wish for......

Actually, you'd also need to ask about Kwanzaa (sp?), winter solstice (Wicca), atheist (Happy December the 22nd!), and a whole plethora of other weird holidays that I'm sure that I've forgotten.

And actually, my referral to them as 'weird' is too dismissive. Perhaps I should call them 'unique, but not overly so, for truly, each and every one of us worships, or not, in our own, intensely personal way and each persun's beliefs need to be recognized, but not judged, on their own merits.'

Merry Christmas. :-)

[Only1choice____Freedom]

...tomorrow is Festivus, the holiday for the "rest of us"...

Makes more sense than Quaanza (however it's spelled.)

[mike182d]

My worry has less to do with contemporary secular arguments, but general, personal experience in evangelizing through campus ministry while in college. You develop an instinct not to touch any switch that will "turn them off" to the faith before they even know you. Build the relationship first, then smack them with the Truth.

I'm not saying its right or wrong, but just a defense mechanism developed from fighting in the trenches :-)

[Iowegian]

Interesting and not the response I expected at all. Thanks.

[mike182d]

lol, no its okay. You can call them wierd, by every definition or interpretation of the word :-)

Merry Christmas to you too!

[wbill]

LOL! Guess I've been reading too much James Finn Garner. 'Politcally Correct Holiday Stories' is a hoot....I like 'Frosty, the Persun of Snow'. :-)

[mike182d]

*spills coffee*

ha! Or "Santa and his pre-emptive coal war."

[Gritty]

In America, Christmas has always been "Christmas".

Why we are even debating this is absurd and only goes to further demonstrate just how far this country has descended into the malignant pit of "tolerance" and "political correctness". These are both chilling methods of thought and speech control which can only end in grief and bloodshed for America!

[trebb]

Should I ask every person is passing: "hey, are you a Christian, Jew, or Muslim?" before offering a salutation or farewell?

Of course not; that would be profiling, which is akin to a hate crime.