Religious groups at war with those that take Christmas out of the holiday

Sun-sentinel.com ^ | December 2, 2005 | Stephen Kiehl & Abigail Tucker

[mlc9852]

"People who think they are being politically correct and inoffensive are actually offending a lot of people," said Beddows, as he sized up a handsome balsam fir. "Saying 'Happy Holidays' demeans Christmas."

But down the road at the Baltimore Resettlement Center in Highlandtown, which helps refugees from places such as Russia and Somalia adapt to American society, staff members said they prefer not to mention the holidays at all. If they must, they say "holiday season."

"These people came here for their religious freedom, and they don't want to celebrate other people's Christmas," said Anna Schraga, who teaches English at the center. "Saying 'holiday season' respects that."

[mlc9852]

Let's make sure we don't mention anything that could offend those who are coming to America. We must all bend over backwards to make them feel welcome, even if it means we abandon our own beliefs.

[nina0113]

Don't bother asking me for money for your charity.

[Paloma_55]

"These people came here for their religious freedom, and they don't want to celebrate other people's Christmas,"


HEEEEELLLLLOOOOOOOOOO??????

Here is the FREAKING problem, right out in front of the room folks!!!

If I moved to Somalia, would it be reasonable for me to be offended when they celebrate Giraffe day?!??

The whole idea of immigration SHOULD be that those who come here WANT to come here because they think it is a better place than where they came from, and are so happy to be here, that they want to join in and be like us.

If they want to be "just like back home", let them FREAKIN stay there!

[x5452]

Russians are almost all Christians or athiests (most refugees are Christian).

Somalians though are Sunni Muslims. Maybe the staff are worried they'll lose their heads.

[Redcitizen]

Christmas is Christmas to me. I will continue to say that.

Merry Christmas to you!

[mlc9852]

EXACTLY!!!!

[Jaysin]

If I moved to Somalia, would it be reasonable for me to be offended when they celebrate Giraffe day?!??

Don't you mean Gorilla Day?

[fhlh]

haha.. the article is funny... Right next to this quote
Target stores have also been a focus of the campaign. The conservative American Family Association has called for a boycott of Target because the retailer does not mention "Christmas" in its advertising. The association said 600,000 people have signed its online pledge to observe the boycott.

There is a big pop up flashing ad for TARGET!!

[mlc9852]

I saw it - pretty funny.

[tonycavanagh]

I dont care if some one wishes me Happy Christmas, Happy Holiday or just grunts in my direction.

Cant help thinking this is a all storm in a T-Cup, from both sides.

[Sunshine Sister]

Some smarmy caller to local talk radio was making fun of people who didn't buy their tree at a place where Christmas is not observed were being stupid. (Oh come on, it's a tree for cryin' out loud.)

I called after her and read the riot act to her. Not that it will do any good......................

[Jaded]

"These people came here for their religious freedom, and they don't want to celebrate other people's Christmas," said Anna Schraga, who teaches English at the center. "Saying 'holiday season' respects that.

Somehow I doubt that.

[gdani]

I can't wait until January so that all of this "outrage" will be over & done with.

I've never seen people - on both sides - worked up about something so stupid & insignificant.

[so_real]

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!

I agree completely. This is not a multi-cultural nation. This is a "melting pot". I say, melt or stay the hell out.

[Right Wing Assault]

Before you move to a new neighborhood, you should research it first to see if you would like to live there. If you don't like what you see, you find another neighborhood. If there are only a few things you don't like, you don't move in and make everyone change their ways for you. If they all have plastic flamingos on their lawns, but are otherwise wonderful folks, you don't tell them to get rid of the birds. If they bother you that much, you don't move there.

Same thing with countries. We should prepare a pamphlet in every language in the world for people whom come here and say, "This is who we are and what you will find in our country. If you don't like what you see, either don't come here OR come here and live with it. If you can't get used to it, leave." Explain to them that about 90% of us are used to celebrating Christmas. We do it for us not to OFFEND you. If you are going to take it as an offense, you will not be happy here. We are not going to stop just to make you happy. For you Muzzles, we are willing to give you way more religious freedoms than Christians have in your countries. So don't complain. Just leave.

[em2vn]

"Maybe the staff are worried they'll lose their heads."

This is the United States not England. It should read "Maybe the staff is worried...." Singular not plural.

[VOA]

If they must, they say "holiday season."

Some subversive should explain to the newly-arrived folks that
"holiday" is actally from "holy day".

[lastchance]

The jokes on them. Holiday is a contraction of Holy Day. The only Holy Days celebrated in December are Christmas by Christians and Hannukah by Jews. So wishing Happy Holy Days to Muslims gets them either way. Hee Hee.
And by the way the stupid woman who said that about religious holidays needs to remember it is the fact that we are Christian that leads to the generosity that makes it possibe for others less fortunate to come to American and enjoy its blessings. You sure as heck do not see people scrambling to imigrate to Somalia and Russia do you?
So Merry Christmas to her and a happy fir tree up her tush.

[mlc9852]

I see it as a continued assault on Christianity, therefore I am worked up about it. The secularists just keep chipping away, little by little, thinking we won't notice. Well, I notice and am not happy.