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When did 'Happy Holidays' become anti-Christian?
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | December 4, 2005 | Mark Hare

Posted on 12/04/2005 5:24:15 AM PST by Behind Liberal Lines

The columnist argues that the "dreadful" Iraq war "diminishes the joy of the Christmas season," and that "talk-radio land and the Internet blogosphere," should stop complaining that "Have a nice holiday," or "Happy holidays" or "Enjoy your holiday" are "part of a campaign to take God and Jesus out of Christmas."

He argues that Christians shouldn't be offended and speculates that non-Christians aren't as easily offended if you wish them "Merry Christmas."

However, he also claims that saying "Happy Holidays" is a matter of politeness to non-Christians and as "a courtesy."

Finally, the author insinuates that Christians are responsible for the commercialization of Christmas and concludes it is "far too soon" to be wishing people "Merry Christmas" anyway.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051204/NEWS0201/512040327/1002/NEWS


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: happyholidays; postedtowrongforum
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To: khnyny

Thanks... I was wondering if the ones that the poster was looking at came from the Holy Land and carved out of olive wood. I've seen some beautiful ones made by the artisans in Jerusalem and Bethlehem.


101 posted on 12/04/2005 1:18:51 PM PST by deport (Merry Christmas; Feliz Navidad; Buon Natale; Joyeux Noël to one and all and Happy Holidays to.)
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To: mewzilla

Mew, I used to volunteer (years ago) to ring the bell for SA at my workplace in downtown Chicago. I'm embarrassed to admit I had no idea about the SA at that time, only that it was a charity. Believe me, the first time I did it, I was scared some surly dude would clunk me with my own bell if I said the wrong thing. It gets easier for the bell ringers if they hear a cheerful "Merry Christmas" from you. When I volunteered, I was only told to ring the bell, perhaps more instruction for volunteers is needed.


102 posted on 12/04/2005 2:20:31 PM PST by Marie Antoinette (Welcome to my little Rosemary Anne, born 10/24)
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To: Behind Liberal Lines

"He argues that Christians shouldn't be offended and speculates that non-Christians aren't as easily offended if you wish them "Merry Christmas.""

Then why is "Merry Christmas" being forced out?

Oh, that's right, liberals have the right to never be offended by anything and everybody else just has the right to STFU.


103 posted on 12/04/2005 2:23:43 PM PST by Sofa King (A wise man uses compromise as an alternative to defeat. A fool uses it as an alternative to victory.)
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To: khnyny; HairOfTheDog; Corin Stormhands
BTW, Target this year had NO nativity scenes or anything remotely related to the birth of Christ.

"And when I say 'None' I mean there is a certain amount." </Monty Python>

Target Search Results: Home Search Results: nativity set

104 posted on 12/04/2005 2:30:52 PM PST by ecurbh ()()A Festivus for the rest of us!()()
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To: ecurbh

Heh... Facts can't stop a poster on a good rant!


105 posted on 12/04/2005 2:37:30 PM PST by HairOfTheDog (Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/ 1,000 knives and counting!)
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To: HairOfTheDog
Facts?!? We don't need no stinking facts!


106 posted on 12/04/2005 2:43:56 PM PST by ecurbh ()()A Festivus for the rest of us!()()
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To: Colorado Doug
It's when retailers, who make a killing on this Holiday insist on making it policy to remove the word Christmas.

TJMaxx won't put up Christmas signs. They have signs that say "Happy Holidays" and signs that say "Happy Hanukkah" but no mention of Christmas. I emailed them about it a week ago. No answer.

107 posted on 12/04/2005 2:49:30 PM PST by ladyjane
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To: Dustbunny; WVNan
Then the cashier asked: "would you like to donate a holiday toy for the Toys for Tots?" I said, "No. If you were collecting [Christmas] Toys I would donate, but I won't donate for a generic holiday. Merry Christmas!"

Huge ATTA BOY to you both!!

An ATTA BOY for that? Are you praising the snotty response to the clerk or the fact that they can feel good about not being charitable because they didn't use the right word?

For all the gnashing of teeth over greetings this year, the one thing the "Merry Christmas" Nazis are missing is the good will toward man that I remember being the most important thing of all.

"Merry Christmas" is starting to sound more like a threat than a offering of hope or good will. And I'm getting weary of it.

108 posted on 12/04/2005 2:59:33 PM PST by HairOfTheDog (Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/ 1,000 knives and counting!)
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To: HairOfTheDog
For all the gnashing of teeth over greetings this year, the one thing the "Merry Christmas" Nazis are missing is the good will toward man that I remember being the most important thing of all.

We are certainly not missing the 'good will toward man'. We contribute cash into every Salvation Army Kettle we pass and I don't mean a dollar or two.

I also was snotty to the cashier that wanted me to donate to the 'United Way' right after they told the Salvation Army they had to leave. I just said that the only charity we donate to is the Salvation Army and the Mennonite Disaster Fund. Oh, and we always donate new toys to toys for tots but not to the stores that have taken 'Christ' out of Christmas.

So if that means that we have no 'good will toward man' than so be it.

109 posted on 12/04/2005 3:37:41 PM PST by Dustbunny (Main Stream Media -- Making 'Max Headroom' a reality.)
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To: Dustbunny

You may go home and write big checks all evening, but I don't think that forgives being intentionally snotty, ever. :~D

"Merry Christmas" is being used as a threat. And I don't like it.


110 posted on 12/04/2005 3:43:55 PM PST by HairOfTheDog (Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/ 1,000 knives and counting!)
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To: khnyny

Here you go. For a good laugh, look at this nativity scene. It was worth a chuckle.

http://cgi.ebay.com/hand-carved-unique-NATIVITY-SCENE-w-Jesus-and-friends_W0QQitemZ6584807139QQcategoryZ10938QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


111 posted on 12/04/2005 3:44:36 PM PST by VeniVidiVici (What? Me worry?)
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To: HairOfTheDog

Actually, what is getting tiresome is your overuse of the word Nazi.


112 posted on 12/04/2005 3:49:06 PM PST by VeniVidiVici (What? Me worry?)
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To: HairOfTheDog

I think you misunderstood my reference to 'snotty'. I was really quite nice when I explained why we did not want to donate.


113 posted on 12/04/2005 3:49:35 PM PST by Dustbunny (Main Stream Media -- Making 'Max Headroom' a reality.)
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To: Dustbunny

Dude... You're the one that said 'snotty'. Don't ask me to interpret that as "I was really quite nice"!


114 posted on 12/04/2005 3:52:07 PM PST by HairOfTheDog (Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/ 1,000 knives and counting!)
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To: HairOfTheDog
You may go home and write big checks all evening, but I don't think that forgives being intentionally snotty, ever. :~D

Now, that is funny. If you lived on our income you would be considered almost in the poverty bracket. So, what we donate truly does come from the heart.

115 posted on 12/04/2005 3:52:08 PM PST by Dustbunny (Main Stream Media -- Making 'Max Headroom' a reality.)
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To: HairOfTheDog

The 'snotty' part was referenced in the post I answered.


116 posted on 12/04/2005 3:53:09 PM PST by Dustbunny (Main Stream Media -- Making 'Max Headroom' a reality.)
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To: Behind Liberal Lines

Happy Holidays doesn't offend me although I generally say Merry Christmas except to those folks I know are Jewish when I switch to Happy Chanukah. What offends me is Holiday Trees and Christmas Shows where Christian Christmas Carols are banned..


117 posted on 12/04/2005 3:53:19 PM PST by jwalsh07
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To: Dustbunny
I also was snotty to the cashier that wanted me to donate
118 posted on 12/04/2005 3:54:59 PM PST by HairOfTheDog (Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/ 1,000 knives and counting!)
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To: HairOfTheDog

Yes but if you read the words that I acually used you would realize that they were not snotty. End of broadcast !


119 posted on 12/04/2005 3:57:20 PM PST by Dustbunny (Main Stream Media -- Making 'Max Headroom' a reality.)
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To: jwalsh07
The term holiday trees will be appropriate, when and only when, Jews and Muslims take to them. Absent that, the term is simply incorrect (only actual or at least cultural Christians use them), except for the odd near atheist wasp, who indulges only in the pagan aspects of the holiday, intermittently.

PC speak is such a drag.

120 posted on 12/04/2005 3:58:53 PM PST by Torie
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