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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: WVNan

"Hubby and I went to Toys-R-Us yesterday to shop for grandaughter. Checking out, I looked up and saw several signs that said, "DONATE HOLIDAY TOYS for the Toys for Tots". Then the cashier asked: "would you like to donate a holiday toy for the Toys for Tots?" I said, "No. If you were collecting Christams Toys I would donate, but I won't donate for a generic holiday. Merry Christmas!""

Wow. Justifying a lack of charity as being an ultimate expression of Christianity. For your sake, I hope Jesus was only kidding about the sheep/goat thingie at the end of days...


141 posted on 12/05/2005 5:18:22 AM PST by BeHoldAPaleHorse (MORE COWBELL! MORE COWBELL! (CLANK-CLANK-CLANK))
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To: Gabz

Yeah. I noticed that a lot of the packaging uses "holiday" .Stores may not have a lot of control over that this year. I collect Christmas Teddy bears. I didn't think the Walmart one was as nice as the pair last year but it was cute. On the tag it said "seasons greetings" No need to get upset over that. I opened the gift card and on the inside it had something like "seasons greetings and a very merry, happy holiday. It read to me like someone was having a hard time substituting Christmas :') Anyway, I put it back. I want to look around first.


142 posted on 12/05/2005 5:43:44 AM PST by CindyDawg
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To: Siena Dreaming

We should start saying "Happy Holy Days" That'll show em!


143 posted on 12/05/2005 5:45:00 AM PST by bonfire (dwindler)
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To: WVNan

What a butthead act. Why don't you just use the expression that best suits your version of "holiday spirit": BAH, HUMBUG!


144 posted on 12/05/2005 5:50:22 AM PST by steve-b (A desire not to butt into other people's business is eighty percent of all human wisdom)
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To: BeHoldAPaleHorse

As long as you do it in the right spirit, I see nothing wrong with explaining to charities why you can't donate. I have no problem with telling the Texas Department of Public Safety, United Way, Red Cross etc, why I can't support them. They need to know. I wouldn't donate a "holiday toy " either but I do donate Christmas toys. Not cash but toys. I take the little ones to pick out a toy they would want to give to a child that might not get one. They love it :')


145 posted on 12/05/2005 5:50:23 AM PST by CindyDawg
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To: CindyDawg

I haven't been Christmas shopping per se, so have not paid much attention. Though I did notice in the supermarket the central candy display had Christmas Candy on one sign and Holiday candy on another.


146 posted on 12/05/2005 6:04:48 AM PST by Gabz
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To: Noachian
Hmmmm, so I should say Merry Christmas to one of my Jewish brethren? Even if they don't celebrate it? I worked in retail for a long time. Let me tell you, all those people that want to demand stores say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays were some of the most hateful, ill mannered sons of guns I ever met. And after dealing with 'Christmas' shoppers a few weeks, it's enough to turn anyone who has ever worked in retail against Christmas as a whole.

I made sure to tell them 'Have a nice day'. If I got Merry Christmas in return, I would return that. If I didn't so what. But at least I tried to make sure every customer had a good experience at the store, even if they came in upset. You can call that spreading Christmas cheer in a small way, you can call it being kind to my fellow man. I am quite sure that's a bit more important to the intent of Christmas and to the spirit of Christianity than whether or not in a retail job one is allowed to use the 'right' salutation.

And as a former retail worker, I would ask that those that shop this year take a moment to be kind to the salesperson. Don't go off on a rant about how a company is not allowed to say Christmas. Wish them one anyway. Do it with a smile (instead of the constant scowl I am envisioning on some 'conservatives' and their feeling of being slighted). If you can't do that, at least tell them to have a nice day. It may not pay off for you, but it will for the next customer. Take a minute and exhibit the spirit of Christmas even if some store can't say the right words.

147 posted on 12/05/2005 6:19:38 AM PST by billbears (Deo Vindice)
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To: Corin Stormhands
In my area there were none. Don't know if they were sold out or not. I did not check their website. All I know is, the manager who worked at this particular Target did tell me that there was a distinct difference between what Target carried by way of Christmas "stuff" last year and this year. The manager did not know why Target had obviously changed some of their buying and/or policies. Stores in different regions of the country may have different buyers/inventory. I'm sure the stores have done their "demographic studies", lol.

I feel that some of the most reliable information can be found from the employees who actually work in the stores, not the Corporate talking heads.
148 posted on 12/05/2005 7:23:24 AM PST by khnyny
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To: VeniVidiVici

Hilarious, thanks.


149 posted on 12/05/2005 7:45:24 AM PST by khnyny
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To: billbears

"Take a minute and exhibit the spirit of Christmas even if some store can't say the right words."

Standing ovation over here!


150 posted on 12/05/2005 8:21:12 AM PST by BeHoldAPaleHorse (MORE COWBELL! MORE COWBELL! (CLANK-CLANK-CLANK))
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To: VeniVidiVici

a late amen to that.


151 posted on 12/06/2005 5:58:25 PM PST by wardaddy (Merry Christmas ya'll)
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To: Behind Liberal Lines

Happy Holiday or Holidays doesn't bother me. "Holiday" of course means "Holy Day," which is what the church traditionally called any feast day of obligation that did not fall on a Sunday. (This year, Christmas does fall on a Sunday, but not always.)
Actually, any greeting expressed with a smile & in a spirit of good will, whether Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy New Year, Diwali, or whatever, are fine with me & will be accepted with a reciprocal good wishes!
["ChristMAS" of course is short for "Christ's MASS." The Catholic associations of the holiday were one reason why our ancestors in many of the American colonies did not celebrate it, and, indeed, banned it by law for a while; it was regarded as "un-Biblical."]


152 posted on 12/06/2005 6:13:23 PM PST by EdJay
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To: yarddog

>BTW. when I was still a kid I noticed the similarity between Santa and Satan. Probably just a coincidence but still interesting.

Huh?

Nothing to to with Satan.

Poor Saint Nicholas is probably turning in his grave!

"Santa Claus" is derived from Saint Nicholas. Here in the US we got Santa from the Dutch in Niew Amsterdam (New York). They called him Sankt Nikolas (Klaus or Claus for short).

In Northern Europe the tradition was to give presents to the children on Saint Nicholas' feast day (Dec. 6), while Christmas (Christ's Mass) was mainly for religious observances. (Saint Nicholas was an early Bishop renowned for his generosity.)

"Santa Claus" was popularized in the US in the early 19th century, & became associated with Christmas after a New York poet wrote the poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (now generally known as "The Night Before Christmas".


153 posted on 12/06/2005 6:25:55 PM PST by EdJay
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To: Behind Liberal Lines

I am a Christian. This is the time of year I celebrate the birth of Christ. I don't care what the calendar says, what your PC says, what your hair-splitting says, or what anyone says.

Merry Christmas!


154 posted on 12/06/2005 6:28:53 PM PST by alarm rider (Irritating leftists as often as is humanly possible....)
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