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
The day before Halloween this year was the biggest holiday for Hindus.
I made a special point to wish my Indian friends a 'Happy Davalli(sp?).
They were very pleased to be acknowledged and thanked me for remembering.
Mutual respect for others' beliefs is the cornerstone of religious freedom. Taking Christ out of Christmas is blatantly disrespectful. Hare doesn't get that point - he is a moron.
Hey hey, that's my local newspaper... compared to Gannett and the Ithaca Journal, it's pretty balanced, even conservative leaning. Compared to the Ithaca Journal, at least.
Hey hey, that's my local newspaper... compared to Gannett and the Ithaca Journal, it's pretty balanced, even conservative leaning. Compared to the Ithaca Journal, at least.
The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle is owned by Gannett. Gannett won't allow the posting of articles or even excerpts. Therefore, I wrote a summary of the column with a link to the original at the bottom.
However, this guy's a nut.
Published Saturday, December 3, 2005 Politicizing Christmas
Why must so many Americans drag Christmas into their so-called "culture wars" every year about this time?
Christmas is about the "Prince of Peace." Is nothing sacred?
Fight your culture wars somewhere else, people. There are plenty of other battlegrounds: abortion, birth control, political and venal corruption, separation of church and state, sex and violence in the entertainment media, ad infinitum. Not to mention the ultimate moral issue -- making war.
It's silly to argue about whether to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." "Merry Christmas" has always been appropriate, and it always will be. But it's no slight of Christmas to say "Happy Holidays" either. This time of year brings not only Christmas but Hanukkah, New Year's Day and, more recently, Kwanzaa. Contrary to what some people seem to believe, greeting cards wishing "Happy Holidays" have been around for many decades.
It's also silly to try to arbitrarily rename a Christmas tree as a "holiday tree." To do so is just asking for trouble. A Christmas tree is just that. And why must we argue endlessly over whether to have manger scenes on public property? Isn't there enough private property available for such displays?
It's a free country, so people are entitled to make Christmas into a rallying point for their own political views if they insist. But we suspect that most Americans would much prefer to enjoy the Christmas season in peace.
Compared to anything in Ithaca ...anything else is sort of conservative.
When they began renaming things and rewriting songs.
Smacks a little too much of the airbrushing done in Stalinist Russia for me.
If you have a Christmas tree and a Hanukkah menorah under a sign saying "Happy Holidays" all is well and good. If you have a "Holiday tree" then something is wrong.
The same as it would be if you labeled the Menorah a "Holiday Candlestick"
Non-Christians aren't as easily offended if you wish them "Merry Christmas" probably because they're in the minority in the US.
Having said that, I think many - Christian and non-Christian - are far too easily offended by trifles in general.
Yesterday, someone said "How are you?" to me and then walked away without even giving me time to answer. The nerve of some people!
BTW. when I was still a kid I noticed the similarity between Santa and Satan. Probably just a coincidence but still interesting.
When the liberals and liberal MSM declared war on anything Christmas.
Those who find Christmas offensive have no right to take the day off. Or Thanksgiving Day, for that matter. Tell them that and see how they'll respond; I got an atheist to contradict himself there.
Last year, Dr. Charles Krauthammer wrote a column defending Christmas, even though he's Jewish. When he worked in a hospital, he liked to fill in for Christian doctors on Christmas Day--it was his gift to them--and in return they let him take Yom Kippur off. He has the right non-Christian attitude toward the holiday, I'll tell you that!
I don't think so. It is a holiday. I get the day off just as any other holiday...therefore it is a holiday.
However, I do agree that it's good for christians to fight for the message of Christ and Christmas to become central.
I just am not fanatical about never calling Christmas a holiday. Silly. I have always said "Happy Holiday" to people along with "Merry Christmas". And will continue to do so.
Non-Christians aren't as easily offended if you wish them "Merry Christmas" probably because they're in the minority in the US.
Having said that, I think many - Christian and non-Christian - are far too easily offended by trifles in general.
Yesterday, someone said "How are you?" to me and then walked away without even giving me time to answer. The nerve of some people!
Why isn't 'Ramadan' secularized in the US?
Chanukah Tree ...nope
Kwandza Tree ....nope.
Ramadan Tree ...nope.
Budda Tree ...nope
Pagan Tree ..well, maybe. But it's not Holy, just wood.
Islam Tree ...if only to hang an infidel
CHRISTmas Tree ...The Reason For The Season!
Pardon the double post. I just discovered lynx this morning.
That happy holiday, just happens to be Christmas, which also just happens to be the most popular and celebrated holiday on earth. The assault upon Christmas is driven in part by jelousy , but mainly by the anti-Christian, politically correct anti everything that reflects American tradition's mob.
You do not hear the holiday greetings based upon the observances by other religions, reduced to , happy holiday or seasons greetings, etc.
This assault is upon Christians, Christ, and the United States of America.
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