Oh, Holiday Tree?

Dallas Morning News ^ | December 8, 2005 | Mark Davis

[RWR8189]

A Christmas quiz: What is the difference between these two events? 1. A clerk at a department store tells shoppers "Happy holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."

2. A store renames Christmas trees, calling them "holiday trees."

Answer: Event No. 1 is a reasonable and praiseworthy attempt at inclusiveness, since the clerk does not know which shoppers celebrate Christmas and which do not.

Event No. 2, however, is a gutless and ridiculous dodge of the obvious, buying into a new level of politically correct absurdity.

As believers and nonbelievers work themselves into a lather over the Christmas Wars, rational distinctions like this can be lost.

Relief can be found in examining the roots of various holiday pronouncements and an assessment of their motivation.

Back before extremism made sensitivity a bad word, "Happy holidays" was a nice greeting that one could offer safely to Christians, people of other faiths and complete nonbelievers.

It's not as if "Merry Christmas" was a brick to the head of those not recognizing the enormity of Jesus' birth; "Happy holidays" was simply a wish intended to find its target irrespective of faith.

Nothing wrong with that.

But sometime in the last decade, as sensitivity became hypersensitivity and inclusiveness became jargon for pathological social engineering, the cursor moved.

[Kenton]

What a marvellous article. I was brought up to believe that one of the basic tenets of Christianity was tolerance of the way others worshipped God. Anthing other than that was considered to be very low-class behavior.

Things have sure changed. And the PC police sure got it wrong, IMHO. The proper interpretation of the First Amendment does not require a hostility to religion.

Wouldn't it be a lot better world if we just were able to acknowledge and respect the beliefs of others?

And yeah, I know. That seems kind of pie-in-the-sky thinking when you throw Islamokazis into the equation.

Just food for thought, folks...

[opticks]

I was returning something yesterday at Home Depot. The customer service girl said, "Merry Christmas" to everyone. I couldn't help but think she might get a talkin' to eventually.

[wbill]

It's unfortunate that our society has degenerated to the point where 'Merry Christmas' is an epithet.

I think that the pendulum will swing back eventually, but it will take time.

[RWR8189]

My niece is a cashier at Sears Roebuck and she says Merry Christmas to all her customers at the end of the sale and has yet to recieve a complaint.

[DustyMoment]

Event No. 1 is a reasonable and praiseworthy attempt at inclusiveness, since the clerk does not know which shoppers celebrate Christmas and which do not.

I strongly and humbly disagree. The Jews have typically been more supportive of celebrating Christmas, even though they celebrate Hannukah at the same time. Before the age of political correctness, they never made a lot of noise about being wished Merry Christmas vs. being wished Happy Holidays.

Though Jews will argue the point, IMO, the reason for the season is the celebration of Jesus' birth. This country was founded on Judeo-Christian principles and, for 200 years, we have lived side-by-side with no significant issues separating us - until the recent attack on Christianity by the anti-Christian leftists whose hatred of everything good is driving the atack.

A friend and I were discussing the whole "Happy Holidays" nonsense and her response was nothing short of brilliant. If you can't say Merry Christmas to me, then don't take MY Christmas day off. Also, Boortz has an equally good reply to the Happy Holiday'ers. He asks what holiday is it. When the person says Christmas or Hannukah, he responds with an appropriate greeting for the named holiday.

I believe that if Kwanzaa comes up, however, he just defaults to Merry Christmas since Kwanzaa is a made up "African" holiday.

[Bigg Red]

We recently moved to the suburbs of a small town that has a small university and the attendant liberal population pimple. When our local paper ran a number of ads for merchants who were having "holiday" open-house events, I made a point of calling a few of those merchants to explain that I celebrate Christmast, not holiday, and that I would have come to a Christmas open house. One woman tried to explain that they did not want to offend anyone. I politely explained that she had offended me. I told her that I respect the fact that no one is obliged to believe in Christmas, but, reading off several of the items offered in her ad, I asked her who else would be buying them except someone who believes in Christmas.

I started on this kick about 5 years ago by sending letters to companies who send me "holiday" catalogues full of Christmas items.

[orionblamblam]

We need to go back to the way things were originally, before political correctness got involved. That's a *YULE* tree, people. Hail Odin!

[dinasour]

I strongly and humbly disagree.

I also distinguish between a given employee using the term "Happy Holidays" because of their beliefs on the issue and a store that has a policy that no one can use the word "Christmas", but no such policy on the use of "Hanukkah" or Kwanzaa.

The latter is just anti-Christian bigotry masquerading as inclusiveness.

Also, a store that is making a lot of money exploiting the Christian tradition of gift giving, while implying that the term "Christmas" is offensive offends me.

A useful technique that Bernie Goldberg made extensive use of in "Bias" is to "put the shoe on the other foot". Imagine the ruckus that would be raised if, say, Target had a policy of requiring stores to only recognize Christian holidays and forbidding the acknowledgment of any other.

[Wil H]

Have you noticed that the secondary effect of this war is that there almost NO Christmas decorations in the stores this year?

I'm doing my CHRISTMAS shopping only where CHRISTMAS is celebrated this year so Target, Sears and K-Mart can go take a secular hike.

I so hope they take a huge hit on their sales this year. That should change their attitude.

[DustyMoment]

Imagine the ruckus that would be raised if, say, Target had a policy of requiring stores to only recognize Christian holidays and forbidding the acknowledgment of any other.

It is interesting that you mention Target stores. Target was recently approached about their use of the generic "Happy Holidays" by the American Family Association (AFA) and they declined to specify "Christmas" as the holiday greeting. Target has also denied Salvation Army bell ringers to setup outside their stores. However, when you watch their commercials, they are clearly targeting (no pun intended) Christmas shoppers (note the use of traditional green and red Christmas colors and traditionally wrapped gifts), but they "want to be inclusive in their approach to the season" rather than divisive through specifically mentioning Christmas.

IMO, by trying to be so "inclusive", they become so vanilla as to cease to represent anything. I will take my money elsewhere.

[DustyMoment]

The customer service girl said, "Merry Christmas" to everyone.

Home Depot was recently approached by the American Family Association about their use of the generic Happy Holidays and selling "Holiday" trees. They agreed to alter their position by selling Christmas trees and to acknowledge that this is the Christmas season.

IOW, she's probably already had her "talkin' to".

[dinasour]

I will take my money elsewhere.

As will I, for all the reasons that you mentioned.

Target claims that they are just trying to be inclusive. What's inclusive about excluding Christians?

[badpacifist]

Wishing all of you a Happy Holydays this Christmas.

[dinasour]

I so hope they take a huge hit on their sales this year

I, for one, will be "making a list and checking it twice", as well.

In the attempt to not offend Micheal Newdow, they have wound up offending just about everyone.

Typical end result of liberalism.

[steve-b]

Event No. 1 is a reasonable and praiseworthy attempt at inclusiveness, since the clerk does not know which shoppers celebrate Christmas and which do not.
I strongly and humbly disagree.

You believe that store clerks are telepathic, or perhaps endowed with Sherlock Holmes' ability to deduce these things from subtle clues?

[AppyPappy]

Event No. 2, however, is a gutless and ridiculous dodge of the obvious, buying into a new level of politically correct absurdity.

That's because there is no other holiday that uses a tree. But if you ever want to really piss someone off, point out something obvious that they are trying not to see.

[AppyPappy]

Target has relented.

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/12/72005b.asp

[AppyPappy]

The vast majority of the people shopping in the area are shopping for Christmas.

Take Valentine's Day for instance. Muslims and Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate the holiday. Should stores take down all displays dealing with Valentine's Day?

20 years ago, it was OK and preferable to say Christmas. What changed since then?

[MSM Hater]

I thought it appropriate to resurrect one of my favorite examples of PC gone mad (although tongue-in-cheek) that was posted in 2001 by Dog Gone. It's even funnier with the atmosphere of PC today.

December 1st
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES
I'm happy to inform you that the company
Christmas Party will take place on December
23rd at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue. There will
be lots of spiked eggnog and a small band
playing traditional carols ... feel free to sing
along. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows
up dressed as Santa Claus to light the
Christmas tree! Exchange of gifts among employees
can be done at that time; however, no gift should
be over $10.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Patty Lewis
Human Resources Director

---

December 2nd
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES
In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude
our Jewish employees. We recognize that Hanukkah is
an important holiday that often coincides with Christmas
(though unfortunately not this year). However, from now
on we're calling it our "Holiday Party." The same
policy applies to employees who are celebrating Kwanzaa
at this time. There will be no Christmas tree and no
Christmas carols sung.
Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Patty Lewis
Human Resources Director

---

December 3rd
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES
Regarding the anonymous note I received from a
member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a
non-drinking table, I'm happy to accommodate this
request, but, don't forget, if I put a sign
on the table that reads, "AA Only," you
won't be anonymous anymore. In addition,
forget about the gifts exchange-- no gifts will be
allowed since the union members feel that
$10 is too much money.
Patty Lewis
Human Researchers Director

---

December 7th
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES
I've arranged for members of Overeaters Anonymous to sit farthest
from the dessert buffet and pregnant women closest to the
restrooms. Gays are allowed to sit with each other. Lesbians
do not have to sit with the gay men; each will have their
table. Yes, there will be a flower arrangement for the
gay men's table.
Happy now?
Patty Lewis
Human Racehorses Director

---

December 9th
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES
People, people -- nothing sinister was intended by wanting
our CEO to play Santa Claus! Even if the anagram of "Santa"
does happen to be "Satan," there is no evil connotation to
our own "little man in a red suit."
Patty Lewis
Human Ratraces

---

December 10th
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES
Vegetarians -- I've had it with you people!! We're going to
hold this party at Luigi's Open Pit whether you like it
or not, you can just sit at the table farthest from
the "grill of death," as you put it, and
you'll get salad bar only, including hydroponic tomatoes.
But, you know, tomatoes have feelings, too. They
scream when you slice them. I've heard them scream.
I'm hearing them right now... Ha!
I hope you all have a rotten holiday! Drive drunk and die,
you hear me?
The Bitch from Hell

---

December 14th
TO: ALL EMPLOYEES
I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Patty Lewis a speedy
recovery from her stress-related illness. I'll continue to forward
your cards to her at the sanitarium. In the meantime, management
has decided to cancel our Holiday Party and give everyone the
afternoon
of the 23rd off with full pay.
Terri Bishop
Acting Human Resources Director

12 posted on 12/11/2001 2:26:52 PM EST by Dog Gone