Posted on 11/08/2004 7:28:03 PM PST by carrier-aviator
Is anyone else as sick as I am of the one-for-one substitution of the word "Hoilday" for "Christmas," as in Holiday Party, Holiday Shopping, Holiday Season, the Baby's First "Holiday." Christmas is a federal holiday just like Veterans' Day or Thanksgiving. Why shouldn't we mention it?
Take the pledge: refuse to use the word "Holiday" when "Christmas" is correct. To your neighbors and fellow employees say MERRY CHRISTMAS, never Happy Holidays, and if they object simply tell them you are wishing them happiness on the upcoming federal holiday. If they object further, ask them if they'll be going to work on December 25th.
The Old Testament had a lot of them.
I care because Christmas is a legally prescribed holiday. When Channukah, Kwanzaa, or Arbor Day achieve that status you can re-ask me this question.
If Channukah were in August, and people started saying to you "Happy Holiday" wouldn't you consider it odd? "Why don't they call it by its proper name?" you might ask.
Further, if Channukah were a legal holiday of the Federal Government don't you think the above would be doubly curious? We have ten federal holidays, and in my experience they are ALL called by their proper names. Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving. Memorial Day is Memorial Day. Veterans Day is Veterans Day. So, why has Christmas Day morphed to "Holiday"?
Well, the answer is clear: a small minority of people who enjoy all the benefits of Christmas (like a day off from work, and an economy where 70% of the year's purchases are made in the "Christmas" season) want to deny the great majority of people in this country who both respect the legal and religious significance of December 25th their rights to linguistic freedom, and their rights to make this important legal holiday and religios holy day an important part of their culture.
Good one. Long Live Christmas!
Virginia's got Lee-Jackson-King Day ;)
I think we should have Sam Houston day on the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto.
Ooooh, how DARE you show respect and consideration for others! You're being PC! /mocking_reactionary_anti_PC_crowd_on_FR
I worked in retail and we found that changing Christmas to "Holiday" killed our season sales. People just don't get excited about buying for "Holiday".
Holiday comes from Holy Day. The Christman Holy Day sounds great to me!
Not true. I know several who do. Jerry Lewis had massive Christmas parties.
Jewish people don't celebrate Christmas....
Not true. I know several who do.
True. I know several who don't. What's your point?
That you can't say "Jewish people don't" when some do. The Jewish people up the street from me do. That's a blanket generalization.
I would venture to guess that almost all atheists celebrate Christmas. I certainly did. It's not a strictly Christian holiday anymore.
Me, too! I am a Christian, and it is MY day to celebrate the birth of Christ. I have as much right to say "Merry Christmas" as a Jew to say "Happy Hannukah", etc. I am waiting for the day someone says I cannot say "Merry Christmas".
Again, you can't force people to agree with you. Just go ahead and say whatever you want to say. When people start getting angry, as they did here in San Diego, things will change, but only in certain parts of the Country.
Merry Christmas
Things have gotten so out of hand that, at a local Mall, the tree that has been erected and decorated with ornaments is referred to as "The Holiday Tree"!!
"The Holiday Tree"!!
I also try not to shop, during the Christmas Season, at any store that has items (Santa, etc.) that are obviously geared to Christmas, but which refuses to acknowledge Christmas and instead says things like "Holiday Sale".
I actually get a bit offended when I see a store trying to capitalize on Christmas, while at the same time refusing to acknowledge the existance of Christmas...choosing instead to acknoweldge (but not say the name of) some "Holiday".
It'll always be Christmas in this house. So, may I take this opportunity to wish everyone of my Freeper friends an early Merry Christmas! :) PS: I believe we all got an early Christmas present in very early November. :)
Well, here is why I care so much.
By way of analogy....
Let's take one of the most holy and sacred days of your own religion...say, Yom Kippur.
Now imagine that it became customary among Jewish people to exchange gifts on Yom Kippur.
Next, imagine that merchants throughout the country, tried to lure you into their stores every year just before Yom Kippur. The whole reason for the malls and stores being decorated and the sales being offered just before Yom Kippur was because of Yom Kippur.
Then suppose that there was sort of an "unwritten rule" that said, Let's not mention Yom Kippur....let's instead celebrate a "Holiday".
Remembering that Yom Kippur is one of the most h ioly days in your religion, and then seeing that it became offensive -- not to try to make money off of Yom Kippur -- but for YOU to mention Yom Kippur, don't you think you might "care" about this whole notion that even wishing others a "Happy" (as in may you know the joy of God's forgiveness and may you experience the happiness that comes from bieng with your family) "Yom Kippur" is offensive?
That, in a nutshell, is why I "care so much" about this issue.
Just 42 shoplifting days left till Kwanzaa
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