Christmas Greeting
12-16-2010, 12:38 PM
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 487
I'm with Jad1044 also. And if anyone watched the Christmas shows on NBC a week or so ago, you saw that their weekly comedies took a stand and made a special point of saying Merry Christmas. We are a free country but we don't always have the fortitude to act free. Just tell everyone you see Merry Christmas.
12-16-2010, 01:40 PM
#45
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Newberg, OR
Posts: 1,911
I'll probably get my head bitten off for this, but I feel a need to speak my mind anyway.
I guess when I hear someone wish me "Happy Holidays," I take it to mean that they are wishing me well during the holiday season. I take it to mean they don't know me, nor do they know what faith I practice. They don't know whether I have a religious preference at all. Nevertheless, they want to wish me well, and they want to be inclusive of whatever belief system I practice whether it be the same as theirs or different.
If I'm with people I know to be Christians, I say "Merry Christmas." If I'm with people I know NOT to be Christians, I say "Happy Holidays." If I were with someone I knew to be Jewish (for example), and I knew that they knew I'm a Christian, it would seem strange to me if they were to wish me a "Happy Hannukah." I would far prefer that they say "Happy Holidays." And if they were to say "Merry Christmas" to me when I know they do not practice the Christian Christmas tradition, it would seem disingenuous--even strange. It might even seem like pandering.
Like it or not, there are many different faith traditions being practiced during November and December--all at the same time. When you say, "Jesus is the reason for the season," then I wonder what "season" you are referring to. Are you referring to the Hannukah season? Ramadan? Kwanzaa? Christmas? Jesus is definitely the reason for Christmas, but for the "season"? I think not. Unless you're referring to the gift-buying season associated with Christmas trees and Santa Claus (although I don't think either are mentioned in the Bible).
There are people of many different faiths from all over the world reading this board and reading this thread. To my fellow Christians, I wish them a Merry Christmas because that is how Christians address one another. If I want to address readers from different faiths so that I can include everyone, I could go on for a long time because there are so many ways of saying it. So, instead, I think I'll settle for the all inclusive, "Happy Holidays," and leave it at that. Then I know I've addressed everyone regardless of faith or nationality.
If you're offended by my "Happy Holidays" wish, all I can say is that no offense is intended. I'm simply wishing you well.
I guess when I hear someone wish me "Happy Holidays," I take it to mean that they are wishing me well during the holiday season. I take it to mean they don't know me, nor do they know what faith I practice. They don't know whether I have a religious preference at all. Nevertheless, they want to wish me well, and they want to be inclusive of whatever belief system I practice whether it be the same as theirs or different.
If I'm with people I know to be Christians, I say "Merry Christmas." If I'm with people I know NOT to be Christians, I say "Happy Holidays." If I were with someone I knew to be Jewish (for example), and I knew that they knew I'm a Christian, it would seem strange to me if they were to wish me a "Happy Hannukah." I would far prefer that they say "Happy Holidays." And if they were to say "Merry Christmas" to me when I know they do not practice the Christian Christmas tradition, it would seem disingenuous--even strange. It might even seem like pandering.
Like it or not, there are many different faith traditions being practiced during November and December--all at the same time. When you say, "Jesus is the reason for the season," then I wonder what "season" you are referring to. Are you referring to the Hannukah season? Ramadan? Kwanzaa? Christmas? Jesus is definitely the reason for Christmas, but for the "season"? I think not. Unless you're referring to the gift-buying season associated with Christmas trees and Santa Claus (although I don't think either are mentioned in the Bible).
There are people of many different faiths from all over the world reading this board and reading this thread. To my fellow Christians, I wish them a Merry Christmas because that is how Christians address one another. If I want to address readers from different faiths so that I can include everyone, I could go on for a long time because there are so many ways of saying it. So, instead, I think I'll settle for the all inclusive, "Happy Holidays," and leave it at that. Then I know I've addressed everyone regardless of faith or nationality.
If you're offended by my "Happy Holidays" wish, all I can say is that no offense is intended. I'm simply wishing you well.
12-16-2010, 02:19 PM
#47
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 1,457
Catrancher, I do not disagree with you one bit - I was referring only to being in the Christian realm when I said I'd use Merry Christmas to my dying day-
It has offended me when I hear we can not pray in our schools. We never prayed out loud, and it was allowed to say a prayer before our meals with bowed head and in silence.
It also offends me when we can not allow a prayer before a football game - or any game.
It offends me when the Ten Commandments have to be removed from courthouses - or we have to swear on a bible to tell the whole truth, but have to let off the last words of the oath - so help us God!
It is things like this that have irritated me, and will continue to do so until we get our United States back to the way things were; I have respect for any religion, but it does not mean I have to oblige jumping on their bandwagon...
That is the point I am wanting to stress - yes, Happy Holidays in mixed company is fine. But, I'm referring to the days when Merry Christmas offended no one and we all lived happily ever after...
It sort of goes with the same belief - come to the United States, speak our language - work a job, pay taxes like we do, don't expect welfare and help at every turn; if you don't like it you can return to what you had and see if just meeting us halfway couldn't give them a good life here.
Sorry if I got on my soap box, but I do feel strongly about these things, and am not afraid to stand up for my country, my state, and my church!
It has offended me when I hear we can not pray in our schools. We never prayed out loud, and it was allowed to say a prayer before our meals with bowed head and in silence.
It also offends me when we can not allow a prayer before a football game - or any game.
It offends me when the Ten Commandments have to be removed from courthouses - or we have to swear on a bible to tell the whole truth, but have to let off the last words of the oath - so help us God!
It is things like this that have irritated me, and will continue to do so until we get our United States back to the way things were; I have respect for any religion, but it does not mean I have to oblige jumping on their bandwagon...
That is the point I am wanting to stress - yes, Happy Holidays in mixed company is fine. But, I'm referring to the days when Merry Christmas offended no one and we all lived happily ever after...
It sort of goes with the same belief - come to the United States, speak our language - work a job, pay taxes like we do, don't expect welfare and help at every turn; if you don't like it you can return to what you had and see if just meeting us halfway couldn't give them a good life here.
Sorry if I got on my soap box, but I do feel strongly about these things, and am not afraid to stand up for my country, my state, and my church!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
lovetosewstudio
Links and Resources
8
08-10-2011 12:38 PM
aliaslaceygreen
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
4
12-22-2010 04:15 PM
