This article appears in Dec 4-10, 2008.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
I am not wishing you Happy Holiday’s…but I will widh you a MEEEERY CHRISTMAS!!CHRISTMAS card, not holiday cardCHRISTMAS tree, not holiday tree…no other holiday requires a tree other than CHRISTMAS.CHRISTMAS lights, CHRISTMAS gifts, CHRISTMAS c
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Agreed!!!No Merry Christmas, no presents motherfucker.
I wasn’t aware that “Happy Holidays” sucked the fun out of everything. And isn’t fun more fun when you’re not offending people? Right? Because if they’re not offended, they’re happy, and if they’re happy then they’re fun. Weeeeeeeeeee!No matter what you choose to say people should take it in the spirit in which it is offered, and just enjoy the season. Merry Xmas, sluts!
Some people just need to be more tolerant, I’ts my holiday, its Merry Christmas. I’m not going to be in your face about it, but I will put up my Christmas tree, lights, presents etc. Respect my beliefs and I’ll respect yours.
This is a silly argument. Do people still care about this? I’m not Christian, but when someone wishes me a merry christmas, I accept it in the spirit in which it was offered, not as a slight against my own faith.You might be interested to know, however, that a great many Christmas traditions are not Christian at all, but are survivals of pre-Christian folk customs. There is some speculation, for example, that the custom of decorating trees has it’s origins in the practice of hanging sacrifices to Odin from trees.
Your right its sad when your not even aloud to have any christmas carols playing that has anything to do with wishing any buddy a merry christmas. I understand not everybody has christmas but things are getting out of hand
Yes Miranda, people do still care about this. The word Christmas has nearly disappeared. It’s almost trendy…not almost IS trendy to not say it…and that just makes me feel icky!!
For all those who would have us say something other than Merry Christmas, this is fucking Canada!! This is a country which allows all people to celebrate their traditions and faiths indiscriminately. By your twisted logic , hellakitty, I should be able to tell Jewish people not to say Happy Hanukkah, because it offends me (which it doesn’t, just trying to make a point). I say bullshit!
It’s Christmas, point blank! If you don’t like our traditions and you want to be “politically correct”, then why don’t you hibernate until the Christmas season is over? Or, you can go back to where you came from. Canada celebrates Christmas and other holidays. We celebrate diversity. Why should we bend down and kiss your asses because you are offended by the concept that Christ is Christmas???
You people annoy me.
I just want it to be over. Can it be over?
I’m curious why someone would be offended by a Christmas party or a christmas greeting. For one, most mainstream christmas traditions have very little religious overtones (gift giving, spending time with family, Santa instead of Jesus, Stars on trees instead of angels, trees instead of mangers etc). To be offended by Christmas is about the same as being offended by Groundhog day, or St.Patrick’s day, or valentines day. It’s not an exclusionary kind of holiday. Second, the vast majority of Nova Scotians, Christian or not, celebrate Christmas in some form. In a democracy, why should a small minority force the majority to change a behaviour that in no way excludes or abuses or exploits that minority? For example, if 90% of the peopel in a workplace celebrate Christmas, why should it have to be called a holiday party? The other 10% will still get invitations. They will not be forced to kiss the baby jesus or say a prayer. But they will be invited to share a few drinks, eat some food, and get to know a little more about the people they work with. Finally, I think people who get “offended” by Christmas and Christmas greetings should wake up and realize that they display far more intolerance than the intolerance they accuse the Christmas cheer spreaders of.
Who the fuck is offended by Christmas? Believe me, no one gives a shit what god or conifer you pray to.Really, you just don’t want to extend hospitality to people who don’t celebrate Christmas.
Who are you talking about Tim? Surely the people who say “Merry Christmas” are the ones trying to include others aren’t they? Are you implying that Christmas celebrations are exclusionary? In my experience that is never the case. Christmas is one of the few times a year when Christians (and others) are most hospitable. It seems to me that it’s the ones who make a fuss about it that are being insensitive. They suck the fun out of the holidays. I would argue that these people don’t want to accept the hospitality of those who DO celebrate Christmas.
You can only have fun if everyone else recognizes your holiday? That’s one fucked up religion, if you ask me.
You know if I thought that big fucking mess we call Christmas actually had anything to do with Christ, I might be able to work up some righteous indignation against all those Western so-called Christians (most of whom also have virtually nothing to do with Jesus of Nazareth’s recorded teachings) who are always trying to say they are being discriminated against. But i don’t think it does, and so I really don’t give a shit what kind of tacky shit you put on your plastic tree and I am only offended by the words “Merry Christmas” because they are so fucking hollow and trite. If you profess to be a Christian, then be a REAL Christian all year. And stop your whining.
As I see it, everything was fine. People were so caught up in the spirit of being nice and such, they reached out to others who may not celebrate Christmas– Happy Holidays! Whatever your holiday! Good feelings, all the way around.But then some right-wing assholes down in the states turned this nice, inclusionary sentiment into a “war on Christmas,” and they insist that people say “christmas,” and nothing else. It’s a war against being nice to people, is what it is.Like I said, you can celebrate whatever the fuck holiday you want, call it whatever you want, wish whatever you want to whoever you want. Have at it. Just don’t tell me what I can say to other people, and what I can call my celebrations.Happy holidays.
When a thousand faces form into one, that face has no identity.
Tim, I don’t think people want everyone to celebrate Christmas, they just don’t want to have to NOT celebrate Christmas because a minority of people choose not to. The “merry Chrismasers” want to be able to celebrate the way they always have. Those who don’t want to celebrate don’t have to. Those who aren’t religious and want to celebrate can. Now, maybe because i do celebrate Christmas, although i’m not a Christian, i can’t understand how someone who wants nothing of the holiday really feels. So that’s what i would like someone to explain to me. What makes a non-christian offended by christmas and christmas traditions?There are lots of other religious and non-religious traditions and festivals that i don’t take part in but don’t get offended about when I encounter someone who does. I don’t fast for Ramadan, but I don’t insist my co-workers eat up at lunch time, and they don’t insist I fast. I don’t celebrate Chinese new year, but I accept the greetings and gifts my co-workers give me and am happy to see them celebrating. I don’t go and poo-poo their traditions, why sould someone dump all over mine?Tolerance requires sharing ideas and celebrations, not cancelling everything different or unique to a culture until everything is one grey vanilla boring homogeneous world. How fucked up is that idea? Christmas celebrations don’t hurt anyone and are a source of joy for those who celebrate. Why should an inclusive celebration be politically incorrect?
Thanks for the Clarification Tim. I am on board with that sentiment. I didin’t realize you were talking about the “reclaim Christmas” movement specifically. That attitude does suck. I was just trying to defend those who say “merry christmas” with the same sentiment as “happy holidays”. It’s all about intent and attitude i guess.
Miles, I know you were asking Tim the question, but my response to “why would non-Christians be offended” is that because Christmas has been devalued so much by its own practitioners that their moral outrage seems rather contrived. I am offended by false sentiment. I am not offended by those religious holidays whose practitioners still imbue a true, significant sense of mystical, spiritual reverence in the celebration. Bill O’Reilley isn’t falling on his knees in awe of Jesus, or else he wouldn’t give a shit what anyone else thinks. He’s just bitching about some crybaby sense that somebody’s gonna steal the toys from under his tree.
Don’t play into Tim Bousquet’s bleeding heart whining. This is the same guy who refuses to see the problems with aggressive panhandlers, existence crime on Gottingen and in other low-income areas making citizens uncomfortable walking through those areas. Heck, he probably supports Sharia law and would welcome it with open arms if Canadians let it occur. Didn’t you come here from the States Tim? Learn to fit in our society and not try to change things to what you had back home. Miss it that much? Well the Stanfield Airport isn’t that far from your office so feel free to hop on a plane and let Canadians live as Canadians. We can do without one less PC resident.
All this came around because corporate muckymucks decided to say “Happy Holiday” or “Holiday Wishes” in favour of “Merry Christmas” to appeal to Jews, Christians, Orthodox Christians and Armenians and Kwanza uhh err – Kwanzanians(??) and might as well throw Gregorian Calender New Year too. Who cares if they say anything at all?? I say “Merry Christmas”, and if I am sure someone is Jewish, “Happy Hannukah” or I don’t know, maybe “Gut Shabes”…. but thats not the point. The point is that, let the corporations be as PC as they want, because they are not motivated by the spirit of global peace and togetherness, they are motivated by profits and are forced to appeal to as broad a market as possible; basically motivated by greed.If we can come together in any way this season, we should be uniting against our corporate masters.
It doesn’t matter to me what the greeting is – if a clerk in a store, or a server in a restaurant, says “Merry Christmas” to me, I smile, say thanks, and add “And Happy Hanukkah to you!” It kind of bothers me when people who KNOW me and know that I’m Jewish insist on wishing me Merry Christmas and sending me Christmas cards, though.
I still think this is a silly argument. I have a wide circle of acquaintances, who identify with many different cultures and faiths, and not one of them objects to being wished a merry Christmas. Not one of them is offended by the presence of a Christmas tree. Every one of them takes part in the customs and traditions that are unfamiliar to them with good humour, in the spirit of the season. Where is this anti-Christmas sentiment coming from? It’s certainly not coming from the people who don’t celebrate Christmas.Celebrating Christmas is not equivalent to shoving Christmas down the throats of others. And trying to be inclusive of other traditions is not equivalent to supressing the celebration of Christmas. If there’s a Christmas tree in your workplace, and the management refers to it as a “holiday tree” in an effort to be inclusive, that doesn’t prevent you from calling it a “Christmas tree”. If you make a reference to “the Christmas tree in the lobby”, is someone going to suck his teeth at you and give you a lecture on inclusiveness? I doubt it. It’s time to let this go. Celebrate whatever you celebrate, call it whatever you want to call it, and offer whatever festive greeting you like best. I promise you, the vast majority of people will smile and wish you the same.Happy Festivus.
I think a lot of the issues came from schools, where children of faiths other than Christianity were being enrolled in Christmas concerts, and plays and activities, even though they don’t celebrate Christmas. So parents were upset because their kids were coming home talking about christmas, and not their own holiday, and the parents either had to go and watch their kid sing Christmas carols, or demand that they not participate. So to be fair to everyone schools started calling them holiday concerts or whatever, and tried to make it as PC as possible. But then the Christian families were upset because their own holiday was being pushed to the side for others. And the people of other faiths got upset because the Christians were getting upset.Honestly, I don’t think most people care what is going on, or what people are calling it, as long as they get a couple of days off work and school, and get to eat, shop and recieve gifts.
I agree that it probably started with schools. I can remember the handfull of Jewish kids in my school when I was a kid, and how invisible they felt at Christmas. Nobody wants their children to feel excluded. My kids went to Duc D’Anville elementary, which has for years been lauded as the most multicultural school in the city. If Christianity was the majority religion when my kids went there, it was a slim majority. The Holiday Concert, as it was called, included all traditions. To call it a “Christmas Concert” would have been frankly inaccurate. Christianity, and Christmas, weren’t given short shrift. They were given equal time. Any child who wanted his traditions recognized in the concert had only to say so, and the staff would make sure it happened. It was wonderful. Everyone enjoyed it, nobody felt marginalized, and nobody got their panties in a twist over the lack of the word “Christmas” in the name.
I will continue to say Merry Christmas. If you’re going to censor my celebrations, then start censoring everyone elses too. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, etc… are expressions of good will and well wishes to others. Whoever started this believe that they are meant as anything else really needs to get some professional help. I still can’t believe how easily we as a society have passively stood by and swallowed this crap. Find me the person who offers along with their “Merry Christmas” an onslaught of ignorant remarks and slurs about non-Christians and we’ll kick that person off the island. Merry Christmas does not stand for Jesus kicks Buddha’s ass, it does not mean that non-Christmas folks are evil or that I’m better that anyone else, it’s a NICE expression and it’s time we remember that. Don’t be ashamed for what you believe in and stop apologizing for it – that goes for everyone – wear you believes proudly , we’re Canadian and it’s our right to celebrate how we want. .When other faiths have their celebrations censored for risk of offence, then maybe, MAYBE I’ll consider switching to the oh so non-offensive Happy Holidays – but probably not.
In a fair fight tho, ie NO magic, Jesus *would* kick Buddha’s ass. Muhammed would definitely beat up Jesus, probably with a headbutt. I would LOVE to see a tag team match-up, Jesus, Muhammed and King David versus Ganesh. Ganesh has all those arms and that elephant head… so he is like two guys and a small elephant. Awesome.
Try telling any other religion that their expression of faith is offensive – see how that turns out for you. When did it be okay to suggest Christian expressions of faith as offensive? In fact, I find it offensive that my work told us not to wish “Merry Christmas” because it could be considered offensive!!! This is why there’s a pro-Christmas movement. Not because of blow-hards like O’Reily hoping on a bandwagon. Plenty of caring people enjoy celebrating their expression of faith, tradition or even sentiment. Those caring expressions like “Merry Christmas” need not be watered down to some generic saying that holds NO meaning for the person wishing it. We should treasure, appreciate and share the things people hold dear, not try to dilute them into nothingness.
People are offended by satanist…They don’t want straight up druid practices to be handled at the workplace.Also people who practice obeah or voodoo don’t do it on the open because of social stigma. There are A LOT of things that are not accepted anymore or never had been.The thing about Christmas is that it isn’t CHRISTian at all. The tree isn’t ChristianThe Snowman isn’t.The fat dude in the red suit isn’t (Fucking Coca Cola)I never caught why people are so caught up in this to the point they they begin celebrating from fricken November!Bring yourself in debt for a commercial holdiay that is pushed by retail in the guise of being of ‘Christ’.When was the last time you gave out gifts to others on your birthday?Martain Luther King’s birthday is in January, how come no gifts are sent out then? I don’t wish anyone anything than have a good day. The rest is nonsense.
I’ve been wishing people Happy Holidays for much longer than this has been an “issue”.Get over it. Say Christmas if you want to or don’t for Christ’s sake.
“This is a silly argument. Do people still care about this?” Miranda, if it’s so silly then why would Toronto change their Christmas Tree to a Holiday Tree? Politicians started this as another imaginary PC way to not offend the other faiths and to curry votes. Try putting up a MERRY CHRISTMAS sign in Quebec- the seppies’ Language Police would have you written up and the sign taken faster than you could say GILLES DUCEPPE!