Ok, Normally I don't say much in regards to this, and if the powers that be feel the need to lock or delete this, then so be it.

I'm getting really tired of not being able to say Merry Christmas anymore. I'm tired of going into a store and hearing "Happy Holidays", or feeling guilty about celebrating a Christian holiday. I'm not a religious person by any means, but I do take offence to people bashing my beliefs and calling me a racist for standing up for them. I was in a store the other day, and as I left I said "Merry Christmas" to the cashier, and some lady told me that I'm "not allowed" to say that.....I asked her what she celebrated this time of year.....surprise surprise, she said "Christmas". So WTF is the problem?

I'm not allowed to be offended when someone refuses to speak English in a country based on the English language, but I have to now censor my holiday greetings because someone with the same belief THINKS that other people are going to be offended....

I'm sure in the US you don't have this problem as much as we do in Canada, but here we've become so multicultural that being a Canadian makes you a minority. I was at the NOPI World Drag Championships in Ohio back in October, and the announcer said something along the lines of "We'd also like to thank the good Lord for the fine weather this weekend and watching over our drivers". If you said something like that in Canada....you're gonna get sued. Its BS and I'm getting sick of this.....

[/first official rant on RDT]

P.S. The reason I posted here and not another forum is that I've noticed that topics can actually get discussed maturely as opposed to being a festival of postwhores. And most of you seem level headed enough.

Disclaimer: To those of you who do not celebrate Christmas, this is in no way intended to offend you or your beliefs, and I wish you the best of which ever holiday you celebrate.

 

I hear ya, It's just f***ing stupid imo. Most of the stores I have been in lately all have Happy Holidays signs up, not one Merry Xmas. Its just as bad here in the states, same with the language issue. I used to work at a bank couple years ago prior to the Navy, and throughout the day maybe.. 10% of my customers spoke actual english. This is in North Arizona, not down in Tucson or South phoenix, just sad the pitfalls that this country and world is enduring and it will just get worse. Sad when the kids are translating for the parents.
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I feel your pain though.

 

Hey "American Dad" was all about that issue the other night.

 

Well, see, the problem up here, is that they jump the gun and act before someone gets offended. At City Hall in Toronto, they had a tree, and the mayor (Jewish at the time) never once said anything about setting up the Christmas tree. But after he was gone, and the new (I'm assuming non-Jewish) mayor took over, they changed the name to the Holiday Tree JUST IN CASE it may offend people....

When am I allowed to be offended?

 

Political Correctness gone amuck. Personally, I have always tried not to offend people, just the way I am. But that never meant I was going to change who I am or what I am. Because I do not know who I am talking to in a store, I usually say "happy holidays" simply because so many religions and cultures celebrate right about now. The end of the year is an important time for most people, wether you are christian, Jewish, Asian (they seem to love New Years) and the like. This is the time for celebrating everything good that happened during the year.

I also feel that "christmas" has become secular. It is no longer a Christian holiday even if the word Christ is in it. This has been a long time in coming during the length of my life here on earth. It was only a couple of decades ago that we actually used to celebrate Thanksgiving before the christmas decorations went up and the music started playing in the malls. Do not blame any one religion or culture that one.. you can blame consumor whorism and the almighty dollar for turning what was once a lovely holiday into the gift fest it is today.

I work at the Borgata Casino and Spa here in Atlantic City, as a stage Electrician it is my job to make sure that any and all shows that go on in their Event Center and the Music box get all the power and lighting they need. This year, like last.. when setting up for the Employee Christmas Party, we could not even put up "happy holidays" the closest we could come was snowflakes and the Borgata Logo.

 

you know I completely agree with this topic. I think it is rediculous. Now I'm a Christian myself, so you may consider my view 'tainted' but if anyone is offended, its the Christian.
On Charles Adler a couple nights ago they were talking about the judge who didnt want a Christmas tree in his courtroom because it 'might offend'. Charles Adler was talking to a muslim leader who said that a Christmas tree is a Christmas tree and even in these muslim countries (i believe jordon was cited) they still have them and the still call them a Christmas tree.
political correctness, give me a break. If you ask me its antiChristian

 

^^ Well said.

Just want to clarify that I'm not referring to one particular faith, the tree thing was just an example. Like I said, I have no problem with anyone's beliefs, if they say "Happy (insert any holiday here)", I'd smile and respond with "Merry Christmas". It basically comes down to respecting one another's beliefs, and I fully do that. I deal with every single possible religion or belief all year long working for one of the largest family owned funeral homes in the country, so I have respect for everyone, I just ask that it be given in return.

 

Stupid fricken PC wankers.............. smashfreakB.gif

 

But to christians it is christmas afterall.

I mean what are we gonna do? say "happy muslim thing where you all starve yourselves" instead of happy ramadan?

I mean theres a reason its called christmas, to name it something else is just plain daft.

Either acknowledge it for what it is and what it stands for or dont, ahhhh the freedom of choice smile.gif

 

Would you like it if at your work someone made you tell everyone "Happy Ramadan" or "Happy Samhain". I have no issue at all with someone telling me Merry Christmas, but what I have an issue with is making a worker at a grocery store have to say it if its not their own faith. I think thats more of the issue, making someone say it and not it offending the person its being said to. Also I think the Xmas tree thing is kinda funny. Its not even a religious symbol. When did the bible say anything about decorating dying pine trees? That was a tradition of pagans long before it became part of Xmas. Most of the non-Christians I know celibate the holiday, maybe not for its intended, but celibate it as a time of giving and being with family. All have those trees up, lol. The only thing I can see is it offending Muslims and maybe some hardcore Jewish people. I dont think they recognize Christmas at all, but I might be stereotyping.

Cliff Notes:
People getting bent out of shape over a tree in a store need to get over them selfs.

People being made to say something that they don't want to say, stepping over the line. That could be solved by just freaking asking them if it bothers them.