War on Christmas

First Baptist Church of Dallas, TX, put up this web site, Grinch Alert! to help keep Christmas everywhere. Christmas has a secular side that business can exploit if they don't wish to promote religion.If we look at the Naughty List, I see some rather unreasonable expectations from businesses.Since we are not a theocracy, why expect any government entity to promote any one religious holiday?Since we are a land of freedom, why expect a secular business to provide religious merchandise?I understand why some Christians feel there is a "war against Christmas". They've been allowed to do as they please for so long, they don't like what they view as "being restricted".Some say the government can promote all religions, but don't want to allow the choice of doing nothing.If one wants merchandise with religious icons, go to a religious store or make them yourself. Why chastise a secular business that chooses to be neutral or secular?The word holiday refers to more than just religious observances. There is more than one religious festival in December. So the greeting of Happy Holidays is appropriate for a secular Business. Some people consider the season to run from Thanksgiving to New Year's day. In that case there are three Federal holidays.Businesses don't want Christmas to go away, typically it's the largest annual economic stimulus for many nations; but they're going to make it serve their purpose not that of the religion.Christians just don't have control over the government or businesses like they thought they did. I think that's what bothers them.

I saw this in my local newspaper last night.The site says, "When companies use misplaced political correctness to halt the celebration of Christmas.... Who the hell is doing that, I wonder?

The biggest concern seems to be replacing Merry Christmas with Happy Holidays. The Merry Christmas greeting didn't come about until about 1699. Even before Christmas became a Federal holiday, Christmas in early America wasn't celebrated the same by all. Some frowned upon the merry making and partying. They didn't consider the celebration Biblical.Carols weren't always a part of a Christian Church celebration. Just as early Christians adjusted the Pagan festivals to their needs, Christians today need to adjust to the secular markets use of holidays. It doesn't change what they do in their church or home.

It's all Bing Crosby's fault.

quote:

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Happy Holiday
Happy holiday, happy holiday
While the merry bells keep ringing
May your ev'ry wish come true

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Happy holiday, happy holiday
May the calendar keep bringing
Happy holidays to you

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Come To Holiday Inn
If you're burdened down with trouble
If your nerves are wearing thin
Park your load down the road
And come to Holiday Inn

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If the traffic noise affects you
Like a squeaky violin
Kick your cares down the stairs
And come to Holiday Inn

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If you can't find someone who
Would set your heart a-whirl
Take your car and motor to
The home of boy meets girl

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If you're laid-up with a breakdown
Throw away your vitamin
Don't get worse, grab your nurse
And come to Holiday Inn

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Anyone so limited that they can only spell a word one way is severely handicapped!

It's amusing, too, to look at the "Nice" list and see how many of the "nice" people are commended for having a decorated tree. I wonder if Rev. Jeffress would put that behavior on the naughty side if he were the one picking where to place comments - or does he think Spruce = Baby Jesus?

my standard reply:"do you celebrate christmas? ... do you celebrate new years? ... okay, well, have a great time on both of those holidays."

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אָרַח

It is interesting that the first Christmas Tree was considered blasphemous by some. Now, for some, the lack of one or not calling it a Christmas tree is considered blasphemous. How times change and that's in under 500 years.ABE: I haven't noticed anyone refraining from saying Merry Christmas. I also haven't noticed anyone saying Happy Holidays. Most businesses around here just say the standard thank you and have a nice day.Would they make the naughty list for doing business as usual?Edited by purpledawn, : ABE

The idea of war on Christmas is absurd. If a person hangs with A mixed crowd, different ethnicities, religious beliefs and customs,
Happy Holidays makes more sense that saying, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy St. Nicholas day, Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy New Year, Happy Epiphany and I add another among friends and relatives happy Bluescatmas (9 Jan)
happy holidays covers all bases and offends no-one.

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There is no better love between 2 people than mutual respect for each other WT Young, 2002Who gave anyone the authority to call me an authority on anything. WT Young, 1969Since Evolution is only ~90% correct it should be thrown out and replaced by Creation which has even a lower % of correctness. W T Young, 2008

The expression "Merry Christmas" seems to suggest a drunken orgy. I would have thought that "Happy Holidays" would be a better fit with fundamentalist Christianity.

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Jesus was a liberal hippie

Except for those who want to force their own religion on everybody else.Or those who want to propagate a deception that they are being persecuted.

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Quoting from memory, a Bob Newhart Show (where he was a psychologist) scene last seen decades ago:

quote:

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Black Patient: Everybody hates me because I'm black.
Bob: Uh, no, they hate you because you are not a nice person.
Patient (visibly very touched and almost in tears): Really? Do you think so?

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Hey PD,My business (retail) places a few strings of lights and a small tinsel tree on the counter by the cash register. I've frequently needed to halt mid-sentence and change what would have been, "Merry Christmas" to "Happy Holidays." I think this tends to be a carryover from my years as a Christian rather than a subconscious need to conform to what is considered to be the norm for mid-to-late December greetings.I don't think I've gotten any dirty looks from anyone, rosaried old ladies included, which tells me I'm sure they think I'm actually saying "Merry Christmas" while my mouth forms different words. I'd really enjoy wishing all my patients a Happy Saturnalia, but judging by the responses I've gotten from those Christians whom I've informed of this little tidbit, it'd be somewhat hard on business.So "Happy Holidays" it is. I wonder if this'd put us on the "naughty list?"Have a good one.

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"My own suspicion is that the Universe is not only queerer than we suppose, but queerer than we can suppose. J.B.S Haldane 1892-1964

So it appears from the lists on the website. Now, they haven't posted my comment there yet. Busy shopping, I guess.....

Well, if they want to persecute themselves, so be it.

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There is no better love between 2 people than mutual respect for each other WT Young, 2002Who gave anyone the authority to call me an authority on anything. WT Young, 1969Since Evolution is only ~90% correct it should be thrown out and replaced by Creation which has even a lower % of correctness. W T Young, 2008

You still have to ask on witch dates.To take Serbs for an example they celebrate Christmas on the 7. January and new year on the 14th. Tough they still celebrate the "civil" new year on the 1st. This is because the Serbian Orthodox church uses the Julian calendar that is 13 days behind the normal calendar. Oh an on a noter note the 14th is considered by them new year or the day of Jesus circumcision the 8th day after the birth.

Last panel is for you, Charlie Brown: