posted
Seems to be a louder-than-usual contingent of Americans determined to hold fast against the practice of companies and individuals generalizing their holiday wishes.
The American Family Association has been in the lead with this, with the Rev Falwell right behind. Boycotts of stores that use "happy holidays" or "holiday shopping" in their marketing instead of Christmas are being recommended, with lists of such stores on the AFA website (and was recently read by Bill O'Reilly).
What do you think?
Posts: 7790 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
We already had this argument, didn't we? Personally, I consider "Holy Day" a perfectly acceptably religious name. America is pluralist society and commercial companies have the right and perhaps the obligation to at least try take into account a wider base of their customers. Even if there was no debate over the use of the word "christ" people would still use "Happy Holidays" just for variation!
Personally, I call my holiday "Christmas" just as a name that's been passed down generations. I don't mind what people call it. The day and the season are both still the same.
Of course, these people have the right to restrict their shopping. Honestly, I think it's a very silly thing to get het up over.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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I have no problem with Happy Holidays, but for some strange reason Season's Greetings bothers me. I really don't know why.
Posts: 202 | Registered: Nov 2005
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I think the polite thing is to tailor your greeting to your audience. The important variable is the belief of the greetee rather than the greeter. When in doubt about those beliefs or the correct form of greeting, "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" seems to generally work.
Posts: 11187 | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
And I think getting your knickers all bunched up if someone of good will gets it wrong is a waste of knickers. With so much actual wrong to struggle against, this seems worse than silly.
Posts: 11187 | Registered: Sep 2005
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I actually noticed the other day that I never say "Merry Christmas" except on Christmas itself. It doesn't sound right to me to use in a seasonal sense whereas "Happy Holidays" works just fine. Of course, "Seasons Greeting" is right out.
Posts: 10177 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Hm. Why is Season's Greetings so bad? I always associate with it upper-end Christmas Cards. I would never say Season's Greetings, mostly because I just usually say "have a happy Christmas" but I might use it on a card or something.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
As I said on the other thread, Christians don't have a monopoly on this time of year. I do think Happy Holidays is entirely appropriate, especially for a business.
Myself, I usually respond in kind - if I'm wished Merry Christmas, I respond with a Merry Christmas. If I'm wished Happy Holidays, I say that back. If I initiate the greeting, I usually will use Holidays unless I'm quite certain I'm in a group of all Christians.
I do think the whole calling a Christmas tree a Holiday tree is silly though - I mean, it IS a Christmas tree, calling it something else is rather too PC. Should we begin to refer to the Menorah as a "Holiday candlestick" as well?
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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quote: Seems to be a louder-than-usual contingent of Americans determined to hold fast against the practice of companies and individuals generalizing their holiday wishes.
This is a Republican talking point this year. Seriously.
It keys into a strategy they're using to promote Alito for the Supreme Court. He apparently found in favor of some religious displays a few years back, and so they're consciously promoting him as "the Judge Who Saved Christmas." In order to do this effectively, they need to make it seem like Christmas is endangered.
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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"Merry Christmas" is not supposed to be used at the office right now. At the Boy Scouts, no less. We had the Christmas party this morning, and they did it with a Hawaiian Luau theme in order to sidestep the issue altogether.
Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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I can't decide if the people who come up with these sorts of promotional talking points honestly believe that they are part of a persecuted minority, or if they're using that sentiment because they know it resonates.
[Changed "promotions" to "promotional talking points" to avoid confusion.]
Posts: 10886 | Registered: Feb 2000
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posted
I don't feel persecuted by the lack of a Christmas party with a Christmas theme. Other people are not responsible for my religious observance, and if I want a Christmas party, then I can hold my own. I'm fine with the office party - there are stuffed jalapenos either way.
As a result of the event, I believe a fear of communly celebrating Christmas is present, and some people might have a problem with that. She says as she twirls the miniature parasol from her holiday tropical punch.Posts: 26077 | Registered: Mar 2000
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posted
At a recent book signing , I said 'Merry Christmas' to everyone but the nice Jewish lady and her son. I would have said, 'Happy Hannukah,' but I didn't get the opportunity (she walked away from the table too quickly).
Maybe if I had, she would have bought a book.
Saying, 'Merry Christmas,' anyway, didn't help me sell books. I spent two hours talking to folks, and only one person asked for a signature and a book.
posted
But there is still the larger issue of assuming that all the "real" people, be they Americans or Boy Scouts, are Christians.
Posts: 10177 | Registered: Apr 2001
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