No "Merry Christmas" in Tallahassee Anymore

[SQUEAKS]

I was watching the news from Tallahassee the other night and during their Christmas celebrations this year the organizers asked everyone not to use the old phrase "Merry Christmas" but rather just say "Happy Holidays". They claimed that saying "Merry Christmas" offends those who are not christians :confused:

I wonder what will be next to go? I'm gonna say it anyway

"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL":biggrin:

Bob

[lisa l aka marci]

And a Very Merry Christmas to you and your family too Bob!!!!!!

[Jane Hurl]

I find this supposedly "politically correct" stuff to be off the mark as far as it applies to Christmas. Just because one is not Christian doesn't mean the rest of us should not celebrate our Christian beliefs out loud! I mean, really! Would I be offended if someone wished me a "Hungry Ramadan" (or whatever adjective goes before the word "Ramadan")? No, I would not. "Happy Hanukkah" isn't politically incorrect. I wonder why THAT is? (Actually, I don't wonder at all. The idea that "Merry Christmas" is PI, in my estimation, was the misguided brainchild of some newscaster with not enough to fill his/her newscast ... and then some other gentle souls who are anxious to not offend picked it up! *eyes rolling*)

No. I'll be having a Merry Christmas this year ... and I hope all of you out there in Pasoland will too! (When IS Ramadan this year anyway?)

[CarolU]

A city here announced that someone had complained and they were taking the 10 Commandments monument off the City Building lawn. A huge outrage erupted and as it turned out, they weren't 'quite' telling the truth. A Jewish man had contacted City Hall and offered to donate and erect a monument with the Koran on the lawn also. The council didn't want this on the lawn, so rather then be inclusive, they made up the story and got rid of the other monument.

Personally, I think there is nothing wrong with "Happy Holidays" to be inclusive of ALL the holidays right now. But Christmas is still Christmas, a Christmas tree is a Christmas tree, Hanukkah is still Hanukkah, etc. Isn't it strange how during this season when we're supposed to be feeling warm thoughts towards our fellowman that we find so MANY things to squabble about instead. :confused:

Merry HanaKawnzaChristmakaSolstice!

[PASOFAN]

IT is a MERRY CHRISTMAS for me too.. I say happy holidays too because of the 3 holidays, but this week and before it has been Christmas!

I went shopping to Michaels craft store, Fleet Farm and Cracker Barrel and they said Merry Christmas! I was very happy they did!

I wont give up my right to say Merry Christmas because that is what it is for me...

Hope you all have a beautiful one!

[Fuego]

While living in Pittsburgh in a very diverse but predomianately Jewish neighborhood, I had neighbors who were Jewish, Muslim, Buddahist, Christian and who knows what else.....

I never felt I was being repressed by saying Happy Holdays considering I never knew what holiday a person might be celebrating around the same time.

A true Christian with Jesus' love in their heart shouldn't have a real problem being respectful to other people that share the same world with them, but may share different beliefs.

Happy Holidays to all, regardless which Holiday you chose to celebrate. ( see, that wasn't so hard was it?)

[Dave]

For the politically correct:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to observe religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2008, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures.


For the politically incorrect:

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and May God bless you and yours in 2008.

[Carol D.]

Merry HanaKawnzaChristmakaSolstice!

I like it!

[Jane Hurl]

Yikes! Please don't get me wrong, Fuego! I don't begrudge anyone their religious (or secular) holidays. If someone wishes me "Happy Hanukkah", while I don't have any Jewish friends and I've never lit a menorah, I reciprocate the sentiment. I have celebrated Ukrainian Christmas with friends. I have done Chinese New Year with others. I don't mind the term, "Happy holiday". What I do begrudge is someone telling me I shouldn't say "Merry Christmas" because s/he isn't Christian. That doesn't seem reasonable to me.

And when I stop and think about it, I'll BET that being encouraged to NOT say "Merry Christmas" has been influenced by retailers who are looking to be as inclusive as possible so as to maximize their income at this most spendy time of the year!

Happy New Year, all.

[Fuego]

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck.
How to live in a world so politically correct?
His workers no longer would answer to "elves" -
"vertically challenged" they now called themselves.

And labour conditions up at the North pole
Were alleged by the Union to stifle the soul.
Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety,
Freed to the wilds by the humane society

And equal employment had made it quite clear
That Santa had better not use just reindeer
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid
Were replaced by four pigs, of all the things stupid!

The runners had been removed from his sleigh:
The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A
And people had started to call for the cops
Upon hearing sleds run across their rooftops.

Second hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened;
His fur-trimmed suit was dubbed "unenlightened".
Then to prove the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows,
Rudolph was suing for unauthorised use of his nose...

And had gone on TV in front of the nation
Demanding six mill, overdue compensation.
So half the reindeer were gone, and his wife,
Who suddenly decided she's had enough of this life,

Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz
Demanding from now on her title was Ms.
And as for the gifts, why he'd ne'er had a notion
That making a choice could cause such commotion!

Nothing of leather, nothing of fur
Which meant nothing for him, and nothing for her.
Nothing that might be construed to pollute,
Nothing to aim, nothing to shoot,

Nothing that clamoured and made lots of noise,
Nothing for girls and nothing for boys,
Nothing that claimed to be gender specific,
Nothing warlike or non-pacific.

No candy or sweets, they are bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.
And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden
Were like Ken and Barbie, (better off hidden)

For they raised the hackles of those psychological
Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.
No basketball, no football, someone could get hurt -
Besides, playing sport exposed childrent to dirt.

Dolls were said to be sexist and oh so passé,
and Nintendo would rot their brains away.
So Santa just stood there, dishevelled, perplexed;
He couldn't figure out what he should do next.

He tried to be merry, he tried to be gay
(Though you must be so careful with that word today).
His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground -
Nothing acceptable to be found.

Something special was needed, a gift that he might
Give to all without angering left or right.
A gift that would satisfy with no indecision
Each group of people from every religion.

Every ethnicity, every hue,
Everyone, everywhere, even you.
So here is that gift, its price beyond worth:
"May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth."

[Jane Hurl]

I LIKE it. No ... I LOVE it! Thanks for the grin ... and the well wish!