I like to be Merry and Happy wrote:
Yes, it does make sense because I like being happy during Rosh Hashanah. I wish my Jewish friends to be happy during the holiday, and they wish it back to me.
I suppose you would be offended if I wished you a "Happy Monday!" because you don't bow down and worship the days of the week. You do sound like a miserable Fock, I'm starting to understand why you don't want anyone wishing you to be merry.
rixctf wrote:
http://www.benstein.com/121805xmas.htmljust wanted to make sure stein's actual piece got posted, rather than those edited ones in the link you posted. in stein's own words, he summarizes the piece as this:
"Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?"
i've never heard anybody suggest such a thing. or maybe you were referring to an idea in one of the versions on the site you posted.
You are correct that not all of it can be attributed to Stein, though he has cordially accommodated what has been added to the piece. You're missing the point. The part I was referencing was the following:
"Next confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat."
Amen, Ben.
I say "Happy Holidays" just because I know uptight and overly sensitive Christians will take offense to it.
Not sure what's offensive about Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings.
I just flip people the bird as a parting gesture. That way, everyone gets offended and I'm not accused of playing favorites.
"our framers were Christian and openly practiced Christian traditions, and, frankly, I think the new politically correct is to be politically incorrect."
Tell us that part about the framers again...
It's not that hard.
On Thanksgiving day I say "Happy Thanksgiving."
On Christmas day I say "Merry Christmas."*
On New Years day I say "Happy New Year."
On any other day of the holiday season--from Thanksgiving through New Years--I say "Happy Holidays" because it's inclusive of all the holidays that take place during the entire holiday SEASON.
*I spend Christmas day every year with my wife's family up in Minnesota, since it's cold and everything's closed anyway, the only people I will talk to or come in contact with all day are family members who all happen to be "Christian" to some degree, so there's no need to worry about anyone possibly taking offense anyway.
Why not Happy Holidays? wrote:
I've never heard of Advent. I looked it up and I didn't see were it had any connection to the phrase "Merry Christmas".
Really? Where and when did you grow up?
Sagarin wrote:
Not sure what's offensive about Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings.
I have always scratched my head about why anybody would say "season's greetings".
Do people actually say that, or is it just a slogan for Hallmark and stores?
Sagarin wrote:
"I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat."
Amen, Ben.
What is it about theists and persecution? What exactly is that tiny minority of atheists (6%-9% of the population, according to wiki) "shoving down your throat"? Is there some grand-scale movement to abolish religion in this country, to ban churches? Even given our current economic woes, I haven't heard of anyone so much as suggesting that we start taxing churches, let alone ban them.
It seems to me that anyone is completely free to practice any religion they please. That's pretty much the opposite of persecution.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_atheism#North_AmericaMerry Christmas everyone, and God bless.
Now we know the origin of your name.
I usually use "Go F### Yourself" - that pretty much offends everyone
I'm not afraid to say Merry Christmas to anyone, and the Jewish guy down the hall from me in my office is also not afraid to wish everyone in the office Happy Hanukkah, although no one else is Jewish. Last year he passed out chocolate coins and wished everyone Happy Hanukkah. I thought that was pretty cool. No one in my office was offended either way and no one is trying to insult or convert anyone. It's just wishing people well.
To me it's no different than when another guy in the office had a baby recently and passed out cigars (chocolate ones for non-smokers, which was actually most of the office) - he was celebrating something and trying to pass his joy around. What's not to like? Someone is wishing you well, so just take it in the spirit in which it's intended.
"our framers were Christian and openly practiced Christian traditions, and, frankly, I think the new politically correct is to be politically incorrect."
________________________________________________
Tell us that part about the framers again...
___________________________________________________
Our framers were these Brazilian dudes who came in and banged that thing out in, like, 3 days. The only time religion came up was when the thing was done and I said "Holy crap."
Here's my experience: wrote:
I'm not afraid to say Merry Christmas to anyone, and the Jewish guy down the hall from me in my office is also not afraid to wish everyone in the office Happy Hanukkah, although no one else is Jewish. Last year he passed out chocolate coins and wished everyone Happy Hanukkah.
I work at your office. Today is my birthday. I am going to wish everyone else a Happy Birthday. That is how it works here, right?
orbitboy wrote:
It's not that hard.
On Thanksgiving day I say "Happy Thanksgiving."
On Christmas day I say "Merry Christmas."*
On New Years day I say "Happy New Year."
On any other day of the holiday season--from Thanksgiving through New Years--I say "Happy Holidays" because it's inclusive of all the holidays that take place during the entire holiday SEASON.
*I spend Christmas day every year with my wife's family up in Minnesota, since it's cold and everything's closed anyway, the only people I will talk to or come in contact with all day are family members who all happen to be "Christian" to some degree, so there's no need to worry about anyone possibly taking offense anyway.
I think the issue that rankles some people (Fox News types) is that Happy Holidays is a surrogate for Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, Happy Quanza, etc. These people think it is too PC to not mention Christmas and that it demeans Christmas to not say Merry Christmas. I don't think these folks are complaining that Happy Holidays is a surrogate for Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Let me ask you this: If you were talking to someone on Christmas Day who you knew is not Christian, is another religion (e.g. Muslim) that does not celebrate Christmas, would you wish them a Merry Christmas? If so, why?
And the winner is?
Stop making sense making sense wrote:
I work at your office. Today is my birthday. I am going to wish everyone else a Happy Birthday. That is how it works here, right?
trolltarded wrote:
I work at your office. Today is my birthday. I am going to wish everyone else a Happy Birthday. That is how it works here, right?
[/quote]
Nah, not really though. Because it isn't anyone elses birthday.
It's still Christmas whether the person in question cares or not.
Still. Has anyone ever been offended or seen anyone offended by an incorrect 'seasonal greeting'?
I just don't see how it demeans Christmas to say "Happy Holidays." Christmas is a subset of Holidays in my mind. You're not ignoring it, you're just speaking more generally, that's all. I think those Fox News types are just control freaks who have a burning need for their own personal religious beliefs to be acknowledged by others in an overt way. If it's not, they take great offense. Which is thoroughly childish. Who gives a f&%ck? It's their problem, not mine.
What would I say to someone who is of some other religion than Christian on Christmas day? I wouldn't acknowledge the day at all. Just behave like it's any other day. So my greeting would be more like, "Hey, good to see you." Or "Hey, howse is going?" That's probably what I would say to anyone who isn't family, actually.
Here's a question I have for folks: I was talking to a friend of mine, who happens to be Jewish, a few years ago during the holidays. She was complaining about all the Christmas shopping she had to do. I was shocked! I said, "What the hell are you Christmas shopping for? You're not obligated in the slightest to honor this holiday. You've got a free pass to avoid it entirely." I think she thought I was rude when I was trying to be funny, but I felt like I had a point, too.
You misquote me, sir!