Monday, December 19, 2005
Christmahanuwhatthefuck
I'm ok with terms such as Christmas Tree, Christmas Lights, and Christmas-Centric stuff; that should be preserved.
But getting upset at the representatives to mass-market audiences who say Happy Holidays over Merry Christmas?! That I cannot stand for. I ran across a website today aimed at getting every retailer and public official to use Merry Christmas as the official greeting for the holiday season.
Even if you are Christian, there are multiple holidays (Christmas, New Years, and in many instances Boxing Day and important advent days), why throw those by the wayside? You could be Christian but not overly religious and prefer New Years to Christmas, looking at the beginning of your new year rather than the beginning of a character in religious history.
Regardless of your religious following, if I am buying things, how do you as a retailer know if I'm buying for Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or some other day? Or what if it just happens to be a December 27 birthday; people ARE born every day. When I buy from you or give you some other type of patronage, I'd actually be more offended if you generalized me rather than lumping me in with a safe catch-all phrase.
What if I'm wearing a turban? Do you still say Merry Christmas? Who empowered you to determine my faith? What if I'm black? I might celebrate Kwanzaa; I might celebrate Christmas; I might be agnostic and only celebrate New Years. Again, don't try to single me out. By saying Happy Holidays to the masses, you're saving face and everyone else from embarrassment.
This being said, when you are at appropriate venues though, you SHOULD use proper religious terminology; knowing when it is and is not appropriate should be common knowledge. Anyone who refuses to recognize that should reevaluate how truly devoted you are to religious and political freedom. I am a Christian, but I have numerous friends of other followings. Who am I to push my religion on them?
Now that I've said my peace, I wish everyone else in the world peace and enjoyment for whatever holiday you are anticipating this December.
But getting upset at the representatives to mass-market audiences who say Happy Holidays over Merry Christmas?! That I cannot stand for. I ran across a website today aimed at getting every retailer and public official to use Merry Christmas as the official greeting for the holiday season.
Even if you are Christian, there are multiple holidays (Christmas, New Years, and in many instances Boxing Day and important advent days), why throw those by the wayside? You could be Christian but not overly religious and prefer New Years to Christmas, looking at the beginning of your new year rather than the beginning of a character in religious history.
Regardless of your religious following, if I am buying things, how do you as a retailer know if I'm buying for Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, or some other day? Or what if it just happens to be a December 27 birthday; people ARE born every day. When I buy from you or give you some other type of patronage, I'd actually be more offended if you generalized me rather than lumping me in with a safe catch-all phrase.
What if I'm wearing a turban? Do you still say Merry Christmas? Who empowered you to determine my faith? What if I'm black? I might celebrate Kwanzaa; I might celebrate Christmas; I might be agnostic and only celebrate New Years. Again, don't try to single me out. By saying Happy Holidays to the masses, you're saving face and everyone else from embarrassment.
This being said, when you are at appropriate venues though, you SHOULD use proper religious terminology; knowing when it is and is not appropriate should be common knowledge. Anyone who refuses to recognize that should reevaluate how truly devoted you are to religious and political freedom. I am a Christian, but I have numerous friends of other followings. Who am I to push my religion on them?
Now that I've said my peace, I wish everyone else in the world peace and enjoyment for whatever holiday you are anticipating this December.
# posted by Jay @ 11:08 AM 
