December 13, 2010
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It's That Time Of Year
Last week was Hanukkah. I had not problem wishing my Jewish friends a Happy Hanukkah. And this past September was Ramadan. I had no problem acknowledging that to my friends who practice the Islamic faith. And they don't seem to have any problem wishing me a Merry Christmas.
Now comes the business community that refuses to acknowledge the same, saying that it's because they don't want to offend anyone. How stupid can they be? In there haste not to offend a handful of dissidents, most of whom are atheists, they rush headlong into offending a greater number of people by refusing to say Merry Christmas.
I have gotten so disgusted by this practice over the last several years that I refuse to shop is stores that use the happy holidays expression. In fact, I have, on several occassions, walked out leaving my shopping cart where it stood when an employee said happy holidays to me. Of course I let the management know why I left. (It wouldn't have the same affect if I didn't.)
There are those who would say that I'm just being dumb, because my small protest won't change anything. And by itself it certainly won't; but if enough people do the same thing it will have an effect. People don't seem to understand how much of an impact they can make with their individual statements of protest. Five dollars here and ten dollars there adds up. Let's face it, you can buy groceries anywhere. Store managers know that and are not very happy when a customer walks off leaving $150 dollars worth of goods blocking a cash register isle. And if others do the same, suddenly we are talking about billions of dollars nationwide. One year I even went so far as to close a bank account because of this issue. It didn't take very long to open a new one at another bank.
Merry Christmas
Comments (4)
I like your Christmas Tree, pagan idea though it may be
I have always supposed that the use of "Happy Holidays" or its derivations was that the merchant wanted to recognize the end of year holidays - Christmas, New Years, any others that fall around that time of the year, without getting religious and possibly losing a customer. I believe that the verdict is still out on whether or not it actually makes any difference. Obviously the merchant doesn't want anything to stand in the way of his profit - very American, no matter what his beliefs. This secularization of Christmas seems to be world-wide and we probably started it. Your objections may actually make some difference - but you have to make sure the store manager/owner understands your point.
Incidentally, suppose the store owner is not a Christian (Jewish, moslem, whatever) should they still use "Merry Christmas" when the phrase is meaningless to them?
@tychecat - I guess you missed the first paragraph. If I can acknowledge their holiday, they can acknowledge mine. Did you also miss the 3rd paragraph where I specifically said that I let the store management know what I was doing and why?
@thereluctantsinger -
I absolutely understand where you are coming from. I think the major question is how much Christmas has been secularized. Remember, historically the Dec. 25 date was initially selected because it would "Christianize" the Northern European pagan rite of midwinter's day, Jesus was probably born in the Spring. Maybe we've seen Christmas come full circle.
As far as the religious celebration of Christ's birthday - I think most Christian Churches have that well under control. Personally, I don't wish others congratulations on their religion's holidays - If I don't follow their faith, I think that would be somewhat hypocritical.
@tychecat - How sad that you have come to a point in your life that you can not find it in your heart to wish a little happiness to someone during their special time of year.
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