Friday, December 05, 2008

say it with flair

On Facebook there are these cute little flair buttons to collect and send to friends. Yesterday I came across this one.

Um, ok. I didn't know that Christians, by saying 'Merry Christmas,' were hording all the joy for themselves. Wow, no wonder people get angry when someone says 'Merry Christmas.' They hear, "I'm a Christan and I've come to steal your joy!" That's horrible. This is just more proof that the true message of peace on earth (everyone on earth), good will to men (and women -- everyone) has not been well presented or people wouldn't have such an incorrect view of Christians.

When people say 'Happy Holidays' I don't think they are trying to take something away from me. I think of it more as a question, as in, "I don't know what holiday in particular you're celebrating, so I'll just wish you 'Happy Holidays.'" At which I respond, "Merry Christmas!"

7 comments:

Unknown said...

It's all part and parcel of being human. Something has to divide us, whether is religion (or the lack thereof), race, sexual orientation, hairstyle, video game preferences, or left-handed versus normal people (chuckle).

It's all about the divide.

Sailor said...

I hadn't realized we were stealing joy either, huh.

Silliness.

Happy Holidays!

for a different kind of girl said...

When I thank people for their purchase at the store, I then typically say Merry Christmas. One year, a man turned around and stormed back and asked, loudly, "What makes you assume I'm a Christian?!?!"

I didn't assume anything (other than he was apparently not a Christian. And kind of a jerk), I just say Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays is just not diving in!

Desmond Jones said...

I'm as cognizant as anyone that not everyone I meet on the street, or in the marketplace, is Christian, and I've been known to complain (sometimes rather too loudly) that the end-of-year Festival of Consumption has little-to-nothing to do with actual Christmas (well, except for the Magi and the whole gift-giving thing. . .)

But, who's kidding who? The whole 'Holiday Season' phenomenon came about because of Christmas, pure and simple. Charles Dickens didn't write his tale of ghosts and Tiny Tim about a generic 'Holiday'. Frank Capra didn't make It's a Wonderful Life about 'Season's Greetings' (and frankly, both of those examples treat Christmas in a 'cultural', as distinct from a 'Christian' way).

There's this urge to embrace everybody in a kind of generic, bland uniformity which, when you boil it down, amounts to 'nothing is really special'. And 'Christmas' is useful, on a purely utilitarian level, as a way of inducing people to spend money they might not otherwise. . .

Bijoux said...

I noticed that they went back to saying "Merry Christmas" at my local Target. Actually, the very nice cashier man told me to have a "blessed Christmas." I almost gave him a hug.

luke said...

I'm especially amused by people who substitute "Happy Holidays" for "Merry Christmas" ... since "Holiday" is a contraction of "Holy Day"

I suppose the only truly PC salutation would be, "Season's Greetings" which is so generic as to be totally meaningless. We might as well just say "Hello."

But I don't make a big deal out of it. I like the idea of responding to "Happy Holidays" with "Merry Christmas" - I'll start doing that.

Jeff said...

I'm a first born so I don't care what anybody else thinks. I'm right...