With Thanksgiving fast approaching and Advent right on its heels it is time for the annual posts and reactions about the whole "Merry Christmas" greetings controversy. With store clerks and fellow employees confused about the greeting protocol that is to be accepted people are using the most generic terms possible for fear of offending. With stores such as Wal-Mart ordering there employees to use "Happy Holidays" we need something to help reduce the fear of simply saying "Merry Christmas."
I propose a Holiday Greeting EULA. This End-User License Agreement could be worn on your clothes so as to be easily seen by others.
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Article 1. GRANT OF LICENSE I hereby grant the viewer permission to say "Merry Christmas" without fear of giving offense or insult. I release the viewer from all worries, concerns, fear, litigation, or uneasiness from wishing me a Merry Christmas or any other reference to Jesus’s birthday. Use of "Happy Holidays" is a reasonable substitution since this is a reference to the Holy Day – the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, so you just might as well wish me a "Merry Christmas." |
Of course there should be a EULA for those who don’t want this greeting.
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Article 1. TERMINATION OF LICENSE I am a very tolerant and liberal individual who promotes diversity and multiculturalism at every chance. Just don’t dare wish me a "Merry Christmas" or I will file a lawsuit faster than the ACLU upon spying a cross on a city seal. |
And why is it that Seasons Greetings is only used during Christmas? Why not year long? Why are we discriminating against the other seasons?
19 comments
Well, I am offended by “Happy PC Holidays”.
City Hall has announced that on Tuesday Mayor Bloomberg will light the official “Holiday Tree”. No doubt they will gather and sing favorites like “We Wish You a Merry Holiday”, “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Holiday”, and “I’m Dreaming of a White Holiday”.
We need to remind people that whatever THEY are celebrating, WE do not observe something called “Holiday”.
Personally, I think we should refuse to buy Christmas gifts, decorations, etc. as long as Christmas is held hostage. The Grinch has indeed stolen Christmas, and the Grinch is our so-called politically correct court system.
It is time to be Who’s. We should celebrate the spirit and not the trappings of Christmas. If only enough of us would do this, how long do you think that the government and stores would refuse any outward signs of Christmas in the public square?
You make an excellent point–one that lots of folks who get up in arms about such things would do well to remember–about “Holiday” not being offensive to the Christian. This reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend who’s one of those borderline-rabid Religious Right types. She was up in arms about seeing X-mas somewhere, and there was no convincing her that that form originated because of the Greek “chi” and not with the Evil Left-Wing Atheists.
One note, though–did you mean to say the University of California at Los Angeles was in the habit of suing over religious displays? 🙂
UCLA?
Respond with “Yes, it is a holy day!”
I am sure that was a transposed ACLU.
The Termination of License should be termed Termination of Common Sense. How can those who hold tolerance as a cardinal virtue be so intolerant?
I think Dave Barry once wrote that saying “Season’s greetings!” is pretty much the same as walking up to someone and saying, “Appropriate remark!”
Dave Barry also had a wonderful line about “whatever holiday you celebrate, whether it’s Christmas, Hanukah, or White Athiest Children Get Presents Day.”
That would make a great tshirt lol.
Recently the schools in our state have been told by the government not to ban Christmas, and that all religious holidays will be encouraged, and also, those who wish not to participate do not have to do so.
You would think that was easy now! But noooo, someone always has to complain 🙁
Why should we be offended? Do we not teach after Vatican II that all religions are basically “equal” and that we should hold even the Moslems “In high esteem”?
We are reaping what we sow, either we are the one true faith or we are not. Vatican II clearly contradicted that and stomped on the graves of those very own Martyrs who died for not renouncing as such
Merry CHRIST Mas
I think it was Glenn Beck who coined the term “Happy Ramahannuquanzmas.” And he had this little Santa-type cartoon character that had all of the holidays represented. Hilarious.
One other pet peeve of mine during this “Season” is the rush to Christmas. The season coming up is ADVENT…a time of quiet reflection, hope, and penance in anticipation of the Incarnation. “Christmas” runs from 12/24 through 1/6. One year, I only turned on my yard lights on those nights. All my other neighbors had long since taken down their trees and let their lights go dim. I’m sure they thought I was daft.
Carmel, you beat me to it. I was thinking that tees or little neck tags could be worn… That would be a great CHRISTmas gift.
*sigh* These people sure know how to make people miserable for the holidays.
I proclaim a resolution starting this 1st Sunday of Advent: anyone who wishes me any PC’d version of a holiday greeting will find me turning around, making eye contact, and firmly saying, “Merry Christmas to you, too!”
Incidentally this year we have the longest possible Advent – all four FULL weeks!
Prepare!
How about wearing “Merry Christmas” buttons?
I have a button that says, “Bah Humbug!”… with a slash through the words. It’s inspired some weird looks and comments.
I shoot back “Blessed Advent” until Christmas Eve, then I use “Merry Christmas” until the 6th.
how ’bout a shirt that says “Christmas is one of the most celebrated holidays in America, so don’t recoil when it’s mentioned” or “stop complaining, it’s Christmas” or something along those lines.
Rejoice, it’s Christmas?
Saying “Merry Christmas” and “Blessed Advent” are good, but just try not to be in your face about it. Say it like it was the norm. Otherwise, people will think that Christians/Catholics will be unapproachable in the subject of christmas because we appear to be so obstinate in our own ways. Know what I mean?