Encountered two fundamentalists today.. these people are getting very bold

[Sub Zero]

I know this isn't exactly the worst these people can do, but it was very disturbing to me regardless.

I work at a cash register for the time being. I've been saying "happy holidays" to the customers I check out for the past week or two.

Well today I was checking out a customer and I wished her happy holidays as she was going.

A few moments later a couple (in around there 40's-50's) approached me.

I was asked "did you just say happy holidays?" It was asked in a somewhat angry and rude way. I said "Yes I think I did" as I was wondering why they were asking me this.

The next thing she says, again in an angry and somewhat demanding tone, is "You say merry christmas". I said "Maam?" and she again says "You say merry christmas".

By this point I obviously see what their problem is. I smile and politely tell her "I just say happy holidays to be inclusive of everyone" to which she said "I don't care about those people. You say merry christmas. If I hear you say happy holidays instead of merry christmas again we're going to complain about you."

I just stared at her for a few seconds biting my tongue. I fake smiled and said "Ok...". She then told me "now say merry christmas". I stared again for a few seconds not believing this shit and said "merry christmas". She then got noticeably happy, and said "praise jesus, god bless you" and they walked away.

Who the hell do these people think they are? This happened hours ago and I'm still pissed about it. Apparently according to them the ONLY people that should have their views respected are "christians". I've never had something like this happen before, but it's clear to me these people are getting bolder. The scary thing is that these psychos, if they get there way, will mandate by law their version of christianity as being the ONLY religion to be accepted and followed. I won't be surprised if this happens more and more over the next four years.

[GRLMGC]

1. How gross

I agree, they are getting too freaking bold. Just because they know how to vote doesn't mean everyone likes them. What a burn x(

[BrklynLiberal]

2. Why did you accede to their demand? Did you think you would lose your

job if you didn't?

[Sub Zero]

14. I did not fear losing my job

But it was clear to me they would have raised hell if I didn't go along with it, and I suppose I didn't want to deal with that at work.

[MadHound]

50. Let them raise hell then! People have got to take a stand somewhere,

Each and everyone of us. Acceding to their wishes just emboldens them.

Hell, depending on how I was feeling at the time, I would have responded with either "Happy Hannukah, Happy Kwanza, Merry Solstice and Merry Christmas. That's if I was feeling constrained. I might have also simply said Hail Satan, watched their faces drop, laughed and gone on my way.

Don't never, ever let the bastards force you into such bullshit. It demeans you, and only further empowers them.

[Charlls]

51. totally Agreed!!

This kind of intimidation works at all levels; from what happened to you in a simple store to what happens on the senate/congress

[SammyWinstonJack]

114. So agree! n/t

[primavera]

135. I agree, letting them get away with that crap...

...only emboldens them to try it on everybody. If they want to complain, let them. Unless your employer is as wacked out a right-wing fundie as these loons are, I can't believe that they'd support a customer's attempt to threaten and intimidate an employee into adopting an exclusivist behavior disrespectful towards the business' non-Christian customers. And such deranged militants need to receive more often the message that this isn't their personal planet and not everyone on it is subject to their personal authoritarianism. These idiots are just going to go out now, empowered by their success in cowing you, and try it on everyone else they meet.

[Rockerdem]

178. Ask the boss what s/he wants in advance

Then do it. You can do it robotically without guilt pangs. My guess is that it won't happen again, or once more at the most.

[buckettgirl]

179. I have an idea!

I want to spread Holiday cheer! I want to lift people's spirits. I also want to piss off the fundies!
I propose an experiment: Go to you local walmart, mall, kmart, target, wherever - as long as there are lots of people. Whenever you see someone, make eye contact and say "HAPPY HOLIDAYS!", being as cheerful and kind as you can. Lets see how many of these fundies we can weed out.
I intend to do this next time I am out shopping.
I think it is a good idea!

[msgadget]

101. I understand,

it wasn't worth the aggravation. :thumbsup:

[mojavekid]

157. You did what was right for you.

they are not worth the trouble, only you know which fights to pick and when.

What they did to you was just plain mean.

[radwriter0555]

60. IN the case of wierd, brain damaged fundies like the customers, it's WAY

better to acquiesce and do their f'd up bidding and let them get the hay out of there.

I would have gone totally stepford just for fun....

[immoderate]

70. I would have said, "OK, never mind."

--IMM

[imenja]

3. that's shockingly rude

Don't fundamentalists care about manners? I would have found that very disconcerting. Apparently they feel free to exert tyranny over the rest of us.

[imenja]

7. besides which it' s not Christmas yet

Hanukkah is currently in progress. Christmas begins on Dec. 25.

[mitchum]

12. WWJB?

Who Would Jesus Browbeat?

[Fenris]

4. You shouldn't have said merry Christmas.

You should have told them that the store policy was to say happy holidays, because, believe it or not, a sizable portion of this country is not Christian.

[imenja]

26. it's difficult when one's job is on the line

and you have to put at risk your livelihood and that of your family. I understand it must have been very difficult for you. Some sixteenth-century Spanish missionaries understood that a true acceptance of Christianity could not come about through force. Too bad these folks don't realize that. It strikes me as profoundly un-Chrisitan behavior.

[Maestro]

68. Yep! One was Bartolomé de las Casas

who lobbied against slavery from the beginnings of the Spanish colonization.

Fundies love to be like this because they feel they are evangelizing and spreading the Word when in fact they are just plain rude and ignorant. Gawd I detest people like this. The next you see them tell them Happy Pagan Winter Solstice Day while wearing a Wiccan T-Shirt!!!!!!!!!!!

[imenja]

78. against Indian slavery, not African.

Las Casas never lost his job did he? His position was in the Dominican order. And he succeeded in influencing passage of the New Laws that legally abolished Indian slavery in Spanish America.

[Maestro]

119. Yes you are correct.

Was he even exposed to African slavery? Did the Spanish go to Africa much? I know the Portuguese did.

[imenja]

159. the Spanish held slaves yes, but

in Las Casas' lifetime in no where near the numbers the Portuguese did. In subsequent centuries, the Spanish would use hundreds of thousands of slaves in their Caribbean colonies. In the 16th century, some slaves were used in cities, as house servants, and in plantation areas along the cost of Peru and Mexico. The Spanish never maintained their own outposts on the coast of African like the Portuguese, and later the Dutch and English. The Spanish instead contracted with traders from other Empires (some of whom were Spanish but operated under license of the English and Portuguese) to acquire African slaves. Of course there was also a sizable contraband trade that defied mercantilist restricts.
A great irony of the clergy in the Americas is their outrage to Indian slavery but not African. The Jesuits were the worst in this regard, in that they actively opposed Indian slavery in Brazil yet were the largest corporate slave holders of Africans by the time they were expelled in the 1750s.
Sorry for the tedious history lesson. It's an occupational hazard.

[liberalhistorian]

121. That's just it, though,

these people don't care about that. To them, their version of Christianity is the only one true religion and it's the only one that matters. And this election has really unbelievably emboldened these people. I'm getting really sick of hearing their whining about how they aren't permitted to truly celebrate Christmas and how we're ruining it for them, etc., etc., blahblahblahblahblah. BOO-FUCKING-HOO! I'm a Christian and I don't see that at all, it's actually the opposite that's occuring.

[mitchum]

5. I wish like hell those people would just hurry on to heaven...

and leave the rest of us alone

[Starlight]

160. Um, I really don't think these people are going anywhere near heaven... nt

[vpigrad]

6. Sometimes...

you have to do bad things in order to keep food on the table and a roof over your head. You had to do something horrible, but the alternative of not eating is worse. You did nothing wrong.

[Mojambo]

8. I would have lost my job today if I were you

Because right after she said, "now say merry christmas"

I would have said, "Now suck my dick and fuck off!"

[BrklynLiberal]

10. heh heh heh I would have done it just to see the look on their faces..

[Mojambo]

23. I'm working a temp job at a toy store for extra money

I SO hope I run into some fundies. I could give a rats ass about the job, but the chance to put one of those fuckers in their place.

I'm giddy just thinking about it.

[Stand and Fight]

20. I'd not have gone that far, but...

I would have very coldly stared her in the eyes -- all the while making my disgust very apparent -- and in a flat metallic tone said, "No." Then I'd have turned my back on them.

[ebayfool]

37. Or the female version thereof! LOL - too funny & very appropriate!

Nawww, I would've ended up in a brawl - I realllyyy dislike being pushed around! Bullies like these people sometimes have to have a good shock to remind them they can't just go around being bullies, cause sometimes a bigger bully will get in their face!

[Mojambo]

39. You got it.

Rudeness deserves rudeness in reply.
That's my philosophy.

[AliciaKeyedUp]

56. The easier solution

And one you won't get fired for is to say, "Happy holidays." Smile and move on to the next customer.

[BronxBoy]

161. LOL n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. Welcome to a new fascist state

this is how it worked in Germany by the way....

Oh and I have been confronting them.

One actually got abusive with a store employee that we go to... I confronted the idiot...

I am going to report you to your boss

You just did.

What?

I am a customer and if yuo do not leave right now I will call 911 since YOU are disturbing the peace, have a good day.

She was pissed,

At which point the manager and the owenr said, "we reserve teh right to refuse you service Ma'am, happy holidays."

[Stand and Fight]

11. What the heck were you thinking?

Why did you do as they told you to? You could have simply said, "No." And there is nothing that they could have done about it! Doing that did nothing but pump up their temerity...
:wtf:

[Sub Zero]

29. I think it got rid of them

which made me very happy. If I refused they likely would have escalated the situation. If I said something else (which certainly crossed my mind) I could have gotten in serious trouble. It wasn't something I could risk.

[Blue Gardener]

149. They aren't worth getting into trouble over

If it were a non-work situation it would be different. And welcome to DU!

[Neoma]

13. Damn...

just..Damn

that is...Damn


Should have just let them report..but then they are the costermers...and reporting would be bad to you..

hmm may have just needed to ignore them you get on with your life?

[proud patriot]

15. You should tell your boss about the exchange

:think: in case they pull any crap , these types
are known liars and thieves for "their golden cow"

[gjb]

134. Yeah find out what the stores greeting policy is Pronto. Cover your ass...

before you kick someone elses.

[gjb]

136. On the other hand you could tell them your're a Jehovah's Witness.

[fearnobush]

16. I would of told her to go her hell.

[rhino47]

17. Yes they are getting bolder by the day.

I would have told her that those "other people" spend alot more money in the store the poor fundie trailer trash.But I was not in your shoes.I know in my mind it would have been "Merry Fucking Christmas to you too"

[barb162]

18. browbeating fundie scumbags and they are getting bolder

I don't blame you for being upset.

[salinen]

25. It makes no difference

what you said. They are fundies. Yelling or saying "go to hell" wouldn't solve a thing. Try telling a nut that they're nuts. You did the minimum to get rid of them.

[Supormom]

19. They are joining O'lielly in "saving Christmas"

:crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy: :crazy:

[w4rma]

21. Xitain Domionionists. They use Jesus's name to oppose Jesus's word.

blessed are the poor in spirit?
blessed are the peacemakers?
turn the other cheek?
the meek shall inherit the Earth?
blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy?
blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake?
blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you?

[peacebird]

115. exactly w4rma - they are so busy telling others how to behave -

that they forget what their christ said. they are the least christian people. jesus spoke of loving one another, caring for one another not judging one another. don't they trust their god to know who to judge and how?

blessed are the poor in spirit?
blessed are the peacemakers?
turn the other cheek?
the meek shall inherit the Earth?
blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy?
blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness' sake?
blessed are ye, when men shall revile you and persecute you?

[bluestateguy]

22. The thing is if you said Merry Christmas to all the customers...

Somebody would eventually complain too: A Jew, a Muslim a non-religious person.

Now if I saw a person wearing a Christian cross necklace, then knowing they were Christian, I might say Merry Christmas. Otherwise Happy Holidays is best.

[w13rd0]

24. Merry Winter Solstice

...fuckin idiots...

[stopbush]

31. Yep. Leave it to the Xtians to glom their myths onto a pagan holiday

and then complain when people don't acknowledge their BS.

And, as one poster pointed out, IT AIN'T EVEN XMAS YET!

[virgdem]

27. I can understand that you didn't want a confrontation at work...

however, if you accede to the demands of every nut case that does not like what you are saying to customers, then you have lost the ability to think for yourself. You should never let others dictate what you do or say in any situation, period.

[UdoKier]

28. I would have said this:

"Oh, I'm sorry, I just ASSUMED you were JEWISH! Didn't want to offend you. Merry Christmas! So when did you convert? Are you Jews for Jesus or did you go full-on Christian?"

[Chipper Chat]

41. Sweet! nt

[Ruffhowse]

30. You shouldn't have caved in to her. She was being extremely rude

and unreasonable. I would have just laughed in her face. People like that are only good for humor.

[Mike Niendorff]

32. Good. We should encourage them to go even further.

After all, they have a "mandate". It's time for them to "take dominion" and "return this nation to Jesus". The further out on that limb they go, the faster it will snap off beneath them. I'm more than happy to see them starting to out themselves like this. Seriously, we ALL know that this is what these so-called "Christians" are really like. We know it because we've been on the receiving end of their bile for decades. But a lot of "middle America" hasn't had that pleasure yet. It's time they did. So if the fundies want to go flying off on a "Merry Christmas Crusade", I'm all for it. I hope they turn it into a signature cause. The louder, the pushier, the better. Let the nation see them for what they really are.


MDN

[Ilsa]

73. You are so right!

I want these extremeists to out themselves! I want their neighbors to know them and shun them and see who they support politically so others can run hard and fast in the other direction!

[donheld]

33. You handled it just fine

Welcome to DU :hi:

If you wanna really piss'em off tell them "happy Xmas"

[DulceDecorum]

34. Don't worry,

just hang on a little while and they will all be raptured outa here.
Then you can say what you like and no-one will bother you.

[EC]

35. Talk to the Manager

find out store policy, so if it happens again, you won't be afraid to turn your back to them. Have a footing to stand on. Most retail places I have worked stand by Happy Holidays, many have disapproved of Merry Christmas for the reasons already stated. It sounds like they were just out looking for a fight...did they buy anything?

[Nordic]

36. wow. There's no way I could have held my tongue

which is why I don't do those kinds of jobs. I wouldn't last very long. :)

That's a disgusting story.

[LeftyMom]

38. I actually had something similar happen to me once in 2000

I explained to the aggreived customer that I wasn't about to say "Merry Chirstmas" since I don't believe in Christmas and neither do a fair number of my customers (the area isn't very religous but is rather diverse.) She huffed off to get a manager, and my Catholic manager told her to wish me a happy Yule. She got all huffy and he said that made as much sense as telling me to say "Merry Christmas." She stomped out and probably got all the other fundies whipped into a froth about the evil pagan conspiracy over at BestBuy.

Funny how they come out of the woodwork whenever * "wins."

[McKenzie]

40. At the core these people are authoritarian

This just strengthens my deep distrust of religous fundamentalists. They are intolerant, very dangerous and should be prevented from controlling society, period.

They wouldn't get off with that "Happy Christmas" authoritarianism over here.

[A Simple Game]

146. I agree,

for them it is more about power than religion.

[Undercover Owl]

42. oh people can be so horrible.

Wow. What depressing stories. Some customers think they have a right to abuse the cashier. You handled it fine, not much you can say to a whackadoo.

Another thing: this practice of extending Christmas to half-a-year-long must be stopped! I've been sick of Christmas since a week before Thanksgiving! Christmas is actually a pet peeve of mine, and not because of religion. I do not have ANY holiday cheer.
Oh, by the way, Hallmark donated several thousand dollars to the Republicans. That's one more reason to reject their store-bought gaiety. Bleh!

[ragin_acadian]

43. she's right....because it's very christian

to not care about "those" people. yeah.....

naw, you have nothing to worry about. corporate culture is very concerned about their image to mainstream consumers. these snake handling toungue speaking bastards are nowhere near the mainstream, therefore, corporate culture is not concerned about them. if they complain to your manager, i hope he has the sense to shrug his shoulders and back you up, then maybe those inbred koolaiders will boycott your store, thus making it feel safer for other normal members of society to shop there.

happy holidays Sub Zero!!!!!!!!

[Behind the Aegis]

44. So sorry!

I am sorry you had to experience that! It is never fun to get into a position like that at work. If you are somewhere else, you can act any way you want (for the most part). But, considering what that fuckwad in the WH has done to the economy, one doesn't want to jeopardize one's job, no matter what it is. When a clerk wishes me "happy holidays," I always say thanks and return the saying. If they say "Have a Merry Christmas," I always say "thank you, I will, but I am sure my Hanukkah will be just as merry!" Thankfully, I am from a Jewish family! Although, I am a witch, I would never reveal that in Oklahoma...too many tree branches!

You are right though. The religious "Reich" is getting way too big for their britches! I was at a store this weekend. It is real cute, has African tribal masks, incense, neat little items, etc. I was wanting to buy an anti-Shrub magnet for a friend. The sales clerk tells me that all of those had been pulled because several people had complained and one church went as far as to print flyers that the store was "no better than a porno store!" I was so fucking pissed! I said, "what fucking country am I in?! If I see one of those people, I will tell them that they still have the right of choice not to shop at the store and to stop trying to be my fucking parent!" Both the clerks agreed with me. I think they were both hoping that a fundie would approach right then because I saw them eyeing a person. I looked at the person and back at the clerks and said, "Let her say something to me, it will not be pretty in here!"

These people are DANGEROUS! We (Democrats) DO NOT need to find common ground with them! They are vile creations and need to be reviled and reeducated before they destroy this country! (rant off!) :)

BTW....HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

[SmileyBoy]

45. You should have looked the bitch straight in the eye and said...

"You... Have... A... HAPPY HOLIDAYS."

[Carl Brennan]

46. I would have said:

"I'm at work so I can't say what I want to say to you". Then smiled mischievously and turned my back on them.

[0rganism]

47. "Merryfucking Christmas, you sanctimoneous shit-eating crackwhore"

But that's just one reason I don't work retail anymore. :p

In the absence of having this situation firmed up with your store manager in advance, I think you did the right thing to safeguard your job. Maybe if you can say it in the flattest, most robotic tone possible, it will give you some sense of relief.

[Charlls]

48. Ughh.. thats exactly what happened in Spain 60 years ago with Franco...

nothing good emerged from that.

I have a friend whose Father was a kid in Spain when the phalange took over. It was horrid, specially the way the punished any group of more than three persons, since it was forbidden by law.

I think one should remember people that Franco and the phalange did waht they did in Spain in the name of catholicism, and the King.


BTW; did you did what you did, because of fear of losing your job? That is even worse than this fanatic going over you, since you implicitly are saying that your Boss may actually shared or tolerated the point of view of this specimen

[Charlls]

49. or better, next time you say them "Happy Hannukah!"

doesnt matter if you'rent jew, they wont bother you further

[annabanana]

52. should have said "Funny, You don't LOOK Christian"

just to burn her ass...

[Karenina]

58. BEST. RESPONSE. EVER!!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[bunkerbuster1]

177. What a wonderful comeback. I'll have to remember it.

plus, it's much funnier than what I'd probably say in such a circumstance, which would be some invitation to dine upon my engorged member.

[HeeBGBz]

59. Excellent!

[RPM]

62. WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

BEST POST EVER - truly, nicely done.

That's my new tack.

[NoSheep]

87. DINGDINGDINGDINGDING!!!!

[JVS]

88. how about ACT

[Tsiyu]

53. Sub Zero, you need to stand up for yourself

I certainly understand wanting to avoid conflict, but what if they'd said "Get in our car. Now. Or we'll make a stink."????????????

Would you have gone with them to avoid unpleasantness or a "scene?"

HELL NO! So don't go on their psycho little religious trip either.

Arm yourself with the words to the Constitution. Give them a polite earful about what it means.

And then say, "If you are what Christianity is all about, I'm GLAD I'm not a Christian."

[Bridget Burke]

54. This is part of the latest campaign....

The unending campaign of "Christianity Under Attack" has morphed into "Christmas Under Attack." Googling these subjects will take you to a sad lot of websites. Some are hardcore Christian Reconstructionalist--more are the somewhat Fundamentalist / Evangelical folks who've been taken in by the extremists.

They've announced a boycott of Macy's for the issue you confronted--"Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". Here's what Citizen Magazine "Website for Focus on the Family" has to say on the issue: Merry Christmas" once appeared in store windows and on the balloons at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parades. But many stores and other businesses have long since stopped offering such greetings to their shoppers, even in their advertising. Instead, they serve up an all-inclusive stew of generic slogans, as if Christmas itself is no big deal.

If you're tired of hearing "happy holidays" and "season's greetings" instead, Manuel Zamorano has a campaign for you.

He's leading a nationwide boycott of Federated Department Stores, the company that owns Macy's, over its exclusion of the word "Christmas" in advertisements and window displays.

www.family.org/cforum/citizenmag/webonly/a0033730.cfm

You'll note this actually began in 2003--has Macy's been suffering? I don't see these guys as big Macy's shoppers, anyway.

Versions of this same story are all over the web, soon on a Letter to the Editor Page in your local paper, & no doubt discussed wherever a few gather to blacken the name of Him whose birthday they're supposedly celebrating.

[Ms_Mary]

103. The really funny thing is that they're buying the *marketing* image

that has nothing to do with Jesus at all.

[AspenRose]

148. Go ahead and let them boycott

I think Macy's is a large contributor to the GOP.

So go ahead, let 'em boycott. Idiots.

"Free Speech," my butt.

[Blue Gardener]

150. Every time they want another boycott

I add that store to my list of places to shop. Idiots are probably helping them bring in more customers than they would lose.

[mmonk]

55. Just tell them

you were following the bible and it indicated Jesus was Jewish. Therefore, you wouldn't have wanted to leave him out if he came back this year.

[blindpig]

57. this is just the beginning

My local fascist rag has been flush with all kinds of whacko garbage(even worse than usual!)since the election. Mostly creationist rote, there's no arguing with those people, and lots of triumphant screeching including suggestions that Kerry voters leave the country.
4 more years.

[Shopaholic]

61. "I thought things would be different after the election"

so said a fundie friend of my Mom's at church yesterday. It seems that she thought that as soon as * was re-elected that the gays and the liberals and the ungodly would all be swept away to a closet somewhere, that the economy would automatically improve, that our soldiers would stop dying in Iraq, and that terrorists would stop attacking us--in short, the world would all be bright and sunny because "their leader" had been re-elected. Excuse me, but just how fucking dumb are these people anyway? You can't have change if you don't vote for change!!!!!! They're so brainwashed that it would be pathetic if it weren't so maddening.

[WoodrowFan]

65. just how fucking dumb are these people anyway?

Scientists have not yet been able to measure the depths of their stupidity. It may require years of work and billions of dollars to develop the technology to accurately measure those depths.

[Walt Starr]

63. I would never have said it

I would have told her it violates my religious beliefs to say that, happy holidays, next in line please.

[WoodrowFan]

64. WOW

I thought Betty Bowers was a fictional character!!
http://www.bettybowers.com/


Actually I think I would have done the same thing as you as I would have been so stunned by the woman's rudeness. Any smartass relies would have occured to me later.

Keep saying "Happy Holidays"

[Walt Starr]

67. Or use my greeting

Have a Cool Yule!

[Ladyhawk]

113. I'm used to fundies, but this still would have stunned me.

I might have thought of a smartass comeback in time, but usually I only think of it ten minutes after my fight or flight response is finished doing its thing.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

125. "Any smartass replies would have occurred to me later"

I can so identify with this. I worked a lot of service jobs when I was younger and was such a mild-mannered person, I never had the clever things to say back to rude people, but always thought of good replies later.

Sub Zero, you are clearly a very nice person, and that is nothing to be ashamed of!

That couple acting like theo-fascists in our country is definitely a shocking thing that would catch anybody off guard. It's all so surreal, we are all having trouble adjusting to the behavior of these dangerous nuts.

It will probably happen again, so you can be prepared next time. I know it's difficult to deal with people like that when there are others waiting behind them.

[HeeBGBz]

66. Most of my customers are fundies

I have to weigh my responses to what I really want to say to them. I work in a restaurant.

The above would have set me off. I must admit I always think of the best comeback hours after the incidents.

I hate people who order anyone to do anything like they have a right to. I am a tipped employee so I have to judge whether to forfeit a tip or speak up for myself. Needless to say, I'm making less money lately.

"I only say Merry Christmas to people I like. Happy Holidays!"

Maybe start "woofing" the dog version of Jingle Bells. I don't "do tricks"

[JHB]

75. I've found the sort who are most likely to make this complaint...

...don't react well to "Feliz Navidad".

[LatinManNH]

116. How about Joyeux Noël? eom

[JHB]

123. Just as good (eom)

[Ms_Mary]

69. I would not have done it. No way, no how.

I am Christian and I am respectful of other people's beliefs. I sent out flyers for a sale this month and I put Happy Holidays on it instead of Merry Christmas so I could be INCLUSIVE.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

71. "i'm an american and i'll say anything i want"

would have been a polite comeback.

or "you go call the management and i'll go call my lawyer"

or "why don't you be a good christian woman and shut (the fuck) up."

[JHB]

72. I know how you feel...

I've had enough occasions where I didn't want to deal with something so I didn't make a scene, but it was bullying and I should have done more. I've resolved not to do that again, and have even managed to maintain that resolve in a few situations when it would have been easier to let thingsd slide by.

Next time they come by, give them a big "Feliz Navidad!" (or maybe "Cthulu ftaghn!")

:evilgrin:

[Ilsa]

74. BTW, your employer owes you a big effing bonus

for putting up with shit like that and not running off those customers. They should be very gracious to you for trying to please the customers like that. God knows they don't deserve it.

[ckramer]

76. My "John Kerry for president 2004" bumper sticker is still on

my car's back window above the bumper and I drive slowly in the fast lane in front of all SUVs. They are so pissed off that they quickly changed to the middle lane.

[peacebird]

118. me too ckramer! i love that game!

i have the three on my car "bush is a weapon of mass deception", "somewhere in texas a village is missing its idiot" and "anybody but bush" .

can't wait for my two new ones to arrive (cover up the idiot and abb stickers)

"What part of ' Thou shalt not kill ' Don't you understand - God."

and "Who Would Jesus Bomb"

[Solomon]

77. I would have said, "Christmas is a happy holiday".

Or at least it's supposed to be.

[yellowcanine]

79. You should have said, "Real fundies say "Have a Blessed Christmas."

"Only pagans say Merry Christmas and did you know that Christmas is actually the pagan celebration of the Winter solstice?" That would have twisted their panties in knots.

[Tracer]

80. Saying "Happy Holiday" rings the same false note with me as ...

... "have a good day".

What's the matter with just saying "thank you", after the sale is completed?

[RUDUing2]

81. tbh my instinct says that this woman has a mental condition...

and I am NOT meaning because she is a fundie..(irregardless of my opinion of fundies I don't think the majority of them are mentally ill..crazy sheeple yes..)

Just the entire encounter reeks of someone w/a mental disorder....

I don't think this encounter can be attributed to fundies...sorry...

[takebackthewh]

172. I agree.

[Blue Diadem]

82. You were abused

Have you read M. Moore's letter? How that woman forced you to say what she wanted you to say, fits it to a T.

They want to control everything and everyone, even down to how we wish a holiday greeting.

I'm so glad I'm out of the retail business.

[AngryOldDem]

84. See post 81

Nutcases are everywhere. I wouldn't necessarily call what happened "abuse."

The OP could have just as easily walked away and said nothing.

[Walt Starr]

85. "The OP could have just as easily walked away and said nothing"

and lost their job.

[Blue Diadem]

91. Have you ever been around any extreme fundies?

I have been and depending on the "sect" they can be controlling and abusive.

[chookie]

83. Interesting

I suspect that this is not an isolated wacko -- given the boldness and the clear execution, I would bet that this is some organized "protest" by fundies against "Secular Persecution of Christians."

This is a "political action" by them.

It's not enough to have GodTM in the White House and government -- now, obviously, the Lord Jesus must be acknowledged in transactions at the cash register.

There is no good way to deal with these people, because they are authoritarian wackos. There is no way to have a pleasant interaction with them, because they live to rub their God and their righteousness into your face.

You acted like a beaten spouse -- they caught you off guard -- this is their intent always -- and you wanted to keep things pleasant and to do anything just to get rid of them.

Rosa Parks could have sat in the back of the bus, too. It would have been "nice" and kept everything "pleasant."

You were protected by store policy -- you were instructed to say "Happy Holidays", and they should back you up if you decline an order to say "Merry Christmas" instead.

Would they have complained? Yes? Would they have tried to make things miserable for the store? Of course. Somehow I don't think there's enough of these bitches out there to really make an impact on the store, which, if it is managed sanely, will just soft peddle the "issue". If the company was nuts enough to fire you(extremely unlikely), you have a case to take to the ACLU.

Here (Pittsburgh) they contact the media and get on tv and complain how they are being persecuted, and the local stations tend to be sympathetic (which is bullshit). A little incident is PURPOSEFULLY blown out of proportion. But you could have had your say, the company could defend its rational policy (which I think most Americans would accept), and you would have alerted other Americans working during the holiday season to the fact they may have an encounter with "christ"-ofascists, so they would be ready to take a stand against them.

Part of their strategy for success is effective intimidation. Nothing is too little for them to ignore. They COUNT on us wanting to keep things pleasant, even they don't give a shit about civil conduct.

When you have a run in with a authoritarian, it will invariably be awful They seek to have power over you. Don't give it to them. Fight now, or fight later -- sooner or later, you WILL have to fight them.

[Bridget Burke]

86. Definitely not an isolated wacko--there's an organized campaign....

...of wackos.

Here's a link from my earlier post on this thread: www.family.org/cforum/citizenmag/webonly/a0033730.cfm

You can find similar calls to action all over the 'net. And on FOX. And Letters to the editor. If this happens again, I'd suggest printing this out & discussing with your supervisor.

[chookie]

127. "Saturn is the reason for the season."

Gotta love the Jewish guy they quote -- he's not offended by being wished a Merry Christmas, but goes ballistic when someone wishes him a happy holiday.

He should be happy if I tell him "Saturn is the reason for the season!" then, right? That should not offend him, right? (Christmas was grafted onto the ancient Roman holiday of Saturnalia -- typically traditional holidays were adopted by new creeds. In fact, some Christian sects refuse to celebrate Christmas for this very reason, for example, Jehovah Witnesses.)

Baloney. The purpose of this campaign, and of the Religious Right movement, is to demand Old Testament law be the basis of government in the US.

What if the original poster had said, "Happy Hannukah!" to Judy O'Christian at the cash register? Something tells me she would have been offended.

It was predictable that the "threatened" religious right carry out such political actions. They love to talk about how persecuted they are, and love to throw their weight around. Gee -- there's even legislation pending to make it illegal to criticize Israel in publically funded institutions -- American Taliban!

[Sub Zero]

141. This makes it VERY clear

I had no idea the freaks had organized a campaign to do this.

[Mari333]

89. You are nicer then I would have been

I would have called my manager and had them booted ass over teakettle out of the store.
assholes.

[progressoid]

90. From http://savemerrychristmas.org/

"A covert and deceptive war has been waged on Christmas to remove any mention of it from the public square during the Christmas season"

Holy shit

[RUDUing2]

92. before you get too worked up over that website read this..

http://mediamatters.org/items/200412100006

basicall it is a website ran by a one man whackjob...not an organized group...

[Walt Starr]

93. Yes, but it's got Faux News running wild over it

and MSRNC is following suit now.

[RUDUing2]

106. someone should send them the media matters expose of this along

with condolences about them being fooled....

[Bridget Burke]

110. That's not the only website on the subject....

A cursory Google revealed the Grinchlist (2003 still working--2004 under construction). Lots of dead links, here's their "List"--everybody from Macy's to the ACLU!

http://grinchlist.com/2003/grinchlist03.htm#list

"Christmas Under Attack" is a variation on the "Christianity Under Attack" meme we've been seeing more & more. These nutcases are quite organized. A few more examples:

Traditional Values Coalition: www.traditionalvalues.org/modules.php?sid=1333

British National Party: www.bnp.org.uk/freedom/1dec04.html

Townhall.com: www.townhall.com/columnists/johnleo/jl20041213.shtml

[greyfox]

94. C'mon

THAT could not have happened. You are surely after a fuss or some such!!!

[Walt Starr]

95. I have a tendency to agree

Nearly a hundred responses and yet nothign from the OP.

:shrug:

Good debate, anyway. Prepares us for how to react should something like this occur.

[Bridget Burke]

111. Could be a plant, but if it were....

Wouldn't the OP have made himself more heroic?

And--this is an issue being flogged all over the Fringe Fundie boards....

[Sub Zero]

139. Well you know

I do have to sleep. ;o

[Carson]

122. I also tend to agree... my BS meter is going off. nt

[rman]

96. why did you let them dictate to you what to say?

-

[More Than A Feeling]

97. It would make me a lot happier to hear "happy holidays"

As a Christian, I don't want people who aren't to feel like they have to give Christmas special treatment.

After all, Christmas at its core is 1. a pagan holiday 2. celebrating the birth of Jesus

It is so weird that we celebrate the birth of a child who came into the world dirt poor by consuming as much as we possibly can. (wonder whatever happened to the gold, frankincense and myrrh? maybe they lost it.)

I wish certain people would understand that they will sorely regret it if they succeed in getting the government to promote their version of Christianity. Since when does Jesus collaborate with Pontius Pilate and the Romans?

Sorry for the rambling, I am working on about 6 hours of sleep right now. Hope some of this made sense.

[greyfox]

107. A resounding....

AMEN to that!!!!

[ThoughtCriminal]

98. Play "Simon Says"

simon says "Say Merry Christmas"

MERRY CHRISTMAS

simon says "Say Hiel Hitler"

HIEL HITLER

"Say Happy Holidays!"

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Gotcha!

[Southpaw Bookworm]

99. And we're supposed to play nice with these people?! n/t

[msgadget]

100. Is 'Merry Christmas' a biblical phrase now?

[RaleighNCDem]

102. That just makes me sick.

I'm Jewish, and I can't tell you how many times I've bought a bunch of Hanukkah stuff and been told 'Merry Christmas.' I've never complained about that. Maybe I should next time.

:puke:

[Democracy Died 2004]

104. At that point i would spin my head around

and spew foul vomit on them and shout HAIL SATAN!! while making devil horns with my fingers.

[Carolina]

105. sad state of affairs but

from here on in SAY NOTHING. Christmas as it is curently celebrated in the US is nothing but consumer frenzy. It has little to do with Christ or real Christianity. It's spend, spend, spend and watch sports.

Well, from here on in, ring up the purchases, and simply say thank you, if you must say anything. If they demand conversation (conversion), smile and feign a sore/hoarse throat! Be quiet as a church mouse. LOL

[PROGRESSIVE1]

108. I would have kindly told these MOFO's that we must respect all....

faiths.

When we get back in power in 2008, ALL FUNDIES should be locked up and tortured!

[BiggJawn]

109. Oh, man....Sorry about your luck!

So it made somebody feel so GOOD to be able to threaten a stranger into saying "Merry Christmas"...

And they didn't have a clue.

you gotta do what you gotta do, but about the time they threatened to complain, I'd had said "well, Happy Holidays to you, then" and let the shit fly where it would...

It probably will happen "more and more over the next four years"...What a long, strange ride it's gonna be...

Happy Holidays!

[SammyWinstonJack]

112. They would have had to complain about me!

:grr: :mad: How arrogant of them. For me this wouldn't have been about saying "Happy Holidays" as opposed to saying "Merry Christmas", it would have been about these arrogant self absorbed assholes thinking they can control other people's actions, whether in thought or deed.

[burythehatchet]

117. My response would have been to say Happy Kwanzaa biatch

while I did a booty whomp

[PROGRESSIVE1]

128. and when they complain you call them racists!

that will fix em' good.

[demwing]

120. Fuck them

Sorry for the explicative, but thats the way it is.

"Happy Holidays" for me from now on.

[gypsy11]

124. Truly frighting.

I see it more and more, and I worry.
Fundamentalism is the symptom of a sick society.

I watched how these people work when my father died. My fathers wifes family is full of fundies... They treated his parents, my grandparents, like total crap. It made a bad situation so much worse.
Shunning his parents from the room, not letting them spend the last days with their dying son. Not including them in anything that was going on... All the while they were "laying hands" over my father. And running around telling everyone how they were with Jesus.
Yeah right.
It was heartbreaking to listen to my grandmother call me crying. She cried because they wouldn't let her in the room to sit with her dying son, or include her in anything. She's an old woman whom lost a son, and these people made it so much worse for her than it needed to be.
It was disgusting. These people are most definitely NOT with Jesus or anything that even looks like love, acceptance, tolerance, and forgiveness. They align themselves with quite the opposite if you ask me.

[Niccolo_Macchiavelli]

126. you will be a good serf

a very good serf... come to my bed, be qiet and lets get over with it. sounds hard doesn't it? You made a choice and it is understandable, but neverteless it was the easiest way with little merit to yourself and the rest of the somewhat sane community. you have my pity.

[Bridget Burke]

156. Yeah, sure.

You could have come back with a snappy comeback easily.

What's new in Switzerland?

[Mr_Spock]

129. Where does this person live?

They need to be put back into their place.

[Sub Zero]

142. Texas

there are a LOT of right wingers here.

[Mr_Spock]

169. If that ever happened to me...

I'd likely have ruined their day for that (maybe longer). There is no excuse for that sort of verbal violence from anyone.

[TWiley]

130. Nothing the religious do shocks me anymore.

The christians around here are primarily war-mongering racists.

It is so rare to find one that supports peace.

[bloom]

131. That is sick and disgusting.

Anyone defending this "We should all be tolerant of the Merry Christmas Crap" (becuase it upsets right-wingers or for any other reason) should be ashamed of themselves.

[noonwitch]

132. And they think the liberals are killing Christmas?

That customer's attitude and behavior are not what Christmas is all about.

[morgan2]

133. should have said you were jewish

and wanted to include them in your holiday wishes also.

[BattyDem]

137. You have far more patience than I do

If some asshole got in my face and said, "Now you say, Merry Christmas" and expected me to obey like I was some sort of trained poodle, I would have gone off on the bitch, BIG TIME! :grr: Of course, I would have also lost my job ... so you were right stay calm.



On edit: By the way ... Welcome to DU! :hi:

[twenty2strings]

138. We own Christmas. Capra was a liberal. It's still a wonderful life.

These people are headed for a fall. And they are not Christians. Being a bully is easy. Being Christlike is very very hard. That's why Jesus actual words are very rarely spoken. I call them Old testament Christians. Nope,Jesus wouldn,t like this one bit. Keep on loving those who have ears in their hearts. We are here. We will make it. I mean it.:loveya:

[mumon]

140. I put up a Christmas tree

but I don't think that fundamentalist Christians would "get it."

I don't really care if it's happy holidays, merry solstice, beautiful Bodhi Day or, comfy Kwanzaa.

But have a happy holiday season.

[Threedifferentones]

143. I don't blame you for handling it that way, I would have done the same

eight months ago when I was also a cashier. But after this election I have changed my attitude. People like this must be stood up to and put in their place. From now on my advice to everyone is to fight each and every battle like it really matters, because they all do.

[dansolo]

144. I would have wished them a Happy Hannukah as well (n/t)

[number6]

145. I would have said Happy Fu*king Holidays A88holes ....

:evilgrin: hell would freeze over before I said Merry Christmas

[AspenRose]

147. I would have told her I was Jewish (even if I wasn't)

Would have liked to see her try to argue with that. "Ma'am, I'm Jewish. Are you saying you want to report me to my manager because my faith is different from yours?"

[La Lioness Priyanka]

151. i think these people are insane....not just fundie

do 'normal' fundies behave this way? i hope not...

[arcane1]

162. normal fundies? You mean like square circles?

fundy and insane are synonyms, IMO

[Catherine Vincent]

152. Are you for real?

Why in the heck did you say "Merry Christmas" (although I don't see a problem with either) just to please her? I wouldn't have said one word after she dared me to say that. That was ridiculous.

[DainBramaged]

153. Always remember to tell the Fundies that Jesus was a Jew

I had one nearly choke on her spittle when she tried to reply. As her face turned beet red, I had the pleasure of adding that "Jesus hated the money changers, who are just like you."


That was a good day.

[SheepyMcSheepster]

154. the repub/fundy disconnect: "Happy Holidays" is said because of capitalism

it's all about the bottom line. a store does not want to exclude a customer.

[superconnected]

155. You just enabled them. Ugh.

you should have told them you would say whatever you wanted
and they should be the ones complaining that the other side is getting bolder.

[TrogL]

158. So you people thought I was crazy

I've been warning about this for years.

Now you get to see it first-hand.

What you are witnessing is a mass psychosis sweeping the country - religious addiction.

It will not stop until we have the next Crusade (actually, we already are) and Inquisition.

[mandyky]

163. Your post has haunted me all day!

These people are bullies and abusers, it just turns my stomach.

[POAS]

164. Could have said "Allah Akbar" (sp)...n/t

[Starlight]

165. "Are you threatening me??"

And if she didn't slink away quietly, I would have called security & had her thrown out. :grr: :nuke:

But I'm a scarey bitch so people don't usually mess with me. At least not a second time. :evilgrin:

[jesusq]

166. Can we raise a fund for political exiles?

I live in PA and I feel so bad for displaced liberals. Isn't there some way we could provide exile assistance for these poor Texas liberals? I have an extra room in my home. My wife and I could put you up for a month or two until you get on your feet. Hey Subzero, move away from there.

[George W. Hayduke]

167. yeah, and what if

they told you to say "Zeig Heil"???

gawdam.....draw a fucking line will ya?

[baldguy]

168. "Well ma'am - I'm a pagan and don't believe in the divinity of Jesus."

"HAPPY SOLSTICE!"

[Bouncy Ball]

170. I would have been SO fired

but I would have gotten up in her face and SCREAMED MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!! over and over and over and over again.

I can't believe you even SAID Merry Christmas to her after that.

That is fucking BULLSHIT. Fuck her and the horse she rode in on TELLING you what to say.

I would have gotten my manager and let him or her know "this woman seems to think I have to say "Merry Christmas" instead of my usual greeting of "Happy Holidays" and she's being quite abusive."

[0007]

181. I'd have told this obnoxious couple to take a rolling fuck

at a flying donut.

[Piperay]

171. Sick ... just sick

of anyone to treat you like that. You are an adult not some little child who has to have someone tell you to repeat after them. :mad: Selfish self-centered assholes sure don't care about spoiling things for others. :argh: I don't know what I would have said cause it is hard to know what you will do in a situation until you are in that situation. :shrug: I think from now on I would just say 'have a nice day' cause apparently saying anything else is going to offend someone or other. x(

[noiretextatique]

173. just when i thougth xmas couldn't get any worse

fuck it...it's kwanzaa for me, from now on.

[dddem]

174. I probably would have done the same thing as you.

I'm not very quick like that, especially when confronted with such rudeness. You just don't expect people to be so disrespectful.
Should it happen again, however, perhaps I can help with some appropriate responses.

For instance:

"Gee, no, but thanks for the offer."

"How about we skip the greeting and I'll pray for you instead - you've got a lot of anger."

"Let me just get the manager for you."

"I actually say happy holidays to avoid offending anyone, but it's clear that offensive behavior is cool with you."

"I would be happy to wish you a merry Christmas, but it seems you have some trouble with the concept of merry."

I also work in retail, and I know how trying this time of year can be. Please remember that most people really are nice, it just takes a couple of beauts to ruin a perfectly good holiday season.
Hope this helps. Take care of yourself! And Happy Holidays!

[Finding Rawls]

175. Must be O'Reilly fans

It's his new thing. Creating moral indignation amongst people who have nothing better to worry about. Now it's that "Christmas" isn't used to describe anything and everything involving December.

[sakabatou]

176. Squinty of Simpleton strikes again

I would've said, "I'm sorry but, one Christmas isn't here yet and two there many other religions in America besides fundamental christianty."

At which point, I might say, "Might as well wish me happy hannukah and all."

[chefgirl]

180. I'm sorry

But I call Bullshit, with a capital B!

The OP wants us to believe that they were worked up enough/offended enough about this incident to start a thread on a discussion board about it, yet was aquiescent enough to obey orders from a stranger.

Simply saying NOTHING would have diffused the situation. What could the customer have complained about, precisely? Could they have complained because the employee DIDN'T say anything?

Sorry, but it doesn't pass my smell test. :shrug:

-chef-