"Have a blessed day"

[Syrinx]

Prior to a couple of months ago, I don't think I had ever heard this phrase -- "have a blessed day."

Have a nice day. Have a good day. Good luck. See you soon. Come again. Thanks for shopping with us.

I had heard those all countless times. And I was fine with that. A friendly face on mostly benign capitalism. I'm down with that.

But I've noticed something a bit odd lately. Maybe it means something. Most likely not, but I think it's worth asking about anyway.

The last couple of months I have, increasingly, encountered this phrase at the checkout lines at various and sundry retail sites.

"Have a blessed day," I'm hearing at most every retail outlet I visit. The word "blessed" is invariably pronounced in its two-syllable variation.

This phrase hasn't really bothered me in real time. Like the earlier pleasantries I mentioned, it seems to be used in nothing but a positive manner. I mean, speaking literally, what could really I object to?

It just seems odd, that's all. I had never heard this before, and now I'm hearing everywhere I go.

Is this some sort of movement? Some sort of encroaching cult?

It just seems strange. The first few times, I just shrugged it off, but it's starting to seem like a phenomenon.

:shrug:

[southpaw]

1. It bothers the hell out of me.

I've noticed a steadily increasing use of 'have a blessed day' over the past 3 years or so, though I mostly hear it intoned as 'have a blesst day' with the occasional 'have a bless-id day'.

It bugs the tee-total shit out of me... right along with our new GOD BLESS AMERICA license plates and Bob Riley's request that Alabamians pray for rain! Hey, Bob. My uncle had to have his left leg amputated at the knee. Why don't we get the whole state to pray that god will allow him to grow a new one. I'll tell you why... because no human being ever re-grew an amputated limb, and all the prayers in the world ain't gonna make it happen. Praying for something that naturally occurs proves nothing, it just gives the super-naturalists a reason to assert that their imaginary friend just proved his existence.

Sorry 'bout the rant... but, yes... I have definitely noticed the 'have a blessed day' parting becoming more and more common.

My thinking is that the christians are getting ever more insistent on self-identifying in the public square in response to O'Reilly and others' insistence that the secularist culture is intent on relegating them to expressing their faith only in the basements of the fire-gutted remains of their churches.

I'm sure that most of the folks who toss a 'have a blessed day' my way are just being nice in their own way... but I see the increasingly visible expression of the christian faith (ie. 'blessed day', the jesus fish, 'Keep The Ten Commandments' bumper stickers, our new license plates, Riley's 'pray for rain' days, Roy Moore...) as a reaction to imaginary persecution shouted to them by pulpit-pounding demagogues and right-wing shit-stirrer-uppers.

But what the hell... this is Alabama.

[Syrinx]

4. We HAD been bone dry

Since Riley urged people to pray for rain, we've been getting a soaker everyday. It's raining right now, as I type this. Not saying the prayers did it, but it is quite the coincidence. Given my way of looking at politics these days, I'm surprised I don't believe it's a conspiracy involving Bob Riley, Karl Rove and NOAA. Or Noah.

:7

[unsavedtrash]

5. I thought those tags were specialized.

Is there an option for a different one? I looked at the ADOT page but couldn't find anything.

[southpaw]

6. No, the God Bless America tag is a standard option.

Basically, you have a choice between the original Stars Fell On Alabama tag or the new God Bless America tag at no charge.

HOWEVER!!!!

Walk into any tag office in the state and ask for a license plate and see which one they hand you. Every person I know who has renewed their license plate since the God Bless tag was introduced has had the same experience as me: you will be handed the God Bless America tag by default. If you want the old tag, you have to ask for it.

The original plan was to make the God Bless America tag THE standard plate for the state... it was only because of concerns over possible (probable) law suits re: separation of church and state that it was offered as an 'option'.

[OneBlueDotBama]

15. Seems the new "seet home alabama" plates ......

were going like hotcakes the day we went to renew our tags, from my observations...the new sweet home Alabama plates were the option everyone was going for..didn't see one god bless plate leave the wicket that day..totally scientific I know, just my small anecdotal experience.

[jody]

2. I assume the speaker truly wishes me good fortune and that brightens my day.

I had a heart attack on 2 June 07 and luckily a paramedic was a few yards away. He administered CPR and restarted my heart even though he broke two ribs in the process.

I was not expected to live through the first night but I did and after a triple by-pass I'm slowly recovering. That was truly a life-changing experience and I now treasure each second.

By the way, have a blessed day. :hi:

[Syrinx]

3. I was wondering where you went

I'm sorry to hear that you had a heart attack, but very glad that you are recovering.

Here's hoping for a speedy, full recovery. :toast:

[southlandshari]

7. Well said, as usual, jody....

And good to see you around. Even better to see you around knowing what you've endured just to be among the living these days.

:hug:

[phatkatt]

8. A guard at Redstone Arsenal says that

So does the lady that empties our trash. New fad, I guess.

So much for separation of church/state!

[nourenemies]

9. intentions

As with most other things, you have to ask "what are the intentions" of the individual telling you this? Are they doing it to harass you and peeve you off? Most likely not, they are simply being pleasant and wishing you a good day in the way that they know how. Live and let bless.

eta: and, regarding the church/state comment, I am saddened that so many misunderstand this concept. It is to keep the STATE out of the CHURCH, not vice versa. Let's all read a little history! Shall we?

[Syrinx]

10. my post, about one year ago, had nothing to do with the Constitution

And I wasn't expressing offense, nor contempt. I was just noting what had seemed to be a sudden phenomenon. I thought it was curious. Just as curiously, it has been quite a while that anyone has said that to me. It's as though a self-consciously pious fad has come and gone, already.

Regardless of the intentions of the Founders, I think it is more important than ever to keep religious fanatics, with their bizarre end-times fantasies, as far away from positions of power as possible.

[shayes51]

11. I'm not sure, but

I think the phrase started mostly in the African American community. That's who said it to me initially. Then, it seems it has been picked up by lots of folks.

[gorfle]

12. Wanna freak them out?

Say, "Thank you, may the goddess bless you also!"

;)

[loosetooth]

13. have a blessed day

This is first time I've ever been in a forum, so forgive any faux pas. Regarding "Have a blessed day," what I've noticed lately that "bless-ed" (2 syllables) has been replaced by "blest." What is the difference between "bless-ed" and "blest" and why the change? Is it some kind of secret code only Christian insiders can use?

[JoeyT]

22. According to my nutjob televangelist loving aunt

who is just the sort of person to use that phrase on random people, only pagans and cultists say bless-ed. (I'm guessing one of the people that use that phrase a lot heard someone use the phrase "Blessed be" or something similar)

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

14. Well,,perhaps there's a second side to it

I would figure better it be said have a blessed day leaving a department store or what have you,than go with God's speed in line with the fast pace society we live in today ! And of course may the god's of the grapes smile upon you ! Who knows and just who is to say. What I find annoying is when they ask, do you want a bag when you are suppose to be being waited on in a store ! Well yes, if it doesn't cost too much !

[tltaylor40]

16. God Bless YOU!!

I still have trouble with “Have a nice day,” and rarely manage
to choke it out in social intercourse (I usually resort to the
older “Good-bye”). But as long as we’re stuck with that
unfortunate figure of speech, I’m thinking that “Have a
blessed day” has potential. I’m getting excited about its
manifold benefits as I write: It signals that you are a
Christian to another stranger out there who may be a
Christian—like a secret handshake. It is not overbearingly
evangelical to those who are not Christians, and yet opens the
door for further discussion if they so choose.

I will try it out for a few weeks and let you know what
happens. I figure if people are not embarrassed to say
something as lame as “Have a nice day,” I shouldn’t be
embarrassed to say “Have a blessed day.”

[JoeyT]

21. Well, it could work like that

except Wiccans and various pagans use the term blessed on a pretty regular basis as do a few other major religions. So if you're looking for a secret handshake, it'll have to be something else. ;)

[trof]

17. Interesting that this post brought a lot of newbies to DU.

The bless-ed day thing kinda bugs me too.
I dunno.

Oh, welcome to our new posters.
:hi:

[Syrinx]

19. it does seem kind of odd...

How this offhand comment from nearly three years ago gets occasionally kicked back to the top. :shrug:

[trof]

18. Our Channel 5 (Mobile) Traffic Guy just signed off with...

"Have a blest day."
:eyes:

[Syrinx]

20. maybe he's screwing with us

Maybe he's even here with us.

:D

[trof]

23. Now he doesn't anymore.

Not for the last several days.
Maybe someone at the station 'spoke' to him?