"Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays". Vote in this poll!

[CTyankee]

http://www.newhavenregister.com/

Looks like the Christmas folks are out in force today.

The "War on Christmas" is in full tilt in nearby Seymour, CT (see story on same page as poll).

I was wondering when we'd get OUR first "war" of the season...

[goldcanyonaz]

1. Nice story on amputee vets getting a bus on that website.

Amputee vets gain new freedom with bus:

"The amputee veterans waged a two-year campaign to raise funds to buy a wheelchair-accessible bus, and last week they celebrated victory and a newfound freedom.

“This is a new world,” said 88-year-old World War II veteran and amputee Berton Francoeur, who spearheaded the effort. “Instead of being stuck in here, we can go to picnics or we can go bowling. We can go anywhere.”

[calico1]

2. I get so sick of this crap.

I know a number of Jewish people who celebrate Hanukkah. What am I supposed to do? Insist on wishing them a Marry Christmas?

I don't understand what makes people so dense. Has anyone stopped them from celebrating Christmas?

"Happy Holidays" is a very old term. It's been around for ages. I prefer saying that because it includes everyone. I really don't see what the big to do is.

[mwb970]

4. It's pretty funny that the Christofascists see "Happy holidays" as an egregious insult.

Haven't they heard some of the other things we say about them? Those things make "Happy holidays" sound like an ordinary, benign seasonal greeting.

:eyes:

[blondeatlast]

16. Maybe "Happy Holiday" (singular) would either suit them better

or better yet, make their heads explode trying to figure uout if they should be offended or not. :evilgrin:

[Warpy]

12. Christians think they own December

In fact, they think being a majority in this country means they can ride roughshod over the rest of us all the time.

That's what the Bill of Rights is all about, preventing the majority from oppressing the minority.

I wish folks happy holidays. If any jerk snarls at me over it, s/he gets an earful s/he won't forget.

[dugaresa]

3. Happy Holidays is perfect, you can start using it around Thanksgiving all the way through to the

New Year.

It fits.

and it covers everyone of every faith because most folks get into the "spirit of the season" and i like my greeting or goodbye to be all inclusive.

[CTyankee]

7. Except that since there are people stirring up shit about the "War on Christmas"

that you can get a funny look or a cutting remark in return for your "Happy holidays!"

I was having a CT scan yesterday at a Catholic hospital and everyone was wishing everyone a "merry christmas." I wondered if it was because it was a Catholic hospital and whether maybe all the non-christians were over at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

[dugaresa]

11. the people who make the cutting remarks forget the meaning of the season itself

and i am the kind of person who doesn't mind pointing that out.

[Walk away]

5. Also article on "Jesus-era dwelling unearthed"...

Archaeologists all over the world are scratching their heads over new time line designation.

[rurallib]

6. Season's Greetings for me

Holiday is short for 'holy day'. Si it is a win-win for the fundies.
Season greetings covers everyone, even the atheists.
Actually I usually just say Hi

[CTyankee]

9. You could say "Season's greetings to YOU!" and see what happens.

I may try that next and see if I get a pissy response...

[CBR]

8. I usually say Merry Christmas to people I know celebrate and

Happy Holidays to people I know do not or people I am unsure of. I made the mistake of asking a professor several years ago, "How was your Christmas?" -- she is a Muslim and I had no idea but felt bad about making the assumption. Not that she was upset about it but I felt bad. Now I just play it safe.

[bigwillq]

10. Happy Holidays

unless I know for sure that person celebrates Christmas.

i.e, this post http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=129666&mesg_id=129785

since the OP mentioned Merry Christmas first.

[Bear down under]

13. "Happy Christmas"

Call me a prisoner of my upbringing if you like, but I still remember hearing when I was about eight a Christmas sermon preached by the Archbishop of Bombay, who made the point that "merry" means to be at least partly under the influence of alcohol, and all too often it is a euphemism for "drunk".

Of course, he said, it is right and proper to celebrate the birth of Christ; but it is inappropriate to wish people a drunken Christmas when what we really mean is that we wish them happiness. Especially in a country like India where Christians are a rather small minority and where so many people practise religions which enjoin abstinence from alcohol.

So I've always wished people a Happy Christmas. And I don't remember that any Hindu , Buddhist, Sikh, Jain, Muslim or Parsi -- and my family had Jewish friends too - ever took offence. They would return the greeting "Happy Christmas", and I would wish them happiness on the occasion of their various festivals. I rather miss "Happy Wesak" and "Happy Divali" -- and the sheer fun of Holi, though my mother always forgot to put her kids in old clothes for the day.

[Javaman]

14. So I'm in this store that sells various rocks and crystals...

I picked up a nice amethyst crystal for my wife as a stocking stuffer.

As I'm walking away after paying, I say, "happy holidays" and I get the stink eye from this woman, who then glowers at me and says to me in that "I'm going to teach you a lesson" type of voice, "merry christmas". I smiled at her and said loudly enough so the folks in the immediate area could hear me, "oh, you are pagan? That's nice! Merry Christmas to you too!"

I caught the look of surprise out on her face out of the corner of my eye as I left.

:evilgrin:

[bhcodem]

15. Happy Holidays

The Catholic High School around the corner from my home has a greeting on their automatic sign saying...wait for it....."Happy Holidays." Somebody alert Bill O'Rilley! If the Catholics can use that form, so can this old ELCA Lutheran!

[Bill McBlueState]

17. I've stopped saying anything

I'm sick of holiday greetings being viewed as some kind of political statement.

[blondeatlast]

18. "Happy Holiday" (singular). force the perpetually incensed to figure out which holiday

and whether they should be offended or not.

[fascisthunter]

19. what a stupid issue

get a life people... call it what everrrr you want.

[wicket]

20. I say Merry Christmas

:shrug:

[Norrin Radd]

21. Say "Peace on Earth."