This morning after I hauled my ass out of bed, I checked my email and saw that I had been forwarded a militant message encouraging people to TAKE BACK CHRISTMAS! The way you do this is to "wish as many people a MERRY CHRISTMAS as possible between now and December 25th." Apparently, this is to counteract the political correctness of people switching to "happy holidays" and "destroying the spirit of Christmas."
I found this to be more than a little strange, and couldn't for the life of me figure out how randomly ambushing people with a "MERRY CHRISTMAS" was going to TAKE IT BACK.
Not that I have anything against people saying "Merry Christmas" mind you.
Here, reproduced in its entirety, is my entry for December 25th, 2005:
There's nothing wrong with wishing people a Merry Christmas.
Yet, it's quickly becoming almost taboo to do so, and I just don't get it.
I don't wish people a "Merry Christmas" because I'm not a Christian and don't celebrate the holiday. But do I get gravely offended when people are kind enough to wish me a "Merry Christmas?" No. I do not. Why? Because they're being NICE. Because they're wishing me HAPPINESS. Because they're caught up in the spirit of their holiday and are being KIND. This happens so rarely in our bitter, cynical world that I find it impossible to understand how people could take offense... even if they don't celebrate Christmas.
I mean, it's not like somebody's just told you to kiss their ass.
And you just know that it's only a matter of time before some dumbass decides to sue somebody for wishing them a "Merry Christmas" (if it hasn't happened already). This is America, after all.
Which leads me to this burning question: is it really so difficult to just say "thank you," accept the kindness in the spirit it was given, and then shut the f#@% up about it?
Probably not. This is America, after all.
So, while I fully support somebody's right to be wishing people a "Merry Christmas," you'll have to forgive me for not joining in on the jihad to TAKE BACK CHRISTMAS. Not just because I don't celebrate the holiday... but because this type of thing doesn't seem very much in keeping with the spirit of Christmas.
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I love how un-Christian so many Christians can be
It makes me think of this ridiculous thing I saw on the news tonight. To cut back on energy consumption, a town decided to turn their holiday lights off at 10 PM instead of midnight this year.
Reporters actually asked the town’s supervisors (or the equivalent) if this action was an attack on Christmas and Christianity, just baiting them. Ridiculous.
Merry Christmas. And A Joyous Winter Solstice.
Solstice?? Hmm… I’m not a druid or a witch either, but thanks!
Merry Christmas!
Happy Holidays!
Happy New Year!
Have a great day!
Happy Friday!
Yesterday, after talking with my pharmacist, I wished her a Merry Christmas. Then I stumbled around with my words saying, “Uh, I mean if you even celebrate Christmas or ya know, whatever…happy winter season”. She laughed and told me that she indeed is a Christmas person.
As you know, I do believe in Jesus being the reason for the season and yet, I don’t find anything wrong with showing respect to those who don’t. I can understand the frustration that this world is way too politically correct but at the same time, like you said, “TAKING BACK CHRISTMAS” just seems to give the totally wrong message.
I guess I’d rather stumble over my own words now and again than make others feel as if my version of the holidays is the only one acceptable at all.
Great post, then and now :).
That kind of reminds me of that song Mr. Garrison sings on one of the South Park Christmas specials.
“Hello Mr. ! Merry F*&#ing Christmas!”
Then he proceeds to throw various Christmas adornments at the unsuspecting person, while dressed like Santa Claus.
If anything those people should be bitter that the “Happy whatever your Holiday” section at Hallmark is not bigger. I’m Catholic but wish people Happy Holidays because I don’t know what you are…but should people get their pants in a bind because the local police station has a manger scene up, that they have been doing for 50 years?
Seems I found someone else in the “this is such a non-issue” group. Wanna say Happy Holidays? Fine. Wanna say Merry Christmas? Fine, too. Heck, I’d take Happy Hanukkah (if it hadn’t already passed).
Zealots in any religion spook me.
Merry Christmas. *snort*
The Christianity I try to follow accepts everyone into their company. The Jesus I believe in didn’t add by subtracting – he walked into places where outcasts were and asked permission to sit with them. The birth I celebrate – whether it is a metaphor or not (it doesn’t matter to me) – was supposedly a message to *all* people, a phrase in that book people say they believe in that they often seem to forget. Though I think it is very strange that those who are offended by “Merry Christmas” do, in fact, make federal cases out of it; nonetheless I would think the Christian response is to forgive and show, by example, why the path you are following is a pretty good one.
Maybe if we Christians lived more closely to what we say we believe in, people wouldn’t have such a problem with us. Duh.
But, once again, I am forced to admit that there are forms of Christianity going on out there that I don’t recognize anymore. What, exactly, have people done to the quiet, comforting, friendly God I came to know as a little boy? I just don’t know.
Well anyway, Dave, I’m going to wish you a Merry Christmas, and when I say that, that’s the Christ I’m talking about.
Not this other version people seem willing to litigate and kill and demonstrate and embarrass me for.
Merry Christmas
No one owns a holiday, so how can you take something like that back? If you had it taken away, you lost it all on your own. Stores are going to do whatever they’re going to do, and for them it’s safest to hit all the markets wishing everyone a nice season. People themselves can do whatever.
People just like drama, big or small scale. We should go spike their eggnog with sedatives, I’m thinkin’.
If only outlaws say Merry Christmas, then the terrorists win and have a Merry Christmas.
Or something.
I like Festivus more anyway.
I think we’ve turned into a wussy-nation. Everyone is so scared of saying Merry Christmas for fear they might offend someone. I agree with you…it’s an expression…offering joy…happiness. It’s something we should offer people more than once a year. Imagine if we carried the spirit of the holidays with us all year long?
To be honest, I’ve never read the Bible…it’s the way I was raised. I really don’t know the true biblical meaning behind the holidays and only had limited exposure to the Jewish holidays. In some respects I think I’m better off that way.
Thank you. Amen. (not in the religious sense, but in the “I agree with you totally sense”)
I wish people “Happy Holidays” when I don’t know if they celebrate Christmas. But you are right, not matter what you say, you are wishing people happiness. Why be offended?
It seems to me that people (especially those who profess to celebrate it) should remember that Christmas is about the giving of a gift.
Not about taking anything back.
Well, Santa on a stick.
There you go… beat the spirit of Christmas into people with a big stick! Now THAT’S “taking back Christmas!”
An attitude like yours is exactly what I’m hoping for when I get caught up in the holiday spirit and spout of Merry Christmas-es everywhere I go. Fortunately, you’re not alone, and therefore I have yet to be assaulted in return.
i just wish people a merry jesmas ^__^
Happy Winter! Stay warm.
Merry Christmas regardless. I don’t worry about being all PC any more. Screw that. Like you said, it’s not like I’m wishing people giant boils on their asses. If they don’t celebrate Christmas, that’s fine. I don’t get all upset when someone says “Happy Hannukah.”
People get far too wound up about stupid shit. Like that British teacher in Africa that got arrested for naming the class teddy bear Muhammad. Give me a break.
Happy Solstice!
Ditto’s to what Dave2 said, along with tidings of joy.
I just ignore everything and everyone…and that is why people think I’m a beyotch.
So have a happy most stores are closed day!
Thanks for squaring us all away on this one. It’s Christmas, whether we celebrate it or not. It’s still Christmas. Just like it’s any other holiday, whether we acknowledge it or not. It’s Mother’s Day, whether we’re a mother or not (AND I’VE BEEN CALLED A MOTHER, BELIEVE ME). Really, life is too short.
Like Dave, I am not fanatical about religious institutions, cults or other forums where two or more persons meet to discuss what comes afterwards.
So I use this day on the christian-calender as a special day to give those gifts I purchase in the post-xmas sales last year to finally give to family and friends. Which is what Xmas is the majority of us: A day to spend time with family and ask ourselves why we endure them this often? I’m kidding of course, because they might find this comment and respond with nil gifts.
Anyhow, there is a way to get out of saying ‘Merry Xmas’ to anyone. Just make sure they say it first, then respond with, “You Too.” Easy.
Merry Christmas!
I know that Wal*Mart decided to put “Merry Christmas” back into their vernacular after getting hit pretty hard in 2005 by folks boycotting them for telling their employees NOT to say “Christmas” or anything like it, presumably afraid of a lawsuit.
I sure hope no lawsuit of the kind ever makes it past a judge.