result #84545 - WHICH IS ACTUALLY RUINING THE SEASON: THE USE OF "SEASON'S GREETINGS" AND "HAPPY HOLIDAYS," OR THE WHOLE ARGUMENT THAT THERE'S A "WAR ON CHRISTMAS"?

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worst : culture : WHICH IS ACTUALLY RUINING THE SEASON: THE USE OF "SEASON'S GREETINGS" AND "HAPPY HOLIDAYS," OR THE WHOLE ARGUMENT THAT THERE'S A "WAR ON CHRISTMAS"? [+] serious ballot by xxxxxxxx ACTIVE Dec 14,2005 - Mon Sep 08, 08 Seriously, how the hell does it matter what is said or isn't said? Where I'm from -- Council Bluffs, Iowa -- when I worked at the Hy-Vee grocery store there as a teenager, I'd say "Merry Christmas" to the customers. Nobody ever corrected me, and I'm sure that if someone wasn't Christian and wanted to point that out to me, they'd probably do so in a pleasant and non-offended manner, like say "Actually I'm Jewish" or something like that. Hell my grandpa WAS Jewish and celebrated Christmas -- it wasn't until long after he was dead that I realized that Jews didn't usually celebrate Christmas and why. And if someone was to say "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" to me, I wouldn't be offended in the least -- they're wishing me something pleasant; why the hell should I be offended over it? It seems like the religious right (NOT ALL RIGHT-WINGERS, I will clarify) wants to claim that people are against celebrating Christmas. And I understand that it's celebrating the birth of Christ -- and that's in part the way I celebrate Christmas -- but NOBODY's against celebrating Christmas. Nobody! What some people are against is people stuffing one faith down everyone's throats. If someone walked up to me and said, "Have a shitty Christmas," or "I hope your holidays are miserable," then I'd be somewhat offended perhaps. But the fact that someone actually says there's a "war on Christmas"?! Who the hell declared THIS war?!? And why can't people just be festive this time of year and celebrate, regardless of any holiday? Let's be real here: this is the jolliest time of year, regardless of faith. Let's just kick back, celebrate what's important to us individually and as families, and relax. I'd like it if this "war" was called off. This to me is ruining the festiveness of it all. Your thoughts? --- "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." -- Mahatma Gandhi The use of "Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings" ruins it for me. 21 The "war on Christmas" ruins it for me. 19 neither ruins for me 9 The War on Christmas + all the advertising ruin it 9 Christians ruin it for me 7 "War on Christmas" - yay! 4 Ballot #84545: has 69 total votes. invite people to vote on this ballot! Comment: content @ BESTANDWORST.COM smile bank: email this ballot link to friends COMMENTS: Those who demand happy holidays/merry christmas ruin it for each other. by thc2883 on Thu Dec 15, 05 1:08am [+] clerks are not sincere when they give greetings anyways,they all read from a script, have a nice day, thank you for shopping kmart, would you be interested in an extended warranty , most could care less if you dropped dead as soon as you left the store. by larrynelmira on Thu Dec 15, 05 1:39am [+] Such a great point! by mojo on Thu Dec 15, 05 2:24am [+] I don't think your looking at the WHOOOOOOOLE picture here. First of all i am NOT of the "SOOOOO CALLED RELIGIOUS RIGHT" but the fact that people are trying to ban the word "CHRIST"MAS" just because it offends their religious views is what the problem is. When you start removing the reason for the season than it becomes a really big problem to me and to alot of others. Christmas ain't about you council, and it's not about anyone else on here it's all about the birth of Christ. The son of God. People (not all)from the left are trying remove the words Merry Christmas and replace it with the words seasons greetings / happy holidays and i have a serious problem with that, not to mention religious nativity scenes and crazy enough santa claus. If you want to use replacement words for Merry Christmas that's fine, but no one has the right to take away my right to celebrate the birth of Christ by saying Merry Christmas and that's exactly what is happening. by runyonbybirth on Thu Dec 15, 05 4:40am [+] no one said I could not say Merry Christmas, and I do , but if a store has policy of not doing that, who cares? Christians or anyone else can say Merry Christmas when greeting someone, if a clerk says happy holiday, nothing stops me from saying Merry Christmas if we choose too. When that right is taken away from me, as a individual , I would be worried, but no one is saying that. by larrynelmira on Thu Dec 15, 05 4:47am [+] also,I can put a nativity scene in my front yard, and so can a church. I was like you runy at first, but after thinking about it, I'm not worried , what I feel and what I do is not being taken away. by larrynelmira on Thu Dec 15, 05 4:51am [+] we can't force someone to say something if they don't want to by larrynelmira on Thu Dec 15, 05 4:55am [+] runyon: Some of us also prefer 'Happy Holidays' because we include New Year's. It isn't an effort to exclude Christmas, but to include everyone/ everything applicable. If you want to look at what is ruining Christmas, it would be way more constructive to focus on the crass commercialization, which takes the 'Christ' out of 'Christmas' way more effectively than any seasonal greeting. by Cathexis on Thu Dec 15, 05 5:05am [+] who needs scrooge when you've got political correctness? by Preparation_H on Thu Dec 15, 05 5:08am [+] In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukka' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukka!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!' by xxxxxxxx on Thu Dec 15, 05 6:10am [+] Neither ruins it for me, however, I think both are a little silly. Those that are offended by people using the word Christmas should just get over it, and the other side should just ignore those people and say what they wish. I guess the problem with that is when they are forced to use Holidays, season at work so as not to offend. by ceejjj on Thu Dec 15, 05 6:16am [+] Runyon: Nobodsy's forcing you to change your ways. Nobody's trying to ban you from your celebration of Christmas or from saying "Merry Christmas." Not to sound offensive, but I don't think YOU'RE looking at the whole picture. by xxxxxxxx on Thu Dec 15, 05 7:09am [+] Well then MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone. by runyonbybirth on Thu Dec 15, 05 8:43am [+] Merry Christmas Runy by larrynelmira on Thu Dec 15, 05 8:46am [+] I have to disagree Larry!! I am a store clerk part-time and when I say a greeting or goodbye I do mean it (and when I don't say one I mean that too). The only time I don't say something is if I get a really rude customer who treats me like dirt. by ceejjj on Thu Dec 15, 05 10:05am [+] that's good you really mean it. do you use your own words or that that of the store by larrynelmira on Thu Dec 15, 05 11:21am [+] I just find it hard to take a greeting as being sincere if the clerk says the exact same words as all the others and ask if I want batteries or extended warrranty while telling me to have a nice day. I'm sure there are exceptions , like you for example. by larrynelmira on Thu Dec 15, 05 11:43am [+] I gotta do something really rare and agree with ceejjj -- I used to be a store clerk and was sincere in what I'd say. by xxxxxxxx on Thu Dec 15, 05 1:36pm [+] ok, guess I am wrong, sorry if I offended anyone by larrynelmira on Thu Dec 15, 05 2:04pm [+] If you work in one of the stores that ask you not to say Merry Christmas, does that bother you? by larrynelmira on Thu Dec 15, 05 2:14pm [+] None of the retail stores I have worked at had a written statement they told me to give with the exception of how to answer the phone. I use whatever is appropriate to that particular customer. A lot of them are regulars and we have an ongoing dialogue. by ceejjj on Fri Dec 16, 05 3:31am [+] Gotta agree with ceejjj -- ya recognize the main demographics of the store's customers and also get familiar with recurring customers. by xxxxxxxx on Thu Dec 22, 05 9:55pm [+] I worked at a fast-food restaurant in a town of about 8700 people. Around December 22nd, I told everyone that came by "Merry Christmas!". NOT ONE person was offended. by lucyrickyalex on Fri May 12, 06 9:19am [+]