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Re: the Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays controversy.
First, it really isn't a controversy. You would think, from listening to talk radio and reading certain bloggers, that the nation is consumed with this issue. Nativity scenes being burned, children bursting into tears if the incorrect greeting is given, stores being boycotted because they're just trying to please everyone and offend no one at the same time, fistfights breaking out. But it really isn't that big a deal. Nobody is being frobidden from celebrating or worshipping whatever-they-call-it in any way they want to. It is just that time of year - the (dare I say it) HOLIDAY season between Thanksgiving and New Year's - there's nothing much going on in the news and they have to find something to rail about for three hours a day on radio, or an hour on TV, or post on the blog thingy.
And...once again...it's all my fault.
In the late 1980s I was operating a little theater company in the medium-sized city I lived in at that time. I was heavily involved in the (shudder) "arts" community. The term "political correctness" was first being coined. When we scheduled a Christmas-themed children's show I got a couple of complaints from Jewish groups. They weren't complianing about the Christmas theme, mind you, they were complaining that their children felt left out. So we brainstormed and made some changes to include Hannukah in the story. Then I got a complaint from a black group that we were leaving out Kwanzaa (which had mysteriously been created out of thin air about that time). So Kwanzaa was in the show too! If we'd had any Muslim or Hindu customers we would have jiggered it around to include them as well. Not to mention the large Zoroastrian community. One thing I didn't receive any complaints about was the fact that we were celebrating religious holidays. Not one complaint from atheists that we were indoctrinating their children. Zero.
And that was the time when I started saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." It was not a denial of the religious nature of this time of year, but rather an inclusion of, and celebration of all different faiths and beliefs.
So I started the whole "Happy Holidays" thing. Mea culpa.
But why do you people have to take what I say and do to such hysterical and confrontational extremes?
#1
#2It's because we love you
#3Typical Liberal? Horse-hooey.
The company I spoke of was a non-funded theater group that charged admission, which in turn was how we earned a living. I was outcast in that "arts" community for defying the conventional wisdom that tax dollars needed to be used to fund arts programs, and what made them even madder was that I succeeded.
We weren't out to make bold political statements. We were out to make as much money as possible by making our product appealing to as many people as possible so that they would plunk down their money.
#4Hello..
Why should we please men and not God..for it is not a day that lifts up other Faiths..but Jesus..Amen!!
Should Buddist faiths change their holydays to please other faiths? Should the Jewish change their holydays to please other faiths? Why is it only Christians that should change how they express their Love for God and Jesus?
BECAUSE HIS LOVE HAS SET ME FREE
Jesus means to world to me..
Because His love has set me free..
Not to fear the way I used to do..
But to walk with Him and be renewed..
His love I can never repay..
For the terrible pain He suffered that day..
Not for Himself did He die..
But for "Everyone" He was crucified..
So please don't turn your backs to the Saviour's Cry..
It wasn't just for me, but for "You" He died..
Author:
GOD
I think when it comes to the Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays controversy, one has to consider the many dimensions of Christmas. In America, Christmas has worshipping and commercial dimensions. Christmas is a heavily commericalized holiday. Like Don mentioned, when you're out there trying to make a profit, you have to please as many consumers as possible. In essesnce, Christmas has become a product that needs to be marketed and kept up to date with the lastest trends. This is may be seen by some as going against the spirit of Christmas, but this is the reality that is faced in this country.
Had you had the "moral" coviction of "anything" you would have presented your program as originally proposed. Any time you try to please "everyone" you please "no One".
You are the typical Liberal trying to be all things to ever one. "NOT POSSIBLE"