General Discussion

el_bryanto

(11,804 posts)

7. I think it depends on the context

Mon Dec 7, 2015, 05:59 PM

Dec 2015

Certainly there are those Christians in the United States that have made Merry Christmas some sort of bullshit statement of exclusionary defiance. As a Christian myself, it drives me nuts. In my opinion part of being a Christian should be being hospitable, welcoming and good neighbor (those are my beliefs, I don't want to imply that my beliefs are indicative of all Christians, nor do I want to insinuate that non-Christians can't share those traits as well). Someone saying Merry Christmas in that sense is looking to exclude others, to remind them they don't really belong here.

I'm a bit upset about this today because someone (a cousin) posted a message on Facebook which said among that people who complain about Christmas should go back to where they come from, and then had a line of "If you have the courage to post this . . ."

That said I think most people who say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays aren't doing so out of malice.

Bryant

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I�m confused. �Happy Holidays� is good, but the �National Holiday Tree� isn�t? [View all] fwiff Dec 2015 OP

Instead of a national tree, how about a karaoke night where we can all sing whatever we randys1 Dec 2015 #1

Interesting idea. We can call that night... Buzz Clik Dec 2015 #31

"Christmas" is a US national holiday, and is not a religious holiday jberryhill Dec 2015 #2

Yep! Kelvin Mace Dec 2015 #6

This is actually the most relevant reply to my question. fwiff Dec 2015 #9

And in a 1000 years or so when Christianity has gone the way of Odin Kelvin Mace Dec 2015 #11

Yes, you absolutely should be offended! FrodosPet Dec 2015 #35

It comes under "intent" Kelvin Mace Dec 2015 #3

Yes, intent matters. LuvNewcastle Dec 2015 #17

Yeah, that puzzles me Kelvin Mace Dec 2015 #19

I'm not Christian either leftynyc Dec 2015 #4

It's not outrage, simply a diffrent POV fwiff Dec 2015 #8

Disagree leftynyc Dec 2015 #23

Happy Holidays ecompasses Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Kwanzaa lunamagica Dec 2015 #5

I think it depends on the context el_bryanto Dec 2015 #7

This is all part of our "War on Christmas�", it helps confuse and disorient the enemy. Glassunion Dec 2015 #10

And you think making the mere mention of the name of the holiday a big offense........ WillowTree Dec 2015 #12

Again, I'm not objecting to anyone celebrating Christmas. fwiff Dec 2015 #13

And the tree....... WillowTree Dec 2015 #14

"Get over it" ? Seriously, THAT'S your response? cleanhippie Dec 2015 #39

Yes. WillowTree Dec 2015 #41

It seems obvious you are unable to see this issue from outside your own worldview. cleanhippie Dec 2015 #42

Ditto. To both statements. WillowTree Dec 2015 #43

Ahh, the old "I know you are, but what am I?" retort cleanhippie Dec 2015 #44

Look.....part of inclusiveness is learning to enjoy the cultures of others. WillowTree Dec 2015 #16

And before the 1800s....... WillowTree Dec 2015 #33

You might want to contemplate what "inclusive" means whatthehey Dec 2015 #29

If it is relevant to your argument that 2/3 of the world's population is not Christian, Nye Bevan Dec 2015 #15

Perhaps, but it would be more relevant to show that the "nones" are growing exponentially cleanhippie Dec 2015 #40

There is no such thing as a holiday tree in the U.S. in December. Snobblevitch Dec 2015 #18

I think it means something different if LuvNewcastle Dec 2015 #20

It doesn't bother me a bit if people wish each other Snobblevitch Dec 2015 #21

I agree about "Holiday Tree." LuvNewcastle Dec 2015 #22

Frankly I think we should just strike fucking December from the calendar. CBGLuthier Dec 2015 #24

I'll remind you this spring when it's Passover so you can go picket the WH onenote Dec 2015 #25

I would rather save my energy for other issues... Kalidurga Dec 2015 #26

You know, Tommy Lee Jones was asked about this very topic. Tommy_Carcetti Dec 2015 #27

No, Happy Holidays is not acceptable Cosmocat Dec 2015 #28

It's all bullshit. If you like Christmas, celebrate it. Period. Buzz Clik Dec 2015 #30

The distinction is a simple one Nonhlanhla Dec 2015 #32

some nice people are hearing it differently than we here at DU...they are told that it is CTyankee Dec 2015 #34

National Holiday tree sounds dumb. ileus Dec 2015 #36

Consistent application of your conclusion suggests changing the name of the holiday LanternWaste Dec 2015 #37

Here's what's going on with this issue that some don't seem to get Major Nikon Dec 2015 #38