What do you think of this? I think it's tacky and rude. Why can't we use both merry Christmas and happy holidays. I just don't get it why they are trying to take God out of everything!! I understand the religious views of all but why do we have to be punished for our beliefs in God. It is not impressing our beliefs in God on people just by saying Merry christmas, at least in my eyes. I am not slamming others religious views, I am baptist and I am respectful of all religions.
2006-09-11 06:59:19 · 52 answers · asked by momie_2bee 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I didn't realize how many hateful non-believers are out there. It's funny how I didn't bash you but you are so quick to bash me, just proves my point even more! Thanks
2006-09-11 07:03:53 · update #1
the united states of america is going to hell... quickly! bah humbug! people everywhere are loudly chanting that they find Christmas decorations to be offensive to them. well i personally find it very offensive that someone wants to take away my rights, not only to freedom of religion, but also my right to celebrate the holidays as i see fit!
we cant have the 10 commandments, that GOD gave us, on display in a courthouse? this country was founded on the teachings of God. GOD ... ok, so maybe is not politically correct to have "thou shalt not steal" and "thou shalt not lie" on display in a building full of lawyers and politicians, but the general american public enters those doors too.
God gave us eyes, if you dont like what you see... walk past it and keep going on with your tiny little insignifacant lives, if you find twinkling lights to be offensive, dont look. i'm not asking you to participate in my Christmas any more than i am going to participate in any other religions holidays, but i'm not going to go to court screaming that you shouldnt have kwanzaa, or anything else! i dont find the menorrah to be offensive, its not my choice of icons for the holidays, but if its yours, more power to you!
a certain walm...ahem, large nationwide company center, of which i wont mention the location, has a department with 30 workers in it. one woman in there decided that she found the Christmas decorations to be offensive and so the large nationwide company center "encouraged" the other workers in the department not to decorate. when someone pointed out that they find it offensive that they cant decorate, they were told that they just had to deal with it....what? cmon guys, this is giving in to the minority. 1 person out of 30. find your voices, speak out against this injustice to our society.
we have the freedon of religion here in america... or so i thought. apparently its the freedom to every other religion other than Christianity. if i feel the need at Christmas time to hang a large cross on my front door i should be able to do it. if it offends you, go whine to someone else because you will go no sypathy from me and no, i will not take it down if that what i choose to do!!!! i used to live next door to an "alternative religion's" place of worship, they said they would appreciate it if i took my outdoor Christmas lights down because they found them to be offensive..... my reply: "and i would appreciate it if you would go back to your own property because your words are offending me". the lights did not come down, nor will they any other time i decide to display them. i am proud of my God and if no one else likes it they can turn their heads on those necks that God gave them and not have to see my display with the eyes that God also gave them.
if madeline murray o'hare can speak her mind and have God taken out of every school across this nation, then why is everyone else being quiet? stand up!!!! find your own voice. i want to make a difference in this country. i cannot find it in myself to just stand idle by and allow the rest of the nation to make decisions for me based on what they approve of. one day we will all have to stand before God and answer for ourselves as to why we did the things we did and i do not want him to ask "why did you not stand up for me?" those of you who are believers, and do nothing, are going to be standing there in front of God, looking at your feet like little scolded children and saying "i dunno. no one else was doing it" thats not a reason people! stand up! give God a reason to be proud of his children! make a difference in your lives and the lives of our future generations. if we lose God, we lose........... everything!
so in closing i would just like to say, God Bless you and Have a Merry Christmas.
2006-09-11 07:16:34 · answer #1 · answered by kristeena911 4 · 3⤊ 4⤋
Personally, I view Christmas in two ways, both a secular holiday and a religious holiday. The secular involves Santa Claus, Christmas trees, presents and so forth. The religious part involves the birth of Jesus. I see no reason why non-Christian person can't celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday. I have several Jewish friends that do. They celebrate Hannukah, but there is also room for the American cultural traditions of Christmas, including gifts on the 25th and Christmas trees. In a land of freedom, we all have to make personal choices as to what cultures we will abide. Wal-Mart is a business, and concerned with increasing their profit margins. I doubt they view it as removing God. Their marketing research must have shown that "Happy Holidays", all-inclusive to Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, would better suit their multi-cultural clientale.
2006-09-11 07:14:16 · answer #2 · answered by Tiramysu 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Wal-Mart is a business. Nothing more. Nothing less. They made a business decision to try to stay "middle-of-the-road" in their marketing during the months of November and December.
It appears to be the belief of their marketing management team that it would be better to not offend the x% of people who are offended by seeing "Merry Christmas" printed on a lot of posters around the store than to risk offending the x% of people who feel strongly that just saying "Happy Holidays" is not enough.
Either way, you (and everyone) should vote with your dollars. If you believe Wal-Mart's (or any store's) advertising should specifically say "Merry Christmas" then don't shop there unless they do. Go shop somewhere that agrees with what you feel is important and shows it in their ads.
If Wal-Mart's sales fall as a result of this change, they will most certainly change back.
For my part, I would prefer seeing "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays", but I don't think it's something I find personally offensive.
2006-09-11 07:06:01 · answer #3 · answered by i1patrick 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It's funny how fickle people can be. I remember after 9/11/01 how many people were claiming Christianity...churches everywhere were full and talking about revival. Five years later to the day, and we have people who don't even want to say Merry Christmas. As if we put up a holiday tree, not a Christmas tree...or put up holiday lights and not Christmas lights...or send holiday cards, not Christmas cards. Even the Jewish people I know say Merry Christmas for heavens sake.
2006-09-11 07:15:24 · answer #4 · answered by Kathy C 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Of course, they may be including other religious holidays, like Hannakuh (spelling?), but everyone that I know that says Happy Holidays is usually referring to Christmas and New Year's.
What is the point of this debate going on about Wal-Mart (and so many others) saying "happy holidays". For those who believe in the holidays - what is wrong with the expression of "have a good time?"
To those who do not believe in any holidays - why would they care about who says what if it doesnt involve them?
2006-09-11 07:13:13 · answer #5 · answered by grammy_of_twins_plus two 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't have a problem with "Happy Holidays", and never did. I live in an area with a fairly high percentage of Pagans, Muslims, Jews and atheists. It would be rude to automatically assume that all of Wal-Mart's customers are Christian and celebrate Christmas (which some of the hardline Fundamentalists and Jehovah's Witnesses don't even do, anyway, because of its connotation with a "pagan" holiday). Why risk offending repeat customers and making every cashier look like a culturally bigoted fool, when one can simply say, "Happy Holidays", instead?
2006-09-11 07:07:05 · answer #6 · answered by thaliax 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
That is simply what headquarters decided. I guess they are simply trying to be inclusive of everyone as Wal-Mart is such a big 'family' store. Businesses generally have to be more PC than other places, the corporate places are just companies that are better off doing it.
I have to say however, it makes little sense, since they don't really sell much for any other belief.
I don't think its about being punished, its about being more inclusive in actuality because there ARE so many other religions.
For people on here who enjoy being so rude because you have your own issues, why do you feel the need to be like that over a question like this that wasn't even meant to be harmfull?
As for taking God out of everything, well, without getting into a religous debate, etc, its actually predicted in the bible that there would be a separation of church and government. But I won't go there since something like that is bound to inflame people as well.
Some people feel that by saying 'Merry Christmas' that since they don't believe the same way, it's offensive for you to say that to them. I happen to work with someone who brings this up every year and really makes people miserable with it. Personaly, I don't say it, I don't believe in it. But I most certainly will not take offense to someone saying it or anything else to me, simply because I have respect for what THEY believe. So in reality, it has more to do with our acceptance and TOLERANCE of what other people believe.
2006-09-11 07:11:44 · answer #7 · answered by saintlyinnocents 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
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When you start seeing "Blessed Solstice" cards, then we'll talk about being punished for which god you believe in.
When you start thinking that YOUR holiday is the ONLY "reason for the season", and get mad when other holidays are mentioned as well (either by name or in the all-inclusive "Happy holidays"), then your "respect" is only lip-service.
Say "Merry Christmas" if you want. But don't expect everyone else to share your views. retailers are finally beginning to realize that Christians aren't their only patrons...
2006-09-11 07:14:28 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Many imply that our very questions force our beliefs on them. Not that we forced them to answer or think about what we were implying. Having religion forced on them is such a concern, but they come here, to the Religion and Spirituality section, themselves. It's kind of like someone who's chosen to not have children going into the Parenting section trying to talk potential parents out of having kids. It makes no sense.
Happy Holidays doesn't offend me, and I hope that Merry Christmas doesn't offend others, because that's what I tend to say.
2006-09-11 07:08:59 · answer #9 · answered by luvwinz 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm all for being politically correct but that's just P.C. run amok.Sometimes in our enthusiasm to treat minorities with respect and as equals,we forget about the majority.Respect is a two-way street.All Religions should respect all others,that includes respect towards Christians.
2006-09-11 07:33:15 · answer #10 · answered by timelord1962 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because Christmas isn't the only holiday at the end of December. "Merry Christmas" just covers Christmas, but "Happy Holidays" covers Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas. They're just trying to appeal to a wider customer base, it's not about turning the country into a godless cesspool or whatever.
2006-09-11 07:09:57 · answer #11 · answered by i luv teh fishes 7 · 5⤊ 2⤋