Should Christmas be in your face?

Question

Wal-Mart and Macy's have decided to have employees say "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays", and go back to basically being all about Christmas. Oh, and they think it helps to have employees wish customers "Happy Kwanzaa" or "Feliz Navidad" based on how they look, which I'm sure will end well in every case.

See-see here:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2006-11-08-christmas-usat_x.htm

I'm half of a Pagan/atheist couple that loves to buy gifts; we're going to Target and Bloomingdales!

What do y'all think?

Hey, if you're praying, pray that my hysterectomy goes well next year, not that I end up believing as you do. (Isn't that a selfish thing to pray?) And I'll pray for your health as well.

We have Christian friends and relatives. We also have Jewish friends (who celebrate Hanukkah), and Pagans celebrate the Winter Solstice. Plus we love giving gifts.

Answer 1

I already have a list of reasons as long as my arm why I don't shop at Walmart.
http://wakeupwalmart.com/
Considering the business practices of Walmart, I am surprised that Christians would support them regardless of what greeting they force their employees to say. That's sad.

On a personal level, I don't mind if folks wish me a Merry Christmas if they don't realize that I am not Christian. I am more than happy to wish them the same. If they are purposely saying it to be rude, then I treat them the same as any other rude person, and I turn my back and walk away. But when a commercial business does it out of policy, I don't care for it. I won't support those stores, but I really don't shop any more in December than I do any other month.

To kenny p who said those who do not celebrate Christmas should work----I always did that when I worked in fields where it was a scheduled day, along with Good Friday and Easter. If I happened to get one of those days off, I would trade the day to those who wanted to celebrate their religious holiday. I try to be kind and supportive of people instead of hateful. Those were the values that I grew up with.

Answer 2

I think Walmart is horrible anyway. Cheap, foreign good produced in sweatshop conditions, employees not paid a living wage, putting local business under. I go out of my way not to shop there. As far as holiday sentiments go I don't care if someone wishes me a Happy Yule, Merry Christmas, Kwanza, Hanukkah, or whatever and I hope they aren't offended by my wishing them a Happy Holiday. Although there are many Christians in the US there are also many of us who are not. I don't expect them to change their celebratory beliefs for me and I don't expect them to disdain my own.

Answer 3

I'll say The Body Shop is the best forget the rest. Thay don't really push you into christmas celebrations, but they have special Cranberry series for christmas time.It just smells lovely. The body lotion is a bit shimmery too. You may call it Yule if you like at The Body Shop.

Answer 4

Christmas makes me sick...All the singing and smiling and presents...It's like every one puts on a fake smile and ignores the fact that the holidays are the loneliest time of the year. Ignores the fact that 75% of the years suicides happen between Thanksgiving and Christmas....
Let's not forget that people have turned what was supposed to be the birth of Christ a ridiculous holiday where people buy un-greatful little brats things that they don't need. While most people don't even think twice while walking past the Salvation Army guy with his bell and pail.

People are disgusting.

Answer 5

Who cares. I don't understand why everyone is so easily offended. An overwhelming majority of the country is Christian and we should accept that. I don't think someone telling another Merry Christmas is imposing those beliefs upon another, but tyically it is just someone trying to be friendly. We need to be more accepting in society and less easily offended. We should all have respect for each other, regardless of religion, sex, race, etc.

Answer 6

I can only repeat what Ben Stein said:
Many folks think Ben Stein is just a quirky actor/comedian who talks in a
monotone. He's also a very intelligent attorney who knows how to put ideas
and words together in such a way as to sway juries and make people think
clearly.

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday
Morning Commentary
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating
heart: I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the
cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and
kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never
know who Nick and Jessica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life
if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so
important?


I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is either, and I do not care at all about
Tom Cruise's wife.


Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a
subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are.


If this is what it means to be no longer young. It's not so bad.

Next confession:


I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does
not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up,
bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don' t feel
discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.



It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I
don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto.
In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters
celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there
is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in
Malibu . If people want a cr�che, it's just as fine with me as is the
Menorah a few hundred yards away.



I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think
Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people
who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I
have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly
atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it
being shoved down my throat.

Answer 7

Well, I'm Wiccan and my boyfriend is an athiest, and you can bet I'm not doing ANY holiday shopping at Walmart. If I must, MUST go there for anything and I get a "Merry Christmas" I'm complaining to the management.

As for wishing people "Happy Kwanzaa" or "Feliz Navidad" based on how they look, how much more racist can you get?!

Answer 8

While I personally make it a point to say "Merry Christmas" to everybody - (ESPECIALLY if they say "Happy Holidays" to me!!) - I tend to agree with you.

When you are dealing with the diverse American public, I think a generic "Happy Holidays" is quite proper.

As for the "Happy Kwanzaa" line - if I was black and somebody said that to me (assuming that I celebrate this holiday just based on my appearance is so wrong!) - I'd probably punch them in the nose!!

And I'm a peaceful guy!

Answer 9

Christmas was created for the sole purpose of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ (CHRISTmas).

If you don't want to celebrate CHRISTmas, yopu shouldn't even take the day off work. After all,. too you it's just another day

and FYI...I do NOT shop at Target or Home Depot because they won't let theie people say Merry CHRISTmas. It works both ways.

also..I find it interesting that you (pagan/atheist couple) in fact DO celebrate CHRISTmas by buying gifts

Answer 10

relies upon what look ur going for.. yet identity say flow for the appealing pimp and whores look..as an example like a valuable horny healthful wi few scars painted on ya face..placed on a good number of glitz lol..