It seems to me, people are making a bigger fuss about being PC than there needs to be.
In my opinion, one should say "Merry Christmas" to somebody they know is Christian, otherwise, say Happy Holidays if it is unclear. Say "Happy Hanukkah" to a Jewish person even if you're Christian. It's that simple.
If you are addressing a crowd, say "Happy Holidays" if you wish to be nice to all of the people. If you don't care about the minority, go ahead and say "Merry Christmas" all they have to do is take it that youre an intolerant jerk.
I am not biased towards any holiday or religion, and I understand a great majority of people reading this are from countries where Christmas is the primary holiday. But, all I recommend is thinking about being an outsider in a Muslim country. If they want to say Happy Ramadan to you to be nice, take it as that. If they say it out of spite, I am sure a Christian would think differently and saying "Merry Christmas" in the way that many of you do goes the same.
2006-12-21 14:28:22 · 11 answers · asked by Brendan R 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Other - Holidays
As Bart pointed out, I misinterpreted the Islamic celebration of Aid El Fitri. I know it is pretty ironic how I made that mistake under the forum on being PC but I want to state that I had no intention of being a jerk. I might not have understood the full idea of Ramadan when one of my best friends, a Muslim, explained to me many years ago. This has prompted me to research the important days of Islam and many other religions.
Thanks again to Bart, for making me aware of this.
2006-12-21 15:23:46 · update #1
Because common sense and common courtesy are endangered species.
2006-12-21 14:29:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not the "Happy Holidays" that offends me...I understand perfectly that this is the time of year when many religions generally have major celebrations. What offends me about the PC holiday thing? It's when symbols of "our" (and I mean Christian) holiday get taken down, or no allowed to be put up in the first place because it is "offencive" to someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas. What about me? Coming from a largely Christian nation, I don't understand this. No one seems to care that I, as a Christian, am being majorly offended by the rush to be politically correct.
2006-12-21 14:37:45 · answer #2 · answered by wyldefyre1982 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take your point, Brendan, and you explained how it works well. But just to clarify; most Muslims I know make a point of wishing me Merry Christmas in a very sincere way and it is appreciated. The time to return the wish to them is Aid El Fitri (spelled in different Roman letters in different places). It is the festival at the end of Ramadan and is at a different time each year because of the lunar calendar.
It would be very inappropriate to wish someone 'Happy Ramadan' and you shouldn't encourage people to do that (I'm sure it was an accident on your part). It would be like saying 'Have a good Lent!' to a strict Catholic!
2006-12-21 14:37:31 · answer #3 · answered by Bart S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wonderful question. People don't want to acknowledge that there is anything happening outside the christian religion. I hate getting told Merry Christmas everywhere. Sometimes i make a point of advising people how wrong it is, but most of the time I simply say Happy Yule back to them.
To all believers of the old ways Happy Yule to each of you on this day of celebration. The sun is returning and the rebirth is on its way. Bright Blessings
2006-12-21 14:35:30 · answer #4 · answered by Ruairi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Political correctness - so called - is highly over-rated. I hate having to be careful about every word I say. Europeans don't seem to be so thin-skinned, so why are Americans?. It's not the words, Ibut the sentiment that counts.
I agree that it's insensitive to wish someone you know to be Jewish a 'Merry Christmas' (I have a co-worker who's done that sort of thing). However, too many people get their knickers in a twist over something that is so minor in the overall scheme of things. With so much hunger, poverty, war, and so on in the world, political correctness is the least of my worries.
2006-12-21 14:43:47 · answer #5 · answered by JelliclePat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's nothing Politically Incorrect about Merry Christmas. Christmas as most people know it is very secular. There's nothing wrong with Christmas trees or wreaths along city streets because there is nothing religious about them. No where in the Bible does it say a damn thing about Santa, or trees, or wreaths, or elves, or reindeer, or anything else. That's all a secular holiday that celebrates togetherness, giving, and the doings of an elderly sorcerror who gives presents to children.
2006-12-21 14:40:30 · answer #6 · answered by air_of_truth 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Christmas is MY holiday. I still have the right to wish you a Merry Christmas. And if you don't like it, you have the right to tell me that you don't do Christmas. But you don't have the right to tell me that I HAVE to say Happy Holiday.
2006-12-21 14:52:11 · answer #7 · answered by istitch2 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I say Merry Christmas to 90% of people honestly if they have a problem with it they can tell me..I'll apologize and continue with my life. Thank you =]
2006-12-21 14:32:11 · answer #8 · answered by anniie fanniie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I for one am absolutely sick of the whole PC thing,not just concerning Christmas but everyday !
2006-12-21 14:32:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
larry the cable guy did
2006-12-21 14:41:23 · answer #10 · answered by demoness_6969 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋