I know one guy who was fired when his boss overheard him say it to a customer he knew. I'm a Deist, but I don't have a problem with anyone wishing someone a Merry Christmas.
2007-12-23 10:42:14 · 17 answers · asked by Incognito 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
since i work in the u.s. the answer is yes , i think thats what was meant by freedom of speech.
2007-12-23 11:05:42 · answer #1 · answered by joe c 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If I were that guy, I'd sue for wrongful termination. Being fired for such a thing is really over the top.
People have to have a little slack in these matters. I say "happy holidays" myself, because I am an atheist. But if someone wishes me Merry Christmas, or Good Yule, or even Happy Hanukkah (I think I'm too much of a paleface to be wished Happy Kwanzaa), I say thank you and appreciate the good will involved.
2007-12-23 19:13:35 · answer #2 · answered by auntb93 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I think firing was way too harsh! If it was the businesses policy not to say that, then he shouldn't have, but come on! This PC thing has gotten way too far out of hand! Saying Merry Christmas is wishing someone well in a way that is meaningful to the one who said it. Why can't people just realize that and take it for what it is?
2007-12-23 22:08:16 · answer #3 · answered by bainaashanti 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Chritsmas is so secularized and celebrated by beleivers and non beleievers alike so this is policitcal correctness gone mad. I persoanlly fiund "Happy Holidays" greeting cards nuaseating.
Furthemore, I would not be offended if a Hindu wished me a happy Diwalli. It is the belief of the person giving the greeting that matters and it shows their intent towards you. In the same way if a Christian says to an atheist "God Bless You" the atheist can simply take it as well intended wishes. I would worry about the emmotional maturity of anyone who gets in a huff about such things and (assuming this story is true and not some media whipped up exaggeration) if I were the employee I would sue on the grounds of unfair dismissal
2007-12-23 18:59:10 · answer #4 · answered by Toby Lerone 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The only occasion that people can get in trouble for saying Merry Christmas is if they work for the government, because then they could be offended because there's supposed to be "separation of church and state"
But most people don't get offended because they understand that they're just being wished well by someone with different beliefs.
2007-12-23 19:14:56 · answer #5 · answered by private 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do we say, "Happy Holidays" when it comes to Easter? Or Thanksgiving? Or Halloween? Or 4th of July? Or President's Day?
Why do we single out Christmas for such persecution? If the person wants to wish someone a Merry Christmas, it's better than saying "BAH-HUMBUG" to them!!!!
Have a polite day.
2007-12-23 20:31:36 · answer #6 · answered by wyomugs 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately some people are little Hitlers here in America. I think its a human condition and not a religious.
If reverse discrimination is lawful maybe we should start burning people at the stake for saying "Merry Christmas."
2007-12-23 19:39:18 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can see encouraging employees to be careful, but firing someone seems extreme. At my work place, we're told to be careful with Merry Christmas because the clientele is very diverse and a few of them resent the assumption that everyone celebrates Christmas.
2007-12-23 18:53:57 · answer #8 · answered by blondeboch 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There is no reason why you can't say "Merry Christmas," If someone got fired for that I would go to the State Division of Labor and report that....
2007-12-23 18:51:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
It depends, your boss did that because not everyone follows that religion, saying Merry Christmas to someone of a different religion that doesn't follow these rules can be an insult.
2007-12-23 18:46:51 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely.
I thought this was "The land of the free"?
Too many people have a problem when their belief/custom/whatever isn't addressed or commonly used. That does not give them the right to insist others can't say/do what they believe in. People like that need to GET OVER IT.
2007-12-23 18:54:00 · answer #11 · answered by Akatsuki 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋