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Sunday, December 18, 2005

Debate of the Week 12: Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas; which is it?

Here’s my stance.

It used to be that I didn’t care whether someone said “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”. They are both rather traditional greetings during the Christmas season that go back a long way. It is only after someone decided that it’s more correct to eliminate “Merry Christmas” in favor of “Happy Holidays” that my dander got up.

Put simply, the push to please the 3% of the population that is offended by the words “Merry Christmas” by wiping that phrase out in favor of “Happy Holidays” is offensive to a far greater portion of the population than a mere 3%, myself included. Oddly enough, the PC retards who are pushing this don’t really care that they are offending such a huge portion of the population. They only care about the 3% superminority.

Let me make one thing very clear. Pick any stance on any topic and try to find anything that offends only 3% of the population. You won’t find anything so non-controversial other than the simple phrase “Merry Christmas”.

This means that PC is NOT the true motivation behind the push for this change in phraseology. The simple fact is that it is being pushed by a small group of people who simply want Jesus Christ hidden away from public view and hearing. The motivation for this is, of course, a simple hatred of Christianity.

This said I have come to the decision that “Happy Holidays” is no longer an appropriate Christmas greeting. Since it has been adopted as a way of assaulting my religion by people who hate my religion the meaning has been changed from one of happiness and joy to one of hatred and oppression. This is contrary to the Christmas spirit and the American way of life, therefore I will not tolerate it.

It really sucks when a group of bigots or loonies steals something good and perverts it into something evil.

What do you think?

posted by Daniel Levesque at 7:32 PM

31 Comments:

  • This is the United States of America and the last time I checked there was a Law protecting my freedom of speech.

    I will say Merry Christmas anytime I want, if someone gets offended, so what.

    I say Merry Christmas all day long and people I have never met say it back to me all day long.

    It seems to me that the only people bent out of shape about saying Merry Christmas are people on the Religious Right.

    Say it, loud and clear, MERRY CHRISTMAS! See it's not that bad and who cares what other people think.

    The only people I've seen that have a problem with the Law on Freedom of Speech are some of the Wacko's that post on this site.

    Daniel, I wish you and your family a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

    By Blogger Ranando, at 7:59 PM  

  • And a Merry Christmas to you too.

    By Blogger Daniel Levesque, at 1:11 AM  

  • "It really sucks when a group of bigots or loonies steals something good and perverts it into something evil.

    What do you think?"

    I agree.

    Happy Holidays.

    By Blogger Dan Trabue, at 5:15 AM  

  • Dan, you're such an instigator.

    Anyway, I think the American population is fed up with this and hopefully, we will start to react back. I have every right to say Merry Christmas during the Christmas season or say "God Bless You" when someone sneezes. If you get offended, I'm sorry but there really isn't a reason too. Does the word Christ burn people's ears?

    Many a times I've spoken with a Jew and at the end of the conversation, 'Shalom' was muttered. I didn't start crying, much less get offended. I respect others beliefs as they should mine.

    Finally, I think it's a shame to know that they are pushing Christ out of our lives. Does it feel better when one thinks, "out of sight, out of mind?" Secondly, if you eliminate Christ, might as well eliminate St. Nick, Santa Claus, the Christmas tree, and any wreaths and ornaments, because all of this stems from Christmas.

    You have to slaughter the cow to get the T-bone steak.

    By Blogger Neo-Con Tastic, at 5:43 AM  

  • "No one is trying to outlaw Merry Christmas or trying to strip it from the vernacular."

    You obviously haven't been paying attention to the news. There is a group of people starting to do exactly that. If I remember correctly it it Americans United for the Seperation of Church and State. Their argument is that having a Christian celebration as a national holiday violates the establishment clause.

    Do try to keep with current events.

    By Blogger Daniel Levesque, at 6:16 AM  

  • This controversy kinda reminds me of a story that was out probably about a year ago about a popular hotel chain that was requiring their spanish speaking employees to speak only english while at work. The ACLU was all over that as you can imagine. You should have heard the outrage and threats made my the ACLU toward the hotel. Yet Target and others can tell their employees that they can not say Merry Christmas to the customers and suddenly the outrage is no where to be found. Where is the ACLU?
    Anyway, as far as my opinion on this topic, I have no problem w/ someone wishing me happy holidays or whatever, as long as I and everyone else that want to say Merry Christmas are aloud to say it. For me it's more about the stores trying to re-name Christmas. I mean, when a store changes the name of a Christmas tree to holiday tree! What else are they trying to do other then take Christmas out of the picture. It's why from here on out our family will no longer give gifts for Christmas. They want to take away from me...I'll take away from them.

    So....Merry Christmas to everyone!

    By Blogger Corie, at 7:16 AM  

  • neocon said:
    "Dan, you're such an instigator."

    This, from the fella with the W giving us all the finger as his photothingee.

    Takes one to know one!

    "A merry Christmas, Bob!" said Scrooge, with an earnestness that could not be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back. "A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you for many a year! I'll raise your salary, and endeavour to assist your struggling family...

    For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.

    -A Christmas Carol

    By Blogger Dan Trabue, at 7:23 AM  

  • "Yet Target and others can tell their employees that they can not say Merry Christmas to the customers and suddenly the outrage is no where to be found".

    Yesterday my wife talked me in to going shopping with her. We joked about the Merry Christmas and wanted to see who said it and who didn't.

    I can tell you that every employee at Target, Walmart, Best Buys, Circuit City, Trader Joe's, Pier 1 Imports and Sears said MERRY CHRISTMAS to us, everyone.

    What's the big deal, no problem here in the Great State of California.

    Oh YA, this was the first time I had ever been to Target or WalMart.

    By Blogger Ranando, at 7:47 AM  

  • "Probably because they represent such a small population that you really can't take them seriously anyway."

    They sure do, and yet they have enough high-powered lawyers that they have had multiple "successes" in forcing their extreme minority view on the rest of us through the courts anyway. These guys suck as much if not more than the ACLU.

    Ranando,

    Last I knew it was Wal-Mart's national policy to forbid their employees from saying "merry Christmas" and insisting on "Happy Holidays". If the store you went to is violating that assinine policy then I am glad to hear it. As for Target, according to all reports they are "Merry Christmas" friendly. It's too bad we don't have one in Alaska.

    By Blogger Daniel Levesque, at 8:03 AM  

  • Daniel,

    I asked the cashier about the Merry Christmas thing and she had no idea of what I was talking about, they all said Merry Christmas. This is a new super WalMart here but everyone from the butcher, cashier and the guy who checks your receipt when you walk out.

    It's just not a big deal. What's a big deal to me is that 25 member of Saddam's inner circle were released today including Dr. Germ, now that's a big deal.

    By Blogger Ranando, at 8:16 AM  

  • By the way Daniel, I also love the way The Gay Count (Phantom Driver) has put me all over his site, I love it.

    I must really be getting to him/her on this blog stuff.

    I love the attention, I really do. All it's doing is helping my site and I thank the Gay Guy for that. What I really like is that he thinks I'm in Palm Srings, CA. I'm looking at the Pacific Ocean as I write and I don't think you can do that from Palm Springs, CA.

    Also, I just got back the UPS Store and yes, they all said Merry Christmas.

    By Blogger Ranando, at 9:02 AM  

  • I'm soooooo mad at him I could throw my pink nightie at the screen and stamp my feet.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:33 PM  

  • If the post doesn't link you back to my profile, than the post is not from me.

    Ranando

    By Blogger Ranando, at 12:43 PM  

  • Wow, Ranando. You sound like a nice little SDA there.

    Well, I don't think "Happy Holidays" is any big deal - except when it's obviously referencing Christmas("Ho ho ho! Happy Holidays!"? Come on.) AND, when "Merry Christmas" is forbidden.

    I think Wal-Mart is doing a little of the ol' damage control. A couple of weeks ago, "Merry Christmas" was nowhere to be found. Now it's on huge banners as you enter the parking lot(well, my local Wal-Mart is, anyway.)

    As for "would Jesus care", this has nothing to do with that. There's something called free speech(something liberals seem to love when it comes to porn) and it's being attacked in the name of inclusiveness.

    By Blogger Rebekah, at 12:51 PM  

  • Well, Daniel, my opinion seems to be very similar to yours. I don't have any problem with Happy Holidays just as long as Merry Christmas isn't banned.

    By Blogger MJ, at 2:59 PM  

  • If the post doesn't link you back to my profile, than the post is not from me.

    Ranando

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:26 PM  

  • I am still sooooo peeved at that guy!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 9:27 PM  

  • If my picture is not shown. it's not from me.

    This is getting to be fun.

    Daniel, please check the ISP?

    By Blogger Ranando, at 10:02 PM  

  • Daniel,

    Don't worry about it, not that you would.

    My friends got it and the info, we'll deal with it from here.

    By Blogger Ranando, at 10:08 PM  

  • Let me get this straight. You are equating "Merry Christmas" to cussing people out?

    By Blogger Daniel Levesque, at 6:22 AM  

  • Okay, this is absolutely the last time I refer to anything Ranando has to say. The little twerp may come back in here and say whatever he likes but never again will I respond to him.

    I have banned him from both of my blogs. Texas Fred has banned him from his blog. I see he's still creeping around in here, and now he's blasting Texas Fred on other conservative blogs because he's absolutely ticked off about being banned. I don't know what he expects to happen when he tells me, Texas Fred and a lot of other conservatives to "blow" him. Texas Fred has removed all of Ranando's comments and all mention of him from his blog.

    So now he posts insulting and disparaging things about both myself and Texas Fred on his blog which, by the way, I consider a compliment, considering who the insults are coming from.

    I too have "freedom of speech" Ranando. Yes I do. And I believe you are not anything or anyone close to who you pretend to be. I believe you are a very angry phony little twerp who lives at home with you mommy and daddy. "That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it", to quote my friend Texas Fred.

    Daniel is also a person I consider a friend. How dare you come to his blog and use it to lambast other conservative bloggers by name. It shows your absolute lack of character.

    You also said: "It seems to me that the only people bent out of shape about saying Merry Christmas are people on the Religious Right."
    I am a part of the "religious right". We all say "Merry Christmas." You are so misinformed it's a wonder your head doesn't implode.

    And now you may indulge yourself by saying whatever you want about me. Have at it. This is the absolute last thing I will ever say to you or about you. You, as far as I am concerned, have ceased to exist.

    By Blogger Gayle, at 7:11 AM  

  • Gayle,

    I wish you and your's a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

    Peace

    By Blogger Ranando, at 7:19 AM  

  • Correction Daniel: Here, on this post the aforementioned blogger was lambasting Phantom Driver aka Count Blogula, and not Texas Fred. But it doesn't make a whit of difference to me, as Phantom Driver is also a conservative blogger who I consider a friend.

    By Blogger Gayle, at 7:20 AM  

  • There's a HUGE difference between profanity and a Christmas greeting.

    By Blogger Rebekah, at 8:40 AM  

  • Say happy holidays, merry christmas, seasons greetings, or whatever, just be polite and pleasan when you say it.

    If the biggest issue in someone's life is how the checkout girl at Walmart acknoweldges this time of year, I want that persons life!

    By Blogger Crazy Politico, at 8:50 AM  

  • I personally don't worry about the term "happy holidays" in and of itself. I do worry very much about the secular fundamentalists trying to totally drive Christianity out of our popular culture. (They will never succeed but they are sure trying). In isolation from the larger pattern "Happy Holidays" is not a big deal. The solution of course is simple, REVIVAL. I think we are about due for one.

    By Blogger shoprat, at 10:20 AM  

  • NEWS FLASH!

    I just got out of the People for the Undermining of America meeting and they've decided NOT to try to rid the US of Christmas.

    Relax everyone, the threat is over.

    By Blogger Dan Trabue, at 11:58 AM  

  • JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!!!

    By Blogger Neo-Con Tastic, at 7:55 AM  

  • "This is the United States of America and the last time I checked there was a Law protecting my freedom of speech."

    But, but what if "I" don't want to say Merry Christmas? What if I genuinely mean "Happy Holiday's" when I say it? What if I say "Happy Holiday's" because that is what "I've" always said and it feels right to "ME"?
    I don't care how anyone else meets and greets. I think the important thing is that we reach out to each other and share this time of love and acceptance.
    In my world any greeting is fine by me, even Happy Chrismahka (as Seth from OC says). It's the season of love, so lets love one another enought to accept our little differences. I say lets stop squabbling over the 'correct' greeting and just reach out and love one another.

    By Blogger wanda, at 1:27 PM  

  • I have yet to find any business of any kind that doesn't say "Merry Christmas" more often than not. I can't imagine any scenario under which employees could be forced to say "Happy Holidays" instead without it being a blatant violation of the employee's civil rights.

    As for Americans United, check their site. They certainly are not trying to ban Merry Christmas anywhere. They're a non-partisan group dedicated to supporting the right of religious folks to be free to practice and the right of everyone to be free from religious interference. They're not the boogeymen you imagine, Daniel.

    By Blogger Samurai Sam, at 12:21 PM  

  • Sam,

    On this one you are badly misinformed an all counts.

    By Blogger Daniel Levesque, at 6:19 AM  

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