pixiesis
Cathlete
That's how I read it too Liann! I thought Tami's post was just great, both for the Christians its aimed at and for those who feel like Christmas is crammed down everyone's throats.
As someone who doesn't do Christmas, I'll say that while I respect Nancy's position about this, I disagree. I don't feel offended, hurt, or like my separate identity and religious background is denied or denigrated if someone says Merry Christmas to me (or Happy Whatever Religious Holiday). Like others have said, it's a nice, pleasant message, filled with good intentions and, for me anyway, rich tradition. I can't hate on that, even if it's not something I choose to celebrate.
Also like others, I love learning about other religious (or national) holidays and traditions. It doesn't mean I have to feel hurt or pretend to be someone else. When I became friends with a Muslim woman, I had soooo many questions about Ramadan and other things. I loved celebrating Passover with my first (Jewish) boyfriend and his family. I wrote my Masters thesis on a francophone Jewish writer, and specifically on certain religious themes. Am I Jewish? Nope! Why should I shrink my world by closing myself off to people who are different from me, especially when I find it so fascinating? I would make a crappy French teacher if I didn't have my fascination with learning about and teaching about other cultures.
Here's what annoys me with this kind of debate. Christians feeling oppressed and silenced because OTHER PEOPLE prefer the more inclusive and yes PC (not always a bad thing IMO) Happy Holidays! C'mon, if ever there was fake alarm and a silly, self-righteous feeling of injustice, THIS is it! No one is taking Christmas away from you! Other people not being on board with your beliefs does NOT mean you are oppressed. Because there is a separation of church and state also does not mean you are oppressed. Religious oppression is much more serious and scary than that.
So, like Tami's post said, just enjoy your holiday. Don't worry about what non-Merry-Christmas-Saying-Non-Christians-Or-Other-Bah-Humbug-Types think of you and your holiday. None of us can control what others think, say, or do (thankfully) so just move on from that dead-end.
As someone who doesn't do Christmas, I'll say that while I respect Nancy's position about this, I disagree. I don't feel offended, hurt, or like my separate identity and religious background is denied or denigrated if someone says Merry Christmas to me (or Happy Whatever Religious Holiday). Like others have said, it's a nice, pleasant message, filled with good intentions and, for me anyway, rich tradition. I can't hate on that, even if it's not something I choose to celebrate.
Also like others, I love learning about other religious (or national) holidays and traditions. It doesn't mean I have to feel hurt or pretend to be someone else. When I became friends with a Muslim woman, I had soooo many questions about Ramadan and other things. I loved celebrating Passover with my first (Jewish) boyfriend and his family. I wrote my Masters thesis on a francophone Jewish writer, and specifically on certain religious themes. Am I Jewish? Nope! Why should I shrink my world by closing myself off to people who are different from me, especially when I find it so fascinating? I would make a crappy French teacher if I didn't have my fascination with learning about and teaching about other cultures.
Here's what annoys me with this kind of debate. Christians feeling oppressed and silenced because OTHER PEOPLE prefer the more inclusive and yes PC (not always a bad thing IMO) Happy Holidays! C'mon, if ever there was fake alarm and a silly, self-righteous feeling of injustice, THIS is it! No one is taking Christmas away from you! Other people not being on board with your beliefs does NOT mean you are oppressed. Because there is a separation of church and state also does not mean you are oppressed. Religious oppression is much more serious and scary than that.
So, like Tami's post said, just enjoy your holiday. Don't worry about what non-Merry-Christmas-Saying-Non-Christians-Or-Other-Bah-Humbug-Types think of you and your holiday. None of us can control what others think, say, or do (thankfully) so just move on from that dead-end.
Last edited:
