Don't be afraid to say Merry Christmas, its your right

[Mr.Vicchio]

Everytime I read a story about someone having to appologize for saying, or hear someone say "Oh you cannot say "Merry Christmas anymore" I just want to scream.


DON'T LET THE BIGOTS take away your RIGHTS.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

If anyone gives you crap for saying Merry Christmas, tell them to get a life. If they do not celebrate Christmas, tell them you do and are only extending holiday cheer. IF they don't like it, thats THIER problem, not yours.

Everytime someone tells me I cannot say "Merry Christmas" I turn to them and say "Thanks for denying me my Constitutionally protected civil rights, Merry Christmas."

A school district in Illinois has reversed a rule that forbade bus drivers from playing radios in their vehicles because Christmas tunes may pop up while the kiddies are on board, reports the Chicago Tribune. At a special meeting, officials with the Woodland School District 50 reversed the earlier ban prompting applause and spontaneous caroling by a few members of the packed board room audience. The ban was launched after a pupil had a disagreement with a bus driver over Christianity after Christmas music was heard on the bus --- KOCO-TV in Oklahoma reports that officials with a school district in that state removed the Christian bits from an elementary school play about December holidays because they were worried someone might complain. Superintendent Karl Springer removed the nativity scene and a rendition of Silent Night from the fifth-grade program at Lakehoma Elementary School in Mustang, Okla. He left in portions of the program that featured traditions such as Kwanzaa and Chanukah. --- Public elementary schools in parts of Arizona will perform Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and even some Ramadan music during their winter celebrations -- even though the latter has been over for a couple weeks -- but they wont be singing about herald angels or towns named Bethlehem or a certain little guy born there, reports the East Valley Tribune. In an effort to be more inclusive of an increasingly diverse student population, most holiday programs will avoid carols that that mention deities or the Nativity events. "We do traditional songs, not religious songs," said Diane Spero, music teacher at CASY Country Day charter school in Scottsdale. "We don’t do religious songs at all." This, even though they rarely get complaints and that it’s perfectly legal to include religious music as long as the overall program is balanced. They just don’t want to go there, they say. "We just pick a theme that has nothing to do with the holidays," said Syd Hoffman, principal at Bright Beginnings charter school in Chandler. "We just stay away from it." She said her school’s music program and art display this year will focus on friendship. --- The mayor of Somerville, Mass. has to issue a written apology for daring to refer to the city’s upcoming celebration as a “Christmas party,” reports the Somerville Journal. Mayor Joe Curtatone's apology statement said, "A press release issued from my office last week mistakenly identified this month's City Holiday Party as a 'Christmas Party.' I apologize for the mistake and to anyone who was offended by it. On Dec. 21, City Hall will welcome the entire community to a party honouring all holiday traditions and celebrating this most festive of seasons." http://www.tonguetied.us/

This crap has gone on too long.

[Nono]

It certainly is a novel experience to find myself agreeing with Mr.V, but I do, and very strongly.

I would add that it's also our right in most of the countries of the various members of this board to ask embrarrassing questions about the people who rule us. In fact, critical scrutiny is a duty.
This is an area where a lot of progress is needed.

[Suburbanite]

Quote by: Mr.Vicchio If anyone gives you crap for saying Merry Christmas, tell them to get a life. If they do not celebrate Christmas, tell them you do and are only extending holiday cheer. IF they don't like it, thats THIER problem, not yours.

Sounds like Christ love to me

[Mr.Vicchio]

No it's reality.

"Merry Christmas friend!"

"I don't celebrate Christmas that offends me!"

"I do and was only wishing you a happy holiday my way"

"How dare you insult me like that"

"....."

[Senor Herbert]

i grew up with christmas. it has always been a very happy time, and always jolly, and even after i gained enlightenment and continue to, i adore christmas and the spirit it brings. the christ was a blessed prophet and truly a son of god. i try to be like jesus.

i realized it was advent and smiled. i remember the boxes with the doors to open and put decorations on the tree. i saw a nativity by these stoplights in town and i stared at it as i passed. it made me feel very comfortable and at home.

i don't know who would be offended by a personal greeting of merry christmas.i will wish it often to people this holiday season.

[Gorgo]

How many times a day does this happen to you?

Quote by: Mr.Vicchio No it's reality. "Merry Christmas friend!" "I don't celebrate Christmas that offends me!" "I do and was only wishing you a happy holiday my way" "How dare you insult me like that" "....."

[harumscarum]

I don’t see what the big deal is. You don't live in those areas so how do you know if the people involved are as "fed up" as you? Not everyone is going to think like you. I find it silly that these people would have to apologize but who am I to judge since I do not live there.

merry christmas.

[Evil Baby]

At this stage in life I am against religion. I find far too many issues with it, however there is no problem with anybody saying Merry Christmas to me, or me saying to anybody. I also find it odd that I'm agreeing with Mr. V. but I am.

On a side note, personally I think Christmas is more of holiday/gift giving time more than anything. Yes I know the church's will fill on Christmas day and days leading up to it, but if you as a child a simple question about Chirstmas I think they will associate it with Santa Claus more than they would with Christ. The holiday has been so commericalized that if I was a Christian I'd be sickened.

[Gorgo]

Christmas is a celebration of superstition and ignorance.

I think 'V' is overly hysterical. The superintendent banned radios on buses for safety reasons, and only the grouchiest among us will scowl if someone sincerely smiles and wishes us a Merry anything.

I would like to see xmas programs banned from schools, but would probably not ever complain about it as it is part of our culture, and most of it is meaningless nonsense anyway.

[Ken Carman]

Quote by: Gorgo How many times a day does this happen to you?

Ah, NONE?

Most of the actual examples listed that I've seen aren't, "You can't say 'Merry Christmas,'"
but public officials struggling with policy in a diverse country. That's a good thing, although the outcome isn't always a good thing. Frankly, for me, an all or nothing approach isn the best avenue. Why ban or snub one or another unless we wish to live in the "United Theocratic States?" No thanks.

As far as saying, "Merry Christmas?" Free speech! Also Free Speech for all the other traditions. Hell. happy red Rudolph's Nose Day is fine with me. Wait! I think I see the Great Pumpkin!

[Lou Minotti]

Distractionary issue. These stupid school shouldn't exist in the first place.

[Mr.Vicchio]

Happy Ramma-Hanna-Kwaz-Mas then if that makes you feel like you covered all your bases.

Merry Christmas to the rest of you, and may you have a happy New Year.

[kharmajunkie]

This is another create-a-martyr issue for the religious right. A few PC idiots whine about acknowledging Christmas at various state/fed funded entities like schools or government offices, a news van shows up, and we get innundated with stories of supposed adults arguing like children on the news about how a nativity scene is oppressive to joe schmo atheist. I have this question to ask people in these communities where this is an issue. Is your town/neighborhood in such great shape that the only problem you can think to make an issue of and waste time and money on is a Jewish star or a baby Jesus manger scene? So I guess that their schools are in tiptop shape, they have no homeless problem, safe streets? I'm glad they have their priorities straight then.
When are people going to get it? "Congress shall make no law regarding religion..." doesn't mean people have to stop talking about Jehovah, Satan, Buddha, Moses, Mohammed or Joseph Smith because some overly sensative jaggoff walked within earshot of your conversation.

[RickSp]

This is just another silly attempt by a powerful majority to claim that it is a poor little persecuted victim. A non-issue at best.

I say "Happy Holidays" because it is simpler than saying "Happy Solstice" and I don't get so many stupid looks. I am not offended one whit if someone wishes me a "Merry Christmas" or a "Happy Channukka" for that matter. (I'm less enthused about Kwanza because I find it hard to be too impressed by a holiday invented by a Berkely professor in the 1970s.) Virtually every religion has a winter solstice holiday of some sort. A "Happy Holidays" greeting covers them all.

[Gorgo]

I have this question to ask you. Is your town/neighborhood in such great shape that the only problem you can think to make an issue of is calling people who care about civil rights, "PC idiots?"

Quote by: kharmajunkie This is another create-a-martyr issue for the religious right. A few PC idiots whine about acknowledging Christmas at various state/fed funded entities like schools or government offices, a news van shows up, and we get innundated with stories of supposed adults arguing like children on the news about how a nativity scene is oppressive to joe schmo atheist. I have this question to ask people in these communities where this is an issue. Is your town/neighborhood in such great shape that the only problem you can think to make an issue of and waste time and money on is a Jewish star or a baby Jesus manger scene?

[kharmajunkie]

It's not a civil right issue Gorgo. If some Christians want to put up a manger scene, that isn't infringing on people's rights. The people I refer to as PC idiots are making a mockery of civil rights issues by diluting them with their transparent claims. Rosa Parks had her civil rights violated, not an atheist that has to look at a manger scene for a couple of weeks out of the year or a Christian living in a Jewish neighborhood during Chanukah. If you want to live in this country then you need to adapt to multi-cultural/religious communities at times; or move to a red state. I don't care either way but enough of the utter misrepresentation of the whole "church and state" issue. Modern America needs to learn the difference between a civil rights violation and a seasonal inconvience.

[PatrickHenry]

What happened to good old liberal tolerance and diversity? Heh, heh.

[Gorgo]

Yeah, and you would be sitting there asking Rosa Parks why she fought for a place on a bus when there were important issues to fight for. At least she had a ride, didn't she?

If you want a theocracy, go to Nazi Germany or Iran. I don't.

Quote by: kharmajunkie It's not a civil right issue Gorgo.

[OberonDOtherseid]

Anybody who has a problem with "Merry Christmas" has issues that are far more severe and in depth than their dramatic over reaction to holiday cheer. Consider the source and peg them a douchebag with a loud and jolly HO HO HO!!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

[kharmajunkie]

Quote by: Gorgo Yeah, and you would be sitting there asking Rosa Parks why she fought for a place on a bus when there were important issues to fight for. At least she had a ride, didn't she? If you want a theocracy, go to Nazi Germany or Iran. I don't.

Gorgo, you're a liar putting thoughts and words in my mouth for your comments attributed to me
about Rosa Parks. No, I wouldn't be telling Miss Parks that Gorgo, that's why I brought her up because she actually fought for an important issue. Very dishonest argument on your part there. My whole point is that she had a reason to fight, people that feign victimization by a manger scene or a menorah are overly sensitive or lying to get attention. And do you know how stupid you sound telling me to move to Iran if I want a theocracy; have you ever read anything I've posted on here? I'm usually accused of being anti-religion on here; and there's a lot of truth in that accusation since I abhor organized religion in general. I'm not a Christian, or Jewish; I spent today putting up xmas decorations at the restaurant that I work in. I think it's a pain in the ass but it's all worth it when some PC/partyline Dem comes in and gives me a speech about tolerance during the holidays. I really respect your posts/opinions Gorgo but you are way off on this one; especially in your judgement of me.