Here's your "To Do" list

[KarenDee]

OK, it's Monday. It's less than a week to go. Get out there, spread some cheer. Let the other driver cut in front of you for a change. Stop battling for that last X-box. Say "Merry Christmas" to everyone, even if he happens to be a Jew or a Muslim or an Atheist. Donate to the local food pantry. Sing old-time Christmas carols with your kids. Build a snowman. Have a snowball fight with the neighborhood children. Lose. Stop being so self-righteous for two minutes. Do something unexpected for someone, and don't expect to be compensated for it. Visit someone in a nursing home who might otherwise have no one else. Pass it on.

 

[Ravin the Poet]

SHOVEL YOUR SIDEWALKS!!


For the people who don't have cars and walk.


Ravin

 

[Guest]

 

[SummerMorning]

Just wondering, what if someone starts a cock size thread between now and Christmas, do we need to be nice to him?

Yes, you have to buy him a red ferrari, because that will put all his *little* issues to rest.

 

[KarenDee]

Just wondering, what if someone starts a cock size thread between now and Christmas, do we need to be nice to him?

That could be the ultimate test in turning the other cheek....so to speak!

 

[Guest]

 

[KarenDee]

Hey that's only the eastern part of the state. We're lots more refined out here. That's a polite way of saying we're just a bunch of hicks!

 

[Guest]

 

[Eilan]

Just wondering, what if someone starts a cock size thread between now and Christmas, do we need to be nice to him?

NEVER!!!

Stop being so self-righteous for two minutes.

Okay, but when I start going through self-righteousness withdrawal, it's your fault.

 

[Munachi]

well I tried to have a snowball fight with the neighbourhood children, but when with the ca. three snowflakes that had fallen so far I picked up lots of mud and dirt (well I had to make my snowballs out of something) they got scared and ran away.

 

[Guest]

 

[jadefirefly]

Hey that's only the eastern part of the state. We're lots more refined out here. That's a polite way of saying we're just a bunch of hicks!

Let's hear it for the backwoods hicks!

I grew up in Western MA. And I get to go visit for a day in January, yay!


So... what if -I- am the one who doesn't observe Christmas? Is it okay to just let people wish me a merry one, and tell them to have a happy holiday? I mean, you all don't go around offering Happy Kwanzaa's, do you?

 

[SweetErika]

So... what if -I- am the one who doesn't observe Christmas? Is it okay to just let people wish me a merry one, and tell them to have a happy holiday? I mean, you all don't go around offering Happy Kwanzaa's, do you?

I say "Happy holidays" most of the time because I prefer to see it as a season, though if I know specific holidays are important to certain people, I may add to my greeting. I'm uncomfortable making assumptions about strangers' religions and cultural practices, and am not about to wish someone a Happy Kwanzaa (or whatever) based on their looks.

If someone wishes me a Happy Kwanzaa, Chaunakah, or Whatever, I interpret it as telling me to have a good season or holidays, whatever those may be. It's the intention and spirit in which things are said, not the words, that are important to me.

 

[jadefirefly]

If someone wishes me a Happy Kwanzaa, Chaunakah, or Whatever, I interpret it as telling me to have a good season or holidays, whatever those may be. It's the intention and spirit in which things are said, not the words, that are important to me.

Exactly. I get a lot of "Merry Christmas"es at my work, because heck, the whole reason people are in there this time of year, mostly, is for christmas pictures. I usually smile, thank them, and say "and to you, too!". I choose to tell them to have a Happy Holiday, though, because like you said, I don't like to assume.

I'm not going to take offense at being wished a Merry Christmas, but goddess knows I've seen people who have, and it's ugly in the middle of the mall when that happens!

Anyway... [/hijack off]... Happy Holidays, y'all!

 

[TBKahuna123]

OK WARNING! RANT AHEAD:

I don't usually lose my cool, but all this Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays crap this year has me pissed off! I'm a Catholic, a very devote christian, and to me Merry Christmas is what it's all about, because that's what I'm celebrating. I believe that this season is about the brith of Christ, thus Christ-mas. That's what I'm celebrating and that's what I'm gonna say.

Now, HERE is where I get ticked off. Who the hell declared this War on Christmas? Why are conservatives so up in arms because someone says Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas? Easy, it's because they finally have something as petty to rant about as the Liberals ranting about "One Nation Under God" in the pledge of allegiance! This whole thing is freaking politics!!!

Happy Holidays makes sense because there's more than one holiday! Heck if nothing else you have Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years all in one, even if you don't look at other religion's holidays. Holiday comes from an old meaning meaning Holy Day, so how does that take away any acknowlegment of the holiness of the season from Christmas? It doesn't.

Remember when we were kids? We all said Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, One Nation Under God, all that, and no one got offended. Why? BECAUSE IT DIDN'T MATTER AND NO ONE WAS LOOKING FOR A REASON TO START SHIT! The only people who get offended by this kind of thing are people who are unhappy and looking to pick a fight, or politicians looking to get into the news.

The Conservatives go after WalMat because their greaters say Happy Holidays. Suddenly WallyWorld is branded as secularists wagin war on Christmas. OK, so how do you explain the big kiosks of Christian childrens books, bible stories, and other christian Christmas materials that they have in every store? Oh, but these guys are waging war on traditional christian values.

It goes both ways though. These raving liberals who get pissy when you wish them a Merry Christmas also piss me off. "I don't celebrate Christmas" "Oh, well happy holidays then." Now say thank you and move on, don't go off on some tirade about how I'm infringing on your personal liberties by assuming that you follow the same religion I do. Well, gee let's see, maybe we can go back tot he good old days where we're all branded with marks of what sect we belong to, how about that? Then I won't have to offend your sensibilities by offering you a blessing of good will from the faith I follow. Sure there are those people who are say jewish instead of christian. "Well, I don't celebrate christmas, I'm jewish" "Oh, well then, happy Hanukah!" "Thanks." It's real simple! What's there to get offended about?

Remember when we were kids? We all said Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings, Merry Christmas, One Nation Under God, all that stuff, and no one got offended! My parents didn't freak out when I brought home a colored picture of a manora(I know I slaughtered that spelling) with my Rudolph picture. Why? Because it doesn't matter!!!!!

This PC bullshit has got to stop! I'm done walking on eggshells because I'm afraid my views may hurt someone's oversensitive feelings. I'm a good person, I genuinely care about everyone and I do go out of my way not to offend anyone unnecessarily, but I'm getting sick of having to triple think everything I say. I'd like to thank the conservative right wing wack-jobs for making it harder to be a moderate christian in this country and for making the rest of us look like raving lunatics.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone. If anyone is offended by that, let me know and I'll meet you by the bike rack after 7th period! If we're gonna act like children, let's settle this like children. Now that I think about it though, if we acted like children we wouldn't be so damned touchy, would we?

 

[TBKahuna123]

If someone wishes me a Happy Kwanzaa, Chaunakah, or Whatever, I interpret it as telling me to have a good season or holidays, whatever those may be. It's the intention and spirit in which things are said, not the words, that are important to me.

You know Erika, I totally missed this prior to my rant. You are absolutely right. Wishing someone a Merry Christmas is not so much about their religion, but it's a blessing of good will that Christians used to give to others during the time. It's like saying Pease ofd Christ be With You, though seasonal. Even if you aren't a Christian, I'm still wishing you good blessings.

 

[Eilan]

Now, HERE is where I get ticked off. Who the hell declared this War on Christmas? Why are conservatives so up in arms because someone says Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas? Easy, it's because they finally have something as petty to rant about as the Liberals ranting about "One Nation Under God" in the pledge of allegiance! This whole thing is freaking politics!!!

Here's what I don't get: The right-wing fruitcakes who are bitching about "Happy Holidays" vs. "Merry Christmas" are the same people who, in the past, have bitched about how commercial Christmas has become.

 

[TBKahuna123]

Here's what I don't get: The right-wing fruitcakes who are bitching about "Happy Holidays" vs. "Merry Christmas" are the same people who, in the past, have bitched about how commercial Christmas has become.

Ding Ding Ding! Give the lady a prize!!!!

Don't Commercialize Christmas!!!

Ok, we'll commercialize the seecular holiday season then.

You're taking the Christ out of Christmas! You're waging a War on Christmas!!!

But you said not to commercialize Christmas!

That's different!!!

Now there is some stuff I disagree with. I don't like that you can't have a nativity scene up on public property, but I also think that there should be equal opportunities for other religions to do likewise. I can't fathom this trend of having a nativity is alright if you don't have a manger and baby jesus in it. That's just wrong and DOES in fact piss me off. If you're gonna do that take the whole thing down because there's no point to it.

Personally I think we are asking too much of companies like WalMart to be religious intheir approach to this holiday. I don't want to see a life sized naticity at WalMart, I'll see that at chuch. While I believe in evangelism, no one's gonna become Christian because they saw the babby Jesus and the THree Stooges dressedup liek Wisemen at the local Target store. I believe you ahve to have some secular fun at Christmas. I mean, Santa has nothign to do with the religious holiday, but he's fun! I don't want to get my picture taken sitting on Jesus's lap! Well actually that might be kinda cool, but not at the Food Court in the local Shopping Mall.

If they want to bitch about the secularizing of a religious holiday, complain about Easter. There's almost no mention of the religious aspect of Easter in the commercial world, and when you get right down to it, that's the most important holiday for Christians. Christmas is important, but Easter is what it's all about.

I'm sorry all. I don't normally go off like this but I've had a bad day at work and I got in a fight about this the other night, so I'm still stewing. Damn these poeple make it so hard to just be a good christian in this country, and I'm not talking aobut hte raving Liberals either.

 

[Eilan]

I can't fathom this trend of having a nativity is alright if you don't have a manger and baby jesus in it.

Yeah, but that's done to prevent people from stealing baby Jesus.

 

[TBKahuna123]

Yeah, but that's done to prevent people from stealing baby Jesus.

Hey, if it gets people to take a little piece of christ home with em...

OK, I went to far didn't I?

 

[Eilan]

Hey, if it gets people to take a little piece of christ home with em...

OK, I went to far didn't I?

Perhaps, but you certainly didn't offend me.

 

[midwestyankee]

Here's what I don't get: The right-wing fruitcakes who are bitching about "Happy Holidays" vs. "Merry Christmas" are the same people who, in the past, have bitched about how commercial Christmas has become.

Could we please take into consideration the sensitivities of people who love fruitcake? Have a little care and compassion, people.


Geez.

 

[Eilan]

Could we please take into consideration the sensitivities of people who love fruitcake? Have a little care and compassion, people.


Geez.

Ya know, when I typed that I figured I'd offend someone.

 

[midwestyankee]

Ya know, when I typed that I figured I'd offend someone.

Merry Christmas, eilan. Would you like a piece of fruitcake?

 

[Eilan]

Merry Christmas, eilan. Would you like a piece of fruitcake?

Nope. I'm still not offended.