Someone's outrage has prompted me to research this
morning why so many Christians are offended by the term "Happy
Holidays." Coming from nearly all Christian or Atheist family I never
heard family offended by Christmas or the term "Happy Holidays" and
believe this has turned into a big thing in the past decade or so, but I could
be wrong, it could be as little as a few years. But why and is it right for
some Christians to condemn those who use the term "Happy Holidays"
and really why become so offended by something that is meant to respect
everyone?
I want everyone to do something, I want you all to
go out into the street and starting grouping people, by looks only, who is Christian,
Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Atheists, etc....But keep this in mind, each year nearly
20,000 Americans convert to Islam and not all wear head scarves and most wear
western clothing. The same goes for Americans converting to Judaism, Hinduism
and Buddhist. So go ahead, go to into public and start separating people by
their religion or non-religion based on appearance only. Can you tell who
believes or doesn't believe? Keep in mind, not all Indians are religious or
practice the religion you think they do, and the same goes for any ethnicity or
culture.
It's that time of year here in America and across
the world to be happy and bring good cheer. However, it's not good cheer for
many who are stopped from displaying their nativity scenes because it
"offends" others, OOOORRRRRR Christians who become offended at the
greeting "Happy Holiday" as opposed to "Merry Christmas."
Neither greeting offends me personally and I agree and feel the same as the
people's comments below. The mere fact
that cities all over the U.S. are stopping people from displaying their
religious ornaments is disturbing because we do have the freedom of religion
and religious expression. So if you're Atheist or a person of different
religion and don't celebrate any holidays or the holidays of others then don't
partake in the decor or festivities. Really
it's a simple, respect, live and let live. Right? Wrong, Wrong because so many
people "choose" to be offended by every freaking thing that crosses
their path. Instead of being offended by children being beaten and raped
someone chooses to be offended about a greeting or someone else's religious
decor or beliefs. Really?
From October to January 1st, many religious and
non-religious holidays take place. Eid (Muslims), Halloween, Thanksgiving,
Chanukah, Kwanza, Christmas and New Years. "Happy Holiday"s
encompasses all of these holidays because this time of year is not a Christian
time of year only. It is shared by many people of many religions, non-religions,
ethnicities and is a very, very, diverse time of year.
Anyone
working with the public will most times use "Happy Holidays" because
it's not ok to assume "everyone" celebrates Christmas or are
Christian. I don't know about anyone else, but I "CAN'T TELL" who is
Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu or Atheist from the next. So why am
I going to automatically wish anyone Merry Christmas during this time of year
when this time of year holds so many religious holidays and traditions or so
many people? Why are people rude to me and why am I yelled at and condemned for
using the term Happy Holidays? I have used that term since I was young because
I grasped the idea and knowledge that we are a mixed nation of people and this
has never been an "ALL" Christian nation nor will it ever be. I
understood the history of how Christianity came to this country and the history
of this nation period.
If you know someone personally then of course wish
them Merry Christmas or Happy Chanukah, or Happy Eid, or Happy Kwanza, or Happy
whatever. But to assume everyone celebrates Christmas and is obligated to wish
everyone "Merry Christmas" and to become offended when someone says
"Happy Holiday" is not appropriate or fair either. In saying that respect for everyone is a must.
On the day of Christmas I will wish people that I personally know "Merry
Christmas" but I will not be bullied into saying Merry anything because it
offends that person or religion. People in this world become to offended by
others for no good reason. Can one Christian, Muslim, Jewish or Atheist speak
for "ALL"? NO. Do all Christians, or Atheists, or Muslims, or Jewish
all think the same way? NO. I don't
think or practice like ALL other Muslims because my culture and experiences are
different so I don't speak for ALL Muslims as no Christian can speak for ALL
Christians.
So in all this all I can do is give my belief and
what I have found. All I know is people become offended over some stupid stuff
when I can think of more important and egregious issues to be offended by like
children being raped or beaten or starved.
*By the way, if you put up a Christmas tree that is
not a part of Christmas, nor is gifts from Santa.*
I have looked online for an answer from others and
this is what I have found.
"It bothers some because they feel this is a
"Christian" nation and their rights to their religion are being
eroded away.
Happy holidays, is a neutralized version of wishing
everyone regardless of their religion to have a happy religious holiday. People
forget that there are others religions that have special occasions around
Christmas. Jews, Muslims, other religions, and secular minded people enjoy
Christmas, although it doesn't directly apply to them. By saying, "Happy
Holidays," we include others, rather than be snobbish or arrogant,
implying one group of people are better than other groups, or like exclusive
country clubs, whereby if you don't have money, fame or power, you can't come
in. If you're not a "Christian," you're not welcome here. Bahooey to
that!" (http://www.ask.com/answers/462932721/why-do-some-people-get-offended-by-the-term-happy-holidays)
Here is a great article addressing this very thing
from "Parent Magazine."
(http://www.todaysparent.com/blogs/tracys-mama-memoirs/are-you-offended-by-happy-holidays/)
"I can’t quite wrap my mind around what those
who celebrate Christmas feel they lose by saying “happy holidays” in cases when
they’re not sure what the other person celebrates. Do they really not get their
fill of Christmas — between the parades and the Santa in every mall, the
buildings decked out in red and green, the TV shows and movies, and the myriad
events going on everywhere all December long — that it pains them to
convey a message not wrapped in the C-word? Why is it so offensive? How does it
snatch away their joy or diminish their celebration?
I can’t bear
discrimination of any kind, and it’s one thing to say “I’m going to say Merry
Christmas because that’s what I celebrate” and a whole other thing to say “How
dare they come to our country and tell us we can’t say Christmas anymore?”
That, to me, is appalling. First of all, it’s not just people who have recently
arrived in Canada who don’t celebrate Christmas. You must know this. Secondly,
from what I’ve seen, it’s never this “them” who are trying to enforce a more
inclusive celebration. It’s us. Well, some of us — the ones who care about
the feelings of our friends, our colleagues, our kids’ friends and families,
and strangers on the street, who have every right to celebrate their customs.
They have no interest in abolishing ours. They just want to celebrate something
that matters to them, too. There’s no “us and them” in any of this, unless we
manufacture it."
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