ACOT Message Board

The last few years it seems there is more and more uproar and righteous indignation about people (and especially businesses) saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas."

What I don't understand is....why?  Why are people acting like this is some new-fangled thing?  The term "Happy Holidays" has been used for YEARS.  Doesn't anyone remember the song made famous by Andy Williams?  Irving Berlin wrote that in 1942.   Why do people all of a sudden act like this is a new assault on Christmas? 

Season's Greetings!

It's the thing to do!   Make a big deal out of stuff.  First of all, it sells copy, from the perspective of the press.  Second, people like to join in with their opinions.  It's just human nature, I think. Christmas has never seemed to me to be a strictly religious holiday.  All my life I've known it to be deep in commercialism.   The tree, the ornaments, the gifts....all commercialism.  My family goes to church, and we sing Christmas carols and talk about the birth (and life and death) of our Savior, but the holiday is still chock full of "what did you get? "   So .....Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays...all the same to me.  It's just a friendly greeting eithe way.

I had a lady call me and complain at work because our ad said holiday tableware and not christmas tableware. She was telling me how she is writing a letter. But people don't understand we don't write the circulars at the store someone in corporate does. I just think there are so many other things in life to be concerned about and to maybe work and send letters about.

It's probably because someone said you can't.  Didn't the whole first uproar happen because either employees of a retailer were told to say Happy Holidays and Not Merry Christmas...or was it because a non believer was told Merry Christmas in a public setting and they were offended by it.Either Way.  Maybe people should stop worrying about the politically correct meaning behind every word and just be grateful that someone is taking the time to greet them in a kind and friendly manner.  When did everything become so dang difficult?

This 'political correctness' is being taken too far in so many cases. 

WE are not allowed to call our party in December a Christmas party.  It's a winter break party.    However, there may be singing of christmas carols.   People wear red and green and christmasy clothing. 

By the way, Irving Berlin also wrote White Christmas.    He was jewish.    So- what's the big deal?     He certainly didn't have a problem with Christmas.

I could really care less if people greet me with Happy Holidays, Season Greetings, Feliz Navidad, whatever.  But when you tell me I can't say "Merry Christmas" because it may offend someone, and I'm expecting to start asking where are your "holiday" trees, etc and/or tell me I should write Merry Christmas in my "holiday" cards, well, then, that's totally different don't you think!?You trying to push buttons Moody?!

tbroussard, who told you to do those things?if you work in a store where you might be serving people of different faiths, i could understand, but i read your post like people are coming into your private life to tell you what to do.  if that happened to me, i would be bothered, too.

I work for a medical software company doing customer support.  We've have 400+ clients in 38 states.  We can not say Merry Christmas when speaking to our customers on the phone.  Also, I had asked about sending Christmas cards to a few of my favorite clients and was told it would be inappropriate.  I find myself second guessing myself all the time now wondering if someone will get upset if I happen to wish them a Merry Christmas.  How wrong is that?  I'm not Jewish, but would not take offense if someone wished me a Happy Hanaka, or any other hooliday I don't celebrate.  Kawanza, etc.  Political Correctness sucks. 

Like I said in another post.  What was this country founded in???  People came her mainly to get out from under the religious persecution in England.  I for one have noticed that it is no longer acceptable to say Merry Christmas.  All of the people who want to shove the political correcness doen my throat can kiss my a$$ when it comes out the other end.  The reason we have Christmas in because it was the birth of Christ.  I think that has been around a little bit longer than cash registers ringing up sales for a little over a month. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE!!!

This will help explain why some of us are offended:http://www.citizenlink.org/Stoplight/A0 ... ?eafref=1I like the way he puts it.  And his new "holiday."

so, if someone wishes you a happy holiday season, you automatically assume that they don't respect your faith? that makes no sense to me and i hope you have a happy new year.

Every year this gets crazier and crazier.  Like a friend Who is Jewish said as we were discussing Everyone knows what Christmas is!! So does it matter how you say it?  I don't think so!

anthacat said so, if someone wishes you a happy holiday season, you automatically assume that they don't respect your faith? I agree with her.  For anyone to assume that because I say "Happy Holidays" I have no respect for their faith is ridiculous.  It's a catch-all phrase and people just need to relax.  It's exactly what Kathy said . . . a friendly greeting.  Truth be told, it's a lazy greeting.  Happy Holidays means have a nice Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve and New Years day.  That's it.  Nothing more, nothing less.Honestly, if a kind person is wishing someone "Happy Holidays" and the recipient is offended, then doesn't that just show that the recipient has no respect for the kindness of others?In any event, I agree with Moody.  It's not new, it has no hidden message to assult Christianity, it's not a political statement, it's not a religious statement . . . it's a friendly Greeting.  People need to chill out. 

"People need to chill out."Hear, hear!

second the vote for people to chill

I'm not offended by people saying Happy Holidays.  I AM offended that I'm being told I can't say Merry Christmas.  I am also offended that people are accepting Christmas as a holiday from work, but won't allow public displays of the true meaning of the holiday.  And I am offended that stores want me to spend my Christmas shopping money with them but aren't willing to acknowledge the holiday for which I'm shopping.Feel free, say Happy Holidays to me, I won't be offended.  I will say Merry Christmas back, and I won't expect you to be offended by that either.  And if you say Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Hannukah, or Happy Chinese New Year to me, guess what, that doesn't offend me either.  I respect everyone's right to believe as they wish, and I expect them to respect my right to believe in Jesus Christ.

koala, who is telling you not to say merry christmas?

agreed Laura!  plain and simple, not everyone celebrates Christmas or one of the other holidays that occur at this time of year and some people don't celebrate anything. I am not worried about offending anyone but just find it nicer to say happy Holidays when I don't know what they practice.  everyone can and should have a happy holiday season am I right? Making a stink about the pc-ness of it all just irks me.