I am SOOOO sick of hearing "HAPPY HOLIDAYS!"

[ColdFront77]

"Happy Holidays" is used/said, rather than "Merry Christmas" at times because there are so many different holidays during this time of year.

[BocaGirl]

I was shopping in our local Walmart over the weekend. I was struck by the fact that most of the folks in line were unlikely candidates to celebrate Christmas, yet their carts were piled high with both gift items and decorations. Here in Boca Raton, we have a large non-Christian population, yet the whole city is decorated beautifully with lights and decorations. Christmas here is religious for some people and secular for others.

Saying "Happy Holidays" is appropriate. Unfortunately, the people who say it - generally are about as sincere as, well, a stick of gum. The bank teller, the guy at the dry cleaner's who's just given me a hard time, the harried Costco checkout clerk who sees the line stretching to the back of the store and mumbles the phrase under his breath as he's packing my stuff into boxes - it's clear that he could be saying anything. Most people don't really care if I have a Happy Holiday. It's just something to say, like "Have a nice day."

But I know wht you mean. I was griping to a friend of my of mine that no one has any spirit anymore. He told me that the only way to get the spirit of Christmas back into the holiday is to give it to to people, one by one.

His method is to pick out people who seem like they really need a lift when they mutter the deadly phrase and invite them to his church. He keeps blank cards in his pockets and writes down the church's name and address if the person seems the least bit receptive. (He tried carrying actual printed cards but he said that people got freaked. The handwritten cards seemed more reassuring, less threatening.) Sometimes people come, sometimes they don't. But at least he's reached out. And maybe, just maybe, he's planted a seed that will grow at some point later on.

Just a thought.

BocaGirl

[azsnowman]

What a GREAT idea BocaGirl and the GREATEST gift of ALL....Eternal Life!

Dennis

[j]

Hey Dennnis...good Post....I'm sick of this PC everything!

I don't suppose we can have "Angels" on our "decorated evergreens" this "Holiday Season" either.

Now what in the world would Alan Jackson do with these lyrics:

Alan Jackson & Alison Krause - "The Angels Cried"

(Alan)
They came from near
They came from far
Following a distant star
To where he lay

Not being sure of what it meant
But knowing it was Heaven sent
They made there way

And the creatures gathered 'round
And didn't make a sound
And the Angels cried

(Alison)
The angels knew what was to come
The reason god has sent his son from up above
It filled their hearts with curtice
And knowing of his destiny
Came tears of love

And the creatures gathered 'round
And didn't make a sound
(Both)
And the Angels cried

--- Instrumental ---

(Alan)
I've often thought about that night
And wondered if they realize that star so bright
(Alison)
Was sent to tell all of them the son of god
Would soon become the son of man

(Both)
And the creatures gathered 'round
And didn't make a sound
And the Angels cried
And the Angels cried
And the Angels cried...

[vbhoutex]

I say "Merry Christmas" because that's exactly what I'm celebrating...Jesus' birth - Christmas. If they don't like it, oh well. And no, I wouldn't be bothered by "Happy Kwanzaa" or "Happy Hanukkah" even though that's not what I'm celebrating.

*Jesus is the reason for the season*

AMEN!!!

Of course when my son was in elementary school(he turns 21 on Friday!)one of our good friends forced the school district to change the nomenclature from Christmas party etc. to holiday party etc. because they are Jewish(very) and it wasn't "all inclusive". We still went to their children's Bar and Bat Mitzvah's.

I'm celebrating Christ's birth and if others can't handle my joy in that it is their problem, not mine, because I will show my joy the best way I know how, by wishing everyone:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

[azsnowman]

AMEN David....."Thanks j" Like I said, ask Michelle, she doesn't claim me when I get torqued off at the cashier. Don't get me wrong.....I'm NOT rude by any means, I just tell 'em like it is, I know.......I did the cashier routine from time to time when the store was rockin'........"A MEAT cutter running a cash register?" YUP.....but I broke them of the habit (don't read this if your squimish "LOL!") I got called up front one day to help bag groceries of all things, instead of taking off my bloody smock, I went up, in the *Blink of an eye* the store mgr said, "Uh.....never mind, I know your busy back there!" Never again did they call me up front!

[JCT777]

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE AT STORM2K!

There, I've said it. And it felt good.

[WoodstockWX]

If a non-christian came up to you and said happy kwanzaa or happy hcuanaka, you would be pretty upset, no?

no

If you don't think so I'd think again about it.

Thought again. and uh.. no

i was asking the people bothered by happy holidays instead of merry christmas, namely AZsnowman.

[WoodstockWX]

seems like some people here are Pi$$ed off because people do not believe in Christ.

You're saying that you will believe what you want and celebrate what you want, if there are 50% non christians and you are pi$$ed because they call it a holiday party, that is ridiculous.

We all have freedom of what to believe and celebrate, most of the world is not christian, there are dozens of other religions out there.

It's only christians that get so mad when they can't have a party/concert, etc be called Christmas party/concert, etc.

You guys always come off so extreme, and its either all or nothing when it comes to christmas/beliefs.

just my 2 or 3 cents worth and my own personal opinions

if you're going to rant about christmas, then do not get mad at jews, hindus, muslims, atheists, etc.

We're all human, no?
Should we be treated differently because we are not Christian?

If it HAS to be called christmas, what about all of the other religions that make up MOST of the world?

[j]

Merry Christmas woodstock...may God bless you and your family.

[WoodstockWX]

Merry Christmas woodstock...may God bless you and your family.

it doesn't bother me when people tell me merry christmas or god bless, in fact, I say merry/happy christmas myself, and I tell people "bless you" when they sneeze.

i just do not get upset with people believe things I do not and celebrate things I do not believe!

[azsnowman]

As well you should voice your opinion woodstock, as you said, we're all entitled to our own opinions BUT......the biggest gripe we *Christians* have is everyone is trying to take "OUR" beliefs, "OUR Lord and Savior not only out of Christmas, The Pledge of Allegance, taking the 10 Commandments out of public places. Do you see Christians taking ANYTHING away from the Jews, Hindus, Muslims (well, I won't go there "LOL!")?? No.....nor will you ever see that! BTW......Merry Christmas and as j said, God Bless!

Dennis

[WoodstockWX]

As well you should voice your opinion woodstock, as you said, we're all entitled to our own opinions BUT......the biggest gripe we *Christians* have is everyone is trying to take "OUR" beliefs, "OUR Lord and Savior not only out of Christmas, The Pledge of Allegance, taking the 10 Commandments out of public places. Do you see Christians taking ANYTHING away from the Jews, Hindus, Muslims (well, I won't go there "LOL!")?? No.....nor will you ever see that! BTW......Merry Christmas and as j said, God Bless!

Dennis

why are they in public places anyway?

since the majority is either for separation of church/state or christian, what about the minority, like jews, hindus, muslims, etc?

"everyone" is not taking god/christ your beliefs out of the pledge or public places, some people do not believe as you do, and since the pledge is a national thing, and since the majority of americans are not christian, why should it be determined be the minority?
Shouldn't it just be separated from the state/nation?

"most" Non-christians don't want to say the pledge to god or see 10 commandments in public places any more than you want to see Torahs, Qurans and other non-christian/theistical momuments and such in public.

When I think of separation of church and state, I just see it as to keep religion from conflicting.

Christians feel the need to spread Christianity and flood the public with it...no other religions do that to the extreme nature that Christians do, but since Christians are doing all of this, wouldn't you EXPECT the majority to oppose it?

When I say majority, I mean most of america, at least 50% is NOT christian.

[j]

[quote="WoodstockWXsince the majority of americans are not christian.

When I say majority, I mean most of america, at least 50% is NOT christian.[/quote]

Wrong....better research this before spouting off.

[janswizard]

I thought "merry christmas" was a tad secular itself.
Now they don't even want santa claus or anything christmas at all.

Exactly. So maybe if they did away with all the trappings of the holidays (the push to sell the trees, lights, fake Santas, decorations, etc), the holiday will go back to what it once was. Our ancesters didn't run to WallyMart to purchase Christmas decorations - everything was made at home, usually with the whole family taking part in it, and more emphasis was on the reason for the holiday instead of the commercialism of the holiday.

[WoodstockWX]

I did research, found that generally 40-60% of americans are christian, the highest I could find said 76%, but also said that 59% of americans are either secular or barely religious.

How Americans view their own spirituality and religious faith:
One of the most important pieces of religious information is that about 76% of American adults consider themselves to be Christians. This value appears to be dropping at almost one percentage point per year. If this rate holds, then most Americans will not consider themselves Christian by late in the 2020's.

However, this datum does not tell us anything about the seriousness with which adults consider their faith. One source described the results of a 1993 in-depth survey of about 4,000 American adults. They concluded that:

30% are totally secular in outlook.
29% are barely or nominally religions.
22% are modestly religious.
19% regularly practice their religion. 1

A USA Today-CNN-Gallup poll sampled 1,037 American adults in late 1999. 2 They found that:

30% described themselves as "spiritual" but not interested in attending church.
About 54% of respondents said they are religious, but 45% of those said they are more likely to follow their own instincts than denominational teachings.

[VanceWxMan]

If the offends anyone OH WELL


Merry CHRISTmas all and a very Happy New year to each and every one of you!

May your Christmas be a blessed time with your loved ones and may your New year be FULL of Blessings!!!

Aaron

[southerngale]

why are they in public places anyway?

since the majority is either for separation of church/state or christian, what about the minority, like jews, hindus, muslims, etc?

"everyone" is not taking god/christ your beliefs out of the pledge or public places, some people do not believe as you do, and since the pledge is a national thing, and since the majority of americans are not christian, why should it be determined be the minority?
Shouldn't it just be separated from the state/nation?

"most" Non-christians don't want to say the pledge to god or see 10 commandments in public places any more than you want to see Torahs, Qurans and other non-christian/theistical momuments and such in public.

When I think of separation of church and state, I just see it as to keep religion from conflicting.

Christians feel the need to spread Christianity and flood the public with it...no other religions do that to the extreme nature that Christians do, but since Christians are doing all of this, wouldn't you EXPECT the majority to oppose it?

When I say majority, I mean most of america, at least 50% is NOT christian.

Because this is America and it was founded by Christian men with Christian principles. They've been in public places for many many years and now some people want to try and be all "politically correct" and take everything everything away from Christians. It is sickening.

Anyway, Merry Christmas!

[WoodstockWX]

my point is that most of america, christians or not, are not making a big deal out of this, as the poll stated and I believe, 10-25% of Americans are strong christians, and are going to be pi$$ed off at non christians or people who do not believe in Christ or celebrate Christmas.

[WoodstockWX]

why are they in public places anyway?

since the majority is either for separation of church/state or christian, what about the minority, like jews, hindus, muslims, etc?

"everyone" is not taking god/christ your beliefs out of the pledge or public places, some people do not believe as you do, and since the pledge is a national thing, and since the majority of americans are not christian, why should it be determined be the minority?
Shouldn't it just be separated from the state/nation?

"most" Non-christians don't want to say the pledge to god or see 10 commandments in public places any more than you want to see Torahs, Qurans and other non-christian/theistical momuments and such in public.

When I think of separation of church and state, I just see it as to keep religion from conflicting.

Christians feel the need to spread Christianity and flood the public with it...no other religions do that to the extreme nature that Christians do, but since Christians are doing all of this, wouldn't you EXPECT the majority to oppose it?

When I say majority, I mean most of america, at least 50% is NOT christian.

Because this is America and it was founded by Christian men with Christian principles. They've been in public places for many many years and now some people want to try and be all "politically correct" and take everything everything away from Christians. It is sickening.

Anyway, Merry Christmas!

Religious persecution was one of the problems of British rule and because of that the very first line in the Bill of Rights reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"



When the Senate was originally considering the First Amendment, it defeated three separate motions that would have changed its language to prohibit only laws that established "one religious sect or society in preference to others."




In 1797 the Treaty of Tripoli. In Article 11, it states:

"As the Government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Musselmen; and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries."
The preliminary treaty began with a signing on 4 November, 1796 (the end of George Washington's last term as president). Joel Barlow, the American diplomat served as counsel to Algiers and held responsibility for the treaty negotiations. Barlow had once served under Washington as a chaplain in the revolutionary army. He became good friends with Paine, Jefferson, and read Enlightenment literature. Later he abandoned Christian orthodoxy for rationalism and became an advocate of secular government. Barlow, along with his associate, Captain Richard O'Brien, et al, translated and modified the Arabic version of the treaty into English. From this came the added Amendment 11. Barlow forwarded the treaty to U.S. legislators for approval in 1797. Timothy Pickering, the secretary of state, endorsed it and John Adams concurred (now during his presidency), sending the document on to the Senate. The Senate approved the treaty on June 7, 1797, and officially ratified by the Senate with John Adams signature on 10 June, 1797. All during this multi-review process, the wording of Article 11 never raised the slightest concern. The treaty even became public through its publication in The Philadelphia Gazette on 17 June 1797. So here we have a clear admission by the United States that our government did not found itself upon Christianity.

If indeed our Framers had aimed to found a Christian republic, it would seem highly unlikely that they would have forgotten to leave out their Christian intentions in the Supreme law of the land. In fact, nowhere in the Constitution do we have a single mention of Christianity, God, Jesus, or any Supreme Being.