People seem to be very concerned in the US about winning the "War on Christmas," as if the two seconds a pimply faced Wal-Mart clerk wishes you a festive winter solstice really matters. Seriously, does anyone care if they hear "Happy Hollidays" from the teenaged wasteland sitting across the check-out counter as opposed to Merry Christmas? Why isn't everyone just content with the typical yearly empty gesture of goodwill of "Have a nice day" from these corporate bar-code monkeys. Do we really care when it "fits the season"?
Well the "War on Christmas" has spread to other countries as well, and with soldiers like these, I think Christmas is bound to lose... no matter who wins.
"fairly average behavior" from "a well organized group of idiots."
Yes, I believe that sums up much of Christmas here in the States.
Feliz navidad. :)
4 comments:
ok... so it seems you're against the war on xmas... yet it also seems you actually took a side on the war you're against: the side of those who are opposed to the atypical, season-fitting "Merry Christmas" ...well, at least up until you put a link to other "soldiers." I'm confused!!
te echo de menos, Minino : ) Hope you're all having a great time.
Very good question, and yes I was a bit vague in my original post. :) I believe that Wal-Mart has the right to tell it's employees to say "Happy Hollidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." (they are a private company and not part of the government, they can affiliate or not affiliate themselves with whatever religion they choose) I don't think it's offensive to Christians at all, and I don't think it threatens Christmas as a holliday in the States. It just means that you don't get "Merry Christmas" from the clerks, which in all honesty I really don't care about. However some media folks and politicians (sadly from my own party), seem to think this is worthy of time and attention, and instead of governing and reporting on other more important issues, this is what FOX News and CNN have been wasting valuable news time with. And then there are those groups who go overboard to the other side and think that no one in a store anywhere should wish anybody a Merry Christmas for fear of offending those who do not celebrate it (which could just be simply taken care of between the clerk and the customer. Furthermore its unconstitutional because legislating a private business' free speech is against the first ammendment). I think the entire debate is an embarassment not only to the Christmas season, but to the US (we seem to be getting lots of those these days). I also think the article pretty much sums up the usual Christmas spirit in the US pretty well (despite the fact that its in New Zealand). Silly people doing silly things without any thought to what the celebration is actually about, why we celebrate it, and what we should be focusing on.
People care too much about the commercialism, or the ubiquitous nature of Christmas decorations, or anything they can think of except why Christmas is here. You can't do much about what the rest of the world is doing with Christmas, but you can still stop and think about it and make it a personal, wonderful, celebration of God's love with your family. Gift giving, famly stress, holliday traffic, miscreant Santas, decorations, it's all just little things. I just want people to relax and enjoy the season. ... and perhaps see some of the sick humor that abounds in December. Besides... sick pranks are for Halloween. Not Christmas ;)
Miss you too, and hope you're having a Merry Christmas.
And it's my blog, so if anyone's offended by that here's a big ol'
:P
Oh!
Lol.. wow. I love how you write the blog mainly for yourself, not always keeping in mind that people read it. I love how that mind of yours works... I think that might be why you were a little ambiguous -we always are when writing something we already know the explanation to- and the reason why some people might have been offended by your blog... it IS your blog... you should enjoy it. I think I'm a little too aware of the blog's audience to really enjoy it... one of the main reasons why I was concerned about this whole blog idea is that people get the wrong idea from a blog so easily... blogs seem a little more dangerous to me in that sense than in disclosing information about the author.
Hehe.. here goes another essay :P ! In any case, I agree with you that either side of the "war" is a little ridiculous when going to extremes.
oh gosh...have to go.. got a "look" from my brother already :P Using this computer has become somewhat of a crime around here... :P
Still missing you. Merry Christmas to you too, Minino !
Why don't you post. . .update us all about your adventures with the family.
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