Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?
When it comes to season’s greetings, a new poll shows the majority of Americans prefer “Merry Christmas” to “Happy Holidays.”
The survey from Rasmussen Reports finds that 68 percent of the people polled prefer the traditional “Merry Christmas” while just 23 percent like "Happy Holidays," which can cover a variety of occasions.
When it comes to holiday signs, a whopping 70 percent of shoppers polled said they prefer to be greeted with “Merry Christmas” in stores rather than the more neutral Happy Holidays, according to a Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.
But it doesn't end there. There have been "Christmas Trees" banned or replaced with "Holiday Trees," nativity scenes scrapped to avoid offending some, and the list goes on. The so-called “War on Christmas” has been a hot topic for years, with some saying such things as “Merry Christmas” and nativity scene exclude non-Christians.
What do you think? Should it be Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? And do you believe there really is a war on Christmas?
Leave the political correctness at the door please. Thank you....
And regardless of what some choose to believe, there is a war on religion. You see it every day, in Christmas parades being changed to Holiday parades, displays being taken down from public spaces, even art displays at local libraries being dismantled because they dared show Catholic priests or whatever. If you don't like a display at a public location, feel free to add your own pieces to it. Or request that your religion be included. But don't be offended it exists. In this country, we have freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. It's a simple concept....
- Does someone believe and uphold separation church/state. - Does someone truly believes in religious pluralism.
I see this from the POV that I don't get offended when I see other displays. If I see a Hannukah (SP?) display, or a dradle, it doesn't bother me. So I just don't understand why other people care.
And again, this is coming from somebody that would take no offense were somebody to greet me with "Happy Channukah" or "Festive Whatever." For whatever reason, to be offended because somebody greeted you with their preferred method of greetings for whatever season is, to me, kinda dumb. It's not a matter of being tolerant of others' wishes when you greet somebody - it's just polite for others to greet you.
Christians should be inclusive and tolerant. The fact is the Christmas season coincides with other holidays. I think some Christians forget, maybe ignore, that. Some families consist of Christians and Jews, or Muslims, Hindu, Buddhist, or atheists, agnostics. Christ, the Prince of Peace.
Personally, calling a Christmas Tree a 'holiday tree' is so frustrating - Jews don't have a 'Chanukah tree'! This week employees were singing 'holiday music' in my office cafeteria - but the songs were all 'oh christmas tree' etc - call it what it is! I prefer that people quit acting like saying 'holiday' is inclusive of all religions (since only 2 religions actually have holidays this time of year, OK 3 with pagens) unless in August you are going to say 'Happy Holidays' to the Muslims, or basically every month except Nov & Dec & Jan saying 'Happy Holidays' to the hindus and have office 'holiday parties' in other months too. Having a 'holiday party' in Dec and thinking it is all-inclusive is about as absurd as having a 'holiday party' in Aug only and thinking that is inclusive. Calling it a 'holiday party' or wishing 'happy holidays' can be construed as saying these are the only holidays that exist, minimizing the recognition of religions that don't celebrate holidays at this time of the year. So.....Merry Christmas & Happy Chanukah!