Comments on: Happy Non-Specified Holiday

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 20:39:55 +0000

To take offense is a choice. So, choose wisely.

By: JF

JF — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:29:37 +0000

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

By: Tom Aguilar-Downing

Tom Aguilar-Downing — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:10:27 +0000

It seems apparent to me that Mr. Shepard has never lived as a minority. To grow up Jewish or atheist and be constantly reminded during the Christmas season that you are not one of “us” can be very hurtful.

If you think I’m being overly sensitive, try this at the next ball game. During the Pledge of Allegiance, instead of saying “one nation under God”, try “one nation under Allah”. I think the folks next to you might just take offense.

As for Brigham Young’s statement; I say: he who continues to offend and has no clue that he is being offensive is the greatest fool. One does not have to intend offense to be offensive.

Oh, and I did enjoy Richard’s Christmas lights.

Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and Happy Kwanza!
And “Allah bless us, every one!”

Tom A-D

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:59:08 +0000

Great clip! I loved the part where he mused about retailers not seeing the need to combine their Valentines and President’s Day sales.

Actually, I can easily take either side on the Christmas/Holiday debate, and I agree with you Monya that it’s far more substantial to consider how we put Christ in our families and daily actions then how we put Him in our greetings. Thank you for putting it so well!

I have one observation to add, and this should give a smile to folks who truly mean to wish others well (and consternation to those who truly seek to take religious expression out of our community dialog): isn’t the word holiday derived from the term “Holy Day”?

Merry Christmas!
Jim

By: Monya

Monya — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:56:14 +0000

Hi Kirk,
I’m always happy to listen to opposing view points, so I watched Stuart Shepard’s “Merry Tossmas” with an open mind. I happen to work for LL Bean, so I was happy that he had received our “Christmas Favorites” catalog and went a little easy on us.
One thing I think that it’s important to remember, though, is that we can choose our attitude about the trend to move away from the word “Christmas” and towards the word “Holiday.” I hear a lot of my fellow Christians getting offended by this, because they feel Christ is being taken out of the season.
I choose to think of this trend as inclusive of others rather than exclusive of Christmas. Which is to say that I would want to wish the world a happy holiday, regardless of the holiday they celebrate (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Boxing Day, etc.), so my good wishes really are generic. Am I offended that Crate & Barrell might want to meet the Boxing Day shopping needs of its customers in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina and West Virginia (where it’s observed as a holiday)? Not at all. People who celebrate Kwanzaa shop too, right?
But therein lies the problem… I think the bigger threat to taking Christ out of the season is consumerism, so I was very happy to see the link to What Would Jesus Buy. If the people who are upset about the “war on Christmas” really want to make a difference, they should channel their energies away from whatever words are used to describe the season (Christmas/Holiday), and towards a conscious effort to make Christmas really mean something, starting in their own homes.
My personal belief is that the conservative movement uses fear or loss as a way to motivate its base. So, they tell you that “they’re trying to take Christmas away from you” and that you need to stand up to political correctness to defend Christmas. It’s simple misdirection, which they use to distract us from asking the real questions, which are often harder to solve, and for which they don’t have answers. The real question is, “How do we celebrate the birth of Christ in a way that honors our religious values and provides a true sense of love and well-being for our families?”
I think we each arrive at our own answer through careful thought and introspection…not by making the decision to only shop with retailers who put the word “Christmas” on their catalog cover.

Thanks for listening, and Merry Christmas!
Monya