Published by Deborah on 15 Dec 2005 at 07:03 pm
A New Target for the Thought Police: Christmas
Last weekend, I read Scot Cunningham’s post about the latest PC campaign and rolled my eyes at our government’s idiocy. You can read Scot’s post here. Last night, I walked out of my office and into my living room, where my husband was watching his news show. The topic discussed was whether or not we have the right to say “Merry Christmas”. What a stupid load of crap!
The last time I checked, at least two-thirds of the US population believes in the Christian faith in some shape or form. Before I start ranting, the lady went on to say that one town is rebelling against the mighty Thought Police by creating signs that say “Merry Christmas” for the businesses as well as the regular folk. Good for them!
The news segment ended with the female guest shrugging and saying, “We can say Merry Christmas if we want to. It’s our First Amendment right.” Yet, the deer-in-the-headlights expression on her face and the hesitant tone of her voice told me something quite different.
This issue has been gearing up for at least three years. I had the pleasure of watching my youngest son sing in the school Christmas concert. They called it the Winter Concert, but whatever. The kids sang all kinds of Christmas songs, throwing in a couple of Jewish and Hispanic songs in for a well-rounded program. Several days later, I stopped by the school’s office and overheard the teacher’s talking about how a couple parents complained. That was the end of the Winter Concert.
pat kirby on 16 Dec 2005 at 8:17 am #
I think both sides should lighten up. No atheist or non-Christian (self included) has ever been damaged by the utterance of “Merry Christmas.” OTOH, no fundie-Wingnut (War on Christmas, give me a break) has ever been driven to dance naked around a fire singing odes to pagan gods, just because they heard the words “Happy Holidays.”
A world of troubles out there and people focus on this nonsense. Ugh.
Just the media’s latest fixation with vapid news, stirring up the sheeple.
Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas.
Deborah on 16 Dec 2005 at 9:25 am #
I think so, too. The very mention of the Thought Police and their stupidity makes my blood boil, which is why I don’t watch the news very often.
Harry Chrishna!
melly on 16 Dec 2005 at 9:29 am #
I agree with Pat. It’s Christians who seem to care about this more than Jews or Muslims or whoever else that is non-christian.
I say Merry Christams to my Christian friends, Happy Chanukkah (sp?) to my Jewish friends (who don’t really seem to care so much about Chanukkah but more about the high holidays and Passover really), and Happy Eid to my Muslim friends when Eid El Feter (sp?) comes. Oh, and Gung Hey Fa Choi on Chinese New Year and … the list goes on.
In school, however, since the population is diverse, I would appreciate what they have done in your son’s school. Sounds very appropriate and important to me to acknowledge different faiths.
Deborah on 16 Dec 2005 at 10:13 am #
I love hearing about the Christmas/holiday traditions of different cultures.
So when my sons would come home and tell me about how their teachers talked about the Chinese New Year and other holidays, I was glad that they are learning other traditions and ways of living.
In my last job, I saw with a lady who just came back from her homeland of China. I asked her how they celebrated Christmas. She told me that her city had erected this huge tree where the citizens can hang a slip of paper that stated what they wished for Christmas.
lee pletzers on 17 Dec 2005 at 2:20 am #
political correctness way out of whack!
MERRY CHRISTMAS, Deb
Deborah on 17 Dec 2005 at 10:12 am #
Merry Christmas, Lee!
S. L. Cunningham on 19 Dec 2005 at 3:15 pm #
“What a stupid load of crap!” My sentiment exactly. I just happened to catch my name as I was reading your post of 12/18. Thanks for the plug. Scot
Deborah on 19 Dec 2005 at 5:25 pm #
You’re very welcome, Scot.