Comments on: It’s OK To Say “Happy Holidays” To Me.

By: dad

dad — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 03:13:46 +0000

I will never forget the first time I casually mentioned in a Bible study that the X in the oft-maligned (at least in my youth) ‘Xmas’ is really the Greek letter Chi, and hence a perfectly legitimate abbreviation. There was this strange, stunned silence in the room, a silence that I quickly filled by adding, by way of illustration, that in all my college notes I used Chi for Christ and of course Theta for God.

The question for me was this–

Were the culture warriors in that room:

a. Relieved that Jesus wasn’t really being “exed out” of Christmas;
b. Disappointed that Jesus wasn’t really “exed out” (for zealots need enemies the way the rest of us need oxygen);
c. Embarrassed that their ignorant assumptions had been thus exposed;
d. All of the above.

Much ado about nothing.

Last night we were caroling in the local nursing home, and afterwards mom noted that we probably should have included a Hanukkah song or two, in that while we were there she noticed a resident not singing along, a woman we believe is in fact a landsman.

Would adding a cheery rendition of “the Driedl Song” have been some sort of denial of Jesus, or just some simple friendliness and decency?

Besides all this, it doesn’t take a graduate degree in linguistics to see that “holiday” comes from “holy day,” so what is the big fuss about?

I for one couldn’t care less if store personnel say “Merry Christmas”, “Happy Holidays”, or just plain “hello.” What I DO care about is seeing people making a living wage selling products that aren’t produced by exploited people in unsafe conditions.

But somehow I doubt the cultural warriors are ever going threaten boycotts over that sort of thing.

By: kate

kate — Thu, 12 Dec 2013 01:22:05 +0000

try being a Canadian living in the US during Thanksgiving! It’s one of those times when I really realize the differences in our cultures. We do have Thanksgiving at home, of course, but it really has a different meaning, and seems much less significant than it does here in the US. The day after thanksgiving I was grocery shopping and everyone kept asking my kids if they were having leftovers for dinner – I kept thinking “what is it about me today that makes everyone think that all I serve my kids is leftovers?”.

By: Rachel Marie Stone

Rachel Marie Stone — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 17:23:14 +0000

Argh! Isn’t so great.

Sent from my iPhone

By: Rachel Marie Stone

Rachel Marie Stone — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 17:23:01 +0000

You’re right. Maybe that analogy isn’t

By: Jedidiah Slaboda

Jedidiah Slaboda — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 17:17:42 +0000

I totally agree with the absurd tribalism exhibited by the culture warriors. But I have a hard time relating with the way say you would feel, while in a foreign culture, if someone wished you a happy _________. If a Jewish neighbor wishes me a happy Hanukkah, i experience it as a warm invitation to share their joy. When I attend weddings of couples from other faiths the same thing happens. The rituals are foreign to me but to be invited in is a gracious thing and always a lot of fun. Especially in a foreign country, I think I would receive the wish as a sign of hospitality, even if it reminded me that I am a foreigner.