Oh geez, what can of worms. It's not that big a deal, honestly. What I find funny is this:
"These businesses are taking millions and millions of dollars in from Christians, in particular, and others who celebrate Christmas, giving gifts in the name of the Christmas season,"
Yeah, like people wouldn't spend tons of money this time of year ANYWAY even if we were still stuck celebrating the Winter Solstice like people did back in early Europe, before the advent of Christianity. It's just something to do because it gets cold this time of year and there isn't anything to do outside, there aren't any crops to take care of, etc.
My sister works at Target and they (the employees) have taken a lot of crap about this. It's not a big deal. I never thought "Happy Holidays" was offensive either, not only because it's inclusive of all winter holidays, even Christian ones, but because the phrase is a convienent catch-all that includes Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. It's much easier to tell someone you aren't going to see again all season (like a customer) "Happy Holidays" instead of all three of those.
Although I do think it's really stupid that kids can't sing Christmas carols in some schools, that some public Christmas displays are banned (like a nativity scene is all that offensive, and most of the time they are displayed on private property, or with private funds, which doesn't involve the government so it doesn't enter into the separation of church and state issue). And although the Christmas tree is just a pagan symbol that's been reappropriated as a secular symbol of Christmas, it still sounds incredibly foolish to call it a "holiday" tree. Is that supposed to be less offensive? Because it's still a damn Christmas tree, which is obvious to everyone no matter what it's called.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-12-13 09:00 pm (UTC)"These businesses are taking millions and millions of dollars in from Christians, in particular, and others who celebrate Christmas, giving gifts in the name of the Christmas season,"
Yeah, like people wouldn't spend tons of money this time of year ANYWAY even if we were still stuck celebrating the Winter Solstice like people did back in early Europe, before the advent of Christianity. It's just something to do because it gets cold this time of year and there isn't anything to do outside, there aren't any crops to take care of, etc.
My sister works at Target and they (the employees) have taken a lot of crap about this. It's not a big deal. I never thought "Happy Holidays" was offensive either, not only because it's inclusive of all winter holidays, even Christian ones, but because the phrase is a convienent catch-all that includes Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. It's much easier to tell someone you aren't going to see again all season (like a customer) "Happy Holidays" instead of all three of those.
Although I do think it's really stupid that kids can't sing Christmas carols in some schools, that some public Christmas displays are banned (like a nativity scene is all that offensive, and most of the time they are displayed on private property, or with private funds, which doesn't involve the government so it doesn't enter into the separation of church and state issue). And although the Christmas tree is just a pagan symbol that's been reappropriated as a secular symbol of Christmas, it still sounds incredibly foolish to call it a "holiday" tree. Is that supposed to be less offensive? Because it's still a damn Christmas tree, which is obvious to everyone no matter what it's called.