Offended by Christmas greetings...

[staropeace]

Another person who has had the good fortune to be allowed to live in Canada, has to push his weight around. How is a sign saying Merry Christmas hurting him? He will be going on assisted living yet claiming emotional damage to his psyche. This stuff is too foolish to be borne.


http://www.edmontonsun.com/2012/12/1...ge-offends-man

[Moderator]

I'm not personally offended by Merry Christmas greetings but I do understand why some people object to having taxpayer money used for any observation of a religious holiday that is not inclusive of all religions. I say Happy Holidays because I recognize that not everyone I interact with is a Christian and unless I am sure of the person's religious leanings, I think it is only common courtesy to refrain from greeting them in a way that recognizes only one religion. To me, Happy Holidays is more inclusive. It isn't about being PC, it's about being cognizant that the world is made up of many different people and beliefs, not all of which I agree with but as long as they're not trying to push their brand of observance on me or harming others with how they practice their religion, then live and let live. JMO

[GNTLGNT]

I'm not personally offended by Merry Christmas greetings but I do understand why some people object to having taxpayer money used for any observation of a religious holiday that is not inclusive of all religions. I say Happy Holidays because I recognize that not everyone I interact with is a Christian and unless I am sure of the person's religious leanings, I think it is only common courtesy to refrain from greeting them in a way that recognizes only one religion. To me, Happy Holidays is more inclusive. It isn't about being PC, it's about being cognizant that the world is made up of many different people and beliefs, not all of which I agree with but as long as they're not trying to push their brand of observance on me or harming others with how they practice their religion, then live and let live. JMO

...Dang!....yer gooooooood!....no way it could be better said...

[Todash]

...Dang!....yer gooooooood!....no way it could be better said...

She has a knack, that Marsha. Yes she does.

[GNTLGNT]

She has a knack, that Marsha. Yes she does.

...a knack?...she oughta have that looked at...

[AnnaMarie]

I'm not personally offended by Merry Christmas greetings but I do understand why some people object to having taxpayer money used for any observation of a religious holiday that is not inclusive of all religions.

The picture is not associated to the article.

Quote from article:

Saskatoon city councillors voted Monday to keep flashing "Merry Christmas" on transit buses after receiving a complaint from a city man who said he was offended by the holiday message

If it's like buses in my city, where it normally says the bus route and number, it flashes between that information and "Merry Christmas". No taxpayer money involved. I do wonder what other messages have flashed on the buses and whether he even noticed them.

[Moderator]

The picture is not associated to the article.

Quote from article:

If it's like buses in my city, where it normally says the bus route and number, it flashes between that information and "Merry Christmas". No taxpayer money involved. I do wonder what other messages have flashed on the buses and whether he even noticed them.

I understood that wasn't a picture of a bus.

I did get off track with the mention of taxpayer money being spent on public displays for Christmas. While I don't personally have a problem with them and wouldn't object, I still stand by agreeing in principle with the person who is objecting on the basis that if a country is secular, then no one religion should be given consideration above all others. That is to say, I understand his reasoning and think he has a point. What a private company or individual does is entirely up to them. Do you think he would have had a problem had the message said the generic Happy Holidays which would be inclusive of all (and as Tery pointed out, there are a LOT of December holidays)? Why shouldn't the others be given recognition and validation just because they are in the minority (where that is the case)?

[Terry B]

I'm not personally offended by Merry Christmas greetings but I do understand why some people object to having taxpayer money used for any observation of a religious holiday that is not inclusive of all religions. I say Happy Holidays because I recognize that not everyone I interact with is a Christian and unless I am sure of the person's religious leanings, I think it is only common courtesy to refrain from greeting them in a way that recognizes only one religion. To me, Happy Holidays is more inclusive. It isn't about being PC, it's about being cognizant that the world is made up of many different people and beliefs, not all of which I agree with but as long as they're not trying to push their brand of observance on me or harming others with how they practice their religion, then live and let live. JMO

Couldn't have said it better myself!

[~Ally~]

People like this man offend me...Bah humbug!

[Todash]

I see your point, staro, but he's not going off on some random person wishing him a merry Christmas; he's simply objecting that his tax dollars are used to pay for something to which he doesn't personally subscribe. I don't celebrate Christmas myself, so I understand where he's coming from a little bit.

Would I complain like he is? Nah, prolly not; I'd file it under "not a big enough deal to get my panties in a bunch over." I'd rather support that bus display than some other rather shifty governmental endeavors with my tax dollars, but it's not like I get the choice. And if someone wishes me Merry Christmas, or Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Kwanzaa, or Happy Holidays, I recognize and appreciate it for the expression of goodwill that it is. But I think he's making a valid point. To *include* only one specific holiday on a publicly-funded display is to *exclude* the others.