Comments on: Forget “Merry Christmas”

By: DC

DC — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:55:37 +0000

I agree with the man Jennings.
The union flag in great britain is only flown by the military now because it was hi-jacked years ago by the extreme right. Anybody flying it in front of their house or on days other than a royal wedding is assumed to be a racist.
Every time I hear the word christmas I’m starting to associate it with intolerance and ring wing extremism.
For the record I answer “happy hogmannay” because that’s the holiday of merriment and hope where I’m from.

By: Paul

Paul — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:44:18 +0000

I think a T-shirt bearing that exact quote from Jennings would be perfect.

By: severalspeciesof

severalspeciesof — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:10:50 +0000

Gotta agree with writerdd:

“Peace on Earth”

By: writerdd

writerdd — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:33:21 +0000

“Peace on Earth”

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 10:57:49 +0000

Interesting – I can see where you are coming from, but then I say “Merry Christmas” to everybody more in the spirit (so to speak!) of the season rather than for any religious reasons; and would not be at all offended if anyone said to me any variation of Happy Hannukah, Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings (although that doesn’t quite roll off the tongue!) or anything else that comes to mind!

I do, however, think that we are in danger of becoming too all-encompassing, I think that we should all recognise that everyone has a different celebration and should just accept the salutation (whatever it may be) for what it is – that is, simply a way of sharing your feelings, or weven just a conversational starter/ending!

By: Epistaxis

Epistaxis — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 07:26:33 +0000

I think “Happy Holidays” is fine even if you know which holiday they’re celebrating, because the plural could refer to both Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa/Festivus and New Year’s.

By: Greta Christina

Greta Christina — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 04:27:52 +0000

I agree with Joel. “Happy Holidays” says what Ken wants to say just beautifully.

By: Sarx » Cultural Warrior

Sarx » Cultural Warrior — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 02:55:49 +0000

[...] Jennings on how the right has ruined Christmas (via the Friendly Atheist): At the store this morning, I was appalled to feel deeply conflicted [...]

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:26:12 +0000

How about Happy Festivus?

By: Joel Sax

Joel Sax — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:43:12 +0000

From time to time, because of my name, I get asked what I am doing for Yom Kippur or wished a Happy Hannukah or invited to a synagogue. I always politely decline the invitations and accept the good will of the sentiments even though I was raised a Roman Catholic and am now an agnostic.

O’Really’s (sic) object is to foment religious turmoil, inspire jihad. And to do that, he has hung his hat on a very sensitive holiday of good will. He needs ideological soldiers, not just on his side, but on the other side, too, little Scrooges who will spit on the holiday and fan the flames.

Don’t give it to him.

Try Happy Holidays. It’s been around and it’s tried and true.