Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

[2big4mysize]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

did you know Christmas was illegal to celebrate in the early putitan colonies and congress even worked on Christmas in the beginning. it wasn't a holiday till later

[sassyone]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

Jesus Is the reason for the season...plain and simple. Its what I believe, but if some choose to believe differently, its their right. I'm not out to convert anyones belief by celebrating Christmas and calling it Christmas- but I'm not going to quit saying Merry Christmas because I might offend someone either. They can celebrate their religious holidays anyway they choose- as long as its legal!

[BikerGoddess]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

I have no problem with people whose beliefs are not the same as mine, but I do have a problem with the free expression of mine being trampled upon. If we can teach about Islam in schools, then we can teach about Christianity, Bahai, Voodoo, or whatever. I don't mind learning about other cultures. But the Byron, CA school district is over the line.

So you asked to speak about religion in California and they said no?

They don't teach my religion in school, either, but all I care about is that children aren't taught that it's acceptable to put me down, put my religion down, prevent me from practicing my religion, or try to force my conversion to their religion.

I think you might be confused as to what's personal expression and what's curriculum.

Laura

[2big4mysize]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

2big~~FYI, yes, there are some people out there that do write it that way to take CHRIST out of it on purpose so thats why I stated, that I choose not to write it that way! Thanks for the greek lesson though!

yep they think the are, but we know they didn't. isn't that great

[Heidi3]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

I have absolutely no problem wishing anyone a Merry Christmas...as long as I am 100% they are Christian or that I am 100% sure they have a Christmas....

I feel assaulted and hijacked...at times by this whole Christmas thing... to be perfectly honest and some of my dearest Christian friends are appauled to see their most important day turned into a high stress comercial nightmare......

I am not a Christian as I said ..but I do with my family have a tree and honor the day that a majority of my friends enjoy....no one has ever offered or asked what I do believe or celebrate however they just assume that if I do not believe I am a "nonbeliever"...hmmm interesting

[PrinceJeff]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

So you asked to speak about religion in California and they said no?

They don't teach my religion in school, either, but all I care about is that children aren't taught that it's acceptable to put me down, put my religion down, prevent me from practicing my religion, or try to force my conversion to their religion.

I think you might be confused as to what's personal expression and what's curriculum.

Laura

No no, lol. But it was a well documented case for a long time. I just think if we're gonna let a certain school board do that for Islam, then why not for Christianity and Judaism or others. To that end, if a parent does not want their child to participate in certain exercises, they should be allowed to sign a form of some kind that would exempt their kid from it. I think that would be just fine.

[Sheshy]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

Lynn, well said!

As far as I'm concerned, decorate for the holiday's, all of them, how ever you want, represent yourself, your culture...and celebrate what you believe in, I love it!

It's absolutely ridiculous for people to fear other cultures and religions, it's shameful that people find it necessary to question others beliefs, traditions, culture in a negative way...but instead of dealing with that issue, the PC way is to stick our head in the sand and just not deal with it or find a better way.

You know there really isn't a war against Christmas, no jihad against Christians,nothing going on with anyone except a bunch of folks who are using this holiday tree business to fundraise more money to fight off the "liberal left, the athiests, the ACLU, etc, etc.

How the season of ho-ho-ho evolved into Friend or Foe shows how the nation's culture wars have pushed into the season of giving. Each side wants its beliefs accurately represented around the nation's winter hearth -- its public schools and government spaces and even want the change to include my livingroom.

And if not, it will sue. And personally it's a sad day in American when you have to retain an attorney to say Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza or Happy Hannukah, or when you can't call a Christmas tree what it is. Its a sad day when kids can't sing Silent Night, or Rock of Ages. Its a sad day when we can't embrace our differences and traditions and learn from them and love and admire and respect them and want to also share our differences with other. Its a sad day when we as a people feel intimidated over eachothers religions, when we feel that one group is getting more than another Its a sad day because traditions and differences use to be what made this country so great....Now it is just tearing us apart and NO ONE IS GOING TO WIN..... but many, many are going to lose

[snowlily]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

yep they think the are, but we know they didn't. isn't that great

Yep!

[Labarum]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

BTW, how do people over there generally feel about using X'mas to refer to Christmas?

But it ain't a Roman X (Ex) - it's a Greek X (Chi say "Ki" - it rhymes with eye)

Chi is the first letter in Greek of "Christos" (Christ)

Xριστος


So the "Ex" or "Chi" is an acceptable abbreviation for Christ.

Sometimes the first two letters are used

XP

and that is called a

Labarum or Chi-Rho

http://www.adriangilbert.co.uk/images/chirho.gif

[ladyinred]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

I think a lot of this "happy holidays" is, as Sadie mentioned, partly because here in Canada we have so many cultures and many different holidays take place at the same time. This year Hanukkah starts on Boxing Day (well, that's not just in Canada, but you know what I mean). Probably lots of people are confused and say "Happy Holidays" because it's more eloquent than "Merry Christmas or Hanukkah or, you know, whatever, but if you don't celebrate anything then that's fine too or...what? Qwanza? Oh, well, I've never heard of that but sure....have a good time."

On that note, someone just gave me this number. I don't know if will work for anyone outside of Canada but it is very funny. 1-888-353-7667.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

Yes, it does work here LOL LOL LOL

[not2late]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

I feel assaulted and hijacked...at times by this whole Christmas thing... to be perfectly honest and some of my dearest Christian friends are appauled to see their most important day turned into a high stress comercial nightmare......

Because it IS a commercial nightmare. But it's been that way for a long time. If you read between the lines of "A Christmas Carol" is was a commercial venture then too. (BTW, Heidi, Easter is considered by most Christians to be the most important holy day, not Christmas.)

The bare facts are as long as you have a "celebratory" day, you'll have commercialism. Look at Memorial Day. That's the day you're supposed to go to cemeteries and honor the dead, especially the military dead. But if you look at the papers or watch tv, Memorial Day is the day you're supposed to go out and buy, buy, buy (or sit in traffic to get to the beach). Ditto for President's Day. If you want to avoid the commercialism, don't get sucked into it, imo.

[Heidi3]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

Because it IS a commercial nightmare. But it's been that way for a long time. If you read between the lines of "A Christmas Carol" is was a commercial venture then too. (BTW, Heidi, Easter is considered by most Christians to be the most important holy day, not Christmas.)

The bare facts are as long as you have a "celebratory" day, you'll have commercialism. Look at Memorial Day. That's the day you're supposed to go to cemeteries and honor the dead, especially the military dead. But if you look at the papers or watch tv, Memorial Day is the day you're supposed to go out and buy, buy, buy (or sit in traffic to get to the beach). Ditto for President's Day. If you want to avoid the commercialism, don't get sucked into it, imo.

thanks for that clarification on the Easter /Christmas thing I always get the two confused in level of importance ...it is the whole crucify and come back thing with the bunnies and eggs... vs his being born with trees and gifts that established the priority

and don't watch TV, I listen to public radio, and would never ever ever go to a WalMart!!!! or anyother Mart..so I have reduced the impact of this insanity on myself....


personally I love Christmas ...even though I have to borrow it...sorry MOG ..you may not understand why a nonChristian would want to celebrate a Christian holiday..but as I said before ..I was hijacked by it..there is not much choice ..besides it is fun! I also enjoy many other holidays I borrow..that is one of the coolest things about being an agnostic American woman...is that I am free to dip my toes in a plenty of streams!..
I did the entire month of Ramadan when I worked in a Muslim community ..that was fun I can tell you!!!! as soon as the sun goes down the food, music and fun begins ...

most folks do not mind you wanting to learn about what they do celebrate and they do not consider it disrespectful to honor their holidays ....I think it is very nice and considerate...to ask questions and share traditions....this is a multi cultural nation not a melting pot anymore ..do not fool yourselves

[matawguro]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

and that is called a

Labarum or Chi-Rho

http://www.adriangilbert.co.uk/images/chirho.gif

You learn something everyday.

I always wondered what it was called. The Chi-Rho is featured prominently in the logo/seal of an all-girl college started by the Maryknoll Sisters which was right next to the all-boy university started by Jesuits where I studied. So forgive me if I associate the symbol with young high-school girls.

Our Theology teachers back in high-school and college commonly wrote "X" as a short-hand or Christ, so it never occured to me to think that "X'mas" was a way to take Christ out of Christmas.

[cleochatra]

Re: Are we becoming too politically correct about the holidays? Not PC enough?

Lol...