Stupid People bitching about holiday greetings!

[Amethyst Hunter]

Oh, how I hate these idiots. Hate them, hate them, hate them. They need to be choked with their own tinsel decorations (if they have any, and even if they don't, they still need to be strung up).

I speak, of course, of that Special breed of idiot, the kind who flips out on you if you say anything other than "Merry Christmas" to them at this time of year. (Also, the dumbshits who freak if you DO say Merry Christmas because they don't celebrate that particular holiday. Dude, unless you're walking around with a big-ass sign over your head denoting what (if any) religion you belong to, how the fuck are we Joe Stranger Public supposed to know what you do or don't celebrate?) Because, of course, if you don't say Merry Christmas in that exact phrasing, you are persecuting OMG Teh Xtian People!! (Not to be confused with actual Christians, who, y'know, have common sense and don't wig out over a harmless wish of general goodwill.)

Jackasses, hop a plane or boat to the nearest 3rd world craphole where they routinely guillotine Christians just for looking at a Bible - THAT'S persecution. Here's a hint, fundie nuts: those who scream the loudest about being "persecuted" for being Xtian are usually the LEAST Christian of all. So STFU and let the rest of us glean what enjoyment we can out of a holiday season that's been overcommercialized to the North Pole and back again.

This rant has proudly been brought to you by the letters F and U and by our sponsors the Ramen Noodles.

[Greenday]

Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, Christmas is still December 25th. So if someone wishes you a merry Christmas, it's the same as saying have a nice day. There is NO reason to complain about it.

[Boozy]

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Season's Greetings... they all basically mean "I wish you well during the month of December."

How did such a kind and polite message come to be interpreted as something ugly?

Two words: "Fox News." Or "Bill O'Reilly". Take your pick.

[McDreidel09]

These are the reasons I will put up a sign that says "Happy Whatever You Celebrate" in the classroom that I student aide for. If students bitch at me, I will say "But in the teacher evaluations for Mr S, you complained about no decorations."

[vanima]

I always say happy holidays from just before thanksgiving until new years... and if someone bitches i say... i am wishing not only christmas but thanksgiving, new years, and all the other non christian holidays to be happy as well.. and then go about my day...


they end up looking like a jackass

[anriana]

I dislike the holiday season and annoying chipper people who constantly remind me of it, whether that be through obnoxiously evangelical "merry christmas!"es or just annoying "happy holidays!" What exactly are we celebrating? Consumerism? The Catholic church appropriating pagan celebrations in an attempt at religious supremacy? English settlers getting help from Native Americans before committing genocide against them? Annoying visits with annoying family? Ritualized slaughter of turkeys?

Just say "good evening." Not annoying, not political. Yay.

[Greenday]

Problem is, there are plenty of people who celebrate holidays just to be with their families. Not everyone has such dastardly plans for holidays.

[Devilboy]

Happy Festivus!!

[protege]

Nobody celebrates Winter-een-mas?

[vanima]

Nobody celebrates Winter-een-mas?

best holiday EVER

[daleduke17]

And this is the reason I don't say anything other than "Have a nice day" (or the time-of-day equivalent).

[Amethyst Hunter]

Okay, this is it, this is EXACTLY the kind of crap I'm talking about here. Check out this gem I just discovered in a local paper:

December 2, 2008

I am proud to say 'Merry Christmas' to everyone -- peacefully

With the trouble that the world is in now, with the recession/depression and all the violence everywhere, we all need to wake up and once and for all put the true meaning back into Christmas. I am so tired of losing my right as a Christian not to be able to say "Merry Christmas" in public, or to hear Merry Christmas from someone that has had their job threatened or to be written up if they are heard saying it.

The whole reason for Christmas is because God blessed the Virgin Mary with child and brought His son Jesus Christ to earth to be born and die to forgive us from our sins. How could we ever forget that? Sadly, because so many people have, the world is in the shape that it is, and getting worse. We buy and exchange gifts to each other in celebration and remembrance of the gifts that were brought to the Baby Jesus from the wise men. The lights on the trees are a symbol of the star lighting the way to Bethlehem for Christ's birth.

Everyone of every nationality has the right to celebrate Christmas (or any other holiday, for that matter) in their own tradition. We as Christians have the right to wish anyone we come in contact with a Merry Christmas. In return, I expect people of other religions to greet me in their custom ways without being offended.

I am taking a strong stand this year, and wishing all those I see a Merry Christmas, because I am proudly celebrating the birthday of my savior Jesus Christ. Jesus says in the Bible, "if you are ashamed of Me, I will be ashamed of you before my Father." I don't know about any of you other Christians, but I don't want to come face to face with Christ when I die and have to explain that I went with the world and denied His birthday. Do you?

Religious stuff aside, it sounds like this person's just looking for an excuse to be offended. Losing her right?? Bullshit! Since when are people holding guns to Christians' heads telling them they have no right to say "Merry Christmas"? Last I looked, no laws were being passed saying that telling someone "Merry Christmas" was illegal.

I'm definitely writing a rebuttal for this one.

[Boozy]

Who or what exactly does this person think is stopping them from saying "Merry Christmas" in public? What instrument of the state is removing her right to use this phrase?

This has got to be my biggest pet peeve. People who think that their right to free speech means no one can voice disagreement with them, ever.

If Person A says "Merry Christmas" to someone, and Person B responds with "Eff you, bitch! I'm not Christian, so shut up!" then Person B is a raging douchebag. However, if Person B responds with, "And Happy Holidays to you!", and Person A responds by getting offended, then Person A is the douche.

But neither person has been denied nor denied others free speech.

[protege]

But neither person has been denied nor denied others free speech.

That's how I see it too, Boozy. Problem is, that quite a few "Christians" (not real Christians, BTW) *want* to see it as losing their rights. They *want* to be "persecuted" so they have an excuse to act like bigger douchebags than they already are.

[DrT]

Won't be the first time that 'right for free speech' and 'right to be protected against anyone disagreeing with me' are mixed up...

This whole problematic is so odd when seen from the outside. I don't know how the Australians or Canadians look at it, but I know that over in Europe people couldn't even undertand the concept of being offended by anyone telling you, or not, to have a merry Xmas.

Maybe it's because religion is so little an issue, or something, but in any case it's a nice way to break the ice, start a conversation, and really wonder at how odd american society is.
I'm the one defending it most often, mind you (spent 8 yrs there, I know of to debunk the idiotic concepts and falsehoods on the US), but there are still things that amaze me.