It's "Merry Christmas" Dangit!

[JoeyKnothead]

From the article here:

Leading the fight to defend Christianity in the so-called War on Christmas, Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC) introduced congressional resolution 951, which urges protection of the symbols and traditions of Christmas....

And of course, being a politician...

However, Browns 2008 December newsletter wished a happy holiday to his constituents for the holiday season. Although the newsletter had a link to the White House Christmas tree website, it made no other mention of Christ or Christmas.

Topic for debate:

Should Christian notions - holidays and their respective symbols and phrases - be legislated for all to follow?

[cnorman18]

Enh, these "Congressional Resolutions" are used to promote almost anything. A representative can introduce a resolution to declare that Sears makes good monkey wrenches.

"War on Christmas" was nonsense from the get-go. A few people thought it might be polite to acknowledge that not everyone in North America was a Christian by not assuming that everyone they met was one, and suddenly some militant Christians get offended and claim it's a campaign to abolish Christmas. What a load.

"Happy Holidays" is just polite, not that "Merry Christmas" is necessarily rude - though it has been said to me in an aggressive and rude manner. A lady - I should say, a woman - noticed my Star of David and said, "Merry Christmas," with an outthrust chin and an incongruous scowl. My answer was "Thank you! And a Merry Christmas to you, Ma'am." I don't know what she expected, but that wasn't it. I left her standing there with her mouth open.

It has always puzzled me that some people take the fact that my beliefs are not the same as theirs as a personal insult and/or a call to arms.

[McCulloch]

I would answer the question in the OP with a No, but question the example of Christmas. Christmas is no longer an exclusively Christian holiday. Saint Nicholas along with Saints Patrick and Valentine have become thoroughly secular.

Good Yule everyone.

[Jayhawker Soule]

From the article here:

Leading the fight to defend Christianity in the so-called War on Christmas, Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC) introduced congressional resolution 951, which urges protection of the symbols and traditions of Christmas....

< -- snip -- >

Topic for debate: Should Christian notions - holidays and their respective symbols and phrases - be legislated for all to follow?

Protecting symbols is not at all the same as legislating the 'following' of symbols and phrases. Come to think of it, where has anyone anywhere legislated their constituency to 'follow' a Merry Christmas? And what might that look like?

• OK there fella: I want three "Ho's" from you right now or I'll find you in contempt!

This all strikes me as a tempest in a fruitcake.

[JoeyKnothead]

From Post 4:

Protecting symbols is not at all the same as legislating the 'following' of symbols and phrases. Come to think of it, where has anyone anywhere legislated their constituency to 'follow' a Merry Christmas? And what might that look like?

While not held to the force of law, I consider such resolutions to be a "sense of the Congress/Senate", where such could be used in future legal issues. I also look at it under the broader scope of introducing Christianity into the official record as support for "This is a Christian Nation" arguments.

This all strikes me as a tempest in a fruitcake.

I consider our elected representatives introducing religious notions into the official record to be more than a tempest, fruitcake, or some combination thereof.

Unless you're just complaining about me even mentioning the subject, as you have before on other issues. Then I don't really know what to tell ya.

[Jayhawker Soule]

This all strikes me as a tempest in a fruitcake.

I consider our elected representatives introducing religious notions into the official record to be more than a tempest, fruitcake, or some combination thereof.

I understand, and I believe it to be an unhelpful overreaction. When a large percentage of a population are celebrating Christmas, I see nothing threatening about their representatives wishing them a happy one. Ditto with Hanukkah Sameach and Eid Mubarak.

(I really wish folks who feel so threatened by such things - or pretend righteous indignation at such things - would take the time to read de Tocqueville's Democracy in America.)