Xmas poll for non-Christians

[SteveLaura 0]

I find it actually offensive that after hundreds of years in both the U.S. and Canada (where I'm from), we've celebrated Christmas and now we're not "allowed" to.

If that is true, why do you think that is?

Edit, after your's: Do you think non-Christians (such as yourself) are actually offended? This non-scientific poll so far would say otherwise.

Edited November 16, 2007 by SteveLaura

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I find it actually offensive that after hundreds of years in both the U.S. and Canada (where I'm from), we've celebrated Christmas and now we're not "allowed" to.

If that is true, why do you think that is?

Edit, after your's: Do you think non-Christians (such as yourself) are actually offended? This non-scientific poll so far would say otherwise.

I have seen, more than once, elderly ladies at department stores like Macy's getting pissed off when someone wished them Merry Christmas. It does happen.

[SteveLaura 0]

I find it actually offensive that after hundreds of years in both the U.S. and Canada (where I'm from), we've celebrated Christmas and now we're not "allowed" to.

If that is true, why do you think that is?

Edit, after your's: Do you think non-Christians (such as yourself) are actually offended? This non-scientific poll so far would say otherwise.

I have seen, more than once, elderly ladies at department stores like Macy's getting pissed off when someone wished them Merry Christmas. It does happen.

Because they weren't Christian?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I find it actually offensive that after hundreds of years in both the U.S. and Canada (where I'm from), we've celebrated Christmas and now we're not "allowed" to.

If that is true, why do you think that is?

Edit, after your's: Do you think non-Christians (such as yourself) are actually offended? This non-scientific poll so far would say otherwise.

I have seen, more than once, elderly ladies at department stores like Macy's getting pissed off when someone wished them Merry Christmas. It does happen.

Because they weren't Christian?

In one case, the response was an angry "I"m Jewish". My wife worked at that store, I was hanging out waiting for her to get done. She said I'm Jewish and stormed away.

In another instance, when I was working at an electronics store in sales, the complaint came to us from management.. apparently,some customer had complained about Merry Christmas because it wasn't inclusive. Religion of the perpetrator - unknown.

[SteveLaura 0]

In one case, the response was an angry "I"m Jewish". My wife worked at that store, I was hanging out waiting for her to get done. She said I'm Jewish and stormed away.

In another instance, when I was working at an electronics store in sales, the complaint came to us from management.. apparently,some customer had complained about Merry Christmas because it wasn't inclusive. Religion of the perpetrator - unknown.

Hmm. Interesting.

A store owner wants lots of customers. Christmas is a big time of year for shopping. What to do? Tell his employees to say "Happy Holidays", get customers from all religions, non-religions, don't-give-a-shite-either-way's & yet risk pissing off a small % of Christians who do care, or say, "Merry Christmas" & risk pissing off old Jewish women and others who like to be offended by nothing in particular.

Edited November 16, 2007 by SteveLaura

[Mags 112]

Don't get these problems in the UK. It's Merry Christmas or nothing!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

In one case, the response was an angry "I"m Jewish". My wife worked at that store, I was hanging out waiting for her to get done. She said I'm Jewish and stormed away.

In another instance, when I was working at an electronics store in sales, the complaint came to us from management.. apparently,some customer had complained about Merry Christmas because it wasn't inclusive. Religion of the perpetrator - unknown.

Hmm. Interesting.

A store owner wants lots of customers. Christmas is a big time of year for shopping. What to do? Tell his employees to say "Happy Holidays", get customers from all religions, non-religions, don't-give-a-shite-either-way's & yet risk pissing off a small % of Christians who do care, or say, "Merry Christmas" & risk pissing old Jewish women and others who like to be offended by nothing in particular.

I suspect it depends on the demographic that frequents your store. If the community around me was largely, say, Evangelical, I (if I was a store manager) wouldn't care too much about the sole Jewish family in town - I'd encourage Merry Christmas.

But I'm talking about stores in central NJ. Sure, there are evangelicals (I think) but given the predominantly Jewish and immigrant (mostly Indian, increasingly Hispanic) nature of this community, Happy Holidays is definitely the safe way to go.

[SteveLaura 0]

Don't get these problems in the UK. It's Merry Christmas or nothing!

Well, quite. Altho Kwanzaa is celebrated there either. Also, Brits don't tend to wear their religion on their sleeve. It's a personal thing, if at all.

I just can't see that if I was in Israel in December, that I would be offended if someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I just can't see that if I was in Israel in December, that I would be offended if someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah.

You may not realize it, but you're channeling Rush Limbaugh

[almaty 19]

i am Muslim...and i do not get offended at all..my parents and rest of family are not..so, we celebrate with them....

sanita has a new year's tree...

[SteveLaura 0]

I suspect it depends on the demographic that frequents your store. If the community around me was largely, say, Evangelical, I (if I was a store manager) wouldn't care too much about the sole Jewish family in town - I'd encourage Merry Christmas.

But I'm talking about stores in central NJ. Sure, there are evangelicals (I think) but given the predominantly Jewish and immigrant (mostly Indian, increasingly Hispanic) nature of this community, Happy Holidays is definitely the safe way to go.

I agree. But at the end of the day, it's about The Bottom Line. It's not a War on Christmas. It's not about Political Correctness. It's about what will bring in most money, and which option involves the least risk to that end.

[SteveLaura 0]

I just can't see that if I was in Israel in December, that I would be offended if someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah.

You may not realize it, but you're channeling Rush Limbaugh

I'm glad to say I've never listened to him, but I get your point.

I think that people want to feel it's about not offending anyone. I just don't believe that. It's a fear that isn't really there.

[nin 1]

Another agnostic who doesn't mind at all. I even listen to the reading of Luke 2:1-20 on Christmas day morning without catching fire or turning into stone.

Wishing Happy Holidays does make sense to me too though. There are so many more holidays in various religions and cultures around that time of year. The Holidays are more than just xmas.

Maybe that's another reason to why Christmas is celebrated then too, eh?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I suspect it depends on the demographic that frequents your store. If the community around me was largely, say, Evangelical, I (if I was a store manager) wouldn't care too much about the sole Jewish family in town - I'd encourage Merry Christmas.

But I'm talking about stores in central NJ. Sure, there are evangelicals (I think) but given the predominantly Jewish and immigrant (mostly Indian, increasingly Hispanic) nature of this community, Happy Holidays is definitely the safe way to go.

I agree. But at the end of the day, it's about The Bottom Line. It's not a War on Christmas. It's not about Political Correctness. It's about what will bring in most money, and which option involves the least risk to that end.

Agreed.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I suspect it depends on the demographic that frequents your store. If the community around me was largely, say, Evangelical, I (if I was a store manager) wouldn't care too much about the sole Jewish family in town - I'd encourage Merry Christmas.

But I'm talking about stores in central NJ. Sure, there are evangelicals (I think) but given the predominantly Jewish and immigrant (mostly Indian, increasingly Hispanic) nature of this community, Happy Holidays is definitely the safe way to go.

I agree. But at the end of the day, it's about The Bottom Line. It's not a War on Christmas. It's not about Political Correctness. It's about what will bring in most money, and which option involves the least risk to that end.

I agree. Although, I think that there is this conspiratorial notion, that a small minority (the so-called PC gang) go around and bully these merchants into taking down their 'Merry Christmas' signs. There may be an element of truth in that, however, they aren't the only group who has gone after merchants over things like boycotting a company for offering benifits to gay partners, etc. In other words, the so-called PC gang didn't start the battle over PC.