I don’t typically post anything controversial, but at the risk of getting myself flamed, here’s a first. I just read an article online that just has me shaking my head. It was about how a bunch of protestors showed up outside a Wal-Mart to protest the fact that the retailer had chosen to put “Happy Holidays” in its advertising this year instead of “Merry Christmas”. My question is, don’t these people have something better to do with their time? And what’s wrong with “Happy Holidays”? It’s inclusive — Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, New Year’s Day. Oh, maybe that’s the problem — a lot of these people don’t want to be inclusive. They think the month of December belongs to Christians alone. Do they think only Christians shop at Wal-Mart? I bet not once have they wondered what it would feel like if this was a predominantly Jewish nation and all the advertising they saw in December said “Happy Hannukah.”
I detest Bill O’Reilly, but I caught a blip of something he said the other day while flipping channels. He said Christians are offended by the term “Happy Holidays.” Uh, I’m not. I’m a Christian. I’m just not one of those Christians who thinks everyone else should be too or if you’re not you just have to deal with the fact that you’re a minority and not express your opinion. Let me say, that just burns me up! These absolutists don’t seem to realize that they’re giving Christianity the bad name that comes with fanaticism.
To me, Christianity is about love, caring, sharing, NOT hate-mongering. Okay, enough said.
On to a happier topic…another of my favorite books from childhood. It falls into that survival area again.
Julie of the Wolves was a Newbery Medal winner and tells the tale of Miyax/Julie, an Eskimo girl who escapes an arranged marriage by running away. When she gets lost on Alaska’s North Slope, she gradually befriends a pack of wolves and is integrated into the pack. I actually reread this book a year or two ago and still enjoyed it. I hope to go back and reread other childhood favorites soon.
December 18th, 2005 at 4:59 am
Okay, Motherkitty says, do you feel better now that you’ve got that off your chest? You know me, and you know that I have had to deal with that attitude my entire life. I take it with a grain of salt and look at the source. These people have nothing better to do with their lives but seek their tiny 15 minutes of fame.
Hate, in any form, diminishes us all. The promotion of love, peace, and understanding takes effort.
So, I say to all those who protest the use of the expression “Happy Holidays,” I hope you have a Happy Holiday this holiday season. I love you no matter who you are or what you believe in. If you don’t wish to shop at Wal-Mart, that’s your privilege.
December 18th, 2005 at 5:42 am
Trish our nation is protected by this wall of “Liberty” that lets each of us have a voice.
Wal-Mart has a voice,
the protesters have a voice,
you have a voice and
I have a voice.
And that is what makes our country great.
As I was reading my blogs this morning I came across this where someone in the system reported to the authorities that a young man wanted to check out a little red book about “Communism”
http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=3584#comments
December 18th, 2005 at 10:31 am
I totally agree that everyone has a voice, the protestors included. I just think their time would be better spent practicing the good aspects of their faith this time of year by doing things like working in soup kitchens, delivering for Toys for Tots, working for Habitat for Humanity, etc. But this fracas over “Happy Holidays” seems to be the topic du jour right now.
December 18th, 2005 at 9:03 pm
Here’s a related article I found interesting
http://mediamatters.org/items/200512140015
December 19th, 2005 at 10:07 am
The whole “Happy Holidays” vs. “Merry Christmas” thing has been driving me nuts, too. I just want to shout at people on both sides of the debate to just get over themselves. *g*
December 19th, 2005 at 11:42 am
When I am so inclined, which isn’t often, I wish people Happy Holidays because I have no idea–and it’s none of my durn business–what type of Nov/Dec/Jan parties they attend or personal celebrations they enact.
If any.
Don’t care, either, as long as they don’t steal my parking space. Then I wish them a Happy Foot Up Their Butt.
Jody W.
December 19th, 2005 at 6:10 pm
LOL, Jody. I think I’ve probably wished people that a few times myself.
December 19th, 2005 at 10:08 pm
I’m sooo with you on this one, Trish. Really, can’t we protest someting more meaningful?
And Jody’s right. Happy Holidays covers lots of holidays and we really don’t know which holiday everyone is celebrating: Christmas, Kwanze, Hannukah?
See, they’re just trying to be policitally correct.