Personally I feel there is too much political correctness in our society. For generations the greeting at this time of year has been "Merry Christmas". Stop & think, what are we celebrating ? Look at the decorations up & down the streets of our area. What is that all lit up at night on the lawn at City Hall ? It's a Christmas tree. To all of my friends of other faiths, I will greet you with reference to your holiday. But for the majority Christmas IS the reason for this holiday season. I think that's pretty obvious.

PC shall not rule me. I like 'Merry Christmas' and I hope the non Christians I say it to appreciate that I wish them well. Should they offer me a 'Happy Hanakuh' or 'Happy Kwanzaa' in return, I will accept their greeting with an open heart.

When I was in high school about 80% of the student body was Jewish. I am not but I had many friends who were. When we exchanged cards I often got Merry Christmas cards from the while I gave them Happy Holiday cards. No PC involved, just good sense and good manners.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

:-) Merry Christmas! :-)

Happy Chrismahaunuzaa! And a Happy Festivus for the rest of us!

Vanzetta, there's actually a webpage made just for festivus! LOl

http://www.festivusweb.com/

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE TOP OF MY LUNGS.....!!!!!!!!!!

I like Carol's suggestion of good sense and manners. For me, if I don't know the person I will ask them how do they celebrate this time of year and respond accordingly. At work and in formal leadership positions, we would speak generally about the Holiday Season. This was appropriate since not everyone who worked for the company were Christians. We had non-Christians, no religious affiliation, and Christians who do not celebrate Christmas working for the company. Finally, I do not believe there is a war on Christmas. Any suggestion is fabrication by the extreme right wing Christian idealogues and media. Christian traditions are embedded in our society (national holidays observances and corporate policies) and will never disappear. The ones who are making this a holy war are Christian zealots who have no sincerity in expressing "Merry Christmas" but are only trying to rub the noses of reasonable people in their intolerance. They definitely are not practicing Christian love the way I was taught.

Merry CHRISTmas!!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!!
Or we could do both...Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! it wouldn't be that hard to add the other sentiment!

Count Raoul did a wonderful article on this this week. I encourage others to go and read it. :)

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!! Always and even if the sales clerk says "Happy Holidays" to me, I answer back with "Merry Christmas".

No matter how you express the sentiment, the season is about good cheer, kindness and generosity. Say it how you want to and respect others if they say something different.

It's Christmas. Merry Christmas. Nobody dumbs down Halloween because they don't believe in it. Choose to celebrate or not.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

who cares?

Michael k it's obvious that you don't, but we do. Merry Christmas

Michael k, perhaps you should care. Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!!

Leave the political correctness at the door please.

Thank you....

In a business setting I use Happy Holidays simply because I don't know who religious affiliation all of our clients are. Within the office, it's definitely Merry Christmas because we are all Christians who celebrate Christmas. (and it's NOT Xmas) I have Jewish friends so I wish them a Happy Hannukah and they wish me a Merry Christmas. If I know what you celebrate, I will respond appropriately. If I don't, it's either Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings.

It is Christmas, a Christian holiday, non-believers should have no say at all in how it is celebrated, just as how I have no say in how they celebrate what is special for them. Christmas is not about the time of year everyone has big parties and exchanges gifts, if that’s all it is to you find another Holiday not connected with Christianity and celebrate then. Christmas is the time to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I have no problems with anybody greeting me in whatever manner they choose (and it's not always polite - but that's usually for other reasons and other times of year). I'm only bothered when they're offended by "Merry Christmas." I've even heard of people being offended when they sneeze and somebody says "God bless you." Tell me "Happy Kwanzaa" or whatever - don't care. But don't get indignant when I greet you in some way you don't agree with. We have no rights in this country to NOT be offended - you kind of just need to get over it.

And regardless of what some choose to believe, there is a war on religion. You see it every day, in Christmas parades being changed to Holiday parades, displays being taken down from public spaces, even art displays at local libraries being dismantled because they dared show Catholic priests or whatever. If you don't like a display at a public location, feel free to add your own pieces to it. Or request that your religion be included. But don't be offended it exists. In this country, we have freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. It's a simple concept....

I believe many of the "war on religion" tensions are a result of Christian Nationalist chipping away at the separation of church/state in our country. This fringe element is trying to exert more Christian influence in all aspects of society. When both Christians, nonChristians and secularist push back, the Christian zealots scream their religious rights are being taken away. In truth the opposite is occurring. Christian wackos are trying to cram their type of religion down every one else's throat. It really is the classic "rubber and glue" strategy we've recently witness in the presidential election.

Karsten Torch, yes, POVs look differently depending on which POV one is most comfortable with. I am not sure if I fully understand the point being made with the NRA analogy, but I think you were implying that perspectives are instilled into us by family as small children. I would also add religion . So if I am taught certain values/beliefs by family and religion as a child that favor a POV (like carrying guns in public and owning any type of weapon is my right as an example) than yes, conflict arises as that child grows up and meets others who were differently. But at some point I believe we all have a chance to hear broader perspectives that not only challenges family and religon training but changes POVs. I was raised to treat blacks as lower class people. Once I grew up and had other life experiences and relationships, I learned I was raised with limited knowledge. The same for Christians who they are under attack. Maybe it's just another, broader POV that threatens long time perspectives based on limited knowledge and info. It doesn't make one POV better than the other but only different. I ramble but hopefully you understand my point. Two questions that I believe get to the heart of the matter for folks.
- Does someone believe and uphold separation church/state.
- Does someone truly believes in religious pluralism.

I get your point, and agree. My point to the NRA comment was that sometimes groups go overboard just to get the basics accomplished.

I see this from the POV that I don't get offended when I see other displays. If I see a Hannukah (SP?) display, or a dradle, it doesn't bother me. So I just don't understand why other people care.

Karsten, thank you for the clarification. I agree that groups often go overboard just to get basics and agendas pushed forward. It's like trying to achieve some long term outcome and doing it incrementally. With that said, I have a personal measure of "reasonableness" on most social, political and religious freedom issues. Here it is....when both extremes (far left and far right) are both PO'd and upset, and the reasonable middle seems satisfied with the proposed solution, than we've arrived at the proper place on the issue.

It will always be MERRY CHRISTMAS At My House, My Business & everywhere else

Merry Christmas, damn it! :)

I personally prefer saying Happy Holidays because I do not like to assume that the person I am speaking to celebrates Christmas. I am not sure I understand this alleged war on Christmas and why the observers of this holiday are feeling attacked. I do not think that anyone is trying to infringe on your right to celebrete this holiday the way that you choose. Many people are just asking that you remember to consider the fact that there are others that may believe and celebrate differently than you. This season means Yule, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and other special holidays for people. To millions, this season means celebration of the Christian savior, feasting with family, and the celebration of light. Happy Holidays everyone.

Least ye be of careful mind my friends, the Atheists are lurking about to spoil this season for all of us with lawsuits etc.

Being militantly arrogant about one's preferred Christmas greeting isn't very Christmassy or Christian.

Sure it is. The old saying "Jesus is the reason for the season" is actually accurate. "Happy Holidays" only exists because we are celebrating Christmas. We wouldn't have the level of celebration we have, or possibly any, if it weren't for Christmas. To get indignant for being told "Merry Christmas" is, to me, silly.

And again, this is coming from somebody that would take no offense were somebody to greet me with "Happy Channukah" or "Festive Whatever." For whatever reason, to be offended because somebody greeted you with their preferred method of greetings for whatever season is, to me, kinda dumb. It's not a matter of being tolerant of others' wishes when you greet somebody - it's just polite for others to greet you.

Worth my repeating: No matter how you express the sentiment, the season is about good cheer, kindness and generosity. Say it how you want to and respect others if they say something different.

That was my point . I have no problem with people greeting me how they want, but don't correct somebody when they say "Merry Christmas." All I'm saying....

I don't think I've heard anyone on here get indignant about it. They simply expressed their disappointment when others do. Christians want th the right to celebrate without being berated, but if they do, they can be courteous about it, and react in love as with anything else. Gee whiz! It's just a question asked and people should answer with their opinion without challenging others. It's not a debate on amendments or things that are or are not in the Constitution. Just a question. That's all.

I am not Christian, but prefer 'Merry Christmas' instead of 'Happy Holidays', a Christmas Tree called what it is, and everyone able to openly and respectfully practice their own religious holidays. THAT is America imho, and an America I am proud to live in. Diversity should not mean blurring a religion or religious practice, and should also not force one religion's practice on everyone in publicly funded places (schools, courts, etc).

Personally, calling a Christmas Tree a 'holiday tree' is so frustrating - Jews don't have a 'Chanukah tree'! This week employees were singing 'holiday music' in my office cafeteria - but the songs were all 'oh christmas tree' etc - call it what it is!

I prefer that people quit acting like saying 'holiday' is inclusive of all religions (since only 2 religions actually have holidays this time of year, OK 3 with pagens) unless in August you are going to say 'Happy Holidays' to the Muslims, or basically every month except Nov & Dec & Jan saying 'Happy Holidays' to the hindus and have office 'holiday parties' in other months too. Having a 'holiday party' in Dec and thinking it is all-inclusive is about as absurd as having a 'holiday party' in Aug only and thinking that is inclusive. Calling it a 'holiday party' or wishing 'happy holidays' can be construed as saying these are the only holidays that exist, minimizing the recognition of religions that don't celebrate holidays at this time of the year. So.....Merry Christmas & Happy Chanukah!