Got hassled by a Neocon Christian for saying "Happy Holidays!" today.

[Cascadian]

I was at a convinient store today to get a can of Rockstar and a snack. I get up to the counter do the usual transaction stuff and then I said "Happy Holidays." The guy at the counter gave me a scowl and then said "Merry Christmas! Happy Jesus' Birthday!" His scowl continued and so my response to him was "Happy Hannukah!" I thought he was going to leap from the counter and deck me. Even though I am not Jewish, I just felt like I had to respond with that Hannukah greeting.

This Christmas vs. Holiday debate is getting so stupid!


In either case "Happy Christmas, Hannukah, Kawanza, New Year, Orthodox Christmas everybody!


John

[babylonsister]

1. I just 'divorced' my brother over politics, but that very

issue started it. Your response was great; these people need to lighten up and worry about the important things. Happy Whateveryoubelieve! :hi:

[OldLeftieLawyer]

2. Not a bad response, John,

but keep in mind this little exchange I had with someone who wished me a "blessed Christmas," and, when I said "Happy Holidays," had to go and push it with me by saying something very much like what that pig said to you.

I stood very still and listened to her, and then I smiled and said, "Oh, you know, you're right. So, go fuck yourself."

It's nice to be old, John.

Happy anything, kid...............

[mitchum]

3. Ask him if he will be honoring "Jesus' Birthday" by selling Slim Jims...

Cheetos, and cigarettes. Such strange customs.

[Cascadian]

4. I probably should have.

But his remark warranted that response. What is really scary is that this town I am currently living in is full of neocon Christian conservatives! :scared:

In Seattle, nobody would make a big deal about it!


John

[AlienGirl]

23. Check out everythingsxen's post from last night:

Even here in Seattle, things are Weird. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5665376

Tucker

[Iris]

I always consider Christmas-New Year's "the holidays", so "Happy Holidays"

is like saying "Merry Christmas" and "Happy New Year" to me. I always considered "Season's Greetings" to be an inclusive greeting.

Still - everythingsxen's post is good and gives credence to my belief that Bill O'Reilly has ruined the holidays this year.

[KakistocracyHater]

53. first casualty in "war on X-mas" is the

Christmas spirit, ever notice this? I think it's what they're really after.

[Raine]

5. Good for you

I just got this Christmas card from a former friend of mine (who is a fundie) with a lecture on it about 'not taking Christ out of Christmas'! I'm literally seeing RED ... what arrogant assholes these people are!:puke: I guess I ruined her day too cause my card had cats and dogs on it, hahaha. :rofl:

[JohnyCanuck]

27. You need to send her this

The Christmas Hoax:
"Jesus is NOT the "Reason for the Season"

The December 25th birthday of the sun god is a common motif globally, dating back at least 12,000 years as reflected in winter solstices artfully recorded in caves. "Nearly all nations," says Doane, commemorated the birth of the god Sol to the "Queen of Heaven" and "Celestial Virgin." The winter solstice was celebrated in countless places, including China and Persia, the latter regarding the solar Lord and Savior Mithra's birth. In Rome, a great festival called "Saturnalia" was celebrated from December 1st to the 23rd. The winter solstice festival in Egypt included the babe in a manger brought out of the sanctuary.

Regarding the date of the "Christmas Feast," the Catholic Encyclopedia ("Christmas") remarks:

The well-known solar feast...of Natalis Invicti, celebrated on 25 December, has a strong claim on the responsibility for our December date....

The earliest rapprochement of the births of Christ and the sun is in Cypr., "De pasch. Comp.", xix, "...O, how wonderfully acted Providence that on that day on which that Sun was born...Christ should be born." In the fourth century, Chrysostom, "del Solst. Et Æquin." (II, p. 118, ed. 1588), says: "...But Our Lord, too, is born in the month of December...the eight before the calends of January <25 December>... But they call it the 'Birthday of the Unconquered'. Who indeed is so unconquered as Our Lord...? Or, if they say that it is the birthday of the Sun, He is the Sun of Justice." Already Tertullian (Apol., 16; cf. Ad. Nat., I, 13; Orig. c. Cels., VIII, 67, etc) had to assert that Sol was not the Christians' God; Augustine (Tract xxxiv, in Joan. In P. L., XXXV, 1652) denounces the heretical indentification of Christ with Sol. Pope Leo I (Serm. xxxvii in nat. dom., VII, 4; xxii, II, 6 in P. L., LIV, 218 and 198) bitterly reproves solar survivals--Christians, on the very doorstep of the Apostles' basilica, turn to adore the rising sun.

Ancient Greeks celebrated the birthday of Hercules and Dionysus on this date, as the ancient authority Macrobius (c. 400 AD/CE) maintained. Even the Greek father god, Zeus, was supposedly born at the winter solstice. The "Christmas" festival was celebrated at Athens and was called "the Lenaea," during which time, apparently, "the death and rebirth of the harvest infant Dionysus were similarly dramatized." This Lenaea festival is depicted in an Aurignacian cave-painting in Spain, with a "young Dionysus with huge genitals," standing naked in the middle of "nine dancing women." (my emphasis /jc) The Aurignacian period extended from 34,000 to 23,000 years ago. In The White Goddess (399), mythologist Robert Graves states:

http://www.truthbeknown.com/christmas.htm

[Raine]

29. THANKS

that's GREAT! :thumbsup:

[RagingInMiami]

6. Where do you live at, Mayberry?

[Cascadian]

7. I am in Spokane, Washington.

It's a bit like an oversized Mayberry!


John

[RagingInMiami]

18. I always imagined them to be more laid back up there

[Cascadian]

22. Well Spokane is not entirely right-wing.

A lot of them do exist here. It's especially bad when you get outside the city limits though. It's God, Guts, and Guns in the countryside. Also, don't forget that the Aryan Nations was headquartered in nearby Hayden Lake, Idaho until recently. Beautiful countryside but scary people!


John

[RagingInMiami]

30. I've been up to Idaho. It's very nice. I've been to McCall and Boise

[Larkspur]

8. You forgot us pagans. Happy Winter Solstice!!!

That may have tied his swaddling clothes in a tighter knot.

[Cascadian]

13. Oh wow! I did forget you guys!

My bad. Blessed Yule to all you pagans!


John

[donheld]

55. You forgot someone else too

:evilgrin:

[RubyDuby in GA]

9. I was at Target last week and the woman checking my order out

(who was one of the fundamental fundies with the long hair and wearing the skirt) tells me "have a blessed Christmas - and honor Christ the King'. I was seriously taken aback. I managed to squeak out Happy Kawanza though.

That's a little beyond Merry Christmas.........
I complained to the manager.

[ronnykmarshall]

52. Should have thrown out a "Happy Hannukah"

and watched her explode.

[Nicole]

10. great response n/t

[calico1]

11. These creeps are the ones

ruining Christmas. "Merry Christmas" is now an angry, defiant term used by the fundies. It has nothing to do with Christ. It has everything to do with having the last word and being right. You can't even enjoy the damn holidays anymore when these jerks are around.

[yorkiemommie1]

20. they have ruined it

just like they ruin everything else with their threats and vindictiveness.

[Raine]

28. Yeah really

they have taken the joy out of the whole season, I don't dare say anything to anyone for fear of offending them one way or the other. I was at craft a fair and bought an item when I left the woman said "Happy Holidays" then she quickly said in an apologetic way "Merry Christmas". I think she was afraid she would get flack off of me for saying "Happy Holidays" cause she probably got it from all those "good Christians" trying to start something with her.:-(

[mcar]

35. You are so right

they have taken the entire meaning out of the holiday; I really hate the fact that I'm letting their idiocy get to me.

I love this time of year and all the holidays associated with it. I think it's wonderful that people of all (and no) faiths can celebrate at the same time. They really are such losers.

[Cha]

12. What gets me is that have

to DICTATE what everyone says..they can say what they want and anyone can fucking well please say what they want..

My mail order cataglog for warm things says.."Merry Hanukwanzaamas"!!To You!!

[yorkiemommie1]

14. are you going to patronize that store again?

i got the stinkeye at a pet store for saying HH yesterday so i repeated myself w/ a HUGE GRIN! i don't know whether the clerk was stupid or a fundie, tho. this contrived controversy is beYOND stupid.
i think i would send that clerk a card w/ all KINDS of secular stuff on it and sign it...w/ something creative.

[Cascadian]

17. uh...probably not.

eom



John

[TalkingDog]

15. Just look confused and say:"How old are you? 12?...."

Only a child or someone with a childish mind would be offended-
'cause he didn't say it the way I WANTED!!!!....boo (fucking) hoo....

GROW UP PEOPLE!!!!!!

[dapper]

16. I have to admit...

I'm on the Merry Christmas side as I was brought up catholic so "Christmas time" is a very special time for me. But I'm not religious and would never push the "MERRY CHRISTMAS" on anyone. I totally understand there are Happy Solstice's, Happy Holidays, Happy Kwanza', Happy Hannukah's (and if I missed any, add them here) for one and for all!

The one thing I can't stand is a zealot!

Merry Christmas to all... err, I mean, Happy Holidays!

Dap

[calico1]

21. See I don't mind it if anyone

says Merry Christmas to me. In fact, I say it a lot. What bugs me is when people angrily spit a MERRY CHRISTMAS! to you. What kind of good wishes are those? I think most people don't mind being wished a Merry Christmas or Happy anything else, if it is meant in good spirits. But that's not what these militant xtians are doing.

[yorkiemommie1]

26. i was brought up catholic, too

midnight mass was wondrous for me.

but i refuse to let the fundies dictate what words come out of my mouth, and if anyone at target, etc., starts that w/ me, i will put my things down on the counter and march myself first to the manager, then out of the store.

[quiet.american]

19. This whole thing is so anti-Christ, it's amazing!

It amazes me that so-called Christians are buying into this perverted crap, because it's so anti-Christ! As I recall, the whole "Happy Holidays" thing started as a way to include and acknowledge non-Christians during the holiday season. Where's the "Jesus is Love" crowd that reaches out to all? What these people are doing is demonic. Seriously!

[Cascadian]

31. These people have destroyed the true message of Christ.

These fundies and those who came before them throughout history have twisted and distorted the true message of Christ. They did this to empower themselves and to keep people from speaking and thinking for themselves. Christ was a compassionate, loving, and peace-loving prophet. He would be enraged to see what happened to his message. They even distorted what he looks like! He was no blonde, blue-eyed man. He was Semetic! Olive skin, dark hair and eyes! It truly is sad.


John

[quiet.american]

34. Well said, John. n/t

[politicaholic]

24. I got a wierd look for saying "Happy Winter Solstice" yesterday...

my coworker actually said, "I didn't know you were a Pagan."

I said, "I'm not, but I think my calander might be."

[AlienGirl]

32. "Happy Solstice" doesn't imply any particular religion

Solstice is an astronomic occurrence that happens in the physical world we all share, no matter what we believe in. And it sure is a happy occasion to know the days will get brighter!

Tucker

[politicaholic]

39. I hear ya, I'm tired of going out and watching sunset at 3:45...

that is if its not raining.

[AlienGirl]

43. Not raining?! What day was that?

:rofl:

[Cascadian]

36. Funny you brought that up.

There are those that say Jesus may have been actually born in the Spring. The only reason most of the Christianity world celebrate it around the Winter Solstice was because of the Pagans in Europe. Those who spread Christianity in Europe figured it would be easier to make converts by incorporating the traditions of Yule with the celebration of Jesus Christ's birth. That is why you have Jesus Christ's birthday around in December.


John

[Shakespeare]

49. "I'm not, but I think my calendar might be."

Oh, that's CLASSIC!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Uncle Joe]

25. Only the neocons could turn

wishing someone Happy Holidays in to an insult.

[EC]

33. I've run into that too, I just said

Oh, okay, Merry Christmas and forget about any wish for the New Year then since it's not anything....and yeah, it is great being old, because of course I did add Fuck you...

[thoughtanarchist]

38. Whatever holiday wishes are catapulted in my direction,

I always respond with "Fuck you shithead."

but with my most winning smile...

I write that in the tags of my gifts as well...

:evilgrin:

[leftstreet]

37. "Oh, I'm sorry. You just looked like an Atheist to me." n/t

[GrpCaptMandrake]

40. Great response! Ad, as an off-topic aside

do you know that you're supporting Michael Savage when you buy Rockstar? He set the company up for his son and did a promotional tour.

Just thought you might like to know.

[Seabiscuit]

41. Have a cool Yule!

Hi John,

The opposite has been happening to me and my wife. Everywhere we have gone around here (grocery market, dept. stores, even my kids gymboree class) people have been saying Happy Holidays. I am picking up some good tips from this thread on want to say when I run into one of these "Merry Christmas Only" whackos. Have a cool Yule!

[footinmouth]

42. My community's been in a uproar

And I'm in a blue state! The morning talk show has been dedicated to boycotting all the stores that are wishing you "Happy Holidays" instead of Merry Christmas. Our local Walmart's on the hit list as is Target (because they don't let the Salvation Army collect any more). I wonder where these people are doing their shopping this year?

[TexasLawyer]

44. crazy priorities

And with so much horror and misery in the world right now, you'd think that these people could find something more important to obsess about.

[Contrary1]

45. Don't forget Fesitvus!

[ismnotwasm]

46. I was with some friends

And someone said "Merry Christmas or I guess it's happy holidays now" Several opinions broke out. So I said "Happy Winter Solstice, FUCK!" (Yes, I have bad language)My friend next to me said,(in a nice way)I prefer merry christmas. I told her I could really, really give a shit less and it's a media generated non contreversy--just keep church and state separated. These are non-political friends. This particular one had seen the word "Pharisee" and asked ME what it was. So she's defending Christmas, which is cool, but has NO clue just how manipulative this bullshit has been

So I told her Pharisee's were some Powerful and snotty Jewish people during Jesus's time that Jesus pissed off. (I keep it very simple)

[Ladyhawk]

47. I just ran into a Jewish couple I know.

"Happy Hanukkah!" I said.

"Happy Winter Solstice," they said.

It made me happy that we each knew how to properly greet the other and that it wasn't a big deal, anyway. Then we both laughed at the stupid "war on Christmas." :) It felt good to be out and about, for once. :) I wonder what the fundy Christians within earshot were thinking? :D I know there were some. This town is chock full of them (and they're all driving like crazy people!!!!!).

On edit: It feels great to be accepted as an atheist by Jewish people. If the Christians treated me this well, I wouldn't have a problem with them. I know there are some good Christians here and there, but (sadly) I haven't found them in this town. The local Christians are always trying to shove Jesus down my throat and he just won't fit!

On further edit: being accepted as an atheist by Jewish people makes me feel more like accepting Jewish people as Jews, if you get my meaning. :shrug: I've been hurt so many times by Christians in the name of Christ that I am especially soured on that religion. :(

[Cleetus]

48. I wait

I wait for them to say Merry Christmas or whatever. Then whatever they say I say back at them. It seems to make them happy.

[TriMetFan]

50. I had some thing like this happen to me too.

But I'm a Transit Driver here in Portland OR. all I did was tell some one to have a Happy Holidays and he got pissed and yelled Merry Christmas at me. I just laughed at him and told him he was to up tight and that Happy Holidays really meant to have a Happy Holy Days. He just stood there looking at me like a fish out of water and was beet red and just walked off the bus. This happen last week and now every time he rides I tell him really loud to have a Happy Holy Day. I'm just waiting to get a complaint about this. But I'm not going to stop doing this to him until Christmas is over.:evilgrin:

[seabeyond]

51. holiday=holy days. just give definition and say surely jesus

doesnt mind having a happy holy day.

[msongs]

54. next time tell him UNHAPPY holidays to you, then nt