Cultural genocide: The systematic destruction of traditions, values, language and/or other elements which make one group of people distinct from other groups.
If Christmas has been a large part of my culture, my parents culture, their parents culture, and so on, is it any less cultural genocide if we eradicate Christmas from our culture, so as not to offend people from other groups? We need to stop and think about what we are doing. We should all celebrate our cultures.
Bah humbug!
The very word "Christmas" conjures up wonderful memories for me -- Christmas tree lights, the smell of cinnamon, the memory of my Dad wearing his dress tartan tie, the anticipation of something special -- Christmas. All of these things flash before my eyes when I hear the word Christmas. The word "holiday" does nothing for me. It sounds artificial and forced. It is newspeak, just the way George Orwell predicted in his novel "1984". It has happened.
"War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength."
"Christmas is holiday."
We have become victims to our own political correctness.
Bah, humbug!
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find how many stupid ways not to say Christmas. I need a laugh.
12 comments:
I think it's all about EVERYONE feeling included, and only a grinch would deny anyone the joy and wonder of Christmas!
Warm Aloha from Waikiki
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I don't quite get this.. Christmas is pretty much everywhere, here in North America. There's no escaping it, even if we wanted to.. which I don't. But it's at no risk whatsoever of being eradicated. That's a ludicrous concept, to me.
I don't have a problem with someone erroneously believing I'm Christian and wishing me a Merry Christmas. They're well-intentioned, I'm sure. It's easy to assume that everyone is Christian because of the omnipresent nature of how North Americans celebrate, share and sell Christmas. I do think it's wrong for store management to instruct their employees to avoid specific words. Silly, even. Christmas is all over the store.. why would it end at the cash?
I honestly have never, ever heard of a city "Christmas Parade." It was always the Santa Claus Parade when I was a child in Montreal as well as in Toronto. That's not a new thing. "Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings" have always been printed on greeting cards, along with "Merry Christmas." Again, not a replacement.. just part of the greetings.
I quite enjoyed The Daily Show's Jon Stewart's segment last week about the so-called War on Christmas. I've linked to it below (it's just the first segment of the video). He doesn't feel Christmas is at any risk and neither do I. Stewart just approaches it with much more humour than I ever could. I hope you watch it and enjoy it, also. He expressed exactly how I view yours and others concerns as a real head-scratcher.
That being said, I do wish you and yours a very merry Christmas, Jo.
http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/Shows/TheDailyShow?videoPackage=127757
Cloudia, thanks. :-)
Hilary, thank you. :-) Vancouver has always been an overly politically correct city, to the extreme, so it's almost painful to see how people are expunging Christmas. We are actually told at work not to use the word Christmas, or to hang any decorations that refer to Christmas. I work for the BC government. Same with the schools here as well. It's sad. And Merry Christmas to you and yours too, Hilary. Cheers!
I prefer to wish you a Blessed Christmas as it reminds us to rejoice because of God's gift of love this season. "Merry" has become too much about "making merry and drinking too much". May you have much joy and peace this Christmas.
I used to work in an office where everyone was Jewish except for me. They would always wish me a Happy New Year in September and a Happy Hanukkah in December as well as a Happy Holidays on other occasions. I found it a bit odd, since they knew I wasn't Jewish and therefore would not be celebrating their holy day but I never felt insulted.
I now have a few Muslim co-workers and though they are not always sure about sending out Christmas cards to their customers, they do wish me a Merry Christmas each year and I have to awkwardly stop myself from saying it back to them!
And as Hilary says, we always had a [Eaton's] Santa Claus Parade. There was nothing religious about it and was all about fun floats and and Santa's arrival.
Judging by the reaction every time it is suggested that we not use Christmas or display Christmassy things, I do wonder why the people in board rooms make such decisions.
That time of year right after Halloween where the stores fill up with red and green stuff that has only one use. "Course it's easier to say Christmas but I wouldn't want to offend Fox News.
You do know Jo that at times it is the right thing to do to be REALLY POLITICALLY INCORRECT.
That is Detroit's problem, we refuse to allow for others cultures, though everyone agrees on Christmas and there is little hubub about creches and what not but the big things like racism and cultural/class distinctions are our falling over points.
Merry Christmas Jo!
I am not a Christian. I, at best am agnostic. I celebrate Christmas. It is my tradition and my heritage.
Last night I went to a Candlelight and Vivaldi concert.
After listening to Vivaldi's Gloria among other things some 700+ of us sang 'Joy to the World,' 'Oh come all Yea Faithful' and something else ( Old Timers disease setting in.) I sang my heart out because it is my tradition and because I have no doubt that a baby who became a prophet was born in Bethleham and that in itself is enough to bring people together to celebrate.
I have to say that no one has ever taken offense to me wishing them Merry Christmas and although I have heard of this I refuse to be part of it! I celebrate Christmas by giving gifts to those I care about, and by sharing good food and companionship. Last year I gave my Iranian friend a gift - her first ever Christmas gift and she was very grateful and not offended in the least! I work with people from all around the world and I get greetings from them at Christmas - one woman in particular sends Christmas cards although Hindu, because she wishes her "Christian friends" well at this special time of year!
I encourage you to push back and wish people a Merry Christmas! As for me I am looking for happy Eid and Divali cards.
Shalom,
Jay
Christmas is about what you make it these days I find. I was brought up an atheist but went to a Christian school so had it all drummed into me and find huge comfort in hymns and Christmas so....a very happy Christmas to you Jo!
I've no time for RELIGION of any sort. And I don't 'celebrate' Xmas,Easter or any other religious crap. But I'll still partake of warm mince pies, Xmas pud, a few glasses of whatever 'cheer' is on hand.
I no longer send Xmas cards, an outdated Victorian ritual created by Prince Albert and Co., and copied by the hoi poloi. What utter nonsense.
In conclusion Jo, I wish you a very merry Christmas and a happier New Year!
Merry Christmas, Jo! I celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ, which it isn't but, hey, it's my right to acknowledge this celebration as much as it is for others to celebrate theirs. I HATE all the 'happy holidays' and 'joyous cheer' crap. This is CHRISTMAS, if you don't want to celebrate it then don't but don't try and substitute some idiotic celebrations in its place. I honor others rights to celebrate their beliefs and customs so back off of interfering with mine!
I think eliminating Christmas is ridiculous overkill of political correctness. I am not a Christian but have always celebrated Christmas, and why not? It's a beautiful holiday.
All traditions should be respected, but none should be eliminated out of mistaken respect for those of others.
Season's Greeting Jo!
Merry Boxing Day Eve.
Merry Sol Invictus.
A good ol' boy from down south one time told me that I don't celebrate the birth of Christ, I celebrate Santa Clause. He is about 80% correct.
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