Off-topic holiday rant

A rant follows. I need to get this off my chest. Thank you for your
indulgence!

It embarasses and annoys me when people seem to go out of their way to avoid
saying "Merry Christmas" to me. They'll go down a line of people saying
"Merry Christmas, Joe. Merry Christmas, Jack. Merry Christmas, Mary.
Merry Christmas, Migdalia. Merry Christmas, Fatima. Merry Christmas,
Sunshine. And, uh....happy holidays, Eva." Good grief! Just say "Merry
Christmas!" Even though I don't celebrate the Christian holiday, you can
wish me a happy day, and that's what "Merry Christmas" means to me. It
means have a good day on December 25th. How could you possibly think I
would be insulted by that?

"Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" is insulting. "Merry
Christmas" is not insulting!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE HERE, and if you don't like it, lump it.

HA!

Eva

Eva wrote:
[edited some, just for brevity]
> A rant follows. I need to get this off my chest. Thank you for your
> indulgence!
> It embarasses and annoys me when people seem to go out of their way to avoid
> saying "Merry Christmas" to me.
> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE HERE, and if you don't like it, lump it.
> HA!

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. And a Joyous Whatever. <G>

http://www.thecompassgroup.biz/merryxmas.swf

Jerri [celebrates pretty much everything] [but not religiously] [never
religiously]

"Eva" <EvaDStructionNOT@NOTverizon.net> wrote in message news:Vqzjh.4053$sz5.1156@trndny03...
>A rant follows. I need to get this off my chest. Thank you for your
> indulgence!
>
> It embarasses and annoys me when people seem to go out of their way to avoid
> saying "Merry Christmas" to me. They'll go down a line of people saying
> "Merry Christmas, Joe. Merry Christmas, Jack. Merry Christmas, Mary.
> Merry Christmas, Migdalia. Merry Christmas, Fatima. Merry Christmas,
> Sunshine. And, uh....happy holidays, Eva." Good grief! Just say "Merry
> Christmas!" Even though I don't celebrate the Christian holiday, you can
> wish me a happy day, and that's what "Merry Christmas" means to me. It
> means have a good day on December 25th. How could you possibly think I
> would be insulted by that?


8~) Merry Christmas, Eva!

JMO but fundamentalists are in danger of ruining the greeting.
It used to mean a simple wish for joy. But many of them don't
mean "I wish you joy", they mean "You *should* be One Of Us."
The rest of the world is in danger of thinking that they speak for
Christianity. So we worry that others will think we mean it
as an their kind of condescension, instead of as our wish for joy!

>
> "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" is insulting. "Merry
> Christmas" is not insulting!
>
> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE HERE, and if you don't like it, lump it.
>
> HA!
>

I like it, i like it! 8~))



--
pax
ruth


--
Save trees AND money! Buy used books!
http://stores.ebay.com/Noir-and-More-Books-and-Trains
(remove fspam to reply)
> Eva
>
>

"Jerri" <Jerri.LaPoint@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1166985337.263899.112430@f1g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Eva wrote:
> [edited some, just for brevity]
>> A rant follows. I need to get this off my chest. Thank you for your
>> indulgence!
>> It embarasses and annoys me when people seem to go out of their way to avoid
>> saying "Merry Christmas" to me.
>> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE HERE, and if you don't like it, lump it.
>> HA!
>
> Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. And a Joyous Whatever. <G>
>
> http://www.thecompassgroup.biz/merryxmas.swf

Cool! I love that rendition! I've sent it to
a couple people!

Thanks!


--
pax
ruth


--
Save trees AND money! Buy used books!
http://stores.ebay.com/Noir-and-More-Books-and-Trains
(remove fspam to reply)

"Jerri" <Jerri.LaPoint@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166985337.263899.112430@f1g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>
> http://www.thecompassgroup.biz/merryxmas.swf
-------------
I am so glad to see others appreciate this great animation and the divine
voices of Clyde McPhatter and Bill Pinkney!

Eva

"Eva" <EvaDStructionNOT@NOTverizon.net> wrote in message
news:Vqzjh.4053$sz5.1156@trndny03...
>A rant follows. I need to get this off my chest. Thank you for your
> indulgence!
>
> It embarasses and annoys me when people seem to go out of their way to
> avoid
> saying "Merry Christmas" to me. They'll go down a line of people saying
> "Merry Christmas, Joe. Merry Christmas, Jack. Merry Christmas, Mary.
> Merry Christmas, Migdalia. Merry Christmas, Fatima. Merry Christmas,
> Sunshine. And, uh....happy holidays, Eva." Good grief! Just say "Merry
> Christmas!" Even though I don't celebrate the Christian holiday, you can
> wish me a happy day, and that's what "Merry Christmas" means to me. It
> means have a good day on December 25th. How could you possibly think I
> would be insulted by that?
>
> "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" is insulting. "Merry
> Christmas" is not insulting!
>
> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE HERE, and if you don't like it, lump it.
>
> HA!

Merry Christmas to you, too! ;-)

Over the years I've occasionally been wished a Happy Hanukkah because of my
last name - people assuming I'm Jewish & not understanding (or even
realizing) the double "n". I usually just say "Thank you". Whatever... ;-)

Cathy

>
> Eva
>
>

"Jerri" <Jerri.LaPoint@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1166985337.263899.112430@f1g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> Eva wrote:
> [edited some, just for brevity]
>> A rant follows. I need to get this off my chest. Thank you for your
>> indulgence!
>> It embarasses and annoys me when people seem to go out of their way to
>> avoid
>> saying "Merry Christmas" to me.
>> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE HERE, and if you don't like it, lump it.
>> HA!
>
> Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. And a Joyous Whatever. <G>
>
> http://www.thecompassgroup.biz/merryxmas.swf

Yeah, this is a nice rendition. There *might* be a white Christmas here,
but not until the tail end - tomorrow night. Makes driving a whole lot
easier, at least.

Cathy

>
> Jerri [celebrates pretty much everything] [but not religiously] [never
> religiously]
>

"Cathy F." <clfr@adelphiadot.net> wrote in message
news:arSdnRH-msBsShPYnZ2dnUVZ_syunZ2d@giganews.com...
>
> "Jerri" <Jerri.LaPoint@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1166985337.263899.112430@f1g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>> Eva wrote:
>> [edited some, just for brevity]
>>> A rant follows. I need to get this off my chest. Thank you for your
>>> indulgence!
>>> It embarasses and annoys me when people seem to go out of their way to
>>> avoid
>>> saying "Merry Christmas" to me.
>>> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE HERE, and if you don't like it, lump it.
>>> HA!
>>
>> Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. And a Joyous Whatever. <G>
>>
>> http://www.thecompassgroup.biz/merryxmas.swf
>
> Yeah, this is a nice rendition. There *might* be a white Christmas here,
> but not until the tail end - tomorrow night. Makes driving a whole lot
> easier, at least.


The "white" Christmas here in Edinburgh is the white of fog -
Rudolph will definately be working tonight!


--
Jette Goldie
jette@blueyonder.co.uk
http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
http://wolfette.livejournal.com/
("reply to" is spamblocked - use the email addy in sig)

In article <Vqzjh.4053$sz5.1156@trndny03>,
"Eva" <EvaDStructionNOT@NOTverizon.net> wrote:

> A rant follows. I need to get this off my chest. Thank you for your
> indulgence!
>
> It embarasses and annoys me when people seem to go out of their way to avoid
> saying "Merry Christmas" to me. They'll go down a line of people saying
> "Merry Christmas, Joe. Merry Christmas, Jack. Merry Christmas, Mary.
> Merry Christmas, Migdalia. Merry Christmas, Fatima. Merry Christmas,
> Sunshine. And, uh....happy holidays, Eva." Good grief! Just say "Merry
> Christmas!" Even though I don't celebrate the Christian holiday, you can
> wish me a happy day, and that's what "Merry Christmas" means to me. It
> means have a good day on December 25th. How could you possibly think I
> would be insulted by that?
>
> "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" is insulting. "Merry
> Christmas" is not insulting!
>
> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE HERE, and if you don't like it, lump it.
>
> HA!
>
> Eva

Well, Merry Christmas to you, too! So there! :-P

(and a happy new year)

Now, back to cleaning for the impending houseguests....

Priscilla

"Jette Goldie" <bosslady@scotlandmail.com> wrote in message
news:w7Bjh.21137$k74.10406@text.news.blueyonder.co .uk...
>
> "Cathy F." <clfr@adelphiadot.net> wrote in message
> news:arSdnRH-msBsShPYnZ2dnUVZ_syunZ2d@giganews.com...
>>
>> "Jerri" <Jerri.LaPoint@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1166985337.263899.112430@f1g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
>>> Eva wrote:
>>> [edited some, just for brevity]
>>>> A rant follows. I need to get this off my chest. Thank you for your
>>>> indulgence!
>>>> It embarasses and annoys me when people seem to go out of their way to
>>>> avoid
>>>> saying "Merry Christmas" to me.
>>>> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE HERE, and if you don't like it, lump it.
>>>> HA!
>>>
>>> Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. And a Joyous Whatever. <G>
>>>
>>> http://www.thecompassgroup.biz/merryxmas.swf
>>
>> Yeah, this is a nice rendition. There *might* be a white Christmas here,
>> but not until the tail end - tomorrow night. Makes driving a whole lot
>> easier, at least.

This'll be the mere remnants of the biggo snowstorm/blizzard the hit the
Denver area & Midwest a few days ago.

> The "white" Christmas here in Edinburgh is the white of fog -
> Rudolph will definately be working tonight!

Let's hear it for Rudolph & his shiny nose! :-) The recent British fogs
that have been messing up flights' schedules (& I assume driving) have been
making the news over here.

Cathy


>
>
> --
> Jette Goldie

Eva wrote:
> A rant follows. I need to get this off my chest. Thank you for your
> indulgence!

Apologies, but you would have to be dead first before I could earn a
(partial) indulgence for you <G>. But thank you anyhow.

"Eva" <EvaDStructionNOT@NOTverizon.net> wrote in
news:20Ajh.2747$Lc5.253@trndny04:

> I am so glad to see others appreciate this great animation and the
> divine voices of Clyde McPhatter and Bill Pinkney!
>

I can't focus on the music, I'm too bewildered by the antlered dogs.

Chak

--
If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner.
--Tallulah Bankhead

Eva wrote:
> A rant follows. I need to get this off my chest. Thank you for your
> indulgence!
>
> It embarasses and annoys me when people seem to go out of their way to avoid
> saying "Merry Christmas" to me. They'll go down a line of people saying
> "Merry Christmas, Joe. Merry Christmas, Jack. Merry Christmas, Mary.
> Merry Christmas, Migdalia. Merry Christmas, Fatima. Merry Christmas,
> Sunshine. And, uh....happy holidays, Eva." Good grief! Just say "Merry
> Christmas!" Even though I don't celebrate the Christian holiday, you can
> wish me a happy day, and that's what "Merry Christmas" means to me. It
> means have a good day on December 25th. How could you possibly think I
> would be insulted by that?

I figure that people who say "happy holidays to you" have been
chastised for saying "Merry Christmas" to someone who is Jewish,
or otherwise not Christian, and they wish to share the cheer
without giving offense. Trouble is, they can't tell by looking
who will and won't be offended.

I wish "happy holidays" to everyone - knowing full well that I'm
giving offense to some by secularizing their religious holiday,
and pleasing others because I'm not assuming that they are
Christian.

And I plan to start 2007 out by wishing everyone a peaceful new
year. Think that'll last for long? Hah! :-P

FurPaw

> "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" is insulting. "Merry
> Christmas" is not insulting!
>
> MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE HERE, and if you don't like it, lump it.
>
> HA!
>
> Eva

--
Better dead than Red.

To reply, unleash the dog.

FurPaw wrote:

> I figure that people who say "happy holidays to you" have been
> chastised for saying "Merry Christmas" to someone who is Jewish,
> or otherwise not Christian, and they wish to share the cheer
> without giving offense.

"Happy Holidays" is a generic wish for good cheer, no matter whether
the recipient lights candles or decks the halls with boughs of holly.
Or wishes upon a star or claps for Tinkerbelle. Not giving offense
doesn't even enter into it.
In my very own personal opinion.
Jerri [who has dined upon the traditional lasagna and garlic bread, and
has a blueberry pie waiting in the wings for later, to be served with
Lite Cool Whip] [Wishing you all Happy Holidays!]

FurPaw <furrealpawdog@gmail.com> wrote in
news:uYSdncr4TsnfqA3YnZ2dnUVZ_vmqnZ2d@comcast.com:

> I wish "happy holidays" to everyone - knowing full well that I'm
> giving offense to some by secularizing their religious holiday,
> and pleasing others because I'm not assuming that they are
> Christian.
>

I just say, 'Ho! Ho! Ho!'. It gets the idea across, it gets a smile, and
so far nobody's been overtly offended.

Chak

--
If I had to live my life again, I'd make the same mistakes, only sooner.
--Tallulah Bankhead

On Sun, 24 Dec 2006 18:13:09 GMT, "Eva"
<EvaDStructionNOT@NOTverizon.net> wrote:

>MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE HERE, and if you don't like it, lump it.


Merry Christmas, Eva! And Merry Christmas to everyone here. I had a
great weekend, my daughter came down from Atlanta with her boyfriend
on Friday and just left this morning. They had to go back to work
early Tuesday, so...

But, I had a great weekend and I hope everyone else did too.


Dana

Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons,
for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.

Jerri wrote:
> FurPaw wrote:
>
>> I figure that people who say "happy holidays to you" have been
>> chastised for saying "Merry Christmas" to someone who is Jewish,
>> or otherwise not Christian, and they wish to share the cheer
>> without giving offense.
>
> "Happy Holidays" is a generic wish for good cheer, no matter whether
> the recipient lights candles or decks the halls with boughs of holly.
> Or wishes upon a star or claps for Tinkerbelle. Not giving offense
> doesn't even enter into it.
> In my very own personal opinion.

I'm sure that this reflects your experience, but it is not
consistent with mine. I was thinking specifically of those who
wish Eva "happy holidays," but IME there are some who do take
offense at "happy holidays."

Nevertheless, have a happy and peaceful holiday!

FurPaw
--
Better dead than Red.

To reply, unleash the dog.

"FurPaw" <furrealpawdog@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:RoydnW6bhZVYEA3YnZ2dnUVZ_rDinZ2d@comcast.com. ..
> Jerri wrote:
> > FurPaw wrote:
> >
> >> I figure that people who say "happy holidays to you" have been
> >> chastised for saying "Merry Christmas" to someone who is Jewish,
> >> or otherwise not Christian, and they wish to share the cheer
> >> without giving offense.
> >
> > "Happy Holidays" is a generic wish for good cheer, no matter whether
> > the recipient lights candles or decks the halls with boughs of holly.
> > Or wishes upon a star or claps for Tinkerbelle. Not giving offense
> > doesn't even enter into it.
> > In my very own personal opinion.
>
> I'm sure that this reflects your experience, but it is not
> consistent with mine. I was thinking specifically of those who
> wish Eva "happy holidays," but IME there are some who do take
> offense at "happy holidays."
--------------
People who wish *everybody* "happy holidays," that's one thing. People who
say "Merry Christmas" to most people, but "happy holidays" to the Jews,
that's what I was ranting about. I understand that they're basically good
people and that they're trying to be sensitive, but it comes off as
patronizing.

Eva

Eva wrote:
> "FurPaw" <furrealpawdog@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:RoydnW6bhZVYEA3YnZ2dnUVZ_rDinZ2d@comcast.com. ..
>> Jerri wrote:
>>> FurPaw wrote:
>>>
>>>> I figure that people who say "happy holidays to you" have been
>>>> chastised for saying "Merry Christmas" to someone who is Jewish,
>>>> or otherwise not Christian, and they wish to share the cheer
>>>> without giving offense.
>>> "Happy Holidays" is a generic wish for good cheer, no matter whether
>>> the recipient lights candles or decks the halls with boughs of holly.
>>> Or wishes upon a star or claps for Tinkerbelle. Not giving offense
>>> doesn't even enter into it.
>>> In my very own personal opinion.
>> I'm sure that this reflects your experience, but it is not
>> consistent with mine. I was thinking specifically of those who
>> wish Eva "happy holidays," but IME there are some who do take
>> offense at "happy holidays."
> --------------
> People who wish *everybody* "happy holidays," that's one thing. People who
> say "Merry Christmas" to most people, but "happy holidays" to the Jews,
> that's what I was ranting about. I understand that they're basically good
> people and that they're trying to be sensitive, but it comes off as
> patronizing.

It's always interesting how the same phrase lands differently for
different people. When someone wishes me Merry Christmas, I have
to remind myself that they are probably not trying to force on me
a belief that I don't espouse, but just trying to share their
good feelings by mouthing a common phrase without giving any
thought to its content. When someone wishes me Happy Holidays,
it's very easy for me to accept that at face value. IOW, it
lands differently for me.

I'm leaning towards using a start-of-winter end-of-year greeting
that encompasses several holidays, that is universally
understood, and nondiscriminating in its capability to give offense:

BAH, HUMBUG!

FurPaw

--
Better dead than Red.

To reply, unleash the dog.

<snipped>

Eva wrote:

> > People who wish *everybody* "happy holidays," that's one thing. People who
> > say "Merry Christmas" to most people, but "happy holidays" to the Jews,
> > that's what I was ranting about. I understand that they're basically good
> > people and that they're trying to be sensitive, but it comes off as
> > patronizing.
>
> It's always interesting how the same phrase lands differently for
> different people. When someone wishes me Merry Christmas, I have
> to remind myself that they are probably not trying to force on me
> a belief that I don't espouse, but just trying to share their
> good feelings by mouthing a common phrase without giving any
> thought to its content. When someone wishes me Happy Holidays,
> it's very easy for me to accept that at face value. IOW, it
> lands differently for me.
>
> I'm leaning towards using a start-of-winter end-of-year greeting
> that encompasses several holidays, that is universally
> understood, and nondiscriminating in its capability to give offense:
>
> BAH, HUMBUG!
>
> FurPaw
>
> --
> Better dead than Red.
>
> To reply, unleash the dog.

Happy Solstice?

http://www.candlegrove.com/solstice.html

As someone of basically agnostic leanings who has changed denominations
several times (most recently detached Presbyterian), I personally don't
like any effusively religious greeting, and I think I'm overly
sensitive about it. In addition, Christmas got ruined for me in two
ways during the last decade: in 1998, I learned of a close friend's
suicide, and in 2000 Christmas Day was part of the days I spent sedated
on a respirator after my hysterectomy. Last year I tried visiting my
parents in their assisted living quarters and found them so pious and
so offensive that this year I stayed home, ate steak, cleaned the
kitchen and played with the cat. I think my best memories are years ago
when my husband was still functioning as a Lutheran minister and I
"worked" (the best term for this) the children's Christmas Eve service
with him at a small rural parish. The younger children kept things in
perspective for me, I think.

Linda, curmudgeon

"Linda" <lindascheimann@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1167177445.383914.111520@f1g2000cwa.googlegro ups.com...
> <snipped>
>
> Eva wrote:
>
>> > People who wish *everybody* "happy holidays," that's one thing. People
>> > who
>> > say "Merry Christmas" to most people, but "happy holidays" to the Jews,
>> > that's what I was ranting about. I understand that they're basically
>> > good
>> > people and that they're trying to be sensitive, but it comes off as
>> > patronizing.
>>
>> It's always interesting how the same phrase lands differently for
>> different people. When someone wishes me Merry Christmas, I have
>> to remind myself that they are probably not trying to force on me
>> a belief that I don't espouse, but just trying to share their
>> good feelings by mouthing a common phrase without giving any
>> thought to its content. When someone wishes me Happy Holidays,
>> it's very easy for me to accept that at face value. IOW, it
>> lands differently for me.
>>
>> I'm leaning towards using a start-of-winter end-of-year greeting
>> that encompasses several holidays, that is universally
>> understood, and nondiscriminating in its capability to give offense:
>>
>> BAH, HUMBUG!
>>
>> FurPaw
>>
>> --
>> Better dead than Red.
>>
>> To reply, unleash the dog.
>
> Happy Solstice?
>
> http://www.candlegrove.com/solstice.html
>
> As someone of basically agnostic leanings who has changed denominations
> several times (most recently detached Presbyterian), I personally don't
> like any effusively religious greeting, and I think I'm overly
> sensitive about it. In addition, Christmas got ruined for me in two
> ways during the last decade: in 1998, I learned of a close friend's
> suicide, and in 2000 Christmas Day was part of the days I spent sedated
> on a respirator after my hysterectomy. Last year I tried visiting my
> parents in their assisted living quarters and found them so pious and
> so offensive that this year I stayed home, ate steak, cleaned the
> kitchen and played with the cat. I think my best memories are years ago
> when my husband was still functioning as a Lutheran minister and I
> "worked" (the best term for this) the children's Christmas Eve service
> with him at a small rural parish. The younger children kept things in
> perspective for me, I think.
>
> Linda, curmudgeon
>

I don't care what anyone calls it. I'm a Pagan, so I see all the
"christmas" stuff as window dressing on top of the old midwinter
solstice festivities. Living up here in the sunless north (ok Scotland
doesn't freeze badly, but this time of year we get very little sunlight)
if the holiday didn't already exist, we'd have to invent it, is what I
feel. However with everyone around me going "Merry Christmas"
every few minutes, I'm just as likely to reply "Merry Christmas"
myself, instead of going through the rigmarole of correcting it to
"Happy Solstice" - but when I initiate the greeting, I'll say
"Happy Solstice".

"Happy Holidays" - nah, that's a nothing greeting. I don't
use that.

Anyway - a Happy Hogmanay to you all when it comes. (that
will be on Sunday, btw)


--
Jette Goldie
jette@blueyonder.co.uk
http://www.jette.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
http://wolfette.livejournal.com/
("reply to" is spamblocked - use the email addy in sig)