<p>Christmas trees have absolutely no religious significance to Christians. That’s why I think a lot of these kind of discussions are completely misguided.</p>
<p>“What should I say when I am constantly wished “Merry Christmas?””</p>
<p>“Thank you.”</p>
<p>Check out the Wiki: [Christmas</a> tree - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_tree]Christmas”>Christmas tree - Wikipedia)
For even more insight, read the discussion page.
Bottom line: the Christmas tree isn’t a religious symbol at all, except insofar as it is associated with a relgious holiday.</p>
<p>In my town the school board has stopped calling the Christmas holidays, The Christmas holidays with the explanation that Not everyone is Christian. Fine. But when people questioned and complained about the policy and as to why the Jewish holidays in early fall are both observed by their names in the official school colander and with days off they are told No one has ever complained. </p>
<p>People question and complain about the policy every year and every year they get the same answer. No one has ever complained. </p>
<p>It seems it is the mindset of some people that showing the least bit of respect for another religion is somehow being disrespectful to their own. </p>
<p>Sad</p>
<p>Hanna, I don’t ever remember disagreeing with you on this board previously (:)), but I thoroughly disagree that I should say “thank you” to someone who wishes me a Merry Christmas. It’s not my holiday and I think that people need to be somewhat educated that not everyone celebrates this holiday. I think I can let people know simply, quietly and politely that it is not a holiday that people of my religion celebrate. I live in an area which has a mix of religions, so I don’t think it is unrealistic for people to realize that not everyone celebrates Christmas. My guess is that you and I will just need to agree to disagree on this one. ;)</p>
<p>toblin: totally agree with you on this one…it is Christmas vacation; not sure all would have a week off if it wasn’t…and yes, you are correct, in the fall, nobody changes the name of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>You know, when people wish you Merry Christmas it’s typically little more than a gesture, a holiday greeting. A lot of people who say “Merry Christmas” are nowhere near to being devout Christians. They are not trying to proslytize anyone, looking for a theological debate, or trying to pick a fight. They are not ignorant or uneducated of the fact that people have different faiths or none at all. More than anything, they are just trying to be friendly. </p>
<p>It would indeed be rude of you to use that situation to unload the bah humbug chip on your shoulder onto unsuspecting people whose only apparent crime is having the misfortune of not knowing your personal beliefs.</p>
<p>HisGraceFillsMe, when did I ever say anything about disapproving of how people celebrate in their homes? I don’t care what people do to celebrate for themselves, I just don’t like when it’s imposed on me. I’m not going to try and stop businesses from playing Christmas music to death even though I hate it, because that’s their business decision to make. But public entities are what we were originally talking about in this thread, and that’s what I commented on–public institutions like libraries shouldn’t be promoting a religious holiday.</p>
<p>You are being extremely dismissive; you’re clearly not even trying to understand the perspectives of the people on this thread who have described the experience of belonging to a religious minority. Just because the harm done is through thoughtlessness rather than malice doesn’t mean there isn’t harm. You clearly have no idea what it’s like to have your perspective rendered invisible by assumptions that everyone has the majority experience.</p>
<p>Believe it or not, some people don’t have the exact same life you do. Some people aren’t Christian, and wishing everyone “Merry Christmas” and putting Christmas decorations on public property renders them invisible. Invisibility is an uncomfortable experience, which you’d realize if you had a broader perspective.</p>
<p>And I’m sure you know exactly as much about my perspective as you think you do.</p>
<p>I am finally feeling liberated from the Judeo Christian mythologies and the trappings. I grew up not realizing what is was like to be on the outside of Christmas, and wish everyone would realize that other cultures/religions approach ethics and morals issues in equally effective, valid, good ways- think of the principals of the “Ten Commandements”, no group owns the ideas but too often that set of ten rules is treated as being sacred to all of humanity when it is just one way of telling people to behave. I feel that nonbelievers have been stepped on so often it is good to make people aware that their religion isn’t universal (nor should it be). The dominent culture needs to learn that their way is not the only way and others get tired of accomodating their religion in so much of everyday life, our society is finally recognizing that minority cultures have rights. This means either losing the religious holidays or keeping them private. Just as a swastika does not have the same meaning in India as it does here the Christmas tree also carries an association that can offend (think outside your box- imagine something offensive to you but valued by someone else for different reasons than you think of and being forced to encounter it in public places- it isn’t necessary to understand why it triggers the reaction, but to avoid offending). It would be nice to switch to winter solstice celebrations- it is a good time of year to have lights with the shortest days of the year. Then every American could enjoy the season as much as we all enjoy the Thanksgiving and New Year festivities. PS- I could write/edit more but…posted as a button was pushed by people who “just don’t get it”.</p>
<p>Gee, “HisGraceFillsMe” something was telling me you were a Christian. What could it be? Oh, yes, your screen name. If you are not a Christian or if you do not live in a country with a Christian majority, feel free to clarify, otherwise, you are dismissing a pov you know nothing about. And doing it with invoking G-d’s name. Lovely.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Pardon my language, but that is a load of horse manure. If you’ve not had the experience of living a town where there was a movement to go to “Happy Holidays”, then perhaps you are just ignorant of it but there most certainly is a hostile undertone to this. </p>
<p>This trend of the majority feeling so victimized, put upon and misunderstood when they are asked in such small ways to be respectful of others is vile. I truly cannot abide it.</p>
<p>pugmad-I’m sorry if I offended you or anyone else. But I have a hard time when people who know nothing about me except for a few things on the internet try and judge me, my values, my experiences/perspectives, or anything else.</p>
<p>I grew up in a town that was fairly well-balanced racially, but in the high school I attended, white was the minority. I had very few friends in high school who had the exact same views as I do.</p>
<p>As a side note, I have been Christian for all of 5 years, so I do know something about having religion forced down my throat (and as a child, no less). </p>
<p>I guess my point is that it’s not a point of view I “know nothing about”. </p>
<p>What bothers me is that people always act like people who celebrate Christmas or wish others a “Merry Christmas” on the street are doing it with hostile undertones, whereas if someone were to wish that same person a Happy Kwanzaa, most people would never give it a second thought.</p>
<p>I also don’t see that it’s anything to do with my religion. Yes, Christmas has special meaning for me personally because of my religion, but that doesn’t mean that whenever I wish someone a Merry Christmas I’m telling them to rejoice in the birth of Christ.</p>
<p>If someone wishes you a Merry Christmas strictly to be offensive, they’re a jerk and I’m sorry. But even with growing up in schools and towns that were extremely racially diverse, I never saw this occur. </p>
<p>Quite frankly, if you take offense at someone wishing you happiness, then you are the one to blame. Again, I’m sorry if this is offensive, and I’m almost sure I’ll be flamed for this. But I just wanted to share my own pov.</p>
<p>Pardon my not reading the whole thread, but what is actually Christian about a Christmas tree? It’s another non-religious tradition adopted by religion because it couldn’t be stamped out. History from wiki:
A manger display is religious, but a tree? How silly.</p>
<p>" also don’t see that it’s anything to do with my religion. Yes, Christmas has special meaning for me personally because of my religion, but that doesn’t mean that whenever I wish someone a Merry Christmas I’m telling them to rejoice in the birth of Christ."</p>
<p>Yes, HisGraceFillsMe, but it’s considered more courteous when you’re in a situation where you don’t know someone’s religious beliefs (such as in a store or other public place) to wish them a nice holiday. This is sort of a “duh,” though. I don’t recall businesses sending “Merry Christmas” cards to clients / customers; they sent “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings,” even when I was a kid. It seems so obvious that the ship of inclusion sailed so many years ago, it’s amazing to me that people seem to “discover” anew every December that (gasp) in this brave new world we live in, not everyone is Christian, and be amazed yet again.</p>
<p>That said, I do think the majority of people who say Merry Christmas are just trying to be friendly and deserve nothing more than a “thank you.” On occasion I will say thank you but we celebrate Hanukah. But then, I have the pleasure of living in an area where I’m not proselytized or anything. I don’t know how I’d handle it if I lived in some yahoo area where the intent of saying Merry Christmas to strangers was really meant as a larger statement about who you’d better believe in.</p>
<p>“I just find it ridiculous that decorations in a store or in someone’s home can make you feel like everyone is going out of their way to treat you as an inferior.”</p>
<p>There’s a difference between a store / place of business, a government / state facility, and a private home, HisGraceFillsMe.</p>
<p>“It would indeed be rude of you to use that situation to unload the bah humbug chip on your shoulder…”<br>
Well, excuse me, FLVADAD! I said I would let people know, “simply, quietly and politely” that Christmas was not a holiday I celebrate. If learning that someone else doesn’t celebrate YOUR holiday and isn’t being “rude” about it would cause you to make post #67, I think you need to wake up and be educated. As I said previously, I live in an area of the country which is very mixed religiously, and it is my belief that people shouldn’t make assumptions. I understand you think it is a “friendly” gesture. The point I am trying to get across is that there are other holiday greetings which could be offered, such as, “Have a great holiday!” Said sincerely, that pretty much covers everyone, yes? But, you seem to want the word “Christmas” used and can’t figure out why some wouldn’t.</p>
<p>I love holiday lighting, especially outdoor lights in dark December. No “Christmas trees” necessary. Just put the lights on any available tree, hedge, or bush, turn them on when it gets dark, and I am happy. :)</p>
<p>“Happy Holiday” just is common sense in today’s world, it is being a thoughtful person.</p>
<p>“What bothers me is that people always act like people who celebrate Christmas or wish others a “Merry Christmas” on the street are doing it with hostile undertones, whereas if someone were to wish that same person a Happy Kwanzaa, most people would never give it a second thought.”</p>
<p>HGFM, if I walked around wishing you a Happy Hanukah, it would look STUPID and people WOULD give it a second thought, because they’d wonder why I hadn’t figured out that not everyone celebrates Hanukah, and how odd for me to go up to perfect strangers and say that to them. Do you not get that it’s the same principle when it comes to MC? And yes, I believe most people who say MC to strangers aren’t trying to be rude; they are well-meaning. Nonetheless, it gets really old when people don’t THINK.</p>
<p>hmmmm…and how many people, of all religions were flocking to Rockefeller Center to view the Christmas tree on Saturday?? You could barely walk for blocks.</p>
<p>As not to offend anyone, I don’t say “Merry Christmas” anymore but “Happy Holidays”.</p>