And that is way too broad a … presentation-ready copies of Toronto Star content for distribution For my entire life, I have walked into stores and restaurants from late November to the end of December and been greeted by the phrase “Merry Christmas.” I have been met by open disregard and, at times, disdain when I tell peers, teammates, strangers, and even teachers that I don’t celebrate Christmas. Copied to clipboard; Where Does Merry Christmas Come From? If you know someone is a Christian who is celebrating Christmas you should say to them 'Merry Christmas.' The greeting “Happy Holidays” has been in use as a Christmas greeting for more than 100 years. We always just said ‘merry Christmas.’ . Merry Christmas. I get a little sad because despite all of the online and print campaigns I have seen encouraging inclusivity by saying “Happy Holidays,” people still fail to recognize any winter holiday other than Christmas; they fail to account for me, and so many people like me, who joyfully celebrate something else. But five years hence we will have caved in, as we always do to this sort of thing. So, Merry Christmas everyone. rights reserved. Last year, Mr. Trump criticized Starbucks at a rally in Illinois. The hate that starts with Jews never ends there; it goes to Muslims, members of the LGBTQ+ community, people of different political affiliations, spreading to everyone who is not exactly the same as you. Opposing view: Is it OK to say Merry Christmas? Assuming ignorance is easier, and better, than assuming best intent. Some businesses prefer a more inclusive greeting of “Happy Holidays” as opposed to “Merry Christmas” since Christmas is not the only holiday celebrated this time of year. Why can’t we even say Merry Christmas anymore?’” Bachmann added that Trump had “1950s sensibilities” and “1950s common sense,” and warned that Hillary Clinton would bring “certain destruction” and “catastrophic decline” and a “godless United States that … View Comments. For example, during the month of Ramadan I say to my Muslim friends 'Ramadan Mubarak' because it shows them that I acknowledge their tradition and wish them well as they observe the holy time in their calendar. in Indiana filed a lawsuit on behalf of a resident of Knightstown, Ind., who objected to a Latin cross displayed atop the town’s official Christmas tree. Republication or distribution of this content is At a rally in Wisconsin last week, Donald J. Trump stood in front of a line of Christmas trees and repeated a campaign-trail staple. While I think there's way too much focus on this in general, I have to award technicality points to the usage of "Happy Holidays" simply because it doesn't presume and it doesn't exclude. Author has 942 answers and 429.4K answer views. No Christmas trees, reindeer, or other traditional hallmarks of their holiday season cups. I don't see anything wrong with that. With the difficult year I have had and still having, as much as I want others to have a happy or merry Christmas, I can’t say it. As a child I pretended to celebrate Christmas for the sake of elderly people in cafés who asked me what presents I got. For over a decade, these debates have taken place mainly on conservative talk radio and cable programs. I can’t explain anything to anyone. I say it with sincerity, hoping it puts a smile on your face and leaves you feeling good. “They want to eradicate anything that reminds Americans of Christianity.”. Just red. mailbag@news-press.com. 353k members in the forwardsfromgrandma community. Why can't we say it anymore? Earlier this month, the A.C.L.U. Probably because they are not human and have never had the power of speech, although I *think* your question is why don’t store owners allow their employees to say “Merry Christmas” any more? The way I see it, someone is just wishing good times based on whatever their background is. It’s that time of year again, folks. While it may sound silly to care about what’s on Starbucks’ holiday cups, think about this: The average downtown Starbucks in a large city serves over 500 customers a day. The left, in general, want to create a secular society. So perhaps there is hope for peace on earth, or at least cable television. That’s right; it’s the season of the Christmas hisser. It’s 500 cups, multiplied by every other downtown location. It’s okay to say! The Rev. But we can't send that same six-year-old to school with a pack of Christmas cards to wish his classmates a Merry Christmas. People who believe Christmas is under attack often blame the American Civil Liberties Union. That argument became a sweeping shorthand for conservative anxieties, Mr. Cassino said. Misleading sensationalistic title is misleading. Newspapers Limited, One Yonge Street, 4th floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1E6. Daniel Mach, director of the A.C.L.U. “That culture war issue ignited and we won,” he said last Tuesday, later adding, “Donald Trump is on the case.”. Yes, America, we can say Merry Christmas, and we can say it loud and proud. They believe we should not say “Merry Christmas” because it might offend those of different faiths, like Muslims or Jews or Hindus. All my Jewish friends say it's okay to say merry Christmas.' Don’t wish Merry Christmas, say Season’s Greetings or Happy Holidays instead. While I'm not willing to create a debate on who have the rights to come and live here, there's another question in play, as it is happening now. The most organized attack on Christmas came from the Puritans, who banned celebrations of the holiday in the 17th century because it did not accord with their interpretation of the Bible. If you know someone celebrates Christmas you can go with “Merry Christmas,” but ‘tis the season for interacting with strangers (selling to them, buying from them, bumping into them on your way out of Target). The Obamas might have put “holidays” on their card, but they also always sent out a “Merry Christmas” wish to people, so everything is wrong … Now, according to the cyber whispers and online cries, we should really say “Happy Holidays” otherwise we may – of course – “offend the Muslims”. permissions/licensing, please go to: www.TorontoStarReprints.com. Sadie-Rae Werner is a fourth year economics student at the Minerva Schools at KGI. And this self-appointed adage applies just as much to the ever persistent rumour that claims we are no longer allowed to say “Merry Christmas”. I think it's very nice. Just curious why you can't say Merry Christmas anymore? It’s okay to say! Many conservative groups have rallied to defend Christmas, lobbying for decorations in public schools or town halls. How the ‘War on Christmas’ Controversy Was Created. If you know someone celebrates Christmas you can go with “Merry Christmas,” but ‘tis the season for interacting with strangers (selling to them, buying from them, bumping into them on your way out of Target). It’s time for the War on Christmas. Just some random thoughts about the PC police and their defamation of all things "taboo." Why can't stores say Merry Christmas anymore? Forwards, much like … Mr. O’Reilly returned to the War on Christmas this year, but his tone has been triumphant. For those of us who don’t celebrate Christmas, the red cup was a wonderful moment of a major company taking a clear public step to be inclusive of other faiths. I don't see anything wrong with that. In 2015, Starbucks caused a stir when it released its newly redesigned holiday cups. When 500 Starbucks cups going walking down the street covered in Christmas trees and reindeer they are sending a definite message about the reigning position of Christianity in our purportedly secular society. We said we wouldn't say 'chair' instead of chairman, but we do. What does the “war” look like in practice? +JMJ+. Today, some use it as a weapon in the war of words. In 2015, Starbucks caused a stir when it released its newly redesigned holiday cups. While I'm not willing to create a debate on who have the rights to come and live here, there's another question in play, as it is happening now. I see it, someone is a fourth year economics student at the Minerva Schools at KGI it may people. 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