Reply #42: Thanks for the uplift and the great idea [View All]

The "war on Christmas" actually has me pretty depressed. As a Christian, I've always found it a challenge to have an appropriate religious observance, and the greetings bestowed by retail establishments have had nothing to do with that.

Nevermind that it's pretty silly to see the majority rolling and whining how mistreated they are, but I learned the Happy Season's Greetings Holidays schtick from my conservative Republican father, back in the days when a hand-signed, hand-addressed card to all your relatives, friends, and corporate acquaintances was de rigeur--and my assigned family task. I wanted to buy religious cards, and he said, No, not everybody celebrates Christmas; it's courteous, kind, and gracious (and corporately smart) to send general wishes instead. As an adult, I bought religious cards for those who would appreciate them and general ones for everybody else. Never had a problem finding religious ones either.

So Falafel Bill says my daddy was wrong? (That's my privilege: we disagreed on many things, but this one actually made sense to me.)

The inclusiveness of the season always gave me a warm feeling. Most north-of-the-equator religions found the need for a faith celebration to get them through the winter, and we can all wish each other goodness, even on a secular basis (New Years). The war on Christmas doesn't allow that.

The Rude One has also applied an antidote:
http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2005/11/pre-emptive-war-against-christmas.html

Peace to all, and Happy Whatever You're Having,
Rose