It's Christmas once again at Wal-Mart

[narlacat]

I liked that, thanks Maral

 

[Nova]

I posted this email that I received on another thread, but it seems appropriate to post it here, too.

Lovely, Maral, thank you.

At my small town's "Festival of Lights" parade on Sunday, an announcer on a float from one of the talk radio stations made a point of declaring loudly into his microphone that "Forget 'Happy Holidays'; I'm not going to say it. Merry Christmas!" (Not that there's nothing wrong with the latter, particularly not from a float in a Holiday parade; but let's don't pretend we don't all know what he meant.)

My town is rather diverse: 50% gay, 4 synagogues for 40,000 people, etc.

I could only think that somewhere, Jesus was weeping.

 

[cappuccina]

(to himself) In Yiddish, of course!

1. 'Odem yesode meofe vesofe leofe' - beyno-lveyno iz gut a trink bronfn.

2. Der mentsh trakht, un Got lakht.

3. Vos noenter tsu der shul, alts vayter fun Got.

(I tried to post the Hebrew letters, but they will not copy here...)

 

[BhamMama]

Acutally, Jesus spoke Aramaic. And I'm not sure he drank Vodka rofl!

My favorite is, Der mensch trakht, un G-t lacht, Man plans and G-d laughs

(to himself) In Yiddish, of course!

1. 'Odem yesode meofe vesofe leofe' - beyno-lveyno iz gut a trink bronfn.

2. Der mentsh trakht, un Got lakht.

3. Vos noenter tsu der shul, alts vayter fun Got.

(I tried to post the Hebrew letters, but they will not copy here...)

 

[cappuccina]

...for fun! LOL Seriously, though, it might have been one of many languages he spoke or understood...

(I pictured the one with the vodka after he saw the way we are celebrating Christmas here! LOL)

 

[Dark Knight]

Americans are ready to put "Merry Christmas" back into holiday shopping, a new poll shows.


The majority of Americans surveyed - 95 percent - said they were not offended by a "Merry Christmas" greeting in stores, according to a poll by Zogby International.

However, 32 percent of respondents said they took offense at "Happy Holidays," the religiously neutral alternative promoted over the last few years as inclusive and inoffensive.

The "war over Christmas" has been a battleground in the so-called culture wars in the United States, which has far higher church attendance rates than most other developed nations.

A good gauge of the national mood may be retail giant Wal-Mart, which this season reversed its policy of limiting the use of "Merry Christmas."

More at link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/christmas_greetings_poll_dc&printer=1

 

[Mygirlsadie]

I will say Merry Christmas now and always. I never thought of not saying it. I will say God bless you if you sneeze even if your a muslim. I will never deny or dismiss or hide my belief in God or the true meaning of Christmas!

 

[Boyzmomee]

Kudos to Wal-Mart for making a decision that won't go over well with some folks. I never understood the problem with "Merry Christmas" anyway. It IS Christmas, after all, and you're simply wishing for one to have a merry one. No biggie.

Happy Holidays seems so impersonal to me. I mean, Christmas isn't called "Holiday"....LOL.

No, Christmas is not called "Holiday." However, not everyone celebrates Christmas. LOL. I used to have no problem with store clerks saying "Merry Christmas" as I left with my items.

However, I went to Wal-Mart last week and WAS offended. As I walked into the store, a Wal-Mart employee sought me out, handed me a candy cane and said "Merry Christmas." It was unpleasant to me. It appeared to be a Wal-Mart ploy rather than a genuine wish for a "Merry Christmas."

 

[Boyzmomee]

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: Thank You PaperDoll! I am a Christian and I celebrate the holiday for what it was meant to be. If you don't, well fine....go to work, don't accept your Christmas bonus and ignore the holiday. It is a christian holiday! I am not jewish, but I respect the fact that they celebrate Hanukkah, I just choose to celebrate Christmas instead. It really gripes me that people take offense to the word Christmas.

I don't celebrate Christmas. I don't go to work because my office is closed and I don't get a Christmas bonus. I do "ignore" Christmas in my home.

I have no problem with people wishing me a "Merry Christmas" in the true spirit of the holiday.

 

[Boyzmomee]

Great post!! If someone wished me Happy Hanukkah I would not be offended at all. I would accept it with the spirit in which it was intended. No need to turn everything into a big stink, just say "thank you" or return with your own well wish, religious or not.

Bingo.

 

[Boyzmomee]

What causes this overreaction?

Last year people were mad that Walmart had "Happy Holiday" signs up instead of Merry Christmas. This year the Merry Christmas signs are back.

Yes, and as a shopper enters the store he/she is blitzed by a Wal-Mart employee saying "Merry Christmas" and handing out candy canes. I'm not going back.

 

[Boyzmomee]

Plastic fruit????????? This cracked me up..

Seriously, I don't understand why this concept is so hard to understand for some people.
NOBODY IS TRYING TO TAKE CHRISTMAS AWAY!
Please celebrate anyway you see fit, just don't ASSUME that I share your customs or beliefs.
OY ALREADY!

Yes, that always cracks me up.....like Christians are an oppressed minority in this country who are prevented from celebrating their religious holidays.

 

[Boyzmomee]

The choice of semantics seems arbitrary to me, but very well: Mr. Tybee will give Christmas presents to his employees, which they may decline if they choose. I imagine his employees understand (and appreciate) the spirit with which the gifts are given.

Mr. Nova and I have been inviting Jewish friends to share Christmas with us for years. We haven't been refused on principle yet. But these are friends. They know we aren't presuming that they *should* celebrate Christmas, we are just expressing our desire to include them in our family.

Yes, my family and I are delighted when we are invited to Christian friend's homes during the Christmas season. In turn, they have loved coming to our home for Hanukkah.

 

[BarnGoddess]

Well, I have a little different perspective. I towed the BarnGod's hitch wagon into a town a little west of our farm so he could have our draft horses bring Santa to the community center for the kids. He then gave rides all afternoon. Me, I headed the other direction to another small town. It was Storybook Christmas for the kids. Our Daughters of the American Revolution manned the toss the ring over the reindeer booth for the kids. There were 20 other fun activities for the kids. A wonderful singer in town sang holiday songs for two hours, refreshments were served. One resident brought his newly adopted two year old twin girls for their first Christmas here. Oh, I forgot, we are a small community, mostly rural farmers and ranchers and white. This rancher and his wife adopted twin black girls. Everyone present had to go ooh and aww over these adorable little girls. That's the true spirit.

Also, driving into town as I was listening to Denver talk radio, I heard a discussion about greeting others with "Merry Christmas" or anything else. One caller stated that he greets all those with "Merry Christmas" He said it's his way of wishing good will to who he greeted. If he gets a "Happy Hannauka" back then he figures he is also getting heartfelt greetings in return. He said then he extends his hand or hugs the other person in a heartfelt feeling of good will. Maybe we should all follow his actions.

 

[Boyzmomee]

I will say Merry Christmas now and always. I never thought of not saying it. I will say God bless you if you sneeze even if your a muslim. I will never deny or dismiss or hide my belief in God or the true meaning of Christmas!

Lol.... there are those who believe in G-d who do not celebrate Christmas.

 

[Boyzmomee]

Wal-mart also announced that for the 2nd year they will be allowing the Salvation Army kettle workers to stand outside it's stores, after Target told them they were no longer welcome last year. Wal-mart has also matched donations made to the Salvation Army kettles.

I used to volunteer with the Salvation Army.

 

[Animal04216]

LOL I am really cracking up at this thread! I know, its not funny , but here is my belief about this whole mess. I believe that neither Christmas or Hannakah are God mandated celebrations. I also believe that God is involved in BOTH. I beleive that Jesus would have celebrated both in the spirit of FELLOWSHIP, and that Gods heart is warmed anytime we come together in His name. Christians celebrate the GIFT of Jesus birth at Christmas time and the Jewish celebrate the MIRACLE of lights. Not a big difference IMO--both are a celebration of gifts given by God! Sorry guys but the whole argument is stupid and ANY wishes at the holidays should be accepted in the spirit that they are given!

ETA: On a more personal note--I also believe that Christians are "grafted in" to the Jewish faith, so I should really be saying Happy Hannakah AND Merry Christmas to all!!!

 

[IrishMist]

LOL I am really cracking up at this thread! I know, its not funny , but here is my belief about this whole mess. I believe that neither Christmas or Hannakah are God mandated celebrations. I also believe that God is involved in BOTH. I beleive that Jesus would have celebrated both in the spirit of FELLOWSHIP, and that Gods heart is warmed anytime we come together in His name. Christians celebrate the GIFT of Jesus birth at Christmas time and the Jewish celebrate the MIRACLE of lights. Not a big difference IMO--both are a celebration of gifts given by God! Sorry guys but the whole argument is stupid and ANY wishes at the holidays should be accepted in the spirit that they are given!

ETA: On a more personal note--I also believe that Christians are "grafted in" to the Jewish faith, so I should really be saying Happy Hannakah AND Merry Christmas to all!!!

That's fine, Animal... but you are obviously missing the point of the entire thread. What is ultimately important at Christmas time is how employees at stores greet you. And, I suppose, a close second is what they write on their sale signs.

You say Jesus would have celebrated both holidays, and that may very well be true. But you can bet he wasn't searching for a "Tickle-me-Elmo" at WalMart last year. (Happy Holidays) Though darn tootin' he'd be loading up his cart at the home of low prices this year. (Merry Christmas)

Because, after all, isn't that what Christmas is all about??

 

[reb]

eeeeewwwwwwwww... i would rather enter the deepest firey pits of hell and be tortured by a thousand demons for all eternity than step foot into a WAL-MART at X-mastime.

 

[Animal04216]

That's fine, Animal... but you are obviously missing the point of the entire thread. What is ultimately important at Christmas time is how employees at stores greet you. And, I suppose, a close second is what they write on their sale signs.

You say Jesus would have celebrated both holidays, and that may very well be true. But you can bet he wasn't searching for a "Tickle-me-Elmo" at WalMart last year. (Happy Holidays) Though darn tootin' he'd be loading up his cart at the home of low prices this year. (Merry Christmas)

Because, after all, isn't that what Christmas is all about??

Actually No I am not missing the point of the thread. My point is the whole thing is STUPID!