It's Christmas once again at Wal-Mart

[tybee204]

Nova
I was linking it to the bottem line. Walmart (what this thread originated as) makes its decisions of Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas based on $$$. If a person that rejects every aspect of Christmas other then accepting the bonus they are making their decision on that same concept.
Walmart cant afford to alienate their customer base any more then the non celebrating employee can afford to reject their Christmas bonus.
If someone isnt going to shop at Walmart because they say merry Christmas that person is a hypocrite if they take a Christmas bonus IMO.

 

[windovervocalcords]

Nova
I was linking it to the bottem line. Walmart (what this thread originated as) makes its decisions of Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas based on $$$. If a person that rejects every aspect of Christmas other then accepting the bonus they are making their decision on that same concept.
Walmart cant afford to alienate their customer base any more then the non celebrating employee can afford to reject their Christmas bonus.
If someone isnt going to shop at Walmart because they say merry Christmas that person is a hypocrite if they take a Christmas bonus IMO.

And when I shared that my co-worker would not accept it if called a Christmas bonus a poster thought that was sad.

Her integrity is sad. Why is that?

Again, because her minority view is not accepted.

 

[tybee204]

I'd rather have a share in the profits at year end myself. Less paternal.

Mr Tybee's isnt a profit share, its a gift. It is delivered regardless of profits.

 

[Ntegrity]

My company's bonus is given out at the end of each calendar year, just before we close for a week at Christmas. It's a way for management to give back some of the profits to the employees who made them. And, even though it's referred to as a Christmas bonus, it's only called that because of when it's given. It's technically a profit-sharing bonus.

Edited to add: Maybe WOVC's co-worker should look at it that way.

 

[tybee204]

And when I shared that my co-worker would not accept it if called a Christmas bonus a poster thought that was sad.

Her integrity is sad. Why is that?

Again, because her minority view is not accepted.

Actually wht I think is sad is if she has worked their for 10 years and has not found the skill to communicate with her co-workers regarding this and resolve it.

 

[Nova]

I can't understand either why anyone would be offended by the phrase Merry Christmas.

I don't know if "offended" is the right word. My understanding from friends who feel strongly about this is that they resent the presumption that they should feel "merry" - that is, celebrate - on a day that has no meaning for them. It's less a question of offense than of INclusion versus EXclusion. And when that exclusion comes from an individual, it isn't such a big deal; but when it is institutionalized by government or business, it becomes harder to take.

Nor can I understand why anyone would be offended by the phrase Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings.

This is far more baffling to me.

When I lived in Denver, my best friend, who is Jewish, and I hosted an annual party every December. Just because we called it our annual "Christmas" party, it had absolutely nothing to do with my religious beliefs, my friend's religous beliefs, or the religious beliefs of our guests.

Exactly. So why not call it what is is? Secular "Christmas" is a cultural Winter Holiday that has little to do with the sacred meaning of Jesus' birth.

It doesn't matter to me that the day Christians celebrate the birth of Our Lord is not the day that He was actually born or that the day is based on a Pagan holiday. What matters to me is that Christians have a day when we all can be reminded that God sent His Son to us.

Absolutely. My point about the origins of Christmas was NOT that it shouldn't have sacred meaning to Christians. (We don't know the date on when Jesus is born, so whenever that birth is commemorated is going to be arbitrary. But so what?)

My point about the pagan origins was in response to posts that assume the celebration of Christmas is "naturally" or "divinely" ordained and any accommodation of other traditions is an unreasonable inconvenience. Come on! There is nothing magical about December 25 except whatever magic people choose to bestow on it. It isn't hardship to learn that other people may choose differently.

 

[JBean]

And when I shared that my co-worker would not accept it if called a Christmas bonus a poster thought that was sad.

Her integrity is sad. Why is that?

Again, because her minority view is not accepted.

I said it was sad "to me". That is my view.
Her integrity is sad? Who said that? I must have missed it.
If she rejects anything to do with Christmas and that includes a Christmas bonus I think she is consistent and I respect that. i still find it sad, and that should have no impact on her whatsoever. I wouldn't be impacted by her thought that perhaps my high regard for Christmas is sad. Like I said, I am not so sensitive that someone else's opinion of my practices would dictate my feelings.

 

[Nova]

Nova
I was linking it to the bottem line. Walmart (what this thread originated as) makes its decisions of Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas based on $$$. If a person that rejects every aspect of Christmas other then accepting the bonus they are making their decision on that same concept.
Walmart cant afford to alienate their customer base any more then the non celebrating employee can afford to reject their Christmas bonus.
If someone isnt going to shop at Walmart because they say merry Christmas that person is a hypocrite if they take a Christmas bonus IMO.

I understand what motivates WalMart. (As if I needed another reason not to shop there!) But WalMart is responding to a Fox News-led propaganda campaign and the sheeple who allow themselves to be emotionally motivated by it. It's the latter we are discussing, I believe.

I don't know that employees become "hypocrites" for accepting year-end bonuses. Such payments are common in many businesses. That your husband ties the payments to one particular tradition is the problem.

 

[Nova]

I said it was sad "to me". That is my view.

I think it's more than sad, it's ridiculous. ("My magical thinking is purer than YOUR magical thinking!") Ditto those who can't figure out that there are no witches or goblins and Halloween is just make believe.

Nonetheless, we afford people a certain right to their delusions in this country, so why shouldn't hers be respected as well?

 

[JBean]

I think it's more than sad, it's ridiculous. ("My magical thinking is purer than YOUR magical thinking!") Ditto those who can't figure out that there are no witches or goblins and Halloween is just make believe.

Nonetheless, we afford people a certain right to their delusions in this country, so why shouldn't hers be respected as well?

I do respect her rights 100%.

 

[windovervocalcords]

I said it was sad "to me". That is my view.
Her integrity is sad? Who said that? I must have missed it.
If she rejects anything to do with Christmas and that includes a Christmas bonus I think she is consistent and I respect that. i still find it sad, and that should have no impact on her whatsoever. I wouldn't be impacted by her thought that perhaps my high regard for Christmas is sad. Like I said, I am not so sensitive that someone else's opinion of my practices would dictate my feelings.

Tybee more or less said that anyone who did not celebrate Christmas and accepted her husband's bonus was a hypocrite.

I would accept his bonus so I guess that makes me a hypocrite since I am no Christmas celebrator.

My co-worker would not due to the integrity of her beliefs. She has unusual beliefs but I do not think holding to her integrity is sad.

She misses an opportunity to transcend her beliefs and allow Mr Ty to be generous whether he thinks she would be hypocritical for accepting his bonus or not.

We train in my tradition to hold onto the ESSENCE of the teachings and NOT get hung up on the rituals. So we have no conflict. I am a happy hypocrite.

 

[JBean]

Its hard for her to have a "so what" attitude after ten years. When are those folks going to "get it"?

"Celebrating Christmas has been controversial since its inception. Since numerous festivities found their roots in pagan practices, they were greatly frowned upon by conservatives within the Church. The feasting, gift-giving and frequent excesses presented a drastic contrast with the simplicity of the Nativity, and many people throughout the centuries and into the present, condemn such practices as being contrary to the true spirit of Christmas."
http://www.christmas-time.com/cp-hist.html

She doesn't have the training I have in my path. We don't expect people to be different or kind and open.

We expect that of ourselves.

I don't think they are going to get it. Either she moves to another company that is more sympathetic to her wishes or she continues to ignore. She is there voluntarily. I know that may sound harsh, but it is the reality.
I have refused work from many companies that were not in line with my way of thinking. I am not saying that is good, bad, fair, right or wrong, it just is an option she has.

 

[tybee204]

Tybee more or less said that anyone who did not celebrate Christmas and accepted her husband's bonus was a hypocrite.

I would accept his bonus so I guess that makes me a hypocrite since I am no Christmas celebrator.

My co-worker would not due to the integrity of her beliefs. She has unusual beliefs but I do not think holding to her integrity is sad.

She misses an opportunity to transcend her beliefs and allow Mr Ty to be generous whether he thinks she would be hypocritical for accepting his bonus or not.

We train in my tradition to hold onto the ESSENCE of the teachings and NOT get hung up on the rituals. So we have no conflict. I am a happy hypocrite.

That is NOT what I said.

 

[Nova]

I do respect her rights 100%.

Sorry, J. My question was just in the spirit of the discussion, not aimed at you personally.

 

[JBean]

Tybee more or less said that anyone who did not celebrate Christmas and accepted her husband's bonus was a hypocrite.

I would accept his bonus so I guess that makes me a hypocrite since I am no Christmas celebrator.

My co-worker would not due to the integrity of her beliefs. She has unusual beliefs but I do not think holding to her integrity is sad.

She misses an opportunity to transcend her beliefs and allow Mr Ty to be generous whether he thinks she would be hypocritical for accepting his bonus or not.

We train in my tradition to hold onto the ESSENCE of the teachings and NOT get hung up on the rituals. So we have no conflict. I am a happy hypocrite.

I still didn't see the post that calls her integrity sad.That's almost an oxymoron...almost. I commended her for not taking the bonus, but hold that it is sad "only to me" that she cannot partake in the joy. I fully understand that it is joy "to me" and not to her. There is no right or wrong answer.

 

[JBean]

Sorry, J. My question was just in the spirit of the discussion, not aimed at you personally.

I know that Nova. No apology necessary.
It's an understandably hot topic. There is no resolution.

 

[windovervocalcords]

Actually wht I think is sad is if she has worked their for 10 years and has not found the skill to communicate with her co-workers regarding this and resolve it.

So it's her fault then?

 

[Nova]

I know that Nova. No apology necessary.
It's an understandably hot topic. There is no resolution.

Well, I think there's a very simple resolution, which I stated above. If you know someone well enough to know his tradition, then use that. If you don't, it is polite to include rather than exclude and go with "Happy Holidays."

The argument that "Happy Holidays" is offensive is really just a temper tantrum. It's no surprise that Bill O'Reilly is the biggest baby in the nursery.

 

[Love_Mama]

There will always be some that are not thankful on Thanksgiving.
There will always be some that are not merry on Christmas.

I was born christmas day so I am always merry.

Hey Packerdog how ya doin'............... my 43 yr. old were twins born on Christmas day too.

Now I'll be sure and remember your birthday when it's get posted on WS........Hope all is well with you!


I still haven't read this whole thread yet.........It's getting better! LOL

:blowkiss: :blowkiss: :blowkiss:

 

[windovervocalcords]

That is NOT what I said.

I just went back and read your post. You are right. That is not what you said. It is more the impression I got from your post.