Is the real Spirit of Christmas lost?

Luba · 12-15-2007, 11:20 AM

To me this is a HUGE topic, and it is sad because I think the real Spirit IS lost! I work for a wonderful Company, but Christmas music isn't played because SO many people don't want to hear it!

People say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"! I still say it and will go on forever saying it! It is SO materialistic now, I think!

I asked my wonderful co-worker yesterday not to buy a gift for me because to me, her Christmas present already is that she gives so totally of herself to our work/friendship/confidante relationship! One can't buy something as wonderful as that! "Too late," she said, "I already bought something!"

Why is it that now that for most people the toys come first before our family/friends/co-workers? I would dearly love to take some of the money that I would spend on my family, and we could all go together to a homeless shelter and share with those who really need it, and maybe put a smile on their sad face, if only for a moment! To give them the hope that someone cares and they can change their lives for the better.

TKDLady · 12-15-2007, 01:40 PM

I hear you Luba. It is sad. I don't think it is lost for everyone however. There are those who do exactly what you suggest. We have to do what we feel is right. That is all we can do and hopefully we will convert people along the way. Merry Christmas Luba!

Luba · 12-15-2007, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkdlady

I hear you Luba. It is sad. I don't think it is lost for everyone however. There are those who do exactly what you suggest. We have to do what we feel is right. That is all we can do and hopefully we will convert people along the way. Merry Christmas Luba!

Merry Christmas to you, tkdlady, my GREAT, GREAT friend!

PepsiChic · 12-15-2007, 03:23 PM

i too agree - "political correctness" has gone too far. To not be allowed to say "merry christmas" in a Christian reknown country - like england,scotland and wales - is really rather stupid, for even those who are not religious have been brought up to respect one another at this time of year and follow tradition of what is "Christmas Time"

The supermarket i work in have carol singers outside singing hymns and inside they have Christmas music on, decorations and a tree. they also give out small gifts to children. These things are part of Christmas and will continue to be so long as people dont let political correctness take over.

Great Britain has been fighting back against our prime minister in an effort to win back the right to say "merry Christmas" without worrying whether we will get arrested for insulting someone else's religion or beliefs.

If they dont like our Christmas - they can go back to their own country and do it their way, but they have no right to come to Britain (or US & CA) and impose their beliefs on us so that we cannot continue our celebrations.

Merry Christmas all! x

TKDLady · 12-15-2007, 03:51 PM

You go girl!!!

Duke · 12-16-2007, 10:40 PM

I think Political Correctness and Stupidity should be termed the same actually because of the lunacy associated with it. I don't care if you don't believe in the spirit of Christmas but your non-belief should not take precedence over my belief. It seems to me that PC is much more interested in watering it down for believers to keep the whiners happy and that's just wrong.

I think PC is a good thing in regards to splitting the middle in regards to new issues but c'mon people, Christmas has been celebrated for centuries so deal with it.

NoTargeT · 12-17-2007, 12:23 PM

Without personally attacking someone, and without me going into my opinion on religion, if it's so hard to understand that saying merry christmas might be seen as a religeous insult (and don't get me wrong, even a non-believer like me finds that hard to understand), then why is it so easy to consider saying happy hollidays as a religeous insult?
I don't know whats going on in the UK/US, but here we say both and they both mean the same. And I don't see any sense in considering saying either thing an insult.

Quote:

If they dont like our Christmas - they can go back to their own country and do it their way, but they have no right to come to Britain (or US & CA) and impose their beliefs on us so that we cannot continue our celebrations.

Dangerous thing to say in my humble opinion,
First of all christmas itself originates from imposing christion beliefs onto non believers and nature cults, mixing a pagan holiday, tree worshipping and other elements into what we now know as christmas. Christmas is practically the result of imposing beliefs on others.
Next to that, how far do you want to take talk like this. I bet the native indians in the US weren't christians. Should all christians leave the US based on what you said? Christianity was imposed upon people as much as any other religion, and historically in sometimes such agressive ways which would be unimaginable now.
I guess this imposing beliefs on others is what keeps me away from any religion.

IMO you can all believe whatever you want to believe in, and formulate any good wishes the way you want to, in freedom. I'm sorry if my post insulted any of you, I'm perhaps not too good in tip toeing around religion, even though I try. I wish you all a good christmas with lots of love and affection

IR_Efrem · 12-17-2007, 06:09 PM

I think the real issue here is everyone turning fruity about exact wording of our language. I do not like a lot of things in many cultures, my own included. I will NEVER insist that a person should change the way they express any feelings. Saying happy holidays or merry christmas, why does either of these phrases make anyone feel uncomfortable. My opinion is unhappiness with their own lives and some greater need to fix something that isn't broken (er sumthin)

My point about turning fruity about language goes as follows. Changing Shell Shock into Post Traumatic Stress Disorder does not in anyway change the condition. BUT it sounds a little better, why does making it sound better matter??????????

Really think about it for a minute. Those that truly need therapy are not called crazy anymore. Why?, because a certain stigmatism has surrounded the word. Which really makes me wonder what we think of people now that have a "mental condition," I for one, immediately think "crazy" and I do not attach anything bad to the word. I myself do not need so many words to describe such a simple thing. But now I have to worry about people thinking I am some kind of jaska$$ so I, like many others, have been roped into the new age of PC.

Luba · 12-17-2007, 08:10 PM

So some of us can say "Merry Christmas", others "Happy Holidays" and we'll all live happily ever after!

PepsiChic · 12-17-2007, 09:19 PM

im not a religious person myself - i believe in many things tho.

I know that Christmas is about/from Christianity. However the point myself, and i think majority of us, are saying is that, we have the right to call it Christmas, this is a country where people have called this festive season Christmas for as far back as we can remember. the "reason" we are not allowed to call it Christmas is because of other religious that have been brought over to our countries recently, by the Muslims mainly - and although i have no problems with other religions celebrating their festive seasons in the way they do - trying to get us to stop calling this Christmas because it offends them is hardly right.

our tv presents have to say happy holidays because they have been told saying "merry christmas" is politically incorrect and may insult other religions in the country.

well im sorry but if they are free to call it what they wish (and they are) why should we stop calling it what we wish?

i will continue to call this season Christmas and i hope my children and grandchildren do the same. Its part of our heritage, lifestyle and beliefs, and no-one has the right to take those away from anyone :/

NoTargeT · 12-18-2007, 11:39 AM

That prime minister of yours or whatever politician decided it might be grieving to muslims to say merry christmas definately needs a kick in the butt. My Iranian neighbours sure won't get offended by it, they even have a christmastree, since the husband is a converted christian eventhough his wife is a muslim.

BTW they are some of the most friendly and decent people I've ever met.
Some of the stories they tell about when they still lived in Iran are crazy, she got arrested for wearing make-up during ramadan for example, lol. Her husband had to buy her out of jail. She's very realistic and modern about her religion. When a turkish girl invited her daughter for a birthday, and the mother of the girl asked her if her daughter was muslim, she replied; if my daughter needs to be muslim to be invited to your daughters birthday then she's not a muslim, and she won't be untill she can decide her religion for herself. Thought that was pretty cool.

So no disagreement here about saying merry christmas, or the fact that it's being commercialized way too much. No need for me to have christmasballs in the shops in august...

I see christmas as an event for everyone btw, I celbrated it all my life and I'm no Christian. It even has been forbidden to celebrate christmas in a few states in the US in the past, because of it's pagan origin, heh. (somewhere in the 16th century though).

PepsiChic · 12-18-2007, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoTargeT

That prime minister of yours or whatever politician decided it might be grieving to muslims to say merry christmas definately needs a kick in the butt.

He does indeed! Its a case of trying to please everyone, but this has caused more trouble here in the UK then anything else its really quite sad that school children are being told they have to say "happy holidays" instead of "merry christmas" incase it should fofend someone of another religion living in Britain.

Quote:

I see christmas as an event for everyone btw, I celbrated it all my life and I'm no Christian. It even has been forbidden to celebrate christmas in a few states in the US in the past, because of it's pagan origin, heh. (somewhere in the 16th century though).

I dont really know many people that do not celebrate Christmas in some form or way. I know that decorations in the US generally go up quite early for thanksgiving, where as here we dont have thanksgiving and our decorations generally go up a week or 2 before Christmas day, tho shops and streets get decorated a little earlier every year.