| This holiday season has seen an upsurge of one | | | | back--and |
| of the | | | | rightly. So, I am more circumspect about it.It is |
| oddest (to my mind) campaigns to keep | | | | not even about being "politically correct" (what an |
| Christmas in the | | | | idiotic term--not much correct about the politics |
| season. Emails are flying around the internet | | | | of this |
| about | | | | country, but that's another article). It is about |
| Christmas trees and there are Christian groups | | | | having |
| having hissy | | | | care for your fellow humans and honoring their |
| fits about people saying "Happy Holidays."Yes, for | | | | right to |
| the Christian community all over the world, it IS | | | | observe their beliefs, just as they should honor |
| Christmas. But, Christians are not the only group | | | | ours.This country was founded on a desire for |
| celebrating Holy Days this time of the year and | | | | religious freedom |
| they need | | | | and tolerance. Why are we so intolerant now? |
| to remember that.December 25th this year also | | | | Why curb the |
| marks the beginning of | | | | freedom of others to enjoy their religion?So, |
| Hannukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. It begins | | | | what is wrong with Seasons Greetings or Happy |
| three | | | | Holidays? |
| days before the moon closest to the Winter | | | | Well, these groups claim to be fighting to keep |
| Solstice, which | | | | Christ in |
| just occurred the 21st. It is the time of | | | | Christmas, but it seems to me that they might |
| rededication for | | | | better direct |
| them in remembrance and celebration of when | | | | their efforts toward keeping God in our |
| the Macabees | | | | everyday lives. |
| retook the Temple of Jerusalem from the | | | | For instance, the atheists fighting in the courts to |
| Syrians and | | | | remove |
| rededicated it.December 26th marks the | | | | "In God We Trust" from our currency are a |
| beginning of Kwanzaa, an African | | | | greater threat to |
| American celebration of the family and the self. | | | | the Christian beliefs this country was founded on |
| While it | | | | than |
| is not considered a political or religious holiday, it | | | | 'Happy Holidays' is.Not being able to display the |
| does | | | | Ten Commandments in public |
| include some spiritual aspects and being of the | | | | places is a greater threat. Not being able to |
| family, | | | | display |
| should be honored.That day is also Boxing Day, | | | | religious symbols publicly in squares or public |
| or Saint Stephen's Day in the | | | | traffic |
| United Kingdom. Since Stephen was the first | | | | areas is a greater threat as well. Why make an |
| martyr for the | | | | issue of |
| Christian cause, I'd say it's pretty holy.Ramadan is | | | | "Christmas" versus "Holiday?" Seems to me |
| in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and | | | | there are |
| happens to fall now, too. It is a time of | | | | greater battles to fight.For the non-Christians, we |
| submission to | | | | ask that you tolerate us if we |
| Allah for the Muslims. A month-long celebration | | | | do wish you a Merry Christmas. It is simply our |
| with | | | | way of |
| fasting and prayers. Holy times, indeed.There are | | | | expressing the joy we feel at this time of the |
| many more celebrations that fall now that are | | | | year. Wish |
| holy to those that observe them. The Winter | | | | us a Happy Hannukah or Blessed Ramadan or |
| Solstice (12- | | | | Great Kwanzaa |
| 21), Bodhi Day (a.k.a. Rohatsu--the day the | | | | back. We won't be offended--usually. At least, I |
| Buddha found | | | | won't.The majority of religions in existence today |
| enlightenment--12-8), Day of the Holy | | | | honor a |
| Innocents (the victims of Herod's attempt to | | | | supreme being. Whether you call it God, |
| exterminate | | | | Goddess, Allah, or |
| the Christ were all male children under the age of | | | | whatever, the basic tenet of all the beliefs I've |
| two--12- | | | | looked at |
| 28).The largest complaint going around is against | | | | seems to be love for others. So, why not |
| the retailers | | | | express that love |
| like Target, WalMart, K-Mart, etc. for not keeping | | | | at this time, rather than enmity? Why separate |
| | | | ourselves |
| Christmas in their advertising or, supposedly, not | | | | further from our fellow humans just because |
| letting | | | | they believe a |
| their employees say, "Merry Christmas." As one | | | | little differently? This seems to be a jihad being |
| of my co- | | | | fought |
| workers said, "The holiday season begins at | | | | on the internet and about issues I don't believe |
| Thanksgiving. | | | | Christ |
| By the time Christmas comes, you're so used to | | | | would advocate.But, that's just my opinion.C. |
| saying Happy | | | | Rogers Upson is a published author on several |
| Holidays, you don't say anything else."I know for | | | | websites and in |
| a fact(as a former employee) that WalMart does | | | | several anthologies. This article can be published |
| NOT forbid the use of Merry Christmas, but as a | | | | on your website or in your newsletter, so long as |
| Christian, | | | | the resource information is intact and nothing is |
| I will not intentionally offend those that are not | | | | changed. |
| Christians. Did it once and got my ears pinned | | | | |