Is a Holiday Really Offensive?

Everyone is so damned worried about what is right any more-we're too politically correct that I want to throw up! The United States was founded on a number of beliefs, one of which was religious freedom. And as such, every American is free to celebrate a religion or not. I was raised Catholic, so I celebrate Christmas. I also have friends from other faiths, and have never asked them to celebrate ONLY Christmas, just as they have never asked me to celebrate only THEIR faith. If one truly wants to be all-inclusive, we're celebrating the holiday season. There are a number of holidays during the final six weeks of each calendar year. American holidays, like Thanksgiving, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Christian holidays, like Christmas. Jewish holidays, like Hannukah. There's a holiday celebrated by African-Americans-Kwanzaa. But it's more about the overall feelings shared during this time-it's meant to be a time of sharing and giving.

It doesn't bother me when this time of year is referred to generally as the holidays because, as you said, there are a few celebrations that coincide with the timing. Happy Holidays is a good greeting when you're not sure which celebration a person takes part in. That part doesn't bother me. What bothers me is when people won't call a Christmas tree what it is or when they take others to court to remove a nativity scene. There was a big stink at Grand Canyon years ago when I lived in that state--atheists took their battle to court and got the angel removed from one part of the trail. The Buddha was allowed to stay there. Tell me that isn't discrimination. Atheists also fought against church bells in Phoenix and managed to get them silenced but the mosques were not included and their call to worship (which really is beautiful) can be heard several times a day. This is why Christians feel that they are being persecuted. Back to the holidays--I don't care what they call it as long as they don't restrict my celebration of it and don't belittle it. Like the governor of RI refusing to call it a Christmas tree when it obviously is and people protesting a church having a nativity scene. That's what bothers me, no so much the generalized holiday greeting.

They are trying to eliminate Christ and one of the ways is to take Christ out of Christmas and call it a holiday, that can be done anytime of the year. I have noticed that no one complains about the Jewish Hannakah or the other religious holidays that occur even the made up ones. So it is not about well, we can call it a holiday because that will include everybody, because one can say, "Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays" or Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year," and it is the time when one can give presents just as the Wise Men gave presents for the Christ Child and we do not know the date when that happened either.

because it is OUR nation and OUR countries holiday. in Christ's name. If we went to some other country and told them we are offended with their holiday celebration and want it called something else or even told them we are offended if they dont just call it a holiday instead of whom or what they celebrate, do you think they would comply and say oh ok, we will be ashamed of that for you and change it.? i gaurantee they would run us out on a rail, if they let us live. yet we worry over every little complaint others here give us and comply. im not ashamed and neither are many others for the name we celebrate for. sorry for the rant. its bad enough that most kids think its just sANTA s day most people dont even bother to explain to them why they really get presents. its likely why most kids today think they should be priviledged for being here.

What I know that Jesus peace be upon him , not born in winter , so , what you celebrate by it in this day?

everyone has their own thoughts and ways to celbrate the xmas holiday.. I know many countries have thier own ways. I just like to be with friends and family on xmas eve and xmas day. merry xmas to you there.

Our school district, the last I checked, calls the break the Winter Holiday break, and I am right in the middle of the conservative Christian Bible belt. It is okay with me, but they still call the Spring Holiday Easter. I fully understand the inclusiveness of calling it a holiday in the context the chef was in. I get more upset about the people who are offended by Native American references in school names and accessories. I am Native American in part, and it does not offend me. I am diverging, though. Sorry. I guess if we want to be offended we can find ways to be offended about anything. If we are busy being offended we are denying the message of "Peace on Earth".

First of our our US government had no right at all to make "Christmas a religious national holiday because it violates the first amendment of freedom of religion in that the government is not to make any one religious belief over and above another. There are a lot of people who do not observe Christmas in this nation. And yes many are indeed Christian and know it is not the birthday of Christ and that it does not honor Christ and is a day God hates and said not to learn these customs and ways. The chef was correct in calling it a holiday in that he did not know who among the children might not keep Christmas, perhaps Muslim, Jewish, Jehovah Witness or any number of Sabbatarian faiths that do not keep it, or Amish or Mennonite or other faiths not to mention Atheists and agnostic. It is an issue in that people who choose to observe it insist everyone else should be happy to hear about it, or forced to take off work when they cannot afford to so those who choose to keep it can have their holiday. Their celebration for their religous belief. That is why it is wrong. As for who made it a holiday it was not God, or Christ or any of the apostiles but the Roman Catholic Church that took an extremely pagan custom and blended it with Christianity to appease Roman temple priests who complained new converts were no longer bringing gifts to them for the Saturnalia to appease the sun god, not son of God. So the light would return. Plus there are other Winter holidays other's celebrate Hanakkah, Kwanda, Ramadan, Winter Fest among a few so to call it Christmas to make those who keep that day would be an insult to those who do not observe that particular religious holiday. Calling it a Holiday is generic enough to encompass them all and not offend. I too am sick and tired of people insisiting all of who do not celebrate this highly commercialized pagan custom that invokes selfishness, greed, commercialism and a false God with flying reindeer that actually USURPS Christ as he the fat man in the red suit and his reindeer get more credit for things than Christ does. Christ is not the real reason at all why people celebrate Christmas and those who huff and puff and claim it is are lying to themselves and to other people as well, they do it for fun, because they like gifts or giving them, for the lights, the pretty things in a dark time of the year and it is something to do. Yes it is offending for some. Christmas should not even be a federal holiday at all, let those who celebrate it take it off without penalty but let those who want to work do so. Schools and Employers balk when people of other faiths ask for their holiday time off but boy tell them they can't take off Christmas they would get totally bent But our nation's law makers did make Christmas a Federal holiday and the should not have. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances". Making it a Federal holiday gives more respect to this than to Hanakkah, Kwaanza or other holidays of other religious beliefs and people and thus every faith should have their holiday declared a federal holiday if the First Amendment were actally enforced. Which apparently it isn't in this circumstance. Which is why there have been protests and complaints. While there is more tolerance than there used to be there is still a lot of controversy and hatred and bigotry on all sides. So yes your are right about this and though I don't celebrate any of these days I know other's do and the true wish is "Merry Mithras" Because that is the true being or god Christmas is all about that and Santa Claus. Jesus is not the reason for the season for most not at all.

If it weren't for Christ, there would be no Christmas!

I'm personally a fan of calling it Holiday rather then Christmas. Every group has their own take on the time, and everyone has their own directions on it. How would a Jewish kid, or a Muslim kid, or an Atheist kid, feel if he was saying, "Happy times only to the people who are the same religion as me!" And Christmas isn't only a remake of all the standard holidays that it took over from, but it's singular to just Christians... I mean, it even named after Christ, and it has images of christian angels and Jesus, and so many songs talk about just the birth of Jesus, and talk about how the Christian God is the best God. I'm an atheist (if you hadn't guessed already!), and I'm not so big on the free publicity that Christianity gets through this season. There are many pieces about Christianity that I'm quite opposed to, so I find it offensive when it gets shown off through the public, along with giving gifts to children, pushing their young minds towards that specific religion. It's even worse with children from other religions, showing them that they're less then equal to the christians. Of course, if someone wants to say Merry Christmas to me, or if they want to be putting up christian decorations, I'm not going to fight against it, I'm not going to picket their house telling them to take it down, I wouldn't want to oppose such a thing on what they want to do. But, if they are respectful of others that are not quite like themselves, I really respect that. So, I like the sound of Happy Holidays, much better.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

Well,holiday means "holy day",so it could be construed as the same thing.or it could mean Hannukah rorDiwali.

I too grew up with Christmas. I'm religious. For those reasons, I personally prefer to call my celebration Christmas and always will. To me, Christmas refers to the celebration for that one holiday. I really don't want to learn new songs! Could you imagine "Oh Holiday! Oh Holiday!" or "I'm Dreaming of a White Holiday"? All kidding aside, I don't want to lose the designation of Christmas for that holiday. I would really hate for the term Christmas to disappear. But that's me personally. I often use the word holiday to refer to the season in general, such as "Happy Holidays!" There are many holidays during this season. I usually consider the season to start around Thanksgiving and go through New Year's Day. If I'm in a generous mood, I sometimes even include Halloween. I don't think that referring to this time of year as "holiday" should be considered negatively by Christians. We are told to love all our neighbors. It seems to me that includes respecting the traditions of others.

When people hear holiday, they might ask what holiday that is. When people hear Christmas, they are clear without having to ask further. People should not make it become Christmas and anti-Christmas thing.

Thank G-d I went to a school where it wasn't the Christmas break but the winter break.As a child Christmas was more about Santa Claus than Jesus. I became a Jew at age 17. And ever since I do not assume Everyone I meet is Christian. I say Happy Holidays.That way if they Are Jewish Or an Atheist , we all get Dec 25th off!A day off work or school Is a Holiday. i can't understand why they are upset about the word holiday. But.. I do understand why many do not like seei9ng X-mas! It is like someone replaced Christ with an X! Ouch!