# And a very shitty Ramakwahannumas to you too! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 6, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291 "2005-12-06T03:15:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/21 "2005-12-06T13:08:54Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Ya know, if this sort of fussing over the language continues, we’ll be back to grunts and snorts in no time. Doubleplus ungood!!!11!!!11\<3BB ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/22 "2005-12-06T13:09:59Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > Doubleplus ungood!!!11!!!11\<3BB \ ---
**Author:** ![Blackclaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e68b1a/32.png) [@Blackclaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackclaw)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/23 "2005-12-06T13:29:57Z")
I will devour the soul of anyone who doesn’t wish me a Happy Cthulthumas. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/24 "2005-12-06T13:51:31Z")
A lot of the ladies where I work were getting their panties in a twist over being invited to a holiday luncheon instead of a Christmas luncheon. Me and the lady I sit next to were considering kicking up a fuss about it being a Christmas luncheon, just for fun, but we let it go. You know how mellow we atheists can be! She just gave me a card that says, “Whether you cradle it, dreidel it, deck-the-halls it, matzo-balls it, O-Holy-Night it, 8-Days-of-Light it…celebrate the season!” ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Plaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Scott\_Plaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scott_Plaid)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/25 "2005-12-06T14:20:08Z")
Greet me however you like. Just be prepared to hear me say “Bah Humbug!” in reply. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/26 "2005-12-06T14:21:26Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > Having said that, I’m more than happy to wish a Happy Chanukha (or however you spell it) to my Jewish friends… Never mind _spelling_ it, try **pronouncing** it! 😃 > [@Dung Beetle](#): > > She just gave me a card that says, “Whether you cradle it, dreidel it, deck-the-halls it, **matzo-balls it** , O-Holy-Night it, 8-Days-of-Light it…celebrate the season!” (emphasis mine) Huh? You’re wishing people a Happy Easter already!? 😛 Oh – and to the OP: I fully agree. I don’t care **what** somebody says to me in the way of greeting; I can (generally) tell if they’re being nice to me or telling me to f\*\*\* off. To which I will respond in kind. End of story. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/27 "2005-12-06T14:31:27Z")
It has been strongly suggested that when I answer the phone at work I say “Happy holidays.” This doesn’t bother me. What DOES bother me some is substituting “Holiday” for “Christmas.” Like we don’t know which one or something? At least “holidays” implies more than one holiday is going on at the same time. That being said, on Christmas Eve if I’m on the phone I will probably say “Merry Christmas.” I was also told that was all right. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/28 "2005-12-06T14:37:59Z")
This just in: NO ONE is offended by hearing “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hannakah” or any other religio-specific greeting at this time of year. The PC police express their concern JUST IN CASE someone is offended. Note to PC police: Your preemptive protection of people’s sensitivies OFFENDS ME! If you really want to ensure no one is offended CUT THAT SHIT OUT. Thank you. * * * FWIW: Christmas, as we all know, is a secular tradition that can trace its roots to religious imagery. If that really did bother anyone, then throw your calendar away - each day is named after some god or other. Does it matter? Shoud we rename anyone named Christopher or Christine to Holidaypher or Holidine? Give me a fuckin’ break. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/29 "2005-12-06T15:00:32Z")
Nobody is offended. That’s pretty much understood. I think, though, that there has been a bit of a de-emphasis on the actual word “Christmas” by businesses and government agencies in the mistaken belief that that word offends some people (apart from a few kooks). This has led to such weirdness as the tree at the U.S. Capitol being called a Holiday Tree in recent years. Saturday Night Live took this on this past weekend as well, sending up Christmas songs without Christmas in them. Now this sort of thing is just ridiculous, and complaining about it is entirely legitimate. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/30 "2005-12-06T15:00:38Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Me too. Just seems to cover everything: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Boxing Day, New Years. When used properly, I think it covers everything up to Arbor Day. Thanksgiving. MLK Day. Halloween. Veteran’s Day. My Birthday (yes, you should celebrate that). That’s 11 holidays. And this doesn’t even consider that Hanukkah lasts for 8 days and the Chrismas season runs for a month (and more, according to department stores). It’s logical and right for me to say Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings, and no, if I do so, I’m not “Declaring war on Christmas.” My heart is large enough that I can wish all people fun times throughout Autumn and Winter, not just Jesus-cultists on one measly day of the year. But if you insist on my wishing only an exclusionary greeting to a select few on one day, then please have a Happy Go Fuck Yourself. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/31 "2005-12-06T15:05:05Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > Nobody is offended. That’s pretty much understood. Obviously, many people are, or this wouldn’t be an issue. It seems that the most offensive phrase these days is “Happy Holidays”, which, despite its jovial and merry sentiment, sends some people into a tizzy. They might as well be saying “I don’t want them Jews and Islams sharing in my happiness.” ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/32 "2005-12-06T15:12:20Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Obviously, many people are, or this wouldn’t be an issue. It seems that the most offensive phrase these days is “Happy Holidays”, which, despite its jovial and merry sentiment, sends some people into a tizzy. They might as well be saying “I don’t want them Jews and Islams sharing in my happiness.” I think this all came to a head now, after a few years now of dealing with crap like seeing a Christmas tree called a Holiday Tree. Happy Holidays was pretty uncontroversial for many years, and I still think most folks are fine with it. They want their Christmas trees called Christmas trees, though. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/33 "2005-12-06T15:30:50Z")
> [@Wolfian](#): > > \<3BB I’m thinking it’s Santa with a pair of testicles on his forehead, wearing two pairs of sunglasses? > [@Nature's Call](#): > > This just in: NO ONE is offended by hearing “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hannakah” or any other religio-specific greeting at this time of year. The PC police express their concern JUST IN CASE someone is offended. > > Note to PC police: Your preemptive protection of people’s sensitivies OFFENDS ME! If you really want to ensure no one is offended CUT THAT SHIT OUT. No, dear, the problem here is the offenderati fundies who throw a tantrum whenever they’re not wished a Merry Christmas. Haven’t you figured out that the “PC police” don’t exist? They’re a bogeyman invented by the Religious Right in order to have yet one more thing to whine about. > [@Mr. Moto](#): > > I think this all came to a head now, after a few years now of dealing with crap like seeing a Christmas tree called a Holiday Tree. > > Happy Holidays was pretty uncontroversial for many years, and I still think most folks are fine with it. > > They want their Christmas trees called Christmas trees, though. What pisses me off, though, is that the fuss over “Happy Holidays” is so transparently another fake issue to stir up people’s self-righteousness over this imaginary spectre of the Politically Correct Gestapo who are kicking down doors to arrest people who give Christmas presents. The fact is that people use the phrase “Happy Holidays” _voluntarily_ in a _voluntary_ expression of inclusion. People’s _voluntary_ choice to deliberately include folks of all holiday persuasion is, as with so many other things, yet another chance for the Religious Right to throw fits about other people choosing to speak a certain way. Who’s complaining about what holiday greeting people use? Not the ACLU. Not Hillary. Not us liberal hippie pinko fags. Nope. The only people throwing fits and trying to stop others from using the holiday greeting they prefer are fundamentalist Christians. Ironic that they’ve had so much success marketing a completely illusory foe called “Political Correctness”. Now some of them are boycotting stores to try to force them to use the greeting they prefer. Who’s really launching an assault on other people practicing their free speech? It’s not the Left, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/34 "2005-12-06T15:38:03Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > Happy Holidays was pretty uncontroversial for many years, and I still think most folks are fine with it. Then it’s a small shrill minority making a big shrill noise. > [@](#): > > They want their Christmas trees called Christmas trees, though. I don’t think anyone has a problem with people calling their traditional Yule trees Christmas trees when they are in the homes of individuals. It’s when tax dollars go to public monuments to a particular religion that people start getting worried about a slippery slope. And justifiably so. The only thing about this whole mess that really upsets me is that public schools can no longer put on proper Christmas concerts. Because secular holiday music is pretty lame. ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/35 "2005-12-06T15:39:03Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > No, dear, the problem here is the offenderati fundies who throw a tantrum whenever they’re not wished a Merry Christmas. Haven’t you figured out that the “PC police” don’t exist? They’re a bogeyman invented by the Religious Right in order to have yet one more thing to whine about. A sincere thanks! This is an perspective I had not considered - and it makes a lot of sense! ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/36 "2005-12-06T15:43:15Z")
> [@Nature's Call](#): > > Note to PC police: Your preemptive protection of people’s sensitivies OFFENDS ME! If you really want to ensure no one is offended CUT THAT SHIT OUT. Here’s the thing: I don’t think the PC police are expressing concern. My take on what’s going on: Bill O’Ratsass starts a big hullabaloo about business banning the phrase “Merry Christmas”. No one argues with him ([see post 15](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=6869308&postcount=15)). He claims victory over the left (or whatever). Ordinary, otherwise rational people see Bill O’Ratsass crowing, and their knees start jerking. It’s understandable. I have to wear a special knee brace. BTW, I spent a couple years in retail hell while I was in high school. After you finish your transaction, I recommend looking the clerk in the eye, smiling, and sincerely saying, “Thank you. You have a Merry Christmas.” Nine times out of ten, you will have made that poor, harried person’s day. ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/37 "2005-12-06T15:49:11Z")
Good post, **Excalibre**. Once again, it’s the religious right feeling all oppressed because a few people won’t bend to their will. And then calling others whiny for it. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/38 "2005-12-06T15:55:59Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > I think, though, that there has been a bit of a de-emphasis on the actual word “Christmas” by businesses and government agencies in the mistaken belief that that word offends some people (apart from a few kooks). This has led to such weirdness as the tree at the U.S. Capitol being called a Holiday Tree in recent years. Not to quibble, because I actually agree with you, but my recollection is that the tree became a “Holiday Tree” in the early nineties when a prominent Representative was asked on the evening news his opinion on the Christmas Tree. He replied that he loved it, but since he was Jewish, it was more of a Holiday Tree for him. Does anyone know if there was ever a resolution changing the name to “Holiday Tree”? ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/39 "2005-12-06T16:04:28Z")
> [@Noone Special](#): > > > [@John Mace](#): > > > > Having said that, I’m more than happy to wish a Happy Chanukha (or however you spell it) to my Jewish friends… > > Never mind _spelling_ it, try **pronouncing** it! 😃 I’m partial to “Happy Chewbacca”, myself. ;j ---
**Author:** ![betenoir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/258eb7/32.png) [@betenoir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betenoir)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291/40 "2005-12-06T16:41:21Z")
Yup, just wanted to say I don’t see any PC offendedness anywhere…this all seems to be a matter of some retailers scratching their heads and thinking gee, not ALL of our customer base is celebrating Christmas…let’s have our retail drones reflect that. The only offendedness I’ve seen is, indeed, some Christians who are actually _hostile_ to the idea of being wished a happy holiday. And (as I’ve read, in their own words) vow to wish everyone a merry Christmas…apparently out of spite. Ah yes, very much in the spirit of the season. > [@SHAKES](#): > > To me, that’s the whole arguement right there. A person shouldn’t HAVE to worry about what someone is. As long as you know what YOU are then all is good. I think the benevolent sentiment is: “You give them YOUR best wishes” as opposed to just blowing smoke up their ass, telling them what you _think_ they want to hear. > > That’s my take anyway. And I don’t get this take at all. HAVE to worry about what a person is? Is it really an oppressive burden to think about someone else for a minute? Is it really a matter of cohersion? If I’m giving a gift I’m not going to give chocolates to a diabetic because, well, I like chocolate. I’m going to think about them. And a greeting is like a gift. If I know someone is Jewish I’m not going to wish them Merry Christmas. If I don’t know…what’s wrong with Happy Holiday? Yes it IS supposed to be about worrying what they are. I thought the whole point was a little let up in total self involvement 🙂 . [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-very-shitty-ramakwahannumas-to-you-too/334291.md?page=3)