No everyone doesn’t need to suit you or me, but I don’t need to pretend this stuff doesn’t bother me. No I do not comment or take people to task for it. I’m not a confrontational person irl. In addition, I’m usually at work. I have to be nice anyway, but I am allowed to have my feelings and opinions about these micro aggression. (And imo that’s exactly what this is) The fact that I am a captive audience to this crap makes me even more irritated.
That is way way different than a generalized non-denominal “Have a Blessed Day” or “Bless you”.
Over all, America is getting less religious.
Right.
Saying “bless you” or “have a blessed day” is neither one of those.
Right. There are times when the hard core religious get out of hand. This mild greeting is not one of them.
Yep.
It really isnt.
Less than it used to be.
Would any of the “Have a blessed day” haters here feel the same what about Shalom?
You’ve taken some pains here to suggest that people in this thread are brushing aside the true, nefarious nature of “have a blessed day”, to the point of equating it with a commonly used racist trope “one of the good ones.” That’s quite a thing to suggest and I wonder if you can elucidate exactly what’s contained in “have a blessed day” that deserves to be obliquely equated with gutter racism.
It begins to seem like the anxiety about Christian supremacy and MAGA influence is maybe causing people to be increasingly sensitive about every small religious expression they see in their orbit. This is totally understandable. I would just suggest that 2 things can be true:
- We’re in a political crisis (obviously) that draws a lot of its energy from evangelical Christianity (also obvious)
- This doesn’t mean evangelical Christianity is on the rise or is hiding behind every bush, or every “god bless you” is some kind of loyalty test.
By all measures, religion is declining in the US. Some oligarchs have tuned into how to use it as a wedge issue, and these people own social media, creating an appearance that religion is on the advance. People in general are getting more confrontational with each other, being more assertive in their tribal signifiers. So you see more of it. And yes, some of it is scary, and some of it is threatening. But it seems to me that people are conflating pre-existing behaviors and customs with that, and assigning new and nefarious intent. I would suggest that maybe seething about your local cashier’s signoff is not the best way to direct one’s sense of vigilance and offense.
No, because it isn’t conservative Christian in your face crap. They are not the majority trying in many ways large and small to be the only right way to believe. Here, at least, it’s unusual enough to be pretty intentional and pushy.
I have the perfect fix..wear your ear buds or headphones.
I don’t speak, ever to clerks or unknown people. So they get a blank stare and my back walking away. I ain’t got no time for that crap.
(Disclaimer, I stutter so public speaking is right out)
Very good points.
Remember-
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
You may not like it, but maybe in some nations people cant even say it. Remember the First Amendment.
Then Jewish, minority stuff is okay?
Please note, the phrase- “Have a Blessed day” started as a black Christian church saying. It is a strong part of the African America church. It isnt a white evangelical MAGA phrase, altho, as I pointed out, it is used by Pagans, Methodists, Unitarians, Lutherans, and translated by Jews, Buddhists and Moslems.
It is not limited to, nor endemic to, evangelical Right wing Christians.
Oh, I disagree it just blacks folks saying it. I live in the pit of the Bible belt. Mostly baptists of all colors.
I hear it frequently. Especially in medical settings. Just keep walking.
I realize for the most part it’s probably a mindless thing these folks do. But I do hate it.
I didnt say that,
That is the origin and where it is most common, but it has certainly spread.
There are few people of color in my little podundunk town. Of the few that have come in none of them has said this to me. It’s always some red neck, maga adjacent, snot. One guy who is much more evangelicalizing, is a conspiracy theorist, prepper type, who has his driveway booby trapped because of his illegal Marijuana operation. He’s a real charmer. I’m glad no one here has yet said “over reacting,” or even better, “hysterical.”
That is the origin and where it is most common, but it has certainly spread.
Wait- are you under the impression that Evangelicals are in the majority? While Christians are 60-65%, the Evangelical Right is a mere 23%, a decided minority. Protestants as a whole are only 40% or so of Americans.
Yes, they are part of that strange coalition that gave the current Administration and party its razor thin plurality, but neither Republicans, MAGAs (a subset of the GOP) or Evangelicals are a majority.
And white evangelical protestants are only 14%-
https://prri.org/research/2020-census-of-american-religion/
Mainstream protestant= 16%, white catholic= 12%, Black protestant = 7% and so on.
This is unnecessarily provocative. I’m not a “hater”. Believe what you want. I’m fine with that.
Say what you want, you’re perfectly within your rights to do so. And I’m within mine to respond as I see fit.
Well, some of these individuals who insist in the “blessing” of strangers have never declared their affliation. Prayed. Been to a church. They are definitely weaponizing this because of MAGA.
That is not right. Anyway you look at it.
If an old Granny black woman said “have a blessed day” I take it she meant it from the heart.
If a raggedy MAGA redneck said it, I might throw a bitch smirk and move on. I have the best bitch face, I must say.
These days, my response to any kind of religious greeting or parting is just “same to you”.
Or, if I’m feeling spicy, “Shalom”.
Some posters do seem to hate that phrase.
And that may be, but characterizing them as “haters” is not necessary. That’s really ugly.
I am aware of the origins my reading comprehension is quite adequate. I was explaining that it is not cultural in Michigan. It is somewhat recent, and appears to me to be hoisting their religion on me.
I don’t, “hate” the phrase or the people who use it, (though I really can’t stand the prepper guy, he goes waaaay beyond blessed day). It just irritates me that because I can’t say much back they can wave their Christianity at me like a little flag. It’s a small thing compared to a lot of the indignatiies cashiers have to put up with, but it’s one more little tiny sign of disrespect.
What chapz my azz is when people say “Have a good one.” Have a good one WHAT?!?!?
You get to choose! Good day, good night, good dinner, good blow job, good work out… up to you!
Whatever you want to have a good one of. Good cigar, good dump, good whatever.
It’s a specific ironic response coined in response to the original “Don’t tell me what kind of day to have” backlash crowd when “have a nice day” and the yellow round smily face were new inventions.