Nonsese. Christmas is a time when people of all religeous faiths all over the world celebrate the birth of Jesus by buying each other a bunch of crap no one needs.
Well exactly, that’s what I’m saying! THAT’s how Jesus wants you to celebrate his holiday (remember about the rich man and the eye of the needle? Buy useless crap for everyone and drive yourself into the poorhouse). He doesn’t want you to celebrate by being an ass to people, unless you’re starring in a Nativity play.
Ironic, isn’t it, that the least stable people are the ones being the asses.
Daniel
Nope. Only christians are celebrating the birth of Jesus. The rest of us are celebrating whatever we feel like celebrating.
I appreciate all the replys. I guess I watch too much Fox News. It’s refreshing to come here to the SDMB and find that the world is not going to hell in a secular handbasket.
E-Sabbath - good one about the phone sex!
I guess how offensive it is to say “Merry Christmas” to a Jewish person depends on the tone and the intent (and O’Reilly’s tone and intent was clearly smug and insulting). I think the real question is why people like O’Reilly think it’s offensive to say “Happy Holidays” to a Christian. That’s what baffles me. He thinks that non-Christians have some sort of moral obligation to give him a sectarian greeting or else he’s being injured. Will there ever be a cure for CPC? At least a vaccine?
If someone knows that I’m Jewish, and says Merry Christmas to me even after being told that I don’t celebrate Christmas, I would be offended. It’s a simple matter of courtesy.
Merry Christmas is not a standard greeting. While many people view Christmas as a purely secular holiday, I don’t. Too me, not matter how many secular trappings, it’s Christian. I answer “Thanks, but I’m Jewish” and would expect them to remember that for next time.
Uh, no. This nice Jewish girl ignores the birth of Jesus and is scheduled to work that day. I’m not planning to buy anyone any crap, but when I do, it’s wrapped in Hanukkah paper.
Personally, if someone is unaware of my religion and wishes me a merry Christmas, I just smile and say “thanks”, and if I know the person, gently tell them I’m Jewish. Otherwise, I just smile and say “thanks” and go about my day.
On the other hand, when it’s some jerk like O’Reilly being a jerk, I just smile, say “thanks” and go about my day, but with a much lower opinion of the jerk.
It’s one day a year, folks. I’m not going to get my panties in a bunch over it. I’m just going to go to work and spend the rest of the day with the TV off and maybe read a good book.
Robin
I agree with this entirely. Yesterday, a couple offered me a ride home while I was waiting at the bus stop. I refused politely, and they wished me a Merry Christmas and drove off. Not offensive in the slightest. Obviously, they were only being friendly.
OTOH, I once had a coworker - who knew I was Jewish - bring me a CD of Christmas music to play on my computer to get into “the spirit of the season”. When I reminded her that I don’t celebrate Christmas, she called me a grinch and stomped off. Offensive and annoying.
Most of my friends celebrate Christmas in a standard pagan manner, and I always enjoy their Christmas parties. I like parties and gift exchanges as much as anyone, I’m pretty sure only the most uptight people would avoid such things on principle.
I’m just thankful that as we near the blessed winter solstice, the forms and trappings of the real Old Time Religion (holly, mistletoe, candles, decorated trees, celebrations, gifts) have been retained. I don’t care if others call it “Christmas.” Except for the creche thing, most everything else is pagan anyhow.
I think, like everything, it would depend on who was saying and who it was being addressed to. I know a Jewish woman who probably would be offended if someone said “Merry Christmas”. As a teacher in the public school system, she made a big stink about the chorus kids singing about Jesus during the Holiday Concert and got them to change the program. Once, when I was a student in her class, another kid cried out “Jesus!” when someone hit him, and she retorted, quite aggressively: “Jesus isn’t here!” She’s also very devout Jew and very active in her community.
But the other Jewish people I know aren’t that religious and would probably only be merely annoyed.
Jesus and I are cousins and correspond frequently.
I am in a position to share a snippet of a note he sent me in response to a birthdy card. I mentioned O’Reilley, and he responded thusly:
“Oy, What a goyishe kopf. Not even a schmuck, just a putz. He thinks I’m a REPUBLICAN??? As if…O’Reilly ain’t part of my *poosse and he’s lucky I’m a nicer guy than he is or I’d give him a schtuck in hertz that he wouldn’t forget…”
(He’s all about hiphop these days.)
Personally, you want to wish my cousin a happy birthday?–knock yourself out.
Down guys. msmith537 is quoting a Bart Simpsonism, a damn funny one at that.
BTW, whoosh.
FWIW, I have Muslim and Hindu friends who celebrate Christmas. No big deal for them.
You just said it, and a whole lot more politely than I would have.
Side trivia - O’Reilly’s own Christmas cards said “Happy Holidays” until a Fox staffer noticed the disconnect between the vomit Billy O has been spewing, and the cards he was planning to send out. O’Reilly is a pathetic little man, whose only purpose is to attack other people.
[Cartman]O holy night when I get lots of presents[/Cartman] 
Much more appropriate than Happy Holidays
I’m trying to imagine how it could be offensive to anyone.
Its a celebration of a birthday.
I believe it is common knowlege that Jesus Christ did live.
Of all the people on earth his life has had the greatest effect.
Weather or not you believe he was God doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate his birthday.
Hell we celebrate Washingtons birthday.Nobody I’ve heard of has objected to that.
That is certainly debatable.
Why on earth would you celebrate his birthday, though? He was just another Jewish teacher, from my point of view.
Was George Washington the founder of any religions that I’ve missed?
Because that’s what Christmas is all about right? Being a dick, demanding that everyone else act like you want them to, and so on.
But then, that’s the double standard for religious people. They can tell unbelievers that they are deeply unhappy, bitter, Nazis, baby-killers, evil, and so on. This can be a central part of their entire belief system. But the minute anyone points out that they are being dicks and that trying to shove their dickery in my face is rude, we get howling cries of outrage that anyone would dare to criticize religion, which demands 100% respect no matter how out of line and assholish it gets.
If you want respect for your beliefs, then DON’T BE A DICK and certainly don’t tell me that your beliefs are the core motivator and inspiraction for ALL YOUR DICKERY.
There is a whole cloud of angry fiction out there among columnists, talkshow growfers, websites, and mass e-mails about the alleged ACLU attacks on saying Merry Christmas, In God We Trust, and any mention of God in our founding documents.
It ain’t true, folks. They’ve set up a strawman and attacked it. Here’s a cite.
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051204/OPINION01/512040380&SearchID=73228467015217
O’Reilly is an enthusiastic relay man for this propaganda network. He doesn’t care if he lies, he just passes on the daily talking points.