I had a colleague who used to get angry when I said “Happy Christmas.” I guess just because that was not the approved refrain at her church. It’s just something I picked up as a youngster from my Irish Grandfather, and it’s terribly ingrained.
People get upset about the strangest things. Mostly I just let them get on with it, and try to stand aside to avoid the spray.
But I never get the chance. I don’t run into rude people all that much, and anyone tried that at work would get laughed at, and they’d never do it again.
Ranked roughly (very, very roughly) from reasonable to insane:
[ul]
[li]“And Happy New Year!”[/li][li]“HAPPY HANNUKAH!”[/li][li]Just smile wanly, or indulgently perhaps.[/li][li]“Oh, I’m not Japanese.”[/li][li]“No, not that one.”[/li][li]“Inshallah!”[/li][li]“You marry her!” (Not valid on the East Coast nor anywhere without the Mary-merry-marry merger.)[/li][li]“Krissmuss? What is this Krissmuss you speak of? Can you tell me more?” like you’re in a Chick Tract.[/li][li]Gasp audibly, and say, “We can’t say that!”[/li][li]Lean in, and in your best Israeli accent, say, “You know, we killed your god.”[/li][/ul]
The individuals described in the OP certainly were, and deliberately so. Those are the people we are discussing responding to, not just anyone who says “Merry Christmas.”
Seriously? That’s a rather strong reaction to what was intended as some mild ribbing (especially after you insulted almost everyone else in the thread by calling their responses “strange.”;)) If you are going to be judgmental about other’s responses to people who are being obnoxiously sanctimonious, you’ve got to expect some sarcasm in return.
If you want to pursue this, rather than derail this thread, I invite you to Pit me if you seriously think I was insulting you. Since I am posting as a poster and not as a mod, you are allowed to do so.
Given that you were trying to wish your fellow humans a good tiding, just saying “Go fuck yourself” is quite rude. What you should say instead is “Please, go fuck yourself”.
Please do not. It is not only boring and annoying, it is wrong and stupid and we hardly need non muslims being boring and wrong “for us.”
First, the Ramadan is not a holiday, it is a month of fasting. And not at all like your christmas in any way or form.
If you want to do something like that just say Happy Eid. (or eid moubarek if you want) At least either of the two big Eids can be similar in a way and it also includes our christian arabic speakers.